OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
I'm going to be on a rather small boat so hopefully a better view. My wife is dreading it.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
There won't be as most voters want Brexit done, last time both Labour and the Tories were promising to get Brexit done, Labour broke that promise while diehard Remainers will not be conned into voting for Corbyn again.
Boris will also run a populist campaign unlike May with no dementia tax like gaffes
There’s a fair chunk of voters who wanted Brexit done because they didn’t want to go through the referendum process again. Now, rather than do Brexit, Bozo has gone to a GE and effectively given them the chance to reject Brexit, if they wish. How these Tory remainers fall will be critical to the election outcome.
Tory Remainers loathe Corbyn so will vote Tory in Labour v Tory marginals but might vote LD in LD v Tory Marginals, LD v Labour Marginals or Tory or Labour safe seats
"The home secretary’s chief of staff was escorted out of a bar in parliament by armed police earlier – just as MPs were voting on an election that Boris Johnson wants to make about law and order.
Two people who witnessed the incident say James Starkie was ordered out of Strangers bar after swearing loudly in the vicinity of a Tory MP, Col Bob Stewart, being refused service and appearing to punch a door.
As police escorted him out of the bar, which is frequented by MPs, witnesses said he apologised for his behaviour."
lol - BJ wants to make the election about law and order after his stunt with the letters? I dont think the judge has ruled on that but i dont discount i could have missed it.
Didnt a Tory MP get collared by the police during the party conference law and order speech as well!
If push and shove come, what do the Lib Dems do with regards to supply and confidence for either Corbyn or Johnson ?
I believe the arrangement is termed quid pro quo.
It’s hard to see what the Conservatives could offer the Lib Dems now.
Indeed. In any potential arrangement would the LDs settle for anything less than a committment to implement PR, which would only make things worse for whoever it was demanded of?
Anyway.....can we all at least unify on one theme.....Jo Swinson is very annoying indeed.....
My lifelong Lib Dem mum cannot stand her, and doesn't know who to vote for now.
As much as Corbyn is repellant to anyone who loves money or the army, and BoJo is repellant to people who have any sense of integrity, morality and fidelity.....
Swinson is just annoying...shrill and...well just very fucking annoying......
And without upsettimg you more Tyson, if she had not led the charge for a GE I doubt it would have happened
I'm not pleased with this election one bit...the numbers in the HoC were there to VoNC, and then install a unifying govt to oversee Brexit- customs union or peoples vote.....
Because of Swinson we are risking a right wing Brexit or No Deal Brexit....the numbers for the HoC with the Benn Act had already proved that these were off the table....Boris was impotent.....it was just a matter of time before sense prevailed...but Swinson bolted first.....
I'm afraid you are forgetting that no rebel Tory would've supported Corbyn as PM - the LDs alone would not have got Jezza over the line.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Well we would have had two GEs called to give a mandate for Brexit and the people refused to give it. Would be time to move on.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Agreed- if there is no majority, there is likely to be either a May deal resurrected or a Ken Clarke customs union...both with cross party support.....there will be no appetite for a 2nd vote
On assembly sizes, I’ve read that the civil service traditionally used the cube root of the population to determine the sizes of deliberative bodies like municipal councils and colonial assemblies. That would make the Commons approximately 407 members. On the same basis, the US House of Representatives would have around 689 members.
Anyway.....can we all at least unify on one theme.....Jo Swinson is very annoying indeed.....
My lifelong Lib Dem mum cannot stand her, and doesn't know who to vote for now.
As much as Corbyn is repellant to anyone who loves money or the army, and BoJo is repellant to people who have any sense of integrity, morality and fidelity.....
Swinson is just annoying...shrill and...well just very fucking annoying......
And without upsettimg you more Tyson, if she had not led the charge for a GE I doubt it would have happened
I'm not pleased with this election one bit...the numbers in the HoC were there to VoNC, and then install a unifying govt to oversee Brexit- customs union or peoples vote.....
Because of Swinson we are risking a right wing Brexit or No Deal Brexit....the numbers for the HoC with the Benn Act had already proved that these were off the table....Boris was impotent.....it was just a matter of time before sense prevailed...but Swinson bolted first.....
The LibDems have proposed a #peoplesvote 8 times in Parliament. Lab whipped against. The numbers were simply never there for a GNU either.
Corbyn has been the Tories little helper through this whole process.
I think the numbers were there for a couple of weeks in September if they had pushed the button then. Not even close once Johnson agreed a deal with the EU though.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
There won't be as most voters want Brexit done, last time both Labour and the Tories were promising to get Brexit done, Labour broke that promise while diehard Remainers will not be conned into voting for Corbyn again.
Boris will also run a populist campaign unlike May with no dementia tax like gaffes
There’s a fair chunk of voters who wanted Brexit done because they didn’t want to go through the referendum process again. Now, rather than do Brexit, Bozo has gone to a GE and effectively given them the chance to reject Brexit, if they wish. How these Tory remainers fall will be critical to the election outcome.
Tory Remainers loathe Corbyn so will vote Tory in Labour v Tory marginals but might vote LD in LD v Tory Marginals, LD v Labour Marginals or Tory or Labour safe seats
That’s the key question - and we might get a clue from early polls.
Grudgingly accepting the referendum result because you don’t want to re-open the whole issue again is easier than actively voting for Brexit again in a Brexit election. The LibDems will be pitching hard for Tories worried about Brexit to lend them their votes - and could have a lot of money on offer from business and other donors to help fund their campaign.
