Are we expecting the manifestos to be published this week?
I'm genuinely interested to see what ends up in them given all the trailers we've had.
Labour's is this Thursday I believe. LDs should be smart and get theirs out Wednesday, try to make Labour's look lame by comparison (apart from the glorious spending which cannot be matched), or that Labour are following the LDs lead.
And the Tories?
Or do they not really feel the need for one, given they have an oven-ready Brexit to offer?
I think they'll delay it as long as they can. It's expected, but again I think they are scared of what happened last time.
They can't delay too long because the lack of a manifesto will become an open goal for the opposition parties.
Corbyn has the ability to skewer Johnson on Brexit IMHO, if he can get him on the ropes in terms of what he intends to actually deliver.
So far it's "get Brexit done" but very few have asked "what the hell does that mean"?
Er, what? It means signing the deal he's agreed with the EU, leaving on or before 31 Jan, and then agreeing the trade agreement everyone says he can't get, having learnt nothing from being wrong about the deal he wasn't supposed to be able to get.
You really think clarity on Brexit is a strength for Corbyn?
Corbyn couldn't care less about Brexit one way or another. He's neutral remember. He wants to talk about class war and socialist revolution. With Free broadband.
At 30mbps.
How do people cope with only 30 Mbps?
It helps to live on your own so no other bastard is stealing your WiFi signal.
This is the broadband speed I have to share with four others. It is a hard life.
What on earth can you possibly do to need all that?
Seriously, I get 48Mbps down and 14 up - I certainly wouldn't pay for more.
I'm only paying £26.99 a month for that, got a good deal with Virgin.
I have the kids on PS4, my parents are silver surfers, my father is constantly streaming UHD content on Netflix/Amazon Prime, my mother is regular video calling her friends and family all across the world.
Me I use it to upload content to the UK's most popular political blog and watch a lot of UHD content on Sky.
Right - makes more sense when you put it like that.
And what happens to Virgin when the free owls fibres are being distributed to every voter?
Are we expecting the manifestos to be published this week?
I'm genuinely interested to see what ends up in them given all the trailers we've had.
Labour's is this Thursday I believe. LDs should be smart and get theirs out Wednesday, try to make Labour's look lame by comparison (apart from the glorious spending which cannot be matched), or that Labour are following the LDs lead.
And the Tories?
Or do they not really feel the need for one, given they have an oven-ready Brexit to offer?
I think they'll delay it as long as they can. It's expected, but again I think they are scared of what happened last time.
They can't delay too long because the lack of a manifesto will become an open goal for the opposition parties.
Corbyn has the ability to skewer Johnson on Brexit IMHO, if he can get him on the ropes in terms of what he intends to actually deliver.
So far it's "get Brexit done" but very few have asked "what the hell does that mean"?
Er, what? It means signing the deal he's agreed with the EU, leaving on or before 31 Jan, and then agreeing the trade agreement everyone says he can't get, having learnt nothing from being wrong about the deal he wasn't supposed to be able to get.
You really think clarity on Brexit is a strength for Corbyn?
Corbyn couldn't care less about Brexit one way or another. He's neutral remember. He wants to talk about class war and socialist revolution. With Free broadband.
At 30mbps.
How do people cope with only 30 Mbps?
It helps to live on your own so no other bastard is stealing your WiFi signal.
This is the broadband speed I have to share with four others. It is a hard life.
What on earth can you possibly do to need all that?
Seriously, I get 48Mbps down and 14 up - I certainly wouldn't pay for more.
I'm only paying £26.99 a month for that, got a good deal with Virgin.
I have the kids on PS4, my parents are silver surfers, my father is constantly streaming UHD content on Netflix/Amazon Prime, my mother is regular video calling her friends and family all across the world.
Me I use it to upload content to the UK's most popular political blog and watch a lot of UHD content on Sky.
Right - makes more sense when you put it like that.
And what happens to Virgin when the free owls fibres are being distributed to every voter?
This sounds weird but the days of a 56k dial-up modem were more satisfying. You had to work for your internet - and rack-up a nice bill while you were doing it. And keeping your parents off the phone.....
The feeling of "will it connect" was a daily excitement.
I remember those days, remember the heady days of AOL and Freeserve.
Yes, they have an oddly romantic flavour, like steam trains. But I still use AOL for all my email!
