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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Conservative intake of 2019 (Part 2 of 2) – the new MPs to

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  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    I would have gone for ‘single billionaire’ in a heartbeat.

    After all, it’s most unlikely I would be single for long.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,486

    malcolmg said:

    Returning to the previous thread - there is no way New Zealand will agree a union with the UK. The Kiwis like being at the end of the Earth and they know free movement means a lot more low-skilled Poms arriving. It would also mess up their arrangements with Australia. No doubt tongues were very firmly in cheeks when the suggestion was made. But for anyone who was inclined to take it seriously: don’t.

    I agree. I do look forward to a much closer trading relationship though. It caused genuine poverty that New Zealand has never fully recovered from when we joined the EU.
    Yes shipping goods 11,000 miles will be a great way to improve our trade , we really need those sheep and apples.
    New Zealand is a wonderful pristine place that unsurprisingly produces wonderfully healthy (in every sense) livestock and food. I don't really see your point to be honest.
    Nice landscapes. Boring country. Miles of nothing and the pubs and restaurants are beyond awful in most towns, even if they exist at all.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,468

    malcolmg said:

    Returning to the previous thread - there is no way New Zealand will agree a union with the UK. The Kiwis like being at the end of the Earth and they know free movement means a lot more low-skilled Poms arriving. It would also mess up their arrangements with Australia. No doubt tongues were very firmly in cheeks when the suggestion was made. But for anyone who was inclined to take it seriously: don’t.

    I agree. I do look forward to a much closer trading relationship though. It caused genuine poverty that New Zealand has never fully recovered from when we joined the EU.
    Yes shipping goods 11,000 miles will be a great way to improve our trade , we really need those sheep and apples.
    New Zealand is a wonderful pristine place that unsurprisingly produces wonderfully healthy (in every sense) livestock and food. I don't really see your point to be honest.
    It’s the shipping 11k miles. Unless we’re going to go back to the days of the Cutty Sark.

    That’s the ship, not what Burns meant!
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,605
    kinabalu said:

    I am all green on the 5 for Labour leader.

    Best is 250 Thornberry. Worst is 133 RLB.

    Solid. Unspectacular. A real Starmer of a book.

    I'm all green on the five too, but my book is only one-tenth the size of the serious punters on here. I need to up my game.


  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219
    Cyclefree said:

    To pick up on a point @tlg86 made earlier on, Natalie Elphicke is at least as qualified as her husband to be an MP.

    err... what qualifications do you need to be an MP.. perhaps they SHOULD have to pass an exam.....
    I'm all in favour of that. MPs are very keen to impose minimum standards on others but remarkably reluctant to consider any for themselves.
    What test would you require them to pass, as a matter of interest?
    Something about the right pronouns to use for transgender people should be enough, I would have thought.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,468
    ydoethur said:

    I would have gone for ‘single billionaire’ in a heartbeat.

    After all, it’s most unlikely I would be single for long.
    Yup.
    Tell me Debbie, what was that attracted you to the millionaire......
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    rcs1000 said:

    Cyclefree said:

    To pick up on a point @tlg86 made earlier on, Natalie Elphicke is at least as qualified as her husband to be an MP.

    err... what qualifications do you need to be an MP.. perhaps they SHOULD have to pass an exam.....
    I'm all in favour of that. MPs are very keen to impose minimum standards on others but remarkably reluctant to consider any for themselves.
    What test would you require them to pass, as a matter of interest?
    Something about the right pronouns to use for transgender people should be enough, I would have thought.
    I think getting the most votes is probably a decent idea.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219
    HYUFD said:
    Goldman Sachs earns about $6bn after tax. They are the biggest and most profitable part of Wall Street.

    It's a lot of money.

    But you'd need to take every penny of that profit for about 150 years to get anywhere near the current level of student debt. And that's just the *current* level of debt. The sum total of student debt in America probably grows by more than the profits of the investment banks every year.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    rcs1000 said:

    HYUFD said:
    Goldman Sachs earns about $6bn after tax. They are the biggest and most profitable part of Wall Street.

