politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » With 49 CLPs now having decided just under two thirds are going to Starmer
After what has been the biggest night so far of CLP meetings the overall picture is looking broadly the same and the big outstanding question is whether the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry will make the cut.
Be funny if Starmer is favourite throughout then does a D Miliband and loses at the last minute.
Depends on who beats him. If it’s Nandy, agreed. If it’s the egregious Wrong Daily...
The real action right now is for Deputy Leader, where it’s becoming increasingly hard to see anyone other than Rayner making the ballot without some kind of stitch up.
The first Emerson College