Corbyn has the ability to skewer Johnson on Brexit IMHO, if he can get him on the ropes in terms of what he intends to actually deliver.
So far it's "get Brexit done" but very few have asked "what the hell does that mean"?
Er, what? It means signing the deal he's agreed with the EU, leaving on or before 31 Jan, and then agreeing the trade agreement everyone says he can't get, having learnt nothing from being wrong about the deal he wasn't supposed to be able to get.
You really think clarity on Brexit is a strength for Corbyn?
Corbyn couldn't care less about Brexit one way or another. He's neutral remember. He wants to talk about class war and socialist revolution. With Free broadband.
At 30mbps.
How do people cope with only 30 Mbps?
It helps to live on your own so no other bastard is stealing your WiFi signal.
This is the broadband speed I have to share with four others. It is a hard life.
What on earth can you possibly do to need all that?
Seriously, I get 48Mbps down and 14 up - I certainly wouldn't pay for more.
I'm only paying £26.99 a month for that, got a good deal with Virgin.
I have the kids on PS4, my parents are silver surfers, my father is constantly streaming UHD content on Netflix/Amazon Prime, my mother is regular video calling her friends and family all across the world.
Me I use it to upload content to the UK's most popular political blog and watch a lot of UHD content on Sky.
Right - makes more sense when you put it like that.
And what happens to Virgin when the free owls fibres are being distributed to every voter?
This election is very very far from a slam dunk for Boris. The electorate is volatile, frustrated and exhausted. And he could easily fall short of a majority.
Corbyn has the ability to skewer Johnson on Brexit IMHO, if he can get him on the ropes in terms of what he intends to actually deliver.
So far it's "get Brexit done" but very few have asked "what the hell does that mean"?
Er, what? It means signing the deal he's agreed with the EU, leaving on or before 31 Jan, and then agreeing the trade agreement everyone says he can't get, having learnt nothing from being wrong about the deal he wasn't supposed to be able to get.
You really think clarity on Brexit is a strength for Corbyn?
Corbyn couldn't care less about Brexit one way or another. He's neutral remember. He wants to talk about class war and socialist revolution. With Free broadband.
At 30mbps.
How do people cope with only 30 Mbps?
It helps to live on your own so no other bastard is stealing your WiFi signal.
This is the broadband speed I have to share with four others. It is a hard life.
What on earth can you possibly do to need all that?
Seriously, I get 48Mbps down and 14 up - I certainly wouldn't pay for more.
I'm only paying £26.99 a month for that, got a good deal with Virgin.
I have the kids on PS4, my parents are silver surfers, my father is constantly streaming UHD content on Netflix/Amazon Prime, my mother is regular video calling her friends and family all across the world.
Me I use it to upload content to the UK's most popular political blog and watch a lot of UHD content on Sky.
Right - makes more sense when you put it like that.
And what happens to Virgin when the free owls fibres are being distributed to every voter?
I get the feeling the "Free Broadband" is Corbyn's Edstone moment.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
One of the truly sad things about David Herdson quitting the Tory party is that we won’t get a feel for how the campaign is going in the run up to polling day.
This election is very very far from a slam dunk for Boris. The electorate is volatile, frustrated and exhausted. And he could easily fall short of a majority.
Anyone who doubts that needs their head examined.
Yep. I still reckon we will end up having another GE in 2020.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
Wasn't it true that before 2017 manifestos and the campaign were actually of no consequence whatsoever. Apart from f*ckups like Gillian Duffy. Even then that didn't really change much.
Cleggasm excepted in the debates obvs but that was the first time we had the debates so they were a novelty. Now they're just "meh".
Surprised LAB campaigning in Mansfield. CON Maj 20%?
Given it was a narrow Tory gain last time after decades as a Labour stronghold, if they were NOT campaigning there we would know they really did fear wipeout.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
Yes. I think people have made up their mind about this election and don't see much changing with the debates,
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
It will be interesting to know how excited people are for them. When we first had them there was a huge amount of novelty and the nation tuned it. I remember loads of people asking me if I was going to watch them.
I honestly haven't spoken to anybody this time around who is talking about them. It will be generally interesting to see how many people tune in.
It is hard to see how they will affect things. Boris will be crap, Jezza will be fine, but will that matter as they are polar opposites. I guess the advantage for Jezza is he manages to convince more Remainers to vote Labour by getting the tone right.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Surprised LAB campaigning in Mansfield. CON Maj 20%?