I confess to having completely forgotten such early snowfall. We'll find out who is keenest to stop the fascists/marxists/dreaded neutrals if that happens!
something has to change in the next couple of years. aren't the current boundaries are based on the 2001 census?
Boundaries are based on electoral rolls rather than the census, aren't they? But as the last review was in 2007, I agree something needs to change. And I've never understood why we need 15% more MPs than France, despite very similar populations.
Is their executive formed of MPs? I know the president isn’t, but no idea about the cabinet positions.
No it isn't. Ministers have to resign from the Chamber of Deputies, though they return one month after they resign from their portfolio.
Interesting! How does that work, does the number of seats vary, or does someone have to give up their seat?
I believe that the Minister appoints an alternate - can't recall the word - who represents the constituency but who is expected to resign when the Minister leaves office to retake the seat in the National Assembly.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Johnson's strategy is essentially the same as May's in 2017: rely on a party led by Nigel Farage to win votes that would otherwise be Labour.
A Gillian Duffy moment for the PM, or a scandal to hit either of them, or if Nige doesn't put his back into it, and it's over.
Boris is weak on the private schools. What has he got? 1. They save the country billions of pounds. 2. Labour's opposition to them is old-fashioned. I wonder how those will play.
Corbyn is not a strong leader but he is more at home than Michael Foot was speaking with ordinary people. This is going to be a two-party race.
Polling from 2016-17:
Private schools are an utter irrelevance. Red meat to Labour faithful but striking few chords in the wider country. Indeed some polls show a decent majority opposed to Labour's plans.
As for 2017 comparisons...again these are largely irrelevant. Corbyn then was a blank canvas, hoovering up the youth and the remain vote. That seems very unlikely to happen this time.
Agreed, private schools are irrelevant, probably a vote loser for Labour given their conference policy shambles.
How many voters remember what happened at a party conference? If Labour make private schools an issue, the Tories are going to have say something about it. That's the problem. Saying "Labour are stupid about private schools - what do they know about them anyway?" looks terrible. Remember that Labour are going to fight this election on social reform.
Not many.
Teachers. Their vote was probably Labour and will remain so. Labour members. Their vote was Labour and will remain so. Parents of private school kids. Their votes were mixed and will switch away from Labour.
You are right, no-one else will remember the conference policy or care enough about the issue for it to change their vote.
Bashing the Public School pushes is a pretty good core vote strategy in Northern Leave towns, hard for Bozo and Lord Snooty to counter.
No, bashing public schools may work in Islington, Hackney or Liverpool, it will not work in Bassetlaw or Enfield or Stoke
Postal votes 2 weeks before Xmas. What could go wrong....?
A Royal Mail strike?
The royal mail union on strike buggering up Labour's postal vote operation would be delicious
Postal votes are mostly used by the elderly who, of course, are overwhelmingly Tory.
That’s a bit of a myth. Students and ethnic minorities are also heavy users, and in seats with active campaigns the parties try to sign up as many of their voters as possible, as getting a PV pushes turnout up from 60% to 80%, and it leaves fewer people to chase on polling day.
I'm part of that weird (dying?) breed that actually likes to go into the polling station and secretly put a cross in a box.
I was once involved in shredding late postal votes from a general election. Surprising how many there were. What was interesting was how the electoral officer wanted us to waste time doing that rather than put them straight into the locked bins as they had arrived.
Provided it is postmarked before polling day a postal vote still counts even if it arrives after polls closed. We could be in a Florida 2000 situation in some marginals as a result if the strike goes ahead (though the Government will try for an injunction to stop it).
I don’t think that’s true. Once the RO reads the declaration, that result can only be overturned in court, even if people spot a mistake when packing away (as has happened)
Legally a postal vote cast before polls close is a valid vote and must be counted and the losing parties in a close result can and would successfully challenge in court to overturn the result if they were not counted
In the last GE there were two seats which were incredibly close. A majority of 2 and 48 (from memory so not exact). How can a returning officer announce the result on Friday when there are hundreds of unrecieved postal votes which might or might not have been sent or delayed in the post?
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Well we would have had two GEs called to give a mandate for Brexit and the people refused to give it. Would be time to move on.
Yes but how in a hung parliament
Those politicians who have been demanding politicians listen to the peoples mandate actually listening to the peoples refusal to give a mandate and backing down.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Agreed- if there is no majority, there is likely to be either a May deal resurrected or a Ken Clarke customs union...both with cross party support.....there will be no appetite for a 2nd vote
Which helps write the LibDem leaflets in Labour seats.
If push and shove come, what do the Lib Dems do with regards to supply and confidence for either Corbyn or Johnson ?
I believe the arrangement is termed quid pro quo.
It’s hard to see what the Conservatives could offer the Lib Dems now.
A plush Limo and a spot of hubris...it worked before as the Yellow Peril couldn't wait to jump in bed with Cameron to jettison tuition fees and the rest of their principles.....
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
I'm going to be on a rather small boat so hopefully a better view. My wife is dreading it.
We went whale watching off the North coast of Iceland and it was fabulous but absolutely freezing. They gave us hot chocolate and cinnamon on deck and it was wonderful. Take warm clothing and gloves
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
I'm going to be on a rather small boat so hopefully a better view. My wife is dreading it.
We went whale watching off the North coast of Iceland and it was fabulous but absolutely freezing. They gave us hot chocolate and cinnamon on deck and it was wonderful. Take warm clothing and gloves
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
1. Two year parliaments. Another Americanism coming over here.
2. Another election on the old boundaries. The folk at the boundary commission must be close to jumping off the window ledge.
