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  • ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    Because the party hierarchy likes to set themselves against the English. If the Tories were saying lets join the EU and the Euro the SNP would be saying the Euro is a terrible idea and they need independence to save the pound.
  • algarkirk said:

    For those interested in the Scottish question there is a devastating analysis of the economics of independence by the BBC's economics editor Douglas Fraser on the Beeb website. There is no way Scots will vote Indy if it hurts their pensions and savings.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50822431

    The key lines are here:

    Five years ago, Alex Salmond and the 'yes' campaign could portray independence as requiring very little change, at least of the type that would be disruptive or threatening to people's finances.
    We were reassured that the currency would remain the same, the border would be open, and Scotland and England would share regulation of finance and much else besides.
    That's not so easy to argue after Brexit. The SNP's new currency is already a more complex offer: use sterling, but without any joint controls, get ready for Holyrood to create a Scottish currency, and from there, decide if it's in the country's interests to join the euro.
    That's harder to sell on the doorstep, particularly one owned by a resident with a mortgage, pension and savings all in sterling.

    Let me guess your conclusion: the analysis is so devastating it's not worth even considering another indy ref.
    Not sure about that. In my view Brexit and a real border between England and Scotland in the event of IndyRef would be a good platform for a unionist defence during a referendum. But the arguments about the currency and the deficit would be clinchers because of the real implications for savings and pensions. Don't really see how the Nats could win in those circumstances TBH.

    Agree. The whole island must be either in or out of the EU, or it will be chaotic, and Britain only makes sense in a post tribal world as a single state. SNP is a reactionary dream from the past.
    Far better just to deal with present and future reactionary dream.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,775
    dr_spyn said:

    Emily Thornberry trying to lead a peasants' revolt?

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1207396244416585728

    Unlike past bad royal adivisors, Milne and Murphy haven't yet had their heads mounted on pikes.

    If you suggest a law that'd stick Corbyn and McDonnell's heads on pikes then I'm all for it. I'd go for the "heads lost in ditches" vote mainly though.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,212
    ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    SNP brexiteers correctly worked out that the remain cause was going to be trounced in England and Wales
  • I quite like both cricket and trains! is that weird or are they sworn enemies?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,002
    edited December 2019

    algarkirk said:

    For those interested in the Scottish question there is a devastating analysis of the economics of independence by the BBC's economics editor Douglas Fraser on the Beeb website. There is no way Scots will vote Indy if it hurts their pensions and savings.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50822431

    The key lines are here:

    Five years ago, Alex Salmond and the 'yes' campaign could portray independence as requiring very little change, at least of the type that would be disruptive or threatening to people's finances.
    We were reassured that the currency would remain the same, the border would be open, and Scotland and England would share regulation of finance and much else besides.
    That's not so easy to argue after Brexit. The SNP's new currency is already a more complex offer: use sterling, but without any joint controls, get ready for Holyrood to create a Scottish currency, and from there, decide if it's in the country's interests to join the euro.
    That's harder to sell on the doorstep, particularly one owned by a resident with a mortgage, pension and savings all in sterling.

    Let me guess your conclusion: the analysis is so devastating it's not worth even considering another indy ref.
    Not sure about that. In my view Brexit and a real border between England and Scotland in the event of IndyRef would be a good platform for a unionist defence during a referendum. But the arguments about the currency and the deficit would be clinchers because of the real implications for savings and pensions. Don't really see how the Nats could win in those circumstances TBH.

    Agree. The whole island must be either in or out of the EU, or it will be chaotic, and Britain only makes sense in a post tribal world as a single state. SNP is a reactionary dream from the past.
    Brexit is the reactionary dream.
    What a shame you voted to stay in the U.K. which voted to leave the EU. Screwed the pooch with that one didn't you? You should have voted to leave when you had the chance.
    Uncharacteristically nasty post for you.