Given it was a narrow Tory gain last time after decades as a Labour stronghold, if they were NOT campaigning there we would know they really did fear wipeout.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Sellafield more befitting.
I'm getting a mental image of the TV drama 'Threads', I dunno why.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
Of course they may have little effect, but a serious screw up is the sort of thing to look out for - Labour are currently on track for what they got last time, and need to not screw up. Boris definitely needs to not screw up. There's big potential for something to have an effect, even if the most likely outcome is a no score draw.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Sellafield more befitting.
I'm getting a mental image of the TV drama 'Threads', I dunno why.
It's what the country will look like after 5 years of Corbynism? But Threads more cheerful and full of hope obviously.
I think Boris should go serious (I know) and stick to attacking Corbyn on Labour’s manifesto. If he goes all foam-flecked and starts calling him a terrorist or anti-semite, it won't work. And he needs to inspire people about why he's a Tory, contrasting his posititive view of the UK with someone who clearly doesn't like the UK very much.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
One of the truly sad things about David Herdson quitting the Tory party is that we won’t get a feel for how the campaign is going in the run up to polling day.
Don't we have a direct line to CCHQ and Boris's every thought via @HYUFD?
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
I think Boris should go serious (I know) and stick to attacking Corbyn on Labour’s manifesto. If he goes all foam-flecked and starts calling him a terrorist or anti-semite, it won't work. And he needs to inspire people about why he's a Tory, contrasting his posititive view of the UK with someone who clearly doesn't like the UK very much.
When is the tax bombshell campaign to be launched?
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
He's doing plenty of speeches, as quoted by Dr Spyn downthread:
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
It will be interesting to know how excited people are for them. When we first had them there was a huge amount of novelty and the nation tuned it. I remember loads of people asking me if I was going to watch them.
I honestly haven't spoken to anybody this time around who is talking about them. It will be generally interesting to see how many people tune in.
That's where all of the spurious comparisons with 2017 start unravelling. That campaign was so very different to this one, in so many ways. Corbyn was at his peak then, and yes, he did tap into public disgruntlement very effectively. But somewhere along the line that seems to have dissipated. And of course, the Tories scored one of the biggest own goals in electoral history. I just can't see them doing that again. Labour, on the other hand, have scored one of their own with Brexit. Their 2017 manifesto stated they would abide by the result of the 2016 referendum. They haven't, and the millions of Labour leave voters will punish them for it. Just like the LDs got punished for the tuition fees.
One of the truly sad things about David Herdson quitting the Tory party is that we won’t get a feel for how the campaign is going in the run up to polling day.
Don't we have a direct line to CCHQ and Boris's every thought via @HYUFD?
Yes, but CCHQ and Boris are not the campaign - they have to say how great things are all the time.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
He's doing plenty of speeches, as quoted by Dr Spyn downthread:
The weather is not so conducive to open-air rallies, sadly.
I didn't say he wasn't, I said last time he was doing lots of public open air ones where the advantage is people see a crowd as they are pottering around and go and look what is going on. And he seemed to get some good crowds.
So far, the bits I have seen are smallish rooms of folk that other than the odd screamy shouty heckler appear to be the party faithful.
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
It will be interesting to know how excited people are for them. When we first had them there was a huge amount of novelty and the nation tuned it. I remember loads of people asking me if I was going to watch them.
I honestly haven't spoken to anybody this time around who is talking about them. It will be generally interesting to see how many people tune in.
That's where all of the spurious comparisons with 2017 start unravelling. That campaign was so very different to this one, in so many ways. Corbyn was at his peak then, and yes, he did tap into public disgruntlement very effectively. But somewhere along the line that seems to have dissipated. And of course, the Tories scored one of the biggest own goals in electoral history. I just can't see them doing that again. Labour, on the other hand, have scored one of their own with Brexit. Their 2017 manifesto stated they would abide by the result of the 2016 referendum. They haven't, and the millions of Labour leave voters will punish them for it. Just like the LDs got punished for the tuition fees.
Problem is you call comparisons with 2017 spurious, and perhaps they are, but then you rely on things like 'seems to have dissipated', 'I cannot see them doing that [own goal] again', things which might be true, but seem to based off the feeling that 2017 cannot happen again because it doesn't seem like it should, which is pretty, well, spurious. They didn't score own goals on purpose last time, so while they will try even harder to avoid another this time it doesn't mean they cannot.
