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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB Nighthawks is now open

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited November 2013 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB Nighthawks is now open

Why not relax, and converse into the night on the day’s events in PB NightHawks. Nighthawks gives me the opportunity to say Let Me Entertain you with my round up of links.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!
  • Link 4, Kudos to Mr Observer's predictions on this, and if he's around, his thoughts on this please.
  • FPT
    perdix said:

    I can't agree that having a prices and incomes policy is common sense. It is the fallacy that economists and intellectuals believe that everything can be organised by statute and bureaucracy.

    My point is that anything can under the appropriate circumstances be presented as common sense. A prices and incomes policy was in the 1970s, and opposition to it was dismissed as mere "ideology". There were days when the divine right of kings and the institution of slavery appeared commonsensical.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    edited November 2013
    The Spanish Prime Minister confirmed a separate Scotland would require the consent of all 28 existing member states, including his country, to join the EU.

    The Spanish government is known to be hostile to Scottish independence as it does not want to encourage its own separatist movement in Catalonia.

    His comments, made in a joint press conference in Madrid with Francois Hollande, the French President, directly contracted this week’s Scottish Government White Paper on independence.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10479461/Spanish-PM-Independent-Scotland-would-be-out-of-the-EU.html

    The Independent cartoon was bang on.

    Eck was blowing smoke out his arse.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    FPT:

    Labour selections are taking place tonight in Guildford and Epsom & Ewell:

    twitter.com/GuildfordLabour
  • I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!

    I laughed. It's an OK joke.
    Not a good PMQs joke though.

  • Fat_Steve said:

    I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!

    I laughed. It's an OK joke.
    Not a good PMQs joke though.

    Four different people asked me if I was responsible for that joke, including two people who have no interest in politics.
  • Fat_Steve said:

    I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!

    I laughed. It's an OK joke.
    Not a good PMQs joke though.

    Four different people asked me if I was responsible for that joke, including two people who have no interest in politics.
    Dude, you're way too close to this thing.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    TSE, you missed this story:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25116672

    I always thought the rumors were made up to discredit the PIRA, but it would seem not.
  • Fat_Steve said:

    Fat_Steve said:

    I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!

    I laughed. It's an OK joke.
    Not a good PMQs joke though.

    Four different people asked me if I was responsible for that joke, including two people who have no interest in politics.
    Dude, you're way too close to this thing.
    Quite a few people also sent me link 29
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited November 2013
    Labour shortlist for Falkirk

    Pam Duncan ( policy officer for disabled people’s charity Inclusion Scotland)
    Monica Lennon (South Lanarkshire Cllrs, works for Tom Greatrex)
    Karen Whitefield (former Airdrie and Shotts MSP)

    Former coucil leader Linda Gow (runner in the original selection and one of the first complainers) has not been shortlisted by the NEC/SEC panel (plus 1 CLP rep).


  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    AGW non believers may like thishttp://o.dailycaller.com/thedailycaller/#!/entry/norwegian-army-goes-vegetarian-to-fight-global-warming,528ce95b025312186c8c67e1/5

    Scotland may want to follow suit, MacSweens vegetarian haggis isn't bad at all.

    Either that or do much more by not selling oil and gas to the world!
  • Former coucil leader Linda Gow (runner in the original selection and one of the first complainers) has not been shortlisted by the NEC/SEC panel (plus 1 CLP rep).

    Wonder how that will go down in Falkirk? Gow is the only one of the favourites not to make the short list:

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/falkirk-labour-s-faces-for-candidate-emerge-1-3191775
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Dale doesn't know any gay metal heads? Perhaps this picture of Rob Halford may give him some thought. It doesn't seem to have bothered his fans either.
    http://brevard.metromix.com/music/standard_photo_gallery/yep-theyre-gay/1849185/photo/636392

    Fat_Steve said:

    Fat_Steve said:

    I would like to confirm that I am not David Cameron's joke writer. Loving Engels Instead!!!

    I laughed. It's an OK joke.
    Not a good PMQs joke though.

    Four different people asked me if I was responsible for that joke, including two people who have no interest in politics.
    Dude, you're way too close to this thing.
    Quite a few people also sent me link 29
  • isamisam Posts: 40,731

    tim said:


    "“Freedom of movement is a two-way street,” said Mike Weir (SNP, Angus). “It is estimated that 2.2million United Kingdom citizens are living or working in other parts of the European Union.”
    Silly Mr Weir. Surely he knows the rules of debate on migration. Those 2.2million United Kingdom citizens are not immigrants. Only foreign people who move to Britain are immigrants. British people who move to foreign countries, by contrast, are expats.
    This is a crucial distinction. The former are untrustworthy chancers and spongers, whose movements should as far as possible be restricted. The latter, however, are proud, honest citizens, whose freedom to roam the globe as they see fit must never be curtailed.
    I thought we’d got that clear by now."

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10479061/Sketch-Full-Britannia-Britannia-rule-the-waves.html
    Indeed.

    Polish expats = bad. English expats = good.

    Bulgarian expats = bad. English expats = good.

    Arab expats = bad. English expats = good.

    The hypocrisy stinks


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Isn't it strange how the left, who for years stuck up for those they consider the weakest in society against stereotypes in the media, the establishment, the hegemonic process etc resort to those tactics so often themselves?