I do expect a BJ majority government to vote the new boundaries through. once that's happened once it'll be less controversial in following years
Regarding boundaries, I would expect Boris to tell the commission to start again (possibly with new rules). He has a strong personal motivation to get rid of the current proposals as Uxbridge would lose Yiewsley to H&H and gain Northolt from Ealing North, flipping the seat to Lab.
If the Cons have a good election in Wales, Boris could even keep the 650 seats and Wales over-representation.
It makes sense to start again anyway as there have been council mergers e.g. Poole and major ward boundary changes e.g. Birmingham.
Also the Welsh constituency proposals were a bit of a mess last time around.
Personal view, a +7.5%/-7.5% band around the average is much better than the current -30%/+50% range. It also avoids overfitting, where sensible geographical entities are split up to make constituencies perfectly even in size.
Agreed. I would also encourage the commission to split wards where they have >10,000 electors rather than putting in random orphan wards from neighbouring authorities to get the numbers to work.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
You're hoping for th following policies then... Tax rate increases for the under 30's and those living in cities with over 3 000 000 inhabitants.
No tax at all for people who have officially retired.
Voting rights to be extended to those who have died in the last 5 years (by proxy obviously).
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
What is the position of MPs such as Chris Williamson who are, I think, whipless right now ?
Presently unclear. Him, Lloyd, a few others, could be a tense time.
The NEC are meeting to decide what to do about Williamson, Vaz etc. apparently.
Vaz should be out on his ear - they'll win that seat whoever they put in, so put someone in who isn't tainted.
Van is popular locally, despite recent colourful events. He will retain the seat.
Yes, that's why Labour need to not select him if we are to be spared him. What have they got to lose? Granted I lived in Leicester South rather than his seat, but they're all safe as houses for Labour.
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
I did in Kaikoura NZ a few decades ago, Sperm whales are there most of the year. I have also seen Humpbacks in South Africa. They both are quite impressive, but the swell is not for those with delicate stomachs.
"The home secretary’s chief of staff was escorted out of a bar in parliament by armed police earlier – just as MPs were voting on an election that Boris Johnson wants to make about law and order.
Two people who witnessed the incident say James Starkie was ordered out of Strangers bar after swearing loudly in the vicinity of a Tory MP, Col Bob Stewart, being refused service and appearing to punch a door.
As police escorted him out of the bar, which is frequented by MPs, witnesses said he apologised for his behaviour."
lol - BJ wants to make the election about law and order after his stunt with the letters? I dont think the judge has ruled on that but i dont discount i could have missed it.
Didnt a Tory MP get collared by the police during the party conference law and order speech as well!
Indeed. I remember seeing that in the news. Making policy on certain issues is always a hostege to fortune.
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
I did in Kaikoura NZ a few decades ago, Sperm whales are there most of the year. I have also seen Humpbacks in South Africa. They both are quite impressive, but the swell is not for those with delicate stomachs.
The Bay of Fundy was flat as the proverbial mill pond the day we went
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
We were there 3 weeks ago but didn't do the whale watching
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
Don't give up early on the northern lights. We were just about to head to bed - when they fired up.
Matarkjallarinn - Foodcellar was very good.
Can't recall the name, but here was an old merchant's house in the centre of Reykjavik that was superb - although the menu is not for the squeamish. Whale, puffin - baby horse nearly had the Good Lady walking out. But the lamb and the fish are well worth the not cheap prices.
There is a hydrothermal plant out of town you can visit that has an "earthquake machine" - that was fun.
We couldn't get to the old parliament site because of a big freeze when we went, but that is a great trip by all accounts.
Spoke to four Labour voters. Would vote tactically for LDs but Swinson is a deal breaker. Not much love for her in a constituency she needs.
Too female?
No Swinson is too partisan to attract Labour switchers. I must say I do think she looks like her position on Brexit is primarily about party gain.
Mr Corbyn, of course, is not partisan in the slightest, but rather a consensual, compromising politician who has already offered to stand down 50 candidates in order to help pro-Remain SNP, Green, Plaid and LibDem defeat Conservative incumbents.
I try not to swear on PB, but what the blistering f— have you been f—ing smoking this evening.
I confess to having completely forgotten such early snowfall. We'll find out who is keenest to stop the fascists/marxists/dreaded neutrals if that happens!
If it snows a day or two beforehand (rather than sudden hit) then expect days of rowing about whether it should be postponed.
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
I did in Kaikoura NZ a few decades ago, Sperm whales are there most of the year. I have also seen Humpbacks in South Africa. They both are quite impressive, but the swell is not for those with delicate stomachs.
If the Met Office seasonal forecast is any guide the more likely hazard is from a windstorm and/or flooding.
Indeed, in the England and Wales Precipitation series we have seen higher than average rainfall every month from June onwards. Both September and October (to date) have been just over 150% of the long-term average, and [meteorological] autumn is on average the wettest season for England and Wales, so that is really quite wet.
Is Amber Rudd planning to run as an independent in Hastings & Rye?
Thought it was somewhere in London?
Uxbridge would be fun. Assuming Bozo doesn’t run away frit.
What an absurd suggestion. There is no chance whatsoever that Boris will stand anywhere other than Uxbridge. It would be an incredible gift to the opposition parties to go on the chicken run.
Just had a look on Facebook, shocked at how little comment there is about the election, compared to 2017! maybe its because 2017 was more of a surprise, but maybe its because people are just tiered of the rows now?
Or maybe its just my friends or Facebook changes its algorithms
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
Don't give up early on the northern lights. We were just about to head to bed - when they fired up.
Matarkjallarinn - Foodcellar was very good.