    I thought that victory might soften the edges, but Brexit really has brought out the very worst in people. The atmosphere is toxic. Reminds me of the 1980s.
    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.
    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,775

    I quite like both cricket and trains! is that weird or are they sworn enemies?

    Much the same.

    A double coming-out though is quite an event! Is there a party planned?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,443
    ydoethur said:

    On a serious point, almost every argument for Scottish independence is also an argument for Britain to leave the EU. Let’s take control of our destiny and not have greedy foreigners who don’t get us doing it - check. We can join with other, bigger markets and sell into them - check. We need to sort out our own finances and being wrapped in this comfort blanket masks our problems - check. We’re a proud nation with a long history and should stand on our own feet - check. There might be some economic damage, but it’s not as bad as people say it will be - check.

    Similarly, of course, the arguments against can be readily compared. Let’s not cut off our biggest market. The disruption won’t be worth it. The economics doesn’t stack up. Small nations need to be in big trading blocks to make themselves count these days.

    About the only really significant difference is over currency. Which is hardly the most vital of questions, to be honest. If Montenegro could get round it, I’m sure Scotland could manage somehow.

    It has therefore always baffled me how great a correlation there is between Eurosceptics and Unionists, and between ScotNats and Europhiles (yes, I know there are exceptions including several on this board). The inconsistency of their arguments is beyond daft.

    Ultimately I think what both groups in both arguments are trying to hide is that these are marginal decisions. Neither the UK nor Scotland will face Armageddon should they leave the EU or UK, and equally neither will find it’s actually a solution to the problems they face (as Ireland found it was not). So there is an overwhelming tendency to exaggerate, divide, obfuscate and conceal even from themselves the reality of the situation.

    That's superficially true, but I think you can make a case for a "European Scottish Independence" or for a "my union is better than your union British independence", even though I wouldn't as I'm currently in favour of all the unions all the time.

    The case for a European Scottish Independence is that the quasi-federal/intergovernmental nature of the European Union gives more power to small nations of the EU than small parts of the UK have. The last few years make a convincing case for Ireland having more influence as a smaller part of the EU than Scotland has as a relatively larger part of the UK.

    The case for a superior British Union might reference ideas about the Common Law legal system compared to the Napoleonic Code, language, history, population transfers, etc.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    edited December 2019
    Alistair said:


    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    Ancient history was never my strong point, but wasn't the 2016 referendum question about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, and not whether Scotland should or should not leave the EU?
  • You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,231

    ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    Because the party hierarchy likes to set themselves against the English. If the Tories were saying lets join the EU and the Euro the SNP would be saying the Euro is a terrible idea and they need independence to save the pound.
    +1
  • spudgfshspudgfsh Posts: 1,494

    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Agreed. She'd hoped to have the leverage to extract another referendum from Labour but failed. The only way that she can get that is for Labour to be in power but in order for that to happen they to start winning significant numbers of seats in Scotland again.

    There's nothing that she can do if Boris just keeps saying no to another referendum. Constitutionally it's the power of his government and not her government. Over the course of a few elections (local and SP) the tories may start to suffer in Scotland but they could also unite the unionist vote. (especially as SLab are still a mess).
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    So?
  • DruttDrutt Posts: 1,124

    nichomar said:

    ydoethur said:

    Another day, another gang of child sex abusers in a Yorkshire town:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-50838823

    Anybody watch the darts last night?

    how could so many working class male bigots have roared a young woman on to breaking a glass ceiling?

    Saw a clip of that on Sky earlier. What a reaction! Good for Fallon.

    They also got Phil 'The Power' Taylor on, and he was very fulsome in his praise for her, and what a positive move forward this was for the game.
    Why are we talking about pub game on PB?
    One nation Conservatism

    you've got at least 10 more years of it so better adapt.
    Soccer, cricket, F1, and rugby union are the only sports worth watching.