    It's a lot of money.

    But you'd need to take every penny of that profit for about 150 years to get anywhere near the current level of student debt. And that's just the *current* level of debt. The sum total of student debt in America probably grows by more than the profits of the investment banks every year.
    It’s not as though the Donald is a details guy, either.....
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    ydoethur said:

    I would have gone for ‘single billionaire’ in a heartbeat.

    After all, it’s most unlikely I would be single for long.
    Though imagine living with someone who married you for money...
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    I would have gone for ‘single billionaire’ in a heartbeat.

    After all, it’s most unlikely I would be single for long.
    Though imagine living with someone who married you for money...
    Melania... Melania... are you there?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    Nigelb said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Yep. She was highlighted by a Daily Mail piece the other day. One to watch.
    She's certainly more agreeable to watch than most!
    She is pretty certainly.

    But that trouser suit is just awful.
    If the Tories had you for sartorial advice, they would be truly dangerous...
    At the right (enormous) price, I am available ....... :).
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    I would have gone for ‘single billionaire’ in a heartbeat.

    After all, it’s most unlikely I would be single for long.
    Though imagine living with someone who married you for money...
    I am assuming there would be a fairly wide choice.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,060
    edited January 2020
    Nigelb said:


    I think getting the most votes is probably a decent idea.

    Didn't work for Hilary Clinton ;)
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    edited January 2020
    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,468
    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Glad I’m not a member of Unite anymore. Wouldn’t want my sub thrown away on lawyers fees. Especially when it’s due to being damn silly!
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    ydoethur said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
    It’ll be put in the hands of bailiffs. Lots of fun, undoubtedly. But most unlikely to lead to a spell in chokey.

    Sadly.
  • rcs1000 said:

    Cyclefree said:

    To pick up on a point @tlg86 made earlier on, Natalie Elphicke is at least as qualified as her husband to be an MP.

    err... what qualifications do you need to be an MP.. perhaps they SHOULD have to pass an exam.....
    I'm all in favour of that. MPs are very keen to impose minimum standards on others but remarkably reluctant to consider any for themselves.
    What test would you require them to pass, as a matter of interest?
    Something about the right pronouns to use for transgender people should be enough, I would have thought.
    He/she.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    What on earth is the Socialist Environment and Resources Association? Do they have vicious feuds with other Environment and Resources Associations?

    Not a great acronym for an activist group, it hints at a kind of acceptant fatalism.
    SERA has been around for more than 40 years and used to have an office in Poland Street in the same building as Friends of the Earth. The fact you haven't heard of them just shows how polite they are, compared to XR.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,164

    I didn't actually realise that they would be able to vote. Interesting.
    Where does it say they can vote in General elections?
  • glwglw Posts: 9,912
    I can't believe QAnon is still going, it was funny enough when it first started*, and then it became clear some left-wing trolls were behind it, but it has taken on a life of its own.

    It took just 4 years for Trump to turn from a Reddit/4chan joke^ into something some of his followers would now die for, and I'm not exaggerating that in the least.

    Of course I'm not saying "meme magic" was the only thing responsible for Trump's victory, but it played a bigger part than most people realise.

    *It was kind of fun when the person behind it was trying to make out they were in Trump's inner circle by posting "clues".

    ^ It started it with "isn't it hilarious this idiot is running" to "wouldn't it be hilarious if he makes it to the convention" to "it will be a hoot if he gets the nomination" and then of course he only went and won the bloody thing, probably against his own expectation.
  • glw said:

    I can't believe QAnon is still going, it was funny enough when it first started*, and then it became clear some left-wing trolls were behind it, but it has taken on a life of its own.

    It took just 4 years for Trump to turn from a Reddit/4chan joke^ into something some of his followers would now die for, and I'm not exaggerating that in the least.

    Of course I'm not saying "meme magic" was the only thing responsible for Trump's victory, but it played a bigger part than most people realise.