Can't recall the name, but here was an old merchant's house in the centre of Reykjavik that was superb - although the menu is not for the squeamish. Whale, puffin - baby horse nearly had the Good Lady walking out. But the lamb and the fish are well worth the not cheap prices.
There is a hydrothermal plant out of town you can visit that has an "earthquake machine" - that was fun.
We couldn't get to the old parliament site because of a big freeze when we went, but that is a great trip by all accounts.
Thanks Mark
It's a great time of year for the Northern lights and little moonlight this week. Cloud cover is likely to be your biggest barrier to seeing them though - not looking ideal this week in Iceland sadly
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
My sister is there right now, they visited a tomato greenhouse on Sunday, but that might be a bit too racy for you!
Besides that they've been swimming in hot springs, seeing the continental rift, and taken around by guides to see the sites and learn about Icelandic folklore. The did go out on a boat at night and saw the northern lights which have been visible the last few days.
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Agreed- if there is no majority, there is likely to be either a May deal resurrected or a Ken Clarke customs union...both with cross party support.....there will be no appetite for a 2nd vote
Which helps write the LibDem leaflets in Labour seats.
Comrade...I am a massive Remainer....even I realise that the concept of another referendum after an election is too much. Revoking Article 50 is bonkers...and akin to the actions of a fascist...what the fuck planet are the Yellow Peril on? They had one shot with this Parliament and blew it
Brexit will now happen....and Swinson can now join alongside the protagonists in the essay 10 years from now..."Who was responsible for Brexit...discuss?"
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Just had a look on Facebook, shocked at how little comment there is about the election, compared to 2017! maybe its because 2017 was more of a surprise, but maybe its because people are just tiered of the rows now?
Or maybe its just my friends or Facebook changes its algorithms
If so good for the Tories I would suggest (though the campaign does not even begin until next week)
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
DO NOT have their petrified shark. I can still taste it and is in the top three most disgusting things I have ever eaten.
I suspect that hákarl, like lutefisk in Norway and surströmming in Sweden, is something the locals don’t ever actually eat, except perhaps when very drunk.
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
We were there 3 weeks ago but didn't do the whale watching
Did you get to see the fall colour? Thinking of doing a similar trip to yours in a year or two but want to be able to see the famed New England fall colours.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
Spoke to four Labour voters. Would vote tactically for LDs but Swinson is a deal breaker. Not much love for her in a constituency she needs.
Too female?
No Swinson is too partisan to attract Labour switchers. I must say I do think she looks like her position on Brexit is primarily about party gain.
Mr Corbyn, of course, is not partisan in the slightest, but rather a consensual, compromising politician who has already offered to stand down 50 candidates in order to help pro-Remain SNP, Green, Plaid and LibDem defeat Conservative incumbents.
I try not to swear on PB, but what the blistering f— have you been f—ing smoking this evening.
Is Amber Rudd planning to run as an independent in Hastings & Rye?
Thought it was somewhere in London?
Uxbridge would be fun. Assuming Bozo doesn’t run away frit.
What an absurd suggestion. There is no chance whatsoever that Boris will stand anywhere other than Uxbridge. It would be an incredible gift to the opposition parties to go on the chicken run.
Given the contrasting views I hope they add will Johnson stand in Uxbridge to Betfair!
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Agreed- if there is no majority, there is likely to be either a May deal resurrected or a Ken Clarke customs union...both with cross party support.....there will be no appetite for a 2nd vote
Which helps write the LibDem leaflets in Labour seats.
Comrade...I am a massive Remainer....even I realise that the concept of another referendum after an election is too much. Revoking Article 50 is bonkers...and akin to the actions of a fascist...what the fuck planet are the Yellow Peril on? They had one shot with this Parliament and blew it
Brexit will now happen....and Swinson can now join alongside the protagonists in the essay 10 years from now..."Who was responsible for Brexit...discuss?"
Bozo getting the deal (under duress) killed that option.
And the Tories plus SNP was sufficient to land the election in any case.
Postal votes 2 weeks before Xmas. What could go wrong....?
A Royal Mail strike?
The royal mail union on strike buggering up Labour's postal vote operation would be delicious
Postal votes are mostly used by the elderly who, of course, are overwhelmingly Tory.
That’s a bit of a myth. Students and ethnic minorities are also heavy users, and in seats with active campaigns the parties try to sign up as many of their voters as possible, as getting a PV pushes turnout up from 60% to 80%, and it leaves fewer people to chase on polling day.
I'm part of that weird (dying?) breed that actually likes to go into the polling station and secretly put a cross in a box.
I was once involved in shredding late postal votes from a general election. Surprising how many there were. What was interesting was how the electoral officer wanted us to waste time doing that rather than put them straight into the locked bins as they had arrived.
Provided it is postmarked before polling day a postal vote still counts even if it arrives after polls closed. We could be in a Florida 2000 situation in some marginals as a result if the strike goes ahead (though the Government will try for an injunction to stop it).
I don’t think that’s true. Once the RO reads the declaration, that result can only be overturned in court, even if people spot a mistake when packing away (as has happened)
Legally a postal vote cast before polls close is a valid vote and must be counted and the losing parties in a close result can and would successfully challenge in court to overturn the result if they were not counted
In the last GE there were two seats which were incredibly close. A majority of 2 and 48 (from memory so not exact). How can a returning officer announce the result on Friday when there are hundreds of unrecieved postal votes which might or might not have been sent or delayed in the post?
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
Yes, there may well have to be some delayed results on that basis
If you asked me to predict today, I’d guess Con 305, Lab 227 SNP 50 Lib Dems 40 Plaid Cymru 5 Brexit 4 Green 1 NI 18.