Surprised LAB campaigning in Mansfield. CON Maj 20%?
Given it was a narrow Tory gain last time after decades as a Labour stronghold, if they were NOT campaigning there we would know they really did fear wipeout.
Where does this 20% come from? It’s 2.1%.
I may have made it up. It's an Ave it forecast for GE2019. Hope you are voting CON in Cannock
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
He's doing plenty of speeches, as quoted by Dr Spyn downthread:
The weather is not so conducive to open-air rallies, sadly.
I didn't say he wasn't, I said last time he was doing lots of public open air ones where the advantage is people see a crowd as they are pottering around and go and look what is going on. And he seemed to get some good crowds.
So far, the bits I have seen are smallish rooms of folk that other than the odd screamy shouty heckler appear to be the party faithful.
I think he's staying away. Labour know they don't have the zeitgeist like 2017. There would be nothing more embarrassing than a booked arena with a scattering of die-hards whilst Corbyn preaches to empty seats,
Perhaps it is the time of year or they are still planned, but in 2017 wasn't Jezza doing big open air public speeches most days up and down the country by now?
That was in the days when LabourLive was considered a good idea.
I'd forgotten JezFest! Maybe they're saving it all for the end, going with a big rally in, say, Sheffield?
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
The effect of "I agree with Nick" in 2010 (15 April):
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
It will be interesting to know how excited people are for them. When we first had them there was a huge amount of novelty and the nation tuned it. I remember loads of people asking me if I was going to watch them.
I honestly haven't spoken to anybody this time around who is talking about them. It will be generally interesting to see how many people tune in.
That's where all of the spurious comparisons with 2017 start unravelling. That campaign was so very different to this one, in so many ways. Corbyn was at his peak then, and yes, he did tap into public disgruntlement very effectively. But somewhere along the line that seems to have dissipated. And of course, the Tories scored one of the biggest own goals in electoral history. I just can't see them doing that again. Labour, on the other hand, have scored one of their own with Brexit. Their 2017 manifesto stated they would abide by the result of the 2016 referendum. They haven't, and the millions of Labour leave voters will punish them for it. Just like the LDs got punished for the tuition fees.
Problem is you call comparisons with 2017 spurious, and perhaps they are, but then you rely on things like 'seems to have dissipated', 'I cannot see them doing that [own goal] again', things which might be true, but seem to based off the feeling that 2017 cannot happen again because it doesn't seem like it should, which is pretty, well, spurious. They didn't score own goals on purpose last time, so while they will try even harder to avoid another this time it doesn't mean they cannot.
Well you could say that more or less about anything that's ever happened or ever will happen. It's just a balance of probabilities.
This election is very very far from a slam dunk for Boris. The electorate is volatile, frustrated and exhausted. And he could easily fall short of a majority.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
The effect of "I agree with Nick" in 2010 (15 April):
There was real buzz about the 2010 debates. I remember everybody I spoke to was really engaged with them, the media were trailing them for days in advance. Loads of stories about who was getting prepped by whom, who was standing in to play each of the characters, the look of the set, who will be in the spin room, how it will all work.
Perhaps they are again, but I am not feeling it. Perhaps a lot of the media coverage has been overshadowed by Airmiles Andy stuff.
I love GE's for the creepy levels of enthusiasm party activists have (and you can tell when it is real). It can be a great thing, I'm sure, but the sheer, unbridled passion for fudgily ideological platforms which they have not even had confirmed to them yet (so be careful not to condemn a plan the leadership is about to say is your own!) is weird.
And in some sense I think that's one reason I have trouble with politicians and the really intense party members. On here we know we're all a bit weird for being political wonks, but politicians and activists act as though they genuinely believe every member of the public is as angry and passionate as them, about the exact same things as them, without any hint they themselves are weird for being so angry or passionate. Now granted, it'd be a strange and counter productive thing to do to say how weird being a party activist is (not that none have ever said so), I don't actually expect most politicians or party activists to openly reflect how normal people are not super angry at Labour/Tories, but it means I find rallies and fiery rhetoric slightly unsettling.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
The effect of "I agree with Nick" in 2010 (15 April):
There was real buzz about the 2010 debates. I remember everybody I spoke to was really engaged with them, the media were trailing them for days in advance. Loads of stories about who was getting prepped by whom, who was standing in to play each of the characters, the look of the set, who will be in the spin room, how it will all work.