    If the Tories really want to hold places like Rother Valley then they should talk non stop about rugby union.
    you should try hurling
    Personally, I find cricket and F1 boring but Lewis Hamilton should win the 2020 title and if he does, perhaps the spoty.

    I don't disagree or dislike hurling but it's definitely a physical​ and tough (rough) sport.
    cricket isn't a sport its a sleeping pill substiute

    RobD said:

    ydoethur said:

    I have been doing a little research. I could be wrong, but I think this is the first time since 1919 that Labour have not held a seat in Staffordshire and the first time ever that the Tories have held them all.

    Considering this is still an industrial and ex-mining County, it does go to show the collapse of traditional Labour support.

    Wikipedia has some helpful charts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Parliamentary_constituencies_in_Staffordshire
    Looking through the wiki pages, there are now 17 counties with only Conservative MPs.
    Astounding statistic.
    I agree. How could anyone watch cricket and not be riveted?
    Do they call it "test" cricket because it "tests" your patience?
    Says someone who finds obscure train journeys exciting!
    At least the train moves, unlike almost all the cricket players :lol:
    Sunil I used to like you...
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,676
    dr_spyn said:

    Emily Thornberry trying to lead a peasants' revolt?

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1207396244416585728

    Unlike past bad royal adivisors, Milne and Murphy haven't yet had their heads mounted on pikes.

    ET talking to the Minister for Tory Propoganda that's her crossed off then
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,127
    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    I know.

    :(

  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    What world event has depressed it?
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936
    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    Suspect it would be a lot lower had he not been. :p
  • DruttDrutt Posts: 1,124
    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,127
    RobD said:

    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    Suspect it would be a lot lower had he not been. :p
    Hold on, let me pop across to timeline-corbynvictory...

    ...yup, you're right. Whew...

    ...thinks...

    ...wait a minute, let me look at timeline-remainvictory.

    OH, GODSDAMMIT!
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936
    viewcode said:

    RobD said:

    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    Suspect it would be a lot lower had he not been. :p
    Hold on, let me pop across to timeline-corbynvictory...

    ...yup, you're right. Whew...

    ...thinks...

    ...wait a minute, let me look at timeline-remainvictory.

    OH, GODSDAMMIT!
    They all had goatees in that timeline, didn't they?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,484

    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Let's not dress up managing to keep 6 MP's North of the border as some sort of win. It's a crumb of comfort that a total tsunami was avoided. Other than that I'd say game to Sturgeon, Boris to serve.
  • You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Let's not dress up managing to keep 6 MP's North of the border as some sort of win. It's a crumb of comfort that a total tsunami was avoided. Other than that I'd say game to Sturgeon, Boris to serve.
    Game, Set and Match Boris. He has the UK majority and Sturgeon needs a UK majority to support what she wants.

    The only way Sturgeon gets a second Indyref any time soon is if she convinces Boris its in his interest to let her have it. So how's she going to do that now?
  • Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
  • Alistair said:
    Indeed. The decision whether to hold a vote in the first place belongs to the General Populations UK Parliament which has a Tory majority and voters to that one overwhelmingly think there should not be another vote.

    How are you going to square that circle?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,127
    RobD said:

    viewcode said:

    RobD said:

    IanB2 said:

    £ now lower than when Bozo got elected.

    Suspect it would be a lot lower had he not been. :p
    Hold on, let me pop across to timeline-corbynvictory...

    ...yup, you're right. Whew...

    ...thinks...

    ...wait a minute, let me look at timeline-remainvictory.

    OH, GODSDAMMIT!
    They all had goatees in that timeline, didn't they?
    It would be only logical... :)
  • Brom said:

    Just got a selfie with Andrew Bridgen. Can the last 7 days get any better?!!!

    Whatever floats your boat.
    At least he's against the TV poll tax (he's on C4 News right now).
    Who? Brom or Bridgen?
    Bridgen
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,484

    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Let's not dress up managing to keep 6 MP's North of the border as some sort of win. It's a crumb of comfort that a total tsunami was avoided. Other than that I'd say game to Sturgeon, Boris to serve.
    Game, Set and Match Boris. He has the UK majority and Sturgeon needs a UK majority to support what she wants.