But I wouldn’t bet 20p on that.
And I think if that were the result there would be no-one joining with the Tories to keep them in, and a rainbow alliance would be very insecurely running things, followed by another election soon.
A big Lib Dem resurgence should not be discounted. Of the non Brexit alliance (including Labour) Jo Swinson leads the field in charm by a furlong. If she has a good campaign and opinion clusters around her it will be interesting. Corbyn will once again try to turn the campaign away from Brexit to eye watering retail offers to the younger and poorer voters, paying for it with the same magic money tree that Boris has just found.
Worth a bet that no-one dares to put much about social care for the elderly in their manifesto.
Postal votes 2 weeks before Xmas. What could go wrong....?
A Royal Mail strike?
The royal mail union on strike buggering up Labour's postal vote operation would be delicious
Postal votes are mostly used by the elderly who, of course, are overwhelmingly Tory.
That’s a bit of a myth. Students and ethnic minorities are also heavy users, and in seats with active campaigns the parties try to sign up as many of their voters as possible, as getting a PV pushes turnout up from 60% to 80%, and it leaves fewer people to chase on polling day.
I'm part of that weird (dying?) breed that actually likes to go into the polling station and secretly put a cross in a box.
I was once involved in shredding late postal votes from a general election. Surprising how many there were. What was interesting was how the electoral officer wanted us to waste time doing that rather than put them straight into the locked bins as they had arrived.
Provided it is postmarked before polling day a postal vote still counts even if it arrives after polls closed. We could be in a Florida 2000 situation in some marginals as a result if the strike goes ahead (though the Government will try for an injunction to stop it).
I don’t think that’s true. Once the RO reads the declaration, that result can only be overturned in court, even if people spot a mistake when packing away (as has happened)
Legally a postal vote cast before polls close is a valid vote and must be counted and the losing parties in a close result can and would successfully challenge in court to overturn the result if they were not counted
In the last GE there were two seats which were incredibly close. A majority of 2 and 48 (from memory so not exact). How can a returning officer announce the result on Friday when there are hundreds of unrecieved postal votes which might or might not have been sent or delayed in the post?
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
Yes, there may well have to be some delayed results on that basis
No RO would delay an election count to wait for the next post.
Johnson's strategy is essentially the same as May's in 2017: rely on a party led by Nigel Farage to win votes that would otherwise be Labour.
A Gillian Duffy moment for the PM, or a scandal to hit either of them, or if Nige doesn't put his back into it, and it's over.
Boris is weak on the private schools. What has he got? 1. They save the country billions of pounds. 2. Labour's opposition to them is old-fashioned. I wonder how those will play.
Corbyn is not a strong leader but he is more at home than Michael Foot was speaking with ordinary people. This is going to be a two-party race.
Polling from 2016-17:
Private schools are an utter irrelevance. Red meat to Labour faithful but striking few chords in the wider country. Indeed some polls show a decent majority opposed to Labour's plans.
As for 2017 comparisons...again these are largely irrelevant. Corbyn then was a blank canvas, hoovering up the youth and the remain vote. That seems very unlikely to happen this time.
Agreed, private schools are irrelevant, probably a vote loser for Labour given their conference policy shambles.
How many voters remember what happened at a party conference? If Labour make private schools an issue, the Tories are going to have say something about it. That's the problem. Saying "Labour are stupid about private schools - what do they know about them anyway?" looks terrible. Remember that Labour are going to fight this election on social reform.
Not many.
Teachers. Their vote was probably Labour and will remain so. Labour members. Their vote was Labour and will remain so. Parents of private school kids. Their votes were mixed and will switch away from Labour.
You are right, no-one else will remember the conference policy or care enough about the issue for it to change their vote.
Bashing the Public School pushes is a pretty good core vote strategy in Northern Leave towns, hard for Bozo and Lord Snooty to counter.
No, bashing public schools may work in Islington, Hackney or Liverpool, it will not work in Bassetlaw or Enfield or Stoke
How do you know where it works or does not?
As voters in the former are ideological leftwingers who back class war, voters in the latter are aspirational swing voters who just want good schools for their children
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
To fund the NHS and that massive infrastructure programme, as has been Tory policy for the last 40 years?
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
We were there 3 weeks ago but didn't do the whale watching
Did you get to see the fall colour? Thinking of doing a similar trip to yours in a year or two but want to be able to see the famed New England fall colours.
Yes - especially in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Just wonderful though New England itself was a week or so behind. However if you get the chance to cruise to Nova Scotia, New England and New York you will not regret it
Postal votes 2 weeks before Xmas. What could go wrong....?
A Royal Mail strike?
The royal mail union on strike buggering up Labour's postal vote operation would be delicious
Postal votes are mostly used by the elderly who, of course, are overwhelmingly Tory.
That’s a bit of a myth. Students and ethnic minorities are also heavy users, and in seats with active campaigns the parties try to sign up as many of their voters as possible, as getting a PV pushes turnout up from 60% to 80%, and it leaves fewer people to chase on polling day.
I'm part of that weird (dying?) breed that actually likes to go into the polling station and secretly put a cross in a box.
I was once involved in shredding late postal votes from a general election. Surprising how many there were. What was interesting was how the electoral officer wanted us to waste time doing that rather than put them straight into the locked bins as they had arrived.
Provided it is postmarked before polling day a postal vote still counts even if it arrives after polls closed. We could be in a Florida 2000 situation in some marginals as a result if the strike goes ahead (though the Government will try for an injunction to stop it).