    *It was kind of fun when the person behind it was trying to make out they were in Trump's inner circle by posting "clues".

    ^ It started it with "isn't it hilarious this idiot is running" to "wouldn't it be hilarious if he makes it to the convention" to "it will be a hoot if he gets the nomination" and then of course he only went and won the bloody thing, probably against his own expectation.
    ""it will be a hoot if he gets the nomination" ... "I'll die laughing if he starts WW3".
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    Cyclefree said:

    ydoethur said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
    It’ll be put in the hands of bailiffs. Lots of fun, undoubtedly. But most unlikely to lead to a spell in chokey.

    Sadly.
    I suspect the reason they haven’t paid yet is they have stated they will appeal. But it’s difficult to see what point of law they can build a case on. Once the judge had decided they and Skwawkbox were lying it was a pretty open and shut case.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720
    edited January 2020
    Another one to watch may well be Alicia Kearns, who was parachuted into the safe seat of Rutland and Melton, after touting round a number of constituencies in the South of England.

    She specialises in electronic information presentation, including for the No campaign in Scotland and for the FCO in Iraq and Syria. I have suggested to her that the Russia Report would be a good place to start.

    https://www.gorkana.com/2016/08/fcos-alicia-kearns-joins-global-influence/
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720
    felix said:

    I didn't actually realise that they would be able to vote. Interesting.
    Where does it say they can vote in General elections?
    They have to naturalised first, except the Maltese and Cypriots who can already vote.
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,780
    edited January 2020

    Apols if posted, but the Momentum poll is here, with Rayner only just scraping home (because of support for Burgon, I assume):

    Question 1 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Rebecca Long-Bailey as the next leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 4,995 (70.42%) Against: 2,098 (29.58%)

    Question 2 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Angela Rayner as the next deputy leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 3,684 (52.15%) Against: 3,380 (47.85%)

    Note the small total number - nowhere near the claimed membership, but then a number of members (2 out of 3 that I know) didn't get the question sent to them.

    If Becky can only carry 70% of Momentumites in a push poll, I would politely suggest she is probably toast.
    Long-Bailey can't carry 70% of the Momentum cult. Momentum have been adamant that their membership is around 40,000. 4,995 (12.5%) of them voted to endorse Long-Bailey in what was indeed a push poll. 2,098 [EDIT] voted not to. And around 33,000 members of Momentum chose not to take part in the exercise.
  • Again with thanks to AM and Fishing for their work I wonder if they know how many of the new Conservative MPs were local to their area or outsiders.

    One way of comparing would be to see how many were local councillors in areas different to where they now represent.
  • Also how many of the new Conservative MPs have beards.

    Wasn't Jerry Hayes the only Conservative MP who did so in the 1980s ?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,769

    Apols if posted, but the Momentum poll is here, with Rayner only just scraping home (because of support for Burgon, I assume):

    Question 1 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Rebecca Long-Bailey as the next leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 4,995 (70.42%) Against: 2,098 (29.58%)

    Question 2 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Angela Rayner as the next deputy leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 3,684 (52.15%) Against: 3,380 (47.85%)

    Note the small total number - nowhere near the claimed membership, but then a number of members (2 out of 3 that I know) didn't get the question sent to them.

    If Becky can only carry 70% of Momentumites in a push poll, I would politely suggest she is probably toast.
    Long-Bailey can't carry 70% of the Momentum cult. Momentum have been adamant that their membership is around 40,000. 4,995 (12.5%) of them voted to endorse Long-Bailey in what was indeed a push poll. 2,098 [EDIT] voted not to. And around 33,000 members of Momentum chose not to take part in the exercise.
    "but then a number of members (2 out of 3 that I know) didn't get the question sent to them."

    Erm, is that a major scandal? Why/how did 2/3 of membership not get the email?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,769

    IshmaelZ said:

    What on earth is the Socialist Environment and Resources Association? Do they have vicious feuds with other Environment and Resources Associations?