    Who exactly is saying

    "Only foreign people who move to Britain are immigrants. British people who move to foreign countries, by contrast, are expats.This is a crucial distinction. The former are untrustworthy chancers and spongers"

    Mainly left wingers with strawman arguments I would say
  • surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    Didn't the Lib Dems have a manifesto comittment to give amnesty to illegal immigrants ?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    Gibraltar Libre ‏@Gibraltar_Libre 1h

    #Cameron slams 'extremely serious' act of Spain opening diplomatic bag across #Gibraltar frontier http://dailym.ai/1bVJBPT via @MailOnline

    GIBRALTAR: We are just one shot away from military conflict, warns MP amid new standoff

    MADRID is in danger of sparking a military conflict with Britain over Gibraltar if it does not tone down its actions, a senior MP warned today as the Royal Navy was involved in a new stand-off with a Spanish ship.

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/443937/GIBRALTAR-We-are-just-one-shot-away-from-military-conflict-warns-MP-amid-new-standoff
    So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.

    *tears of laughter etc.*
  • isamisam Posts: 40,731
    tim said:

    @isam

    Looks to me like a piece by the Telegraph sketch writer who has sniffed out the hypocrisy of those who regard it as a Brits birthright to retire to Spain but who spend the previous forty years moaning about younger people moving to work

    who?

  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    Same old nasty party.
    Peter George Owen ‏@pgo1980 1h

    Cameron lied to Parliament today on #BedroomTax & Disability "what we’ve done is exempt disabled people" #WOWpetition http://politicalscrapbook.net/2013/11/cameron-misleads-parliament-on-bedroom-tax-and-disability-in-pmqs/
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    Mick_Pork said:

    Gibraltar Libre ‏@Gibraltar_Libre 1h

    #Cameron slams 'extremely serious' act of Spain opening diplomatic bag across #Gibraltar frontier http://dailym.ai/1bVJBPT via @MailOnline

    GIBRALTAR: We are just one shot away from military conflict, warns MP amid new standoff

    MADRID is in danger of sparking a military conflict with Britain over Gibraltar if it does not tone down its actions, a senior MP warned today as the Royal Navy was involved in a new stand-off with a Spanish ship.

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/443937/GIBRALTAR-We-are-just-one-shot-away-from-military-conflict-warns-MP-amid-new-standoff
    So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.

    *tears of laughter etc.*

    It's inconvenient timing from him certainly.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    tim said:

    Labour 35% strategy is a myth, of course it is, Dan Hodges invented it along with the poll he made up.

    I think he, or someone at least, made up the 35% strategy long before that poll, in all liklihood. I never really got the appeal of believing the 35% strategy - even if the hope was that Labour were doing the bare minimum in securing that 35%, it was still likely to work.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @iainmartin1: Spanish PM delivers big boost to SNP. Says indy Scotland would be out of EU. Sorry, massive blow, not big boost. Of course. Obviously.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,731
    Yaya Toure gets booked in the last min to miss the dead rubber in Munich and have the disciplinary slate wiped clean for the knockout stages...

    Shouldn't common sense prevail here, and UEFA suspend the ban until a game where qualification is at stake?
  • The Labour councillor who exposed claims of vote-rigging in Falkirk has been eliminated from the race to become the town’s next MP.
    Linda Gow was told by party officials and members of the national executive that she had been knocked out of the race after an interview on Tuesday.
    Friends said that she had been barred from running purely because of her involvement in unearthing the scandal in Falkirk.


    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3933951.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_11_27
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941
    Mick_Pork said:

    Gibraltar Libre ‏@Gibraltar_Libre 1h

    #Cameron slams 'extremely serious' act of Spain opening diplomatic bag across #Gibraltar frontier http://dailym.ai/1bVJBPT via @MailOnline

    GIBRALTAR: We are just one shot away from military conflict, warns MP amid new standoff

    MADRID is in danger of sparking a military conflict with Britain over Gibraltar if it does not tone down its actions, a senior MP warned today as the Royal Navy was involved in a new stand-off with a Spanish ship.

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/443937/GIBRALTAR-We-are-just-one-shot-away-from-military-conflict-warns-MP-amid-new-standoff
    So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.

    *tears of laughter etc.*

    Come now Pork, you don't have to either support 100% of what someone says, or 0%.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013
    Bruno Waterfield ‏@BrunoBrussels 9h

    UK supported enlargement, which it could have vetoed, @VivianeRedingEU reminds Cameron

    Hylke Dijkstra ‏@DijkstraHylke 12h

    The UK remains the biggest champion of EU enlargement, so #Cameron should stop complaining about freedom of movement. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/add36222-56be-11e3-ab12-00144feabdc0.html
    *chortle*
  • john_zimsjohn_zims Posts: 3,399
    @Mick_Pork

    'So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.'

    So the long list of other EU PM's & officials that Ruth Davidson mentioned in her speech,who have also stated that Scotland would need to re-apply for EU membership,would not get special treatment and would join the 8 year queue with other new applicants are also 'posturing'?
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @TimGattITV: As @jamesmatesitv predicted, Spain say "no" to independent Scotland being granted automatic membership of the EU http://t.co/5gMOVHbj8o
  • Bayer Leverkusen 0-5 Man Utd

    Overrated bag of shite Premier League charlatans given a footballing lesson by the German masters.