I don’t think that’s true. Once the RO reads the declaration, that result can only be overturned in court, even if people spot a mistake when packing away (as has happened)
Legally a postal vote cast before polls close is a valid vote and must be counted and the losing parties in a close result can and would successfully challenge in court to overturn the result if they were not counted
n the post?
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
Yes, there may well have to be some delayed results on that basis
No RO would delay an election count to wait for the next post.
In which case they could be taken to court for failing to count legally validly cast votes if they were postmarked before polling day
On assembly sizes, I’ve read that the civil service traditionally used the cube root of the population to determine the sizes of deliberative bodies like municipal councils and colonial assemblies. That would make the Commons approximately 407 members. On the same basis, the US House of Representatives would have around 689 members.
I have found a figure for 141 MPs in the May government who were ministers, whips or PPSs, so if you add that payroll vote onto the figure of 407 you arrive at a total of... 548. Eerily close to Cameron's original proposal to reduce the Commons to 550 MPs.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
Labour could offer the same. The Tories can hardly pledge uncosted spending/tax cuts and then attack Labour for the same without creating problems for the Tories...
Is Amber Rudd planning to run as an independent in Hastings & Rye?
Thought it was somewhere in London?
Uxbridge would be fun. Assuming Bozo doesn’t run away frit.
What an absurd suggestion. There is no chance whatsoever that Boris will stand anywhere other than Uxbridge. It would be an incredible gift to the opposition parties to go on the chicken run.
The Telegraph reported he was looking at Sevenoaks or East Yorks.
OT Going to Iceland tomorrow. Any recommendations?
If you've got time, a trip across the south coast to jökulsárlón glacier is fantastic.
Golden Circle, whale watching trips out to sea from Reykjavík are fun. Northern Lights chasing trips are easy to get onto.
Reykjavík is small and very walkable. There is a great coffee shop on Skólavörðustígur, called Mokka, straight off the main street - good waffles.
Thank you. Got Golden Circle, whales and Northern Lights booked although looks like rain. Will check out glacier and coffee shop.
I'm a foodie, but the Icelandic food looks decidedly dodgy particularly as I am not a fish fan. I suspect gulls and puffins also taste of fish.
The Phallological museum has to be seen to be believed.
On the food front, I recommend the tasting menu at Laekjabrekka - not cheap but gives you all the weird shit - puffin, whale, fermented shark etc. - in manageably small quantities. Preferable to ordering something unusual and then feeling cheated and disappointed when you actually tuck in.
Any fuckwit tourist eating whale meat should be taken out and shot.
Night all.
I'm going to watch them not eat them.
We saw some from the QM2. Or more accurately, we saw some water spouts and the occssional fin fleetingly breaking the surface; they don’t seem to jump out of the water like at Seaworld.
We did a fantastic whale watch in the Bay of Fundy many years ago - saw plenty of massive humpbacks breaching (jumping).
Thoroughly recommended.
We were there 3 weeks ago but didn't do the whale watching
Did you get to see the fall colour? Thinking of doing a similar trip to yours in a year or two but want to be able to see the famed New England fall colours.
Yes - especially in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Just wonderful though New England itself was a week or so behind. However if you get the chance to cruise to Nova Scotia, New England and New York you will not regret it
I’m expecting a hung Parliament. The absolute majority who are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson will find a way of stopping him.
There are a lot of people out there who are going to vote and who don’t know who they’re going to vote for. Like last time, they might decide very late on indeed.
I tend to agree but I believe now it is either Boris wins and we leave on the 31st January or a second referendum takes place next summer
Given this election is a referendum on Brexit, surely Brexit is over if the Tories dont get a majority? Or will they be looking for a best of three losers revote?
Not sure how you cancel it without either Jo Swinson winning a majority on revoke or a referendum
Agreed- if there is no majority, there is likely to be either a May deal resurrected or a Ken Clarke customs union...both with cross party support.....there will be no appetite for a 2nd vote
Which helps write the LibDem leaflets in Labour seats.
Comrade...I am a massive Remainer....even I realise that the concept of another referendum after an election is too much. Revoking Article 50 is bonkers...and akin to the actions of a fascist...what the fuck planet are the Yellow Peril on? They had one shot with this Parliament and blew it
Brexit will now happen....and Swinson can now join alongside the protagonists in the essay 10 years from now..."Who was responsible for Brexit...discuss?"
I had a LibDem glossy pamphlet through my letterbox today proclaiming Jo Swansong as the next British PM, no ifs or buts. You'd think they'd have learned don't you although I suppose they can always plead that they thought we'd know it was a joke.
Thank you everyone for the Iceland recommendations (whether geographical or high st). What a nice bunch you are! I feel like I am going to be the last one to visit.
Johnson's strategy is essentially the same as May's in 2017: rely on a party led by Nigel Farage to win votes that would otherwise be Labour.
A Gillian Duffy moment for the PM, or a scandal to hit either of them, or if Nige doesn't put his back into it, and it's over.
Boris is weak on the private schools. What has he got? 1. They save the country billions of pounds. 2. Labour's opposition to them is old-fashioned. I wonder how those will play.
Corbyn is not a strong leader but he is more at home than Michael Foot was speaking with ordinary people. This is going to be a two-party race.
Polling from 2016-17:
Private schools are an utter irrelevance. Red meat to Labour faithful but striking few chords in the wider country. Indeed some polls show a decent majority opposed to Labour's plans.
As for 2017 comparisons...again these are largely irrelevant. Corbyn then was a blank canvas, hoovering up the youth and the remain vote. That seems very unlikely to happen this time.
Agreed, private schools are irrelevant, probably a vote loser for Labour given their conference policy shambles.