    Not a great acronym for an activist group, it hints at a kind of acceptant fatalism.
    SERA has been around for more than 40 years and used to have an office in Poland Street in the same building as Friends of the Earth. The fact you haven't heard of them just shows how polite they are, compared to XR.
    I have heard of SERA. Do I get a leader vote?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    Failed to record “to the standard required”... They conveniently lost the records again ?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,769
    Cyclefree said:

    ydoethur said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
    It’ll be put in the hands of bailiffs. Lots of fun, undoubtedly. But most unlikely to lead to a spell in chokey.

    Sadly.
    Sounds like a good opportunity for "Can't pay, we will take it away" TV show.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    ydoethur said:

    Cyclefree said:

    ydoethur said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
    It’ll be put in the hands of bailiffs. Lots of fun, undoubtedly. But most unlikely to lead to a spell in chokey.

    Sadly.
    I suspect the reason they haven’t paid yet is they have stated they will appeal. But it’s difficult to see what point of law they can build a case on. Once the judge had decided they and Skwawkbox were lying it was a pretty open and shut case.
    They are trying to wear her down into abandoning her efforts. She will not get all her costs back so they are hoping that if they delay, fight, appeal and generally mess her about for as long as possible eventually she will give up.

    Pretty despicable really.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Again with thanks to AM and Fishing for their work I wonder if they know how many of the new Conservative MPs were local to their area or outsiders.

    One way of comparing would be to see how many were local councillors in areas different to where they now represent.

    That is surprisingly hard to judge. Candidates make great play of local connections. Those local connections can be tenuous on inspection.

    Campaign statements are not given under oath and candidates of all parties make full use of that on this and other fronts.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    Cyclefree said:

    ydoethur said:

    Cyclefree said:

    ydoethur said:

    dr_spyn said:

    Unite helping out underemployed lawyers.

    https://twitter.com/annaturley/status/1217885061246332930

    It won't end well.

    Please, please UNITE - stick to your guns. Refuse to pay a cent. It would be absolutely brilliant if Walker and McCluskey both got twelve months for contempt.

    And then they will have to pay up anyway.
    It’ll be put in the hands of bailiffs. Lots of fun, undoubtedly. But most unlikely to lead to a spell in chokey.

    Sadly.
    I suspect the reason they haven’t paid yet is they have stated they will appeal. But it’s difficult to see what point of law they can build a case on. Once the judge had decided they and Skwawkbox were lying it was a pretty open and shut case.
    They are trying to wear her down into abandoning her efforts. She will not get all her costs back so they are hoping that if they delay, fight, appeal and generally mess her about for as long as possible eventually she will give up.

    Pretty despicable really.
    As you would expect from Len McCluskey.

  • Gabs3Gabs3 Posts: 836

    Apols if posted, but the Momentum poll is here, with Rayner only just scraping home (because of support for Burgon, I assume):

    Question 1 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Rebecca Long-Bailey as the next leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 4,995 (70.42%) Against: 2,098 (29.58%)

    Question 2 of 2: Should Momentum follow the NCG recommendation to endorse
    Angela Rayner as the next deputy leader of the Labour Party?
    Results: For: 3,684 (52.15%) Against: 3,380 (47.85%)

    Note the small total number - nowhere near the claimed membership, but then a number of members (2 out of 3 that I know) didn't get the question sent to them.

    If Becky can only carry 70% of Momentumites in a push poll, I would politely suggest she is probably toast.
    Long-Bailey can't carry 70% of the Momentum cult. Momentum have been adamant that their membership is around 40,000. 4,995 (12.5%) of them voted to endorse Long-Bailey in what was indeed a push poll. 2,098 [EDIT] voted not to. And around 33,000 members of Momentum chose not to take part in the exercise.
    I don't think we should read too much into that. Plenty of people don't feel a particular to drive to answer an email poll, when they will do to vote for party leader.