    Comedy defending. Can't pass to save their lives.

    They will never learn.

  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    This is Kent ‏@thisiskent 2h

    LATEST: Nigel Farage "likely" to stand in Shepway, say bookies - http://bit.ly/1c8JMLg .
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    edited November 2013
    RobD said:

    Mick_Pork said:

    Gibraltar Libre ‏@Gibraltar_Libre 1h

    #Cameron slams 'extremely serious' act of Spain opening diplomatic bag across #Gibraltar frontier http://dailym.ai/1bVJBPT via @MailOnline

    GIBRALTAR: We are just one shot away from military conflict, warns MP amid new standoff

    MADRID is in danger of sparking a military conflict with Britain over Gibraltar if it does not tone down its actions, a senior MP warned today as the Royal Navy was involved in a new stand-off with a Spanish ship.

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/443937/GIBRALTAR-We-are-just-one-shot-away-from-military-conflict-warns-MP-amid-new-standoff
    So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.

    *tears of laughter etc.*
    Come now Pork, you don't have to either support 100% of what someone says, or 0%.


    True enough, though I don't think enough people believe that. If I take at face value what I read, apparently no unionist argument has ever not boosted the other side, which seems statistically unlikely.

    Anyway, farewell Berlusconi (only not really), we'll miss you, and good night all.

    ETA: A recommendation that the BBC do more to try to convince people it is value for money is a fool's errand. If its sternest opponents love anything more than hating its mere existence, it is criticising when it promotes itself.
  • EasterrossEasterross Posts: 1,915
    The SNP is missing a trick. If Eck announced that by becoming independent Scotland would not be a member of the EU, the Tartan kippers and many Scots Tories would be rushing to vote Yes.

    An independent Scotland outside the EU could follow the Swiss model and become an "offshore tax haven", slash Corporation tax and then watch as tens of thousands of English, French and German companies re-registered their Head Offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. 2 years ago the greatest number of new company registrations at Companies House in Cardiff were German companies coming here to pay our lower corporate taxes.

    Meanwhile back in the real world yesterday seems to have underwhelmed most Scots. Even many of the 16 year olds for whom Eck procured the vote in the hope of getting them young are saying they want to know the cost of Independence before deciding how to vote.

    The one thing which struck me today at PMQs was the recognition the PM gave to good solid work by backbenchers on both sides on worthy causes affecting real people. It was a pleasant change from half an hour of simple tit for tat name calling from both sides.
  • Good evening, everyone.

    I thought most gay chaps were Conservatives? Or is that the other way around...

    Anyway, online voting is totally insane. We've got a system that works very well now. It's not perfect (and is more flawed since Labour's stupid postal voting change) but it's pretty good. If you can't be bothered to walk a short distance once every four to five years then your opinion doesn't bloody matter.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    isam said:

    Yaya Toure gets booked in the last min to miss the dead rubber in Munich and have the disciplinary slate wiped clean for the knockout stages...

    Shouldn't common sense prevail here, and UEFA suspend the ban until a game where qualification is at stake?

    Well done on your predictions tonight !
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941
    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Mick_Pork said:

    Gibraltar Libre ‏@Gibraltar_Libre 1h

    #Cameron slams 'extremely serious' act of Spain opening diplomatic bag across #Gibraltar frontier http://dailym.ai/1bVJBPT via @MailOnline

    GIBRALTAR: We are just one shot away from military conflict, warns MP amid new standoff

    MADRID is in danger of sparking a military conflict with Britain over Gibraltar if it does not tone down its actions, a senior MP warned today as the Royal Navy was involved in a new stand-off with a Spanish ship.

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/443937/GIBRALTAR-We-are-just-one-shot-away-from-military-conflict-warns-MP-amid-new-standoff
    So naturally PB tories and scottish tory surgers are delighted with the Spanish PM and believe his Catalonia posturing on independence.

    *tears of laughter etc.*
    Come now Pork, you don't have to either support 100% of what someone says, or 0%.
    True enough, though I don't think enough people believe that. If I take at face value what I read, apparently no unionist argument has ever not boosted the other side, which seems statistically unlikely.

    I should of course add the proviso "unless it is in a yellow box".. mainly for Pork's amusement ;-)
  • currystarcurrystar Posts: 1,171
    tim said:

    The bedroom tax piece sets out some very basic facts, of which this is the key one.

    "Heywood says: "The government's case is that there are X million people living in overcrowded accommodation and X million underoccupied, so people need to move. As a soundbite it makes perfect sense. But this is a Treasury-sponsored policy to save money – why should the Treasury know anything about social housing? If you had equal numbers of one-, two- and three-bedroom properties, you could do the moving-around required, but you can't, because there has been 70 years of social housing – from the 1920s to the late 1980s – where we have built mostly three-bedroom properties, followed by 25 years of not building much. We have a legacy stock of large houses."

    What utter nonsense!

    What properties were sold under the RTB? Mainly 3BH, if you go on some old style Council Estates now all the 3BH are sold.

    Ask any LA Housing Department and they will tell you the property they are most short of is 3BH and above

    Check the breakdown of social housing in this country.