    The only way Sturgeon gets a second Indyref any time soon is if she convinces Boris its in his interest to let her have it. So how's she going to do that now?
    Boris, and the UK as a whole, will have won, when the overwhelming majority of Scottish people reject the notion of leaving the UK as not just a bad idea but as a totally redundant one - the answer to a question that only the odd crank would ever ask. Having the legal ability to prevent a second referendum is not the same.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609

    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    Hmm. 7 Scottish seats traded for a big chunk of the Labour Red Wall and a majority of 80 you say?

    Give us a while and we'll get back to you on that trade.....
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    4 pico seconds later...

    Yeah OK, we'll take it.
  • You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Let's not dress up managing to keep 6 MP's North of the border as some sort of win. It's a crumb of comfort that a total tsunami was avoided. Other than that I'd say game to Sturgeon, Boris to serve.
    Game, Set and Match Boris. He has the UK majority and Sturgeon needs a UK majority to support what she wants.

    The only way Sturgeon gets a second Indyref any time soon is if she convinces Boris its in his interest to let her have it. So how's she going to do that now?
    Boris, and the UK as a whole, will have won, when the overwhelming majority of Scottish people reject the notion of leaving the UK as not just a bad idea but as a totally redundant one - the answer to a question that only the odd crank would ever ask. Having the legal ability to prevent a second referendum is not the same.
    That's not going to happen. In the meantime Boris claims the mandate to reject another referendum "for a generation" and has the numbers to do so. Sturgeon's side lost the 2019 elections - better luck next time.

    Look on the bright side: Next time it will be closer to a generation.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment
  • algarkirk said:

    For those interested in the Scottish question there is a devastating analysis of the economics of independence by the BBC's economics editor Douglas Fraser on the Beeb website. There is no way Scots will vote Indy if it hurts their pensions and savings.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50822431

    The key lines are here:

    Five years ago, Alex Salmond and the 'yes' campaign could portray independence as requiring very little change, at least of the type that would be disruptive or threatening to people's finances.
    We were reassured that the currency would remain the same, the border would be open, and Scotland and England would share regulation of finance and much else besides.
    That's not so easy to argue after Brexit. The SNP's new currency is already a more complex offer: use sterling, but without any joint controls, get ready for Holyrood to create a Scottish currency, and from there, decide if it's in the country's interests to join the euro.
    That's harder to sell on the doorstep, particularly one owned by a resident with a mortgage, pension and savings all in sterling.

    Let me guess your conclusion: the analysis is so devastating it's not worth even considering another indy ref.
    Not sure about that. In my view Brexit and a real border between England and Scotland in the event of IndyRef would be a good platform for a unionist defence during a referendum. But the arguments about the currency and the deficit would be clinchers because of the real implications for savings and pensions. Don't really see how the Nats could win in those circumstances TBH.

    Agree. The whole island must be either in or out of the EU, or it will be chaotic, and Britain only makes sense in a post tribal world as a single state. SNP is a reactionary dream from the past.
    Far better just to deal with present and future reactionary dream.
    What, an independent Scotland?
  • Alistair said:
    Indeed. The decision whether to hold a vote in the first place belongs to the General Populations UK Parliament which has a Tory majority and voters to that one overwhelmingly think there should not be another vote.

    How are you going to square that circle?
    It’s also worth noting Scots themselves are split straight down the middle too.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,127
    ..
  • speedy2speedy2 Posts: 981
    About Lady Hale's statements, I think a UK written constitution on the lines of the US constitution is a good idea.