Perhaps they are again, but I am not feeling it. Perhaps a lot of the media coverage has been overshadowed by Airmiles Andy stuff.
The novelty has died. I think it’s as simple as that.
This election is very very far from a slam dunk for Boris. The electorate is volatile, frustrated and exhausted. And he could easily fall short of a majority.
Aren't we all in danger of over estimating the importance of these debates? I know it's the job of the media and political sites like this one to hype them up, but are they really the be all and end all, as many appear to suggest? Unless either of them seriously screws up, perhaps by insulting a member of the audience, or suggesting a re-introduction of slavery or something, I cannot see them having any marked effect on voting intention. The manifestos will be far more important.
The effect of "I agree with Nick" in 2010 (15 April):
There was real buzz about the 2010 debates. I remember everybody I spoke to was really engaged with them, the media were trailing them for days in advance. Loads of stories about who was getting prepped by whom, who was standing in to play each of the characters, the look of the set, who will be in the spin room, how it will all work.
Perhaps they are again, but I am not feeling it. Perhaps a lot of the media coverage has been overshadowed by Airmiles Andy stuff.
The novelty has died. I think it’s as simple as that.
In addition to article after article on Andy, it is also the start of I am Celeb. Not something I ever watch, but again it is another distraction for the media.
I have just been on the Guardian website, and you would be hard to know there is a debate tomorrow. The Mail one small article saying Boris will stick it to Jezza, surrounded by loads of articles on Andy and I'm a Celeb. The Times can't see anything.
Corbyn has the ability to skewer Johnson on Brexit IMHO, if he can get him on the ropes in terms of what he intends to actually deliver.
So far it's "get Brexit done" but very few have asked "what the hell does that mean"?
Er, what? It means signing the deal he's agreed with the EU, leaving on or before 31 Jan, and then agreeing the trade agreement everyone says he can't get, having learnt nothing from being wrong about the deal he wasn't supposed to be able to get.
You really think clarity on Brexit is a strength for Corbyn?
Corbyn couldn't care less about Brexit one way or another. He's neutral remember. He wants to talk about class war and socialist revolution. With Free broadband.
At 30mbps.
How do people cope with only 30 Mbps?
It helps to live on your own so no other bastard is stealing your WiFi signal.
This is the broadband speed I have to share with four others. It is a hard life.
What on earth can you possibly do to need all that?
Seriously, I get 48Mbps down and 14 up - I certainly wouldn't pay for more.
I'm only paying £26.99 a month for that, got a good deal with Virgin.
I have the kids on PS4, my parents are silver surfers, my father is constantly streaming UHD content on Netflix/Amazon Prime, my mother is regular video calling her friends and family all across the world.
Me I use it to upload content to the UK's most popular political blog and watch a lot of UHD content on Sky.
Right - makes more sense when you put it like that.
And what happens to Virgin when the free owls fibres are being distributed to every voter?
This election is very very far from a slam dunk for Boris. The electorate is volatile, frustrated and exhausted. And he could easily fall short of a majority.
Even as a PB regular, I don't know this. How many debates are we getting? Boris vs Jezza? A BOT (bunch of tw@ts) one? Any more? Are we doing the awkward one-on-one interview followed by questions from the audience? Please tell me we aren't doing the weird here is the totally normal Imam, who is actually an anti-semite Labour supporter from Bristol via video link type stuff again?
That's nice, it can indeed be a real pain to find a place that will accept a pet.
I actually wrote that bit of the manifesto. I know Sue Hayman, the Shadow S of S well and made a bunch of suggestions for animal welfare which have made it into the policy: https://labour.org.uk/issues/animal-welfare-manifesto/
The proposal is to shift the default to "allow if no reasonable reason not to". Obviously if someone wants to keep 8 fierce dogs in a 1-room flat, the landlord can reasonably object that they're likely to disturb the neighbours. But at present many landlords routinely ban all pets - "we even ban goldfish" said one agent proudly - and a lot of standard rental agreements have it as the default. I argued when I was in Parliament that it was an unreasonable constraint on tenants which wouldn't apply the moment that the tenant bought the flat, and I'm glad to see it make it to the manifesto.