    Do we know that Labour Party members are that different in belief to Momentum members in the Jeremy Corbyn led party? The idea that they are all moderate social Democrats isn't necessarily correct. I think they will be a bit different but not that much. If 45% of non-Momentum members back her, she will be ok.
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,780
    edited January 2020
    The developing row over Long-Bailey's views on abortion has the potential to seriously derail her campaign.

    One thing she had going for her was the likelihood of her capturing preference votes ahead of Starmer from Labour feminists for whom the election of a female leader was a key factor trumping many others. However, for the same part of the Labour membership electorate (and many others), a defence of abortion rights is also pretty high up the list.

    Remember how Farron's views on abortion did for his leadership? Even when he backtracked and declared that he was now pro-choice and only opposed to abortion being more widely available. And even when, as with Long-Bailey, he declared that this was only a personal view?

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/16/tim-farron-says-hes-pro-choice-after-2007-interview-emerges
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,231

    Also how many of the new Conservative MPs have beards.

    Wasn't Jerry Hayes the only Conservative MP who did so in the 1980s ?

    I think Mrs T viewed beards or stubble in the same light as travelling by bus. Fine for a woman, but for a man a sign of not being quite up to scratch.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    What on earth is the Socialist Environment and Resources Association? Do they have vicious feuds with other Environment and Resources Associations?

    Not a great acronym for an activist group, it hints at a kind of acceptant fatalism.
    SERA has been around for more than 40 years and used to have an office in Poland Street in the same building as Friends of the Earth. The fact you haven't heard of them just shows how polite they are, compared to XR.
    I have heard of SERA. Do I get a leader vote?
    No, but you definitely don't need a hearing aid!
  • IshmaelZ said:

    What on earth is the Socialist Environment and Resources Association? Do they have vicious feuds with other Environment and Resources Associations?

    Not a great acronym for an activist group, it hints at a kind of acceptant fatalism.
    Que sera sera?
    How about forming a Socialist Railway Cranks Society, affiliating to Labour and getting a nomination?
    You can form the SRCS, I'd rather form a Commonwealth Railway Cranks Society :)
  • mattmatt Posts: 3,789
    kinabalu said:

    Also how many of the new Conservative MPs have beards.

    Wasn't Jerry Hayes the only Conservative MP who did so in the 1980s ?

    I think Mrs T viewed beards or stubble in the same light as travelling by bus. Fine for a woman, but for a man a sign of not being quite up to scratch.
    I never realised that Thatcher has views on public topiary, but you’re the expert.
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
  • Again with thanks to AM and Fishing for their work I wonder if they know how many of the new Conservative MPs were local to their area or outsiders.

    One way of comparing would be to see how many were local councillors in areas different to where they now represent.

    That is surprisingly hard to judge. Candidates make great play of local connections. Those local connections can be tenuous on inspection.

    Campaign statements are not given under oath and candidates of all parties make full use of that on this and other fronts.
    Indeed.

    Which is why I thought local councillors might be appropriate evidence.

    Its possible to be vague about where you come from or where you work but a councillor is for a specific location.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    edited January 2020
    Nigelb said:

    Failed to record “to the standard required”... They conveniently lost the records again ?
    They ignored the recommendation. (Much as they have pretty much ignored all the other recommendations.)

    And are now pretending that it has something to do with recording the decision not to investigate when the truth is likely to be that they did not make any decision not to investigate on the basis of reasons. They just didn’t bother thinking about it at all.

    Or maybe they are so useless they can’t find a piece of paper and pen or don’t know how to switch on the computer.

    This may all seem like pedantic nonsense. But remember that it turned out that Carl Beech was a child abuser. So they are running a risk that these two other complainants may be like Beech and also be child abusers rather than victims. Or, rather, it is not the police running any risks here but possible child victims of these people.

    This is serious stuff that is going wrong here.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,231
    matt said:

    I never realised that Thatcher has views on public topiary, but you’re the expert.