    A strong separation of powers in a strong federation will kill both the ability of biased judges to make their own laws, and kill the SNP since it would make secession illegal and give regions equal representation in a senate.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    We're all Tories now, Comrade.
  • ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    Because the party hierarchy likes to set themselves against the English. If the Tories were saying lets join the EU and the Euro the SNP would be saying the Euro is a terrible idea and they need independence to save the pound.
    They’re expert harvesters of grievance.

    You only have to look at the sparkling personalities of some of the regulars on here to see how that manifests itself.
  • Starmer keeps flying in and out like a yo-yo.

    He’s gone out to 4.1 and back in to 3.3 in the last 20 minutes, before stabilising at around 3.7.

    Edgy market.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    We're all Tories now, Comrade.
    I believe the expression now is Bro'
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,484

    You are just pissed off that the "sainted" Nicola didn't get the overwhelming mandate she thought she would get. NO referendum… suck it up.

    You were the one hoping that the "sainted" Nicola was going to get a 'kicking' from voters. How pissed off must you be (quite, judging by the tenor of your posts)?
    She did. She thought she was going to be kingmaker with enough MPs to extract a referendum from Corbyn. She failed to do so.

    That failure mostly rests on Corbyn's shoulders but she chose to tie her cart to his horse so she failed by proxy.

    Its funny seeing SNP supporters on here acting as if their side won rather than lost the UK's General Election.
    Let's not dress up managing to keep 6 MP's North of the border as some sort of win. It's a crumb of comfort that a total tsunami was avoided. Other than that I'd say game to Sturgeon, Boris to serve.
    Game, Set and Match Boris. He has the UK majority and Sturgeon needs a UK majority to support what she wants.

    The only way Sturgeon gets a second Indyref any time soon is if she convinces Boris its in his interest to let her have it. So how's she going to do that now?
    Boris, and the UK as a whole, will have won, when the overwhelming majority of Scottish people reject the notion of leaving the UK as not just a bad idea but as a totally redundant one - the answer to a question that only the odd crank would ever ask. Having the legal ability to prevent a second referendum is not the same.
    That's not going to happen. In the meantime Boris claims the mandate to reject another referendum "for a generation" and has the numbers to do so. Sturgeon's side lost the 2019 elections - better luck next time.

    Look on the bright side: Next time it will be closer to a generation.
    On the contrary, it is inevitable.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,386
    Omnium said:

    algarkirk said:

    For those interested in the Scottish question there is a devastating analysis of the economics of independence by the BBC's economics editor Douglas Fraser on the Beeb website. There is no way Scots will vote Indy if it hurts their pensions and savings.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50822431

    The key lines are here:

    Five years ago, Alex Salmond and the 'yes' campaign could portray independence as requiring very little change, at least of the type that would be disruptive or threatening to people's finances.
    We were reassured that the currency would remain the same, the border would be open, and Scotland and England would share regulation of finance and much else besides.
    That's not so easy to argue after Brexit. The SNP's new currency is already a more complex offer: use sterling, but without any joint controls, get ready for Holyrood to create a Scottish currency, and from there, decide if it's in the country's interests to join the euro.
    That's harder to sell on the doorstep, particularly one owned by a resident with a mortgage, pension and savings all in sterling.

    Let me guess your conclusion: the analysis is so devastating it's not worth even considering another indy ref.
    Not sure about that. In my view Brexit and a real border between England and Scotland in the event of IndyRef would be a good platform for a unionist defence during a referendum. But the arguments about the currency and the deficit would be clinchers because of the real implications for savings and pensions. Don't really see how the Nats could win in those circumstances TBH.

    Agree. The whole island must be either in or out of the EU, or it will be chaotic, and Britain only makes sense in a post tribal world as a single state. SNP is a reactionary dream from the past.
    Brexit is the reactionary dream.
    Apart from it actually happening.
    It hasn't yet. Time for Boris to pivot to the other letter to save the country and his legacy.
  • alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100

    Starmer keeps flying in and out like a yo-yo.