That's nice, it can indeed be a real pain to find a place that will accept a pet.
LAB now pro cat party. 10% CORBYNISTA swing!
Dog people take exception. Swing back!
RSPB take huge offence at billions of extra dead birds brought in by cats.
You don't piss off the RSPB.
Nationalise them. Birds are tools of the capitalist state to suppress the worker. Under Labour birds will work for the benefit of all. Not just a few privileged twitchers.
Comments
Nationalise SkyNet. What could possibly go wrong?
United Kingdom Independence Party: 43 candidates.
Plaid Cymru: 36.
Christian People's Alliance: 29.
Yorkshire Party: 28.
Monster Raving Loony Party: 24.
Social Democratic Party: 20.
Liberal Party: 19.
Yes, they have an oddly romantic flavour, like steam trains. But I still use AOL for all my email!
Anyone who doubts that needs their head examined.
https://twitter.com/MrDanDonoghue/status/1196548093254275079
Cleggasm excepted in the debates obvs but that was the first time we had the debates so they were a novelty. Now they're just "meh".
Where does this 20% come from? It’s 2.1%.
I honestly haven't spoken to anybody this time around who is talking about them. It will be generally interesting to see how many people tune in.
It is hard to see how they will affect things. Boris will be crap, Jezza will be fine, but will that matter as they are polar opposites. I guess the advantage for Jezza is he manages to convince more Remainers to vote Labour by getting the tone right.
Blair/Brown were working on just that.
But apparently they are just red tories who should f**k off etc etc
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/where-have-the-main-party-leaders-visited-so-far-38702425.html
The weather is not so conducive to open-air rallies, sadly.
So far, the bits I have seen are smallish rooms of folk that other than the odd screamy shouty heckler appear to be the party faithful.
Just need Ross Thompson's replacement to turn out to be a admirer of Radiohead and it will be a blackhole of disaster.
Hope you are voting CON in Cannock
https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-john-bercow-to-join-sky-news-for-election-night-coverage-11864334
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/UK_General_Election_2010_YouGov_Polls_Graph.png
SCon GE candidate suspended after making Islamophobic posts.
Think I posted this on here in 2017. And 2015
Perhaps they are again, but I am not feeling it. Perhaps a lot of the media coverage has been overshadowed by Airmiles Andy stuff.
And in some sense I think that's one reason I have trouble with politicians and the really intense party members. On here we know we're all a bit weird for being political wonks, but politicians and activists act as though they genuinely believe every member of the public is as angry and passionate as them, about the exact same things as them, without any hint they themselves are weird for being so angry or passionate. Now granted, it'd be a strange and counter productive thing to do to say how weird being a party activist is (not that none have ever said so), I don't actually expect most politicians or party activists to openly reflect how normal people are not super angry at Labour/Tories, but it means I find rallies and fiery rhetoric slightly unsettling. Yes it is, so why on balance are 2017 comparisons spurious other than feeling that things will be different because they must be?
SuperJo special friend!
I have just been on the Guardian website, and you would be hard to know there is a debate tomorrow. The Mail one small article saying Boris will stick it to Jezza, surrounded by loads of articles on Andy and I'm a Celeb. The Times can't see anything.
(edit for full official title)
https://www.sportingindex.com/spread-betting/politics/british/group_b.6b9db4dc-d1df-4c9d-b9ab-c9a136a91f1e/uk-general-election-seats-markets
Interesting
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/11/pete-buttigieg-iowa-surge-makes-him-a-target
EDIT - Shit, TMI!
The only thing I've seen was on here, and referred to "antisemitism and homophobia".
Edit: he seems to have made a statement that references David Irving. Which would seem to not indicate Islamophobia.
You don't piss off the RSPB.
The proposal is to shift the default to "allow if no reasonable reason not to". Obviously if someone wants to keep 8 fierce dogs in a 1-room flat, the landlord can reasonably object that they're likely to disturb the neighbours. But at present many landlords routinely ban all pets - "we even ban goldfish" said one agent proudly - and a lot of standard rental agreements have it as the default. I argued when I was in Parliament that it was an unreasonable constraint on tenants which wouldn't apply the moment that the tenant bought the flat, and I'm glad to see it make it to the manifesto.
A Buttigieg win could transform that betting market overnight imho.