    I could give you the link but I would like you to waste 15 minutes

    Why do troll stuff you know is not true?
  • isamisam Posts: 40,731
    edited November 2013
    Mick_Pork said:

    This is Kent ‏@thisiskent 2h

    LATEST: Nigel Farage "likely" to stand in Shepway, say bookies - http://bit.ly/1c8JMLg .
    An 18% chance = "likely" ?

    Isnt it quite unlikely?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013
    How proud of themselves the Cameroons must be.
    Collette Mather ‏@collystweets 4h

    @David_Cameron It broke my heart to see disabled Heather Simpson crying because of the bedroom tax,and she's not alone,you are unforgivable.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,731
    edited November 2013
    Pulpstar said:

    isam said:

    Yaya Toure gets booked in the last min to miss the dead rubber in Munich and have the disciplinary slate wiped clean for the knockout stages...

    Shouldn't common sense prevail here, and UEFA suspend the ban until a game where qualification is at stake?

    Well done on your predictions tonight !


    Thank you. At last!

    Apols if you have followed this month, the whole portfolio is winning about 14%, and this month over 30%, but the bets put up on site have been dreadful

  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @GdnPolitics: Scottish independence: Spain blocks Alex Salmond's hopes for EU transition http://t.co/cMHKXMRKVm
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    isam said:

    Pulpstar said:

    isam said:

    Yaya Toure gets booked in the last min to miss the dead rubber in Munich and have the disciplinary slate wiped clean for the knockout stages...

    Shouldn't common sense prevail here, and UEFA suspend the ban until a game where qualification is at stake?

    Well done on your predictions tonight !
    At last!

    Apols if you have followed this month, the whole portfolio is winning about 14%, and this month over 30%, but the bets put up on site have been dreadful

    Just sticking to Raceclear, down a bit this month and an annoying faller at the last today but long term it should be fine. If I'd have followed you with the same staking plan as @Raceclear I'd have done my bank ;) - Your tips were handy for clearing the Bet365 bonus though.
  • Mr. Pork, is that a reference to the Sky News piece?

    Whilst the piece raised a valid point that should be aired it failed to give a fair picture, because you cannot take a complex issue, then focus the media spotlight on one individual and claim her personal circumstance is representative of the whole situation. Where's the focus on families growing up in cramped accommodation? Also, some of the charities listed (who have contacted the Government to complain about the change to housing benefit) include disabilities such as deafness. Whilst a genuine disability, I don't see why that should entail special treatment in this area (for other disabilities exemptions perhaps should be made).

    Anyway, I'm off for the night.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    tim said:

    Mick_Pork said:

    This is Kent ‏@thisiskent 2h

    LATEST: Nigel Farage "likely" to stand in Shepway, say bookies - http://bit.ly/1c8JMLg .

    The 9/2 shot is the "likely" constituency said bookmakers.
    As opposed to the unlikely 9/4 shot said bookmakers.


    Any value there at the moment though now ?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    isam said:

    Mick_Pork said:

    This is Kent ‏@thisiskent 2h

    LATEST: Nigel Farage "likely" to stand in Shepway, say bookies - http://bit.ly/1c8JMLg .
    An 18% chance = "likely" ?

    Isnt it quite unlikely?

    South Thanet is still the favourite but the piece highlights the change of odds for Shepway as a possibility. More telling of course is that the piece was mainly to get a quote from the local MP and see how he relished such a prospect.


    "Current MP Damian Collins has remained defiant and says he is up for a possible election battle with the Ukip leader.

    He said: “I was surprised that he decided to speculate on constituencies without making a commitment. Whether he decided to stand or not, I think it will be a very interesting election.

    “I think Farage is a figure that polarises opinion and some will support him, but it will not change anything in my approach to the election.”


    So Collins seems fine with it, if we are to believe him. ;)
  • Scottish independence: Spain blocks Alex Salmond's hopes for EU transition
    No automatic welcome for independent Scotland, says Mariano Rajoy, who expects UK to take same stance on Catalonia


    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/27/scottish-independence-spain-alex-salmond-eu?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Richard Wilson selected for Labour in Guildford. They polled 5.1% last time.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @TomHarrisMP: Despite appearances, First Minister Salmond is reacting positively to Spain's intervention in the #indyref debate: http://t.co/e9kLA4VdUB
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,279
    One Nation Labour - not when short lists are full of public sector union workers, policy wonks and union activists. Miliband has to reach out to those who are in neither group. Labour candidate selection is unimpressive. It is a weakness which needs addressing.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    AndyJS said:

    Richard Wilson selected for Labour in Guildford. They polled 5.1% last time.

    As in Victor Meldrew ?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013



    Whilst the piece raised a valid point that should be aired it failed to give a fair picture, because you cannot take a complex issue, then focus the media spotlight on one individual and claim her personal circumstance is representative of the whole situation.

    Oh really?

    Then perhaps the out of touch shits Cammie and Osbrowne shouldn't have tried that for a horrific murder.
    The Guardian ‏@guardian 5 Apr

    Cameron says #Osborne is right to question role of welfare in 'subsidising lifestyles' like #Philpott 's http://gu.com/p/3fvjj/tw
    It might also help if the repulsive twits stopped lying about the bedroom tax and disability.
    Political Scrapbook ‏@PSbook 9h

    NEW --> David Cameron misled Parliament over #BedroomTax and disability during #PMQs http://read.ps/1aUweCP

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    edited November 2013
    The 'bedroom tax' is not a tax !