    He’s gone out to 4.1 and back in to 3.3 in the last 20 minutes, before stabilising at around 3.7.

    Edgy market.

    I'd rather have RLB but he'll do. In fact I can't think of anyone who wouldn't
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    That was the bargain the Devil required for getting rid of Williamson. Best I could negotiate. Soz.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    edited December 2019

    ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    Because the party hierarchy likes to set themselves against the English. If the Tories were saying lets join the EU and the Euro the SNP would be saying the Euro is a terrible idea and they need independence to save the pound.
    They’re expert harvesters of grievance.

    You only have to look at the sparkling personalities of some of the regulars on here to see how that manifests itself.
    Indeed. That's why no Indyref2 seems like an inevitable win/win given the UK election result.

    Tories win by not having an Indyref and its aftermath dominate politics in the next few years.
    SNP win by having something to whine over for years to come.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    Alistair said:
    Indeed. The decision whether to hold a vote in the first place belongs to the General Populations UK Parliament which has a Tory majority and voters to that one overwhelmingly think there should not be another vote.

    How are you going to square that circle?
    God knows. Given that, unlike in many formal federations, the Union is understood and accepted not to be indissoluble, the politicians then have to balance the right of malcontent states to contemplate secession against the right of the remaining members to fair treatment.

    On the one hand, Scotland keeps voting in nationalist Governments that then lobby for independence. On the other hand, it expects equitable treatment from the remainder of the UK in terms of its right to transfer payments and a fair share of central Government largesse in other respects - notably the fact that many UK-wide administrative functions are based in Scotland. In fact, the total number of UK Government civil servants based in Scotland exceeds the complement of the entire devolved administration. This is a risk to the rest of the country in terms of the need to onshore all of these functions in the event of secession.

    Now, if the Scottish Government keeps threatening to secede all the time then how best should the rest of the country respond to the instability that this creates? Should the UK let Scotland have as many votes as it wants on independence? Should it declare a moratorium after each unsuccessful vote for, say, 20 or 30 years? Should it adopt the position of a Germany or a Spain and legislate to make the Union indissoluble? Or should it conclude that the ongoing uncertainty can only be resolved through dissolution and invite Scotland to go?
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    To know that you must be watching - peeping Tom
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,386
    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    Plotting our revival. It's going well.
  • Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    That was the bargain the Devil required for getting rid of Williamson. Best I could negotiate. Soz.
    Couldn't you have gotten him to take Abbott with Williamson though?
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    Er... no. We’re not blind.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
  • Is @williamglenn still here? I've not seen him post-election, has he opined yet why the election result is good news for Remain?

    Must be bittersweet for him, about to win a grand off Bryonic SeanT but has seen his hopes of Remain evaporate.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    That was the bargain the Devil required for getting rid of Williamson. Best I could negotiate. Soz.
    Couldn't you have gotten him to take Abbott with Williamson though?
    C'mon, Abbott's a hoot
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    Cyclefree said:

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    Er... no. We’re not blind.
    I think it was the men he was talking about. Oh sorry, wrong poster.
  • Cyclefree said:

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    Er... no. We’re not blind.
    Whether from the new intake or old, any particular candy for you?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,484

    ydoethur said:

    Alistair said:

    According to post Euro Ref polling the average SNP voter was more likely to be a Brexiter than the average member of the Scottish public.

    The SNP lost a big chunk of Brexiter voter between 2015 and 2017. I wonder if they got them back in 2019?

    So why, with a few exceptions, does the party hierarchy not reflect this?

    Also, that suggests one reason why the Tories struggled in Scotland - Brexiteers who want independence were hardly likely to vote for them!
    Because the party hierarchy likes to set themselves against the English. If the Tories were saying lets join the EU and the Euro the SNP would be saying the Euro is a terrible idea and they need independence to save the pound.
    They’re expert harvesters of grievance.