How many voters remember what happened at a party conference? If Labour make private schools an issue, the Tories are going to have say something about it. That's the problem. Saying "Labour are stupid about private schools - what do they know about them anyway?" looks terrible. Remember that Labour are going to fight this election on social reform.
Not many.
Teachers. Their vote was probably Labour and will remain so. Labour members. Their vote was Labour and will remain so. Parents of private school kids. Their votes were mixed and will switch away from Labour.
You are right, no-one else will remember the conference policy or care enough about the issue for it to change their vote.
Bashing the Public School pushes is a pretty good core vote strategy in Northern Leave towns, hard for Bozo and Lord Snooty to counter.
No, bashing public schools may work in Islington, Hackney or Liverpool, it will not work in Bassetlaw or Enfield or Stoke
How do you know where it works or does not?
As voters in the former are ideological leftwingers who back class war, voters in the latter are aspirational swing voters who just want good schools for their children
Just 8% of children are educated privately, and a much lower percentage in Northern Leavd towns.
Postal votes 2 weeks before Xmas. What could go wrong....?
A Royal Mail strike?
The royal mail union on strike buggering up Labour's postal vote operation would be delicious
Postal votes are mostly used by the elderly who, of course, are overwhelmingly Tory.
That’s a bit of a myth. Students and ethnic minorities are also heavy users, and in seats with active campaigns the parties try to sign up as many of their voters as possible, as getting a PV pushes turnout up from 60% to 80%, and it leaves fewer people to chase on polling day.
I'm part of that weird (dying?) breed that actually likes to go into the polling station and secretly put a cross in a box.
I em straight into the locked bins as they had arrived.
Provided it is postmarked before polling day a postal vote still counts even if it arrives after polls closed. We could be in a Florida 2000 situation in some marginals as a result if the strike goes ahead (though the Government will try for an injunction to stop it).
I don’t think that’s true. Once the RO reads the declaration, that result can only be overturned in court, even if people spot a mistake when packing away (as has happened)
Legally a postal vote cast before polls close is a valid vote and must be counted and the losing parties in a close result can and would successfully challenge in court to overturn the result if they were not counted
n the post?
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
Yes, there may well have to be some delayed results on that basis
No RO would delay an election count to wait for the next post.
In which case they could be taken to court for failing to count legally validly cast votes if they were postmarked before polling day
Do you actually have any evidence to back up your statement?
The days when postmarks counted as evidence are long gone, after some renowned football pool fraud attempts long ago
When the commentators and 3 opposition leaders were saying definitely no election I was piling on there will be.
For my next moment of genius I am betting the lot on Boris not getting a majority.
☃️ he look certain to lose seats to Ld and Snp, but less certain to take Labour to much better losses ⛄️ I am anticipating Farage going hard on the deal and adding 4 or 5% on during the election. This isn’t Farage anti brexit this is Farage anti Boris deal. ☃️ Need to learn the Lessons of history, Tories on Pb seem to have brainwashed themselves what happened in 2017 was May a bad campaigner launching disastrous manifesto promises without cabinet even briefed. Phooey. I’m calling you out. What happened 2017 was May a bad campaigner launching disastrous manifesto promises without cabinet even briefed + remain knowing how to make best use of their vote + terrorist attacks.
Thank you everyone for the Iceland recommendations (whether geographical or high st). What a nice bunch you are! I feel like I am going to be the last one to visit.
It is a fantastic country, hope you have a good trip - I'm very keen to go back and see more of Iceland.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
Labour could offer the same. The Tories can hardly pledge uncosted spending/tax cuts and then attack Labour for the same without creating problems for the Tories...
No, that just neutralises the issue for the Tories (unlike May's tax rise and spending cuts agenda of 2017 which Labour exploited) while the Tories go on Brexit and squeeze Labour in the middle with the LDs picking up Remainers on the other side
Comrade...I am a massive Remainer....even I realise that the concept of another referendum after an election is too much. Revoking Article 50 is bonkers...and akin to the actions of a fascist...what the fuck planet are the Yellow Peril on? They had one shot with this Parliament and blew it
Brexit will now happen....and Swinson can now join alongside the protagonists in the essay 10 years from now..."Who was responsible for Brexit...discuss?"
What do you think they could have done that would have got them a referendum? Backing Corbyn wouldn't have done it, they also needed switchers from Con, and also the ex-Labour MPs who rightly or wrongly had left the Labour Party because they hated Corbyn so much.
A non-Corbyn caretaker was blocked by Corbyn. It might have been possible to persuade him to let someone else through if Boris hadn't come back with a deal and they could have put together a GNU with nearly all the ex-Cons, but that didn't pan out.
A referendum amendment to either Boris's or TMay's deal wouldn't have had the votes.
So what was the move they should have made and didn't?
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
Labour could offer the same. The Tories can hardly pledge uncosted spending/tax cuts and then attack Labour for the same without creating problems for the Tories...
Anything goes in GEs .... and brazenness fills the voids
Am probably a cynical old bat. But wouldn't be surprised to find that we never hear of Boris's deal again, it having served its purpose to set up a "Boris v Parliament" fight.
If he wins he'll just take Britain out & sign up to whatever rubbish deal Trump puts in front of him.
I confess to having completely forgotten such early snowfall. We'll find out who is keenest to stop the fascists/marxists/dreaded neutrals if that happens!
If it snows a day or two beforehand (rather than sudden hit) then expect days of rowing about whether it should be postponed.
I would expect some people to complain about it if the forecast doesn't look good, rather than waiting for some bad weather to actually happen first.