    I suppose once something gets labelled as a tax though it sticks even if it isn't.

    National Insurance definitely isn't insurance either mind, and is a tax...
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    The 35% strategy is a good one. Unless it gets to be a 30% strategy after a Yes vote in the Sindy ref. Then it looks like permenant opposition....
    kle4 said:

    tim said:

    Labour 35% strategy is a myth, of course it is, Dan Hodges invented it along with the poll he made up.

    I think he, or someone at least, made up the 35% strategy long before that poll, in all liklihood. I never really got the appeal of believing the 35% strategy - even if the hope was that Labour were doing the bare minimum in securing that 35%, it was still likely to work.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Do you think the Philpott family were well served by the welfare state? Do you not think that their situation could not have been better managed by different social services policies?
    Mick_Pork said:



    Whilst the piece raised a valid point that should be aired it failed to give a fair picture, because you cannot take a complex issue, then focus the media spotlight on one individual and claim her personal circumstance is representative of the whole situation.

    Oh really?

    Then perhaps the out of touch shits Cammie and Osbrowne shouldn't have tried that for a horrific murder.
    The Guardian ‏@guardian 5 Apr

    Cameron says #Osborne is right to question role of welfare in 'subsidising lifestyles' like #Philpott 's http://gu.com/p/3fvjj/tw
    It might also help if the repulsive twits stopped lying about the bedroom tax and disability.
    Political Scrapbook ‏@PSbook 9h

    NEW --> David Cameron misled Parliament over #BedroomTax and disability during #PMQs http://read.ps/1aUweCP



  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited November 2013
    Tory selections to replace retiring MPs so far seem to consist in the same 6 people being shortlisted everywhere at the same time until some associations take them
    dr_spyn said:

    One Nation Labour - not when short lists are full of public sector union workers, policy wonks and union activists. Miliband has to reach out to those who are in neither group. Labour candidate selection is unimpressive. It is a weakness which needs addressing.

  • JonathanDJonathanD Posts: 2,400
    "Millions of pounds of unspent emergency housing funding could be returned to the government, after councils used just a fraction of their combined £155 million pot in the first half of the year.

    Figures show 161 of the 212 English councils that responded to an Inside Housing freedom of information request spent less than half their discretionary housing payment funds in the first half of the financial year.....

    The issue also shows signs of becoming politically charged. Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, accused Labour councils of ‘playing politics’ by keeping a tight hand on the DHP pot. Stories of deserving tenants being forced out of their homes by the bedroom tax were being used to make the policy look worse, he claimed at the Liberal Democrat party conference in September. So is he right?

    Responses to Inside Housing’s survey go some way, on the face of it, to support Mr Hughes’ theory. The 69 Labour councils that responded have spent an average of 28 per cent of their DHP, with 13 per cent allocated to those hit by the bedroom tax.

    This compares with an average spend of 39 per cent by the 112 Conservative-led councils and 40 per cent by the seven Liberal Democrat-led councils, while they have allocated 18 per cent and 20 per cent to bedroom tax-hit tenants respectively."

    http://www.insidehousing.co.uk//6529506.article
  • EasterrossEasterross Posts: 1,915
    If Herr Farage decides to stand in Folkestone is he not likely to just increase Damian Collins already large majority? The LibDems had 3x the Labour vote and 6x the 2010 Kipper vote. LibDems are hardly likely to go Kipper so there will be LibDem to Labour switchers and some Tories may go Kipper but more likely to end up with anti-Tory vote more evenly spread.
  • Mick_Pork said:

    Oh really?

    Then perhaps the out of touch shits Cammie and Osbrowne shouldn't have tried that for a horrific murder.

    It might help if you got your facts right before lecturing others. Philpott et al. were not convicted of murder, but of manslaughter. It was never proven that they intended to kill or to inflict grievous bodily harm.
  • Cigarette packaging: Ministers launch fresh review
    The government is to announce an independent review of cigarette packaging in England amid calls for action to discourage young smokers.


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25126673
  • MikeLMikeL Posts: 7,281
    edited November 2013
    Per Sun - tomorrow morning's YouGov

    YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Labour with 7 point lead: CON 32%, LAB 39%, LD 10%, UKIP 13%

    Identical to previous poll except UKIP +1.
  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746

    If Herr Farage decides to stand in Folkestone is he not likely to just increase Damian Collins already large majority? The LibDems had 3x the Labour vote and 6x the 2010 Kipper vote. LibDems are hardly likely to go Kipper so there will be LibDem to Labour switchers and some Tories may go Kipper but more likely to end up with anti-Tory vote more evenly spread.

    At Eastleigh, UKIP won more votes from 2010 LD voters than 2010 Conservative voters.

  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013

    Mick_Pork said:

    Oh really?

    Then perhaps the out of touch shits Cammie and Osbrowne shouldn't have tried that for a horrific murder.