    You only have to look at the sparkling personalities of some of the regulars on here to see how that manifests itself.
    It isn't just that. It's also that the long term 'plan' is to be an EU client state. 'Independence' is somewhat of a misnomer - it's separation from England. Scotland could be as dependent as on pretty much anyone else after that for all anyone in the SNP cares. Jim Sillars represents the wing that was after 'true' independence (as well as wanting to stick it to England - that's a constant :smiley:), but his views seem a quaint period piece now.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,675
    Brexiteers have more in common with ScotNats than either would care to admit.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Starmer keeps flying in and out like a yo-yo.

    He’s gone out to 4.1 and back in to 3.3 in the last 20 minutes, before stabilising at around 3.7.

    Edgy market.

    Okie dokie, I've rebacked stammer entirely now, all green again.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    Jonathan said:

    Brexiteers have more in common with ScotNats than either would care to admit.

    Leave it out.... Brexiteers won their referendum.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
    The ramping got beyond a joke.

    Isn't it rather sickening too to see some posters who denied any problems with the Corbyn project now completely changing their minds - apparently they hated him too, they were just prepared to have that vile sickness in power as it wore their team colours
  • The impeachment hearings have the air of the shenanigans in parliament pre-election.

    I don’t want them to help Trump but I think they will. Just as Grieve, Soubry et al played into Boris’ hand so are the Democrats with Trump.
  • Bloody hell. Has the BBC literally lost its mind? In the very week Johnson announces a review of funding/licence etc etc, the BBC chooses to drop News at 10pm for a half hour of 'You are hired' follow-on fluff from the Apprentice.

    Insane.

  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,484
    Jonathan said:

    Brexiteers have more in common with ScotNats than either would care to admit.

    There is a lot in common, absolutely. And there are things that are different. So many Scotnats have related formative experiences of feeling mortified by snobbish or overbearing English people. There is a background of anger and hurt, and real and imagined slights there that doesn't have a parallel in UK/Europe relations.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    That was the bargain the Devil required for getting rid of Williamson. Best I could negotiate. Soz.
    Couldn't you have gotten him to take Abbott with Williamson though?
    He threw Dent Coad in. For the lolz.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    edited December 2019
    TL;DR It was the media and establishment's fault.
  • Jonathan said:

    Brexiteers have more in common with ScotNats than either would care to admit.

    The only difference between Brexiteers and SNats is one won their referendum and the other lost theirs.
  • TL;DR It was the media and establishment's fault.
    She'll be back. Somewhere.
  • TL;DR It was the media and establishment's fault.
    Also those pesky voters, for not believing the moonbeams and free unicorns policies.

    But not Jezza.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936

    Bloody hell. Has the BBC literally lost its mind? In the very week Johnson announces a review of funding/licence etc etc, the BBC chooses to drop News at 10pm for a half hour of 'You are hired' follow-on fluff from the Apprentice.

    Insane.

    Boris might be a fan of the Apprentice. ;)
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited December 2019
    Floater said:

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
    The ramping got beyond a joke.

    Isn't it rather sickening too to see some posters who denied any problems with the Corbyn project now completely changing their minds - apparently they hated him too, they were just prepared to have that vile sickness in power as it wore their team colours
    Who was it posting queues of students at London polling stations every five minutes accompanied by “I’m not saying it means anything... but if I were a Tory I’d be worried.”

    Kinabalu? Horse Battery?
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    Floater said:
    Stories like this keep popping up but then mostly seem to disappear from the media. It's not just an issue of punishing criminals but prevention. Warboys is a perfect example of a wet judicial system having to be held to account by victims - I daresay Starmer would approve of the process.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,212
    Some of the ideas are err - well I'm in favour of workers right but....
    Ministry of workers rights o_O
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    The only way Jezza could have had a lower chance of becoming PM would have been if he'd gone to Cambridge... :wink:
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936
    isam said:

    Floater said:

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
    The ramping got beyond a joke.