The interesting thing is what happens if the Met Office issue a severe weather warning for the day of the election. There have been a few instances over the last year when they've been confident enough to issue a weather warning at least five days in advance. Imagine the Today programme on the morning of Monday 9th December if there are severe weather warnings issued over the weekend for the 12th.
I believe it's normally too late at that stage to apply for a postal vote. Massive row.
Boris should be a better campaigner than May anyway... Hopefully this time he won't come up with a manifesto that threatens his own voters... That'd help!
Who are his voters though? If it is Brexit supporting former Labour voters. Do you really think tax cuts for the rich at the expense of said Brexit supporting former Labour voters is going to draw them across? All Labour have to do is go on about tory tax cuts for the rich whilst contrasting more spending for the poor....
The poor will vote Labour anyway, it is the skilled working class and lower middle class Leave voters the Tories need and many of them would quite like some tax cuts
Labour could offer the same. The Tories can hardly pledge uncosted spending/tax cuts and then attack Labour for the same without creating problems for the Tories...
No, that just neutralises the issue for the Tories (unlike May's tax rise and spending cuts agenda of 2017 which Labour exploited) while the Tories go on Brexit and squeeze Labour in the middle with the LDs picking up Remainers on the other side
lol - I think BJ might have some very shaky weeks in front of him. Dont say you were not warned...
Comments
Tory Remainers loathe Corbyn so will vote Tory in Labour v Tory marginals but might vote LD in LD v Tory Marginals, LD v Labour Marginals or Tory or Labour safe seats
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1189307219420045317
assemblies. That would make the Commons approximately 407 members. On the same basis, the US House of Representatives would have around 689 members.
Grudgingly accepting the referendum result because you don’t want to re-open the whole issue again is easier than actively voting for Brexit again in a Brexit election. The LibDems will be pitching hard for Tories worried about Brexit to lend them their votes - and could have a lot of money on offer from business and other donors to help fund their campaign.
In Australia postal votes sent on polling day will be counted and so a handfull of constituencies need one to two weeks before tey can declare.
The LD's are beyond contempt....
But I’m sure the Lib Dem’s would be prepared to set out their demands.
Thoroughly recommended.
Tax rate increases for the under 30's and those living in cities with over 3 000 000 inhabitants.
No tax at all for people who have officially retired.
Voting rights to be extended to those who have died in the last 5 years (by proxy obviously).
Uxbridge would be fun. Assuming Bozo doesn’t run away frit.
I try not to swear on PB, but what the blistering f— have you been f—ing smoking this evening.
Indeed, in the England and Wales Precipitation series we have seen higher than average rainfall every month from June onwards. Both September and October (to date) have been just over 150% of the long-term average, and [meteorological] autumn is on average the wettest season for England and Wales, so that is really quite wet.
Or maybe its just my friends or Facebook changes its algorithms
Comrade...I am a massive Remainer....even I realise that the concept of another referendum after an election is too much.
Revoking Article 50 is bonkers...and akin to the actions of a fascist...what the fuck planet are the Yellow Peril on? They had one shot with this Parliament and blew it
Brexit will now happen....and Swinson can now join alongside the protagonists in the essay 10 years from now..."Who was responsible for Brexit...discuss?"
And the Tories plus SNP was sufficient to land the election in any case.
A big Lib Dem resurgence should not be discounted. Of the non Brexit alliance (including Labour) Jo Swinson leads the field in charm by a furlong. If she has a good campaign and opinion clusters around her it will be interesting. Corbyn will once again try to turn the campaign away from Brexit to eye watering retail offers to the younger and poorer voters, paying for it with the same magic money tree that Boris has just found.
Worth a bet that no-one dares to put much about social care for the elderly in their manifesto.
Don't use the word "Laffer" in response.
What were the other two ?
The Telegraph reported he was looking at Sevenoaks or East Yorks.
The days when postmarks counted as evidence are long gone, after some renowned football pool fraud attempts long ago
Parliament rises on tuesday 5th November, so only thursday and monday left as not sitting on friday
When the commentators and 3 opposition leaders were saying definitely no election I was piling on there will be.
For my next moment of genius I am betting the lot on Boris not getting a majority.
☃️ he look certain to lose seats to Ld and Snp, but less certain to take Labour to much better losses
⛄️ I am anticipating Farage going hard on the deal and adding 4 or 5% on during the election. This isn’t Farage anti brexit this is Farage anti Boris deal.
☃️ Need to learn the Lessons of history, Tories on Pb seem to have brainwashed themselves what happened in 2017 was May a bad campaigner launching disastrous manifesto promises without cabinet even briefed. Phooey. I’m calling you out. What happened 2017 was May a bad campaigner launching disastrous manifesto promises without cabinet even briefed + remain knowing how to make best use of their vote + terrorist attacks.
A non-Corbyn caretaker was blocked by Corbyn. It might have been possible to persuade him to let someone else through if Boris hadn't come back with a deal and they could have put together a GNU with nearly all the ex-Cons, but that didn't pan out.
A referendum amendment to either Boris's or TMay's deal wouldn't have had the votes.
So what was the move they should have made and didn't?
If he wins he'll just take Britain out & sign up to whatever rubbish deal Trump puts in front of him.
The interesting thing is what happens if the Met Office issue a severe weather warning for the day of the election. There have been a few instances over the last year when they've been confident enough to issue a weather warning at least five days in advance. Imagine the Today programme on the morning of Monday 9th December if there are severe weather warnings issued over the weekend for the 12th.
I believe it's normally too late at that stage to apply for a postal vote. Massive row.