    It might help if you got your facts right before lecturing others. Philpott et al. were not convicted of murder, but of manslaughter. It was never proven that they intended to kill or to inflict grievous bodily harm.
    It was reported by some at the time as a murder case and Cameron felt free to posture on it though I of course accept that the verdict was not that.

    "manslaughter" certainly makes Cammie's vile posturing on the killing of six children seem so much more palatable though so kudos to you for that.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,674
    Scott_P said:

    The Spanish Prime Minister confirmed a separate Scotland would require the consent of all 28 existing member states, including his country, to join the EU.

    The Spanish government is known to be hostile to Scottish independence as it does not want to encourage its own separatist movement in Catalonia.

    His comments, made in a joint press conference in Madrid with Francois Hollande, the French President, directly contracted this week’s Scottish Government White Paper on independence.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10479461/Spanish-PM-Independent-Scotland-would-be-out-of-the-EU.html

    The Independent cartoon was bang on.

    Eck was blowing smoke out his arse.

    You are easy taken in , can you show why this numpty is more likely to be correct rather than anybody else.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,674
    Scott_P said:

    @GdnPolitics: Scottish independence: Spain blocks Alex Salmond's hopes for EU transition http://t.co/cMHKXMRKVm

    Getting ever more desperate Scott
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,674
    Scott_P said:

    @TomHarrisMP: Despite appearances, First Minister Salmond is reacting positively to Spain's intervention in the #indyref debate: http://t.co/e9kLA4VdUB

    Now you are scraping the barrel, must be a nightmare living in a country you hate so much.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013
    tim said:

    Spineless Dave U turning yet again on cigarette packaging, what's going on with the mollusc?


    The usual chinless wobbling from the jellylike fop.
    GeogAnderson ‏@GeogAnderson 8m

    #Health - Fags in a plain white packet? Cameron's u-turn on cigarette packaging? http://bbc.in/1iUwoO2

    saramo ‏@saramo 1h

    Smoking gun? David Cameron dodges Lynton Crosby cigarette packaging controversy question http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/smoking-gun-david-cameron-dodges-lynton-crosby-cigarette-packaging-controversy-question-8713969.html
  • Mick_Pork said:

    It was reported by some at the time as a murder case and Cameron felt free to posture on it though I of course accept that the verdict was not that.

    "manslaughter" certainly makes Cammie's vile posturing on the killing of six children seem so much more palatable though so kudos to you for that.

    They were initially indicted of murder, but the Crown chose only to pursue manslaughter charges. It was not reported by any reputable publisher or broadcaster as a murder trial, as such a report would have been contumacious. I am not defending Cameron or Osborne and agree that their analysis of the case was misconceived. The idea, however, that a politician trying to make political capital out of a tragic case is somehow "vile", is absurd. That is what politicians do and have always done.
  • tim said:

    If you look at Cameron latest data harvesting using Tia Sharp and April Jones you'll see he hasn't finished plumbing the depths yet, it's the one consistent part of him using dead kids and crime victims

    Cameron has of course used the victims of crime for political purposes; witness his particularly cynical comments on gaoling all knife criminals and the Kinsella case. It is plainly absurd to pretend that this sort of behaviour is confined to Cameron. All politicians do it.

  • john_zimsjohn_zims Posts: 3,399
    @malcolmg

    'You are easy taken in , can you show why this numpty is more likely to be correct rather than anybody else.'

    So the long list of other EU PM's & officials that Ruth Davidson mentioned in her speech,who have also stated that Scotland would need to re-apply for EU membership,would not get special treatment and would join the 8 year queue with other new applicants.
    They are all wrong & Salmond is right?
  • R0bertsR0berts Posts: 391
    Fag packets, payday loans, bluddy furreners. Is it triangulation week for the Tories?

    Quite endearing in a way that Cameron and Osborne are so obsessed with the Blair/Brown spin playbook.

    Only problems are 1 - times have changed, and 2- they're not very good at it.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    19 Bedroom tax: stress and struggle ... hunts for smaller homes

    Forced changes? Fruitless hunts? Must be an unpleasant novelty having to get off their lardy benefit scrounging arses, put down the tv remote control, the pizza, the dole book and the crack pipe and actually look for something. Just a shame it's not real employed work they're hunting, really, but its a start.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013

    The idea, however, that a politician trying to make political capital out of a tragic case is somehow "vile", is absurd. That is what politicians do and have always done.

    Yet there are clearly varying degrees to which such political posturing and the use of crime victims as political capital can be seen as applicable, relevant or just plain vile.

    Incidently (and nothing to do with your comments) Clegg may be busy posturing on gypsies and immigrants now but that's the one time I did see a conscience stir in him and a small flicker of what used to be fairly clear lib dem principles as he eschewed the repulsive posturing on that case.

    Whatever else happens, however hard the lib dems may crash after the 2015 election, Clegg will at least have been able to look Cameron in the eye and always think to himself 'at least I didn't sink to those kind of depths'.
  • corporealcorporeal Posts: 2,549
    malcolmg said:

    Scott_P said:

    The Spanish Prime Minister confirmed a separate Scotland would require the consent of all 28 existing member states, including his country, to join the EU.

    The Spanish government is known to be hostile to Scottish independence as it does not want to encourage its own separatist movement in Catalonia.