    Not on the record but the circumstantial evidence is quite strong. If you wanted her ear you needed to be smooth of both manner and cheek. Cecil Parkinson was the template.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219
    matt said:

    kinabalu said:

    Also how many of the new Conservative MPs have beards.

    Wasn't Jerry Hayes the only Conservative MP who did so in the 1980s ?

    I think Mrs T viewed beards or stubble in the same light as travelling by bus. Fine for a woman, but for a man a sign of not being quite up to scratch.
    I never realised that Thatcher has views on public topiary, but you’re the expert.
    Ross Perot, who ran for President on a remarkably Trumpian manifesto 25 years ago, used to absolutely hate beards.

    A lot of the US hostages in Iran were EDS (Ross Perot's company at the time) employees, and after the Carter government failed to get them released, he took over the mantle. The plane that flew to Tehran to pick up the hostages had Perot on board, and he greeted them as they boarded the plane.

    The head of EDS in Iran/Persia had been unable to shave during captivity, and his first words to Perot upon boarding the plane were to apologise about his beard.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,678
    edited January 2020
    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107
  • Why don't they put up some loud speakers and play a recording of the bongs ?

    Actually that would have been a good idea anyway for tourism purposes.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,291

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    Westminster killjoys won't be able to stop me having a Big Bong at 11pm on 31st January! :open_mouth:
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,231

    Why don't they put up some loud speakers and play a recording of the bongs ?

    Actually that would have been a good idea anyway for tourism purposes.

    Big Ben miming? Loss of integrity there surely.

  • Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,424
    There’s nonce so deaf, in general, as those who will not hear.

    Good night.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    Republicans are advancing the novel legal principle that evidence coming to light after charges have been filed should not be heard in a trial...
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/lev-parnas-trump-impeachment-trial-099781
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,230
    kinabalu said:

    Why don't they put up some loud speakers and play a recording of the bongs ?

    Actually that would have been a good idea anyway for tourism purposes.

    Big Ben miming? Loss of integrity there surely.
    They could install speakers and not tell anyone...
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Tom Watson says "O Hell."
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,359

    malcolmg said:

    Returning to the previous thread - there is no way New Zealand will agree a union with the UK. The Kiwis like being at the end of the Earth and they know free movement means a lot more low-skilled Poms arriving. It would also mess up their arrangements with Australia. No doubt tongues were very firmly in cheeks when the suggestion was made. But for anyone who was inclined to take it seriously: don’t.

    I agree. I do look forward to a much closer trading relationship though. It caused genuine poverty that New Zealand has never fully recovered from when we joined the EU.
    Yes shipping goods 11,000 miles will be a great way to improve our trade , we really need those sheep and apples.
    New Zealand is a wonderful pristine place that unsurprisingly produces wonderfully healthy (in every sense) livestock and food. I don't really see your point to be honest.
    We have plenty of sheep and apples, why would we want to ship stuff from 11K miles away that we can supply ourselves.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Returning to the previous thread - there is no way New Zealand will agree a union with the UK. The Kiwis like being at the end of the Earth and they know free movement means a lot more low-skilled Poms arriving. It would also mess up their arrangements with Australia. No doubt tongues were very firmly in cheeks when the suggestion was made. But for anyone who was inclined to take it seriously: don’t.

    I agree. I do look forward to a much closer trading relationship though. It caused genuine poverty that New Zealand has never fully recovered from when we joined the EU.
    Yes shipping goods 11,000 miles will be a great way to improve our trade , we really need those sheep and apples.
    New Zealand is a wonderful pristine place that unsurprisingly produces wonderfully healthy (in every sense) livestock and food. I don't really see your point to be honest.
    We have plenty of sheep and apples, why would we want to ship stuff from 11K miles away that we can supply ourselves.
    But we need our sheep to take important government jobs. Simply: they're not available for slaughter.
  • rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    But isn't it usually governing parties which have presided over disaster ?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219

    rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    But isn't it usually governing parties which have presided over disaster ?
    I think that's absolutely right