    Isn't it rather sickening too to see some posters who denied any problems with the Corbyn project now completely changing their minds - apparently they hated him too, they were just prepared to have that vile sickness in power as it wore their team colours
    Who was it posting queues of students at London polling stations every five minutes accompanied by “I’m not saying it means anything... but if I were a Tory I’d be worried.”

    Kinabalu? Horse Battery?
    Despite the fact it was forecast to rain heavily later in the day. You can include the constant posting of the registration figures too. I doubt we'll be seeing that next time either.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318

    Cyclefree said:

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    Er... no. We’re not blind.
    Whether from the new intake or old, any particular candy for you?
    Have not seen enough to judge.
  • Becky Bibbly-Bobbly declared her candidacy yet?
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    RobD said:

    isam said:

    Floater said:

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
    The ramping got beyond a joke.

    Isn't it rather sickening too to see some posters who denied any problems with the Corbyn project now completely changing their minds - apparently they hated him too, they were just prepared to have that vile sickness in power as it wore their team colours
    Who was it posting queues of students at London polling stations every five minutes accompanied by “I’m not saying it means anything... but if I were a Tory I’d be worried.”

    Kinabalu? Horse Battery?
    Despite the fact it was forecast to rain heavily later in the day. You can include the constant posting of the registration figures too. I doubt we'll be seeing that next time either.
    It were MysticRose! Doubt we’ll hear much more from her. The Apocalypse is back coincidentally


  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,002
    edited December 2019

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    And there's Burgon of course..
  • nunu2nunu2 Posts: 1,453
    kle4 said:

    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    I think Labour's combined leadership and EU position has done something which has been a long running issue for the Tories.

    It's (For electoral purposes) expunged the ghost of Thatcher in England's old coalfields. Seismic.

    Millions of new voters now have the blue taint.
    It can be overcome!

    I think.
    Labour will never win (as in gain a majority) ever gain. This is much worse than what the tories faced in 1997.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    And there's Burgon of course..
    One commentator said that Labour would do better painting a smiley face on a plank of wood than with Burgon.
  • Drutt said:

    Stop me if I'm getting a bit #metoo, but have we just lost the two best looking Parliamentarians in Mel Onn and Heidi Allen?
    Sad days for the PB.com dads.

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's tilt at the leadership provides lots of silver fox action for the ladies.
    And there's Burgon of course..
    Jesus wept. A face only a mother could love.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936
    New thread.
  • RobD said:

    isam said:

    Floater said:

    alterego said:

    Slow on here again. Have all the socialists emigrated to Venezuela or are they just dug in for the moment

    It's mostly just a bunch of Tories wanking each other off on here these days. If I'd wanted to see that I'd have gone to Oxford.
    And to think, how much we watched six weeks of Labour bots fellating Jeremy on here, with such joy in our hearts.....
    The ramping got beyond a joke.

    Isn't it rather sickening too to see some posters who denied any problems with the Corbyn project now completely changing their minds - apparently they hated him too, they were just prepared to have that vile sickness in power as it wore their team colours
    Who was it posting queues of students at London polling stations every five minutes accompanied by “I’m not saying it means anything... but if I were a Tory I’d be worried.”

    Kinabalu? Horse Battery?
    Despite the fact it was forecast to rain heavily later in the day. You can include the constant posting of the registration figures too. I doubt we'll be seeing that next time either.
    Registration figures are my penultimate perennial favourite, after the importance of "tactical voting". Every time "this time is different" due to tactical voting, because "don't you realise the Tories are hated" - by people who have hated the Tories every time.

    Then you get the models and Tweets saying "if only everyone who isn't a Tory votes tactically we can win this seat". Or due to tactical voting the Tories could be 11% in the lead and we'd be in Hung Parliament territory . . .
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,386

    Becky Bibbly-Bobbly declared her candidacy yet?

    Can I take it you are not a fan?
This discussion has been closed.