    His comments, made in a joint press conference in Madrid with Francois Hollande, the French President, directly contracted this week’s Scottish Government White Paper on independence.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10479461/Spanish-PM-Independent-Scotland-would-be-out-of-the-EU.html

    The Independent cartoon was bang on.

    Eck was blowing smoke out his arse.
    You are easy taken in , can you show why this numpty is more likely to be correct rather than anybody else.

    Malcolm, I'm curious. If you're describing the Spanish Prime Minister as a numpty, would you care to explain the list of people you would take seriously on the matter if not leaders of EU members. Or is your taking their opinion or not seriously solely based on whether they agree with the SNP or not?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,712
    Say what you like about Berlusconi, but I can't imagine many Brits crying over Miliband or Cameron's departure as his supporters did for Silvio today
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,712
    Great story I picked up today

    An elderly British gentleman of 83 arrived in Paris by plane.

    At the French immigration desk, the man took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag.

    "You have been to France before, Monsieur?" the Immigration officer asked, sarcastically.

    The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.

    "Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready."

    The British gentleman says, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

    "Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!"

    The elderly gentleman gave the French Immigration Officer a long hard look.

    Then he quietly explained,

    "Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn't find any fcking Frenchmen to show it to.

    http://www.experienceproject.com/question-answer/An-Elderly-British-Gentleman-Of-83-Arrived-In-Paris-By-Plane-(see-Details-And-Its-A-Joke-So-Dont-Bite-Me-Head-Off-Lol)/864828
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,263
    MikeL said:

    Per Sun - tomorrow morning's YouGov

    YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Labour with 7 point lead: CON 32%, LAB 39%, LD 10%, UKIP 13%

    Identical to previous poll except UKIP +1.

    In other news, paint is continuing to dry. About 350 YouGovs to go...

  • Great selection, TSE. I was laughing too much to get very far into No 15, Owen Jones claiming in his second sentence that "As a rule, I object to personalising politics like this, to injecting venom into public discourse rather than sticking doggedly to the substance."

    Google 'owen jones cameron' and you'll see what I mean...
  • corporealcorporeal Posts: 2,549
    edited November 2013
    HYUFD said:

    Great story I picked up today

    An elderly British gentleman of 83 arrived in Paris by plane.

    At the French immigration desk, the man took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on bag.

    "You have been to France before, Monsieur?" the Immigration officer asked, sarcastically.

    The elderly gentleman admitted he had been to France previously.

    "Then you should know well enough to have your passport ready."

    The British gentleman says, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

    "Impossible. The British always have to show their passports on arrival in France!"

    The elderly gentleman gave the French Immigration Officer a long hard look.

    Then he quietly explained,

    "Well, the last time I was here, I came ashore on Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944, and I couldn't find any fcking Frenchmen to show it to.

    http://www.experienceproject.com/question-answer/An-Elderly-British-Gentleman-Of-83-Arrived-In-Paris-By-Plane-(see-Details-And-Its-A-Joke-So-Dont-Bite-Me-Head-Off-Lol)/864828

    Clearly he'd gone in the wrong queue, the French would've been on the next beach down.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    Cigarette packaging: Ministers launch fresh review
    The government is to announce an independent review of cigarette packaging in England amid calls for action to discourage young smokers.


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25126673

    Rather like an EU referendum in Ireland they're just going to keep asking the same question until everyone gets fed up and says Yes just to make it all stop.

    Big-Staters and nannying do-gooding control freaks are a plague on us all.

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,712
    Quinnipiac Ohio 2016

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 42% (42%)
    •Chris Christie (R) 41% (42%)

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 49%
    •Paul Ryan (R) 41%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 48%
    •Marco Rubio (R) 39%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 50% (47%)
    •Rand Paul (R) 40% (44%)

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 49%
    •John Kasich (R) 38%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 50%
    •Jeb Bush (R) 37%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 50%
    •Ted Cruz (R) 35%


  • In other news, paint is continuing to dry. About 350 YouGovs to go...

    Yes, slowly does it. An imperceptible shift, say an average 0.02% per day..
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,712
    Harper Polling Iowa 2016

    GOP Caucus
    •Chris Christie 17% (12.00%)
    •Ted Cruz 16%
    •Rand Paul 13% (12.50%)
    •Rick Santorum 11% (13.50%)
    •Paul Ryan 9% (18.00%)
    •Scott Walker 7% (2.50%)
    •Marco Rubio 6% (26.50%)
    Bobby Jindal 3%
    •Not sure 17% (15.00%)

    •Chris Christie (R) 43.35%
    •Hillary Clinton (D) 38.12%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 46.40%
    •Paul Ryan (R) 42.57%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 45.21%
    •Marco Rubio (R) 40.79%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 46.82%
    •Rand Paul (R) 41.06%

    •Hillary Clinton (D) 47.37%
    •Ted Cruz (R) 40.45%
  • Labour should take note: the Conservatives are clearing the decks so they can go on the attack.
  • Life_ina_market_townLife_ina_market_town Posts: 2,319
    edited November 2013
    Mick_Pork said:

    Yet there are clearly varying degrees to which such political posturing and the use of crime victims as political capital can be seen as applicable, relevant or just plain vile.