    Which means Labour probably need to get into power to get permanently out of power :smile:

    (although that isn't what happened in Scotland),
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,153

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
  • Gabs3Gabs3 Posts: 836
    Nigelb said:

    Republicans are advancing the novel legal principle that evidence coming to light after charges have been filed should not be heard in a trial...
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/lev-parnas-trump-impeachment-trial-099781

    They are also advocating the principle that witnesses should not be heard in the trial.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,153
    Gabs3 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Republicans are advancing the novel legal principle that evidence coming to light after charges have been filed should not be heard in a trial...
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/lev-parnas-trump-impeachment-trial-099781

    They are also advocating the principle that witnesses should not be heard in the trial.
    I wonder if they stop sometimes and think how the version of themselves from just a few years ago would have reacted to the things they say now, the things they ignore or endorse. I bet their old selves would be shocked. They were broken, totally and completely, and are now just vessels for partisan fervour.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,060
    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    I think it's something to do with our world class press
  • rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    But isn't it usually governing parties which have presided over disaster ?
    I think that's absolutely right

    Which means Labour probably need to get into power to get permanently out of power :smile:

    (although that isn't what happened in Scotland),
    SLAB have gone from being the most successful party in the western world to being the worst within a decade.

    Its quite remarkable.
  • speedy2speedy2 Posts: 981
    Betting question.

    There will be 3 different sets of results from Iowa, which ones will the betting markets use to settle the winner ?

    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/iowa-caucus-vote-totals-change-099519

    The Associated Press will report only state delegate shares but other media outlets will report all 3 sets of results, 2 raw vote counts and the delegate count.
  • kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    But does anyone really care apart from Mark Francois ?
  • mattmatt Posts: 3,789
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    But isn't it usually governing parties which have presided over disaster ?
    I think that's absolutely right

    Which means Labour probably need to get into power to get permanently out of power :smile:

    (although that isn't what happened in Scotland),
    Let’s see what happens in Wales.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    But does anyone really care apart from Mark Francois ?
    It should happen. I don’t see any point in not making many people happy at what by government standards is a trivial cost, even if it doesn’t make me happy.

    “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?”
  • mattmatt Posts: 3,789

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    But does anyone really care apart from Mark Francois ?
    Outrage merchants across the political spectrum.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,559

    The developing row over Long-Bailey's views on abortion has the potential to seriously derail her campaign.

    One thing she had going for her was the likelihood of her capturing preference votes ahead of Starmer from Labour feminists for whom the election of a female leader was a key factor trumping many others. However, for the same part of the Labour membership electorate (and many others), a defence of abortion rights is also pretty high up the list.

    Remember how Farron's views on abortion did for his leadership? Even when he backtracked and declared that he was now pro-choice and only opposed to abortion being more widely available. And even when, as with Long-Bailey, he declared that this was only a personal view?

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/16/tim-farron-says-hes-pro-choice-after-2007-interview-emerges
    For the first time ever I think RBL may have something to offer, including possessing a degree of conviction and a willingness to stand up for the self evident truth that politics cannot be detached from personally held values. This, I am sorry to say, will be fatal to any chance she had.

  • speedy2speedy2 Posts: 981
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    But isn't it usually governing parties which have presided over disaster ?
    I think that's absolutely right

    Which means Labour probably need to get into power to get permanently out of power :smile:

    (although that isn't what happened in Scotland),
    You need a party to be perceived to be attacking their own voters for a long time and a credible alternative.

    That covers Scotland too, and it almost happened to the Conservatives under Theresa May.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208
    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    It's The Blob, having one last hurrah......
  • rcs1000 said:


    Labour 400/1. Could the same happen in England, Scotland or Wales one day?
    There's a small chance in Scotland, if it was to happen in England, we wouldn't be here to witness it.
    Historically dominant parties had exctinction moments in:

    Labour Scotland (2015) - from 40 seats to 1
    Progressive Conservatives Canada (1993) - from 156 seats to 2
    PASOK Greece (2015) - Seventh place from first in a decade
    Socialists France (2017) - From Presidency to 6%

    I could do more. But parties get completely (or almost completely) wiped out more often than you might think.
    Nice statistics.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    dr_spyn said:

    Tom Watson says "O Hell."
    Still alone in o-hell-o
    See the deadly nightshade grow....
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208
    edited January 2020
    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    FF43 said:

    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
    Angela Merkel says "After Brexit the brits will be a a competitor" and you do not see any benefits.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300

    dr_spyn said:

    Tom Watson says "O Hell."
    Still alone in o-hell-o
    See the deadly nightshade grow....
    I don't belong here, said old tessa out loud.
    Easy, love, there's the safe way home.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    FF43 said:

    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
    You would have a point if the obstacle to ringing the bell were the EU Bells (Non-Bonging) Directive 2017. It is not.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    Labour insisting on pulling the wings off its flying machine.....
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 4,780
    Starmer 6, RLB 3

    The record of those same 9 constituencies in 2016 was:
    Corbyn 3, Smith 1, No nomination 5
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,219

    FF43 said:

    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
    Angela Merkel says "After Brexit the brits will be a a competitor" and you do not see any benefits.
    Isn't that a statement of the bleeding obvious. Just as if Scotland was independent from us, they'd move from constituent part to competitor. That doesn't mean we wouldn't have an excellent relationship with an independent Scotland, it's just we'd now be in competition.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,769

    Starmer 6, RLB 3

    The record of those same 9 constituencies in 2016 was:
    Corbyn 3, Smith 1, No nomination 5
    Outbreak of sanity? Or too early to tell?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    Outbreak of paranoia in Suffolk.

    https://twitter.com/tombarton/status/1217940322208096257

    Matt Hancock might think wtf when he sees what has gone on at the hospital in his constituency.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,208
    ..
    rcs1000 said:

    FF43 said:

    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
    Angela Merkel says "After Brexit the brits will be a a competitor" and you do not see any benefits.
    Isn't that a statement of the bleeding obvious. Just as if Scotland was independent from us, they'd move from constituent part to competitor. That doesn't mean we wouldn't have an excellent relationship with an independent Scotland, it's just we'd now be in competition.
    I am not sure why being a competitor is a benefit. In any case the UK has always been a competitor of Germany whether in or out of the EU. Being out makes it a bit more difficult, that's all.
  • Starmer 6, RLB 3

    The record of those same 9 constituencies in 2016 was:
    Corbyn 3, Smith 1, No nomination 5
    Outbreak of sanity? Or too early to tell?
    I'd go for too early to say.
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    rcs1000 said:

    FF43 said:

    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:

    kle4 said:

    LOL

    The Brexiteers aren't happy with Boris.

    https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1217919092058927107

    I really am at quite a loss why so many people have for one cared about Big Ben bonging, and for two gotten angry about it not happening. It's parody as reality.
    Sovereignty. We voted Leave to Take Back Control. If we can't even control when Big Ben bongs, what's the point?
    A good question still awaiting a credible answer.
    I am somewhat serious. Brexit genuinely doesn't bring practical benefits. People voted Leave because they objected to being told what to do by a European outfit they don't like very much. Voting Leave, for at least part of the electorate, was about giving themselves agency. The Big Ben bongs thing doesn't look like that agency.
    Angela Merkel says "After Brexit the brits will be a a competitor" and you do not see any benefits.
    Isn't that a statement of the bleeding obvious. Just as if Scotland was independent from us, they'd move from constituent part to competitor. That doesn't mean we wouldn't have an excellent relationship with an independent Scotland, it's just we'd now be in competition.
    In some ways it may well be, but in others it is not. Merkel always justifies her comments by stating that the UK leaving the EU can reduce EU regulations to become more competitive so the EU must respond (FT interview with Merkel today). So no it is more than just leaving, it is what we can do differently by leaving.
This discussion has been closed.