    Incidently (and nothing to do with your comments) Clegg may be busy posturing on gypsies and immigrants now but that's the one time I did see a conscience stir in him and a small flicker of what used to be fairly clear lib dem principles as he eschewed the repulsive posturing on that case.

    Whatever else happens, however hard the lib dems may crash after the 2015 election, Clegg will at least have been able to look Cameron in the eye and always think to himself 'at least I didn't sink to those kind of depths'.

    Frankly, I have nothing but contempt for Clegg. Control orders-lite are still on the statute book, closed material procedures have been extended to every civil case in the United Kingdom other than inquests, and the government has eviscerated the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Clegg's cavalier attitude to civil liberties in government is disgraceful. I care rather more about the substance than the rhetoric.

    As for Osborne and Cameron's comments, we agree that they were misconceived. But on your criteria, were they applicable or relevant? The Crown alleged, and the jury by their verdicts accepted the central elements of the Crown's case, that part of Philpott's motivation for committing the offences was a desire to regain money paid in benefits which had been lost when Ms Willis left him. Is it really "plain vile" for a politician under those circumstances to draw broader inferences about the payment of benefits?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530

    MikeL said:

    Per Sun - tomorrow morning's YouGov

    YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Labour with 7 point lead: CON 32%, LAB 39%, LD 10%, UKIP 13%

    Identical to previous poll except UKIP +1.

    In other news, paint is continuing to dry. About 350 YouGovs to go...


    That implies an almost completely static view of VI polling for a considerable period of time.
    Not really the case.


    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/96/UK_opinion_polling_2010-2015.png

    There is a clear correlation shown between the kipper and tory vote that has changed over the past year and informs the current desperate posturing on immigration from Cameron.


  • tim said:

    Prepare to adopt your third fag packet policy of the year

    Not at all, the position has been the same all along: more evidence needed, and further work needs to be done to build a political consensus, but the indications are that this is something where the public health benefits probably outweigh the disadvantages.
  • tim said:


    That was said when they dropped plain packaging as well, "barnacles off the boat"
    You're assuming they have a clue

    It was only said by Labour. The idea that Lynton Crosby sets government policy was always risible.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    edited November 2013
    tim said:

    antifrank said:

    Labour should take note: the Conservatives are clearing the decks so they can go on the attack.


    That was said when they dropped plain packaging as well, "barnacles off the boat"
    You're assuming they have a clue
    Of course they don't have a clue. Politicians don't.

    But they have decided to get rid of difficult policy positions so that they can attack Labour's difficult policy positions. If you get it wrong, you get it right next time, as a philosopher once said. Labour haven't resiled from their stupid positions yet. It could be their undoing.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited November 2013

    Clegg's cavalier attitude to civil liberties in government is disgraceful.

    Which some lib dems have actually noticed and though it hasn't changed much they have at times voted against the Clegg leadership on such matters at conference.

    As for Osborne and Cameron's comments, we agree that they were misconceived. But on your criteria, were they applicable or relevant?

    Certainly not in my view as this was quite clearly an extraordinary and horrific case that hardly mirrors any significant number of those who are in receipt of benefits and welfare.

  • SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,650
    antifrank said:

    Labour should take note: the Conservatives are clearing the decks so they can go on the attack.

    Bizarre reasoning as when ministers ruled out a ban on plain packaging 4 months ago it was attributed to Lynton Crosby clearing the decks for an attack.It was supposed to be `scraping the barnacles off the boat` and now that the barnacles are back,it`s time for an attack too.

    It seems Cameron`s moves appears to leave even Tory supporters floundering.
  • Me_Me_ Posts: 66
    Hi everyone.

    How are things going around here?
  • corporealcorporeal Posts: 2,549
    Me_ said:

    Hi everyone.

    How are things going around here?

    To the dogs, as ever.
  • RichardNabaviRichardNabavi Posts: 3,413
    edited November 2013
    SMukesh said:



    Bizarre reasoning as when ministers ruled out a ban on plain packaging 4 months ago it was attributed to Lynton Crosby clearing the decks for an attack.It was supposed to be `scraping the barnacles off the boat` and now that the barnacles are back,it`s time for an attack too..

    Sigh... they DIDN'T rule out plain packaging, they said they were waiting for further evidence about how well it worked in Australia.

    I know Labour and truth are hardly on speaking terms, but even so...
  • Life_ina_market_townLife_ina_market_town Posts: 2,319
    edited November 2013
    Mick_Pork said:

    Certainly not in my view as this was quite clearly an extraordinary and horrific case that hardly mirrors any significant number of those who are in receipt of benefits and welfare.

    My only point is that is what all politicians do. Consider R v Brewer, where the complainant, in allegations of sexual offences, committed suicide. It was undoubtedly a tragic case, but it revealed no default in the criminal justice system whatsoever. Yet over 100 MPs considered it an appropriate issue to launch a political campaign on the back on. I simply do not see why anyone is surprised that politicians try to exploit these cases. It is in their nature. That is why I tend to think your outrage is more due to the fact that you trenchantly disagree with Osborne's comments, rather than anything in those comments being "vile".
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,712
    Corporeal True, but kind of ruins the joke!
  • Richard, forgot to say happy birthday the other day. Hope you enjoyed the claret!
This discussion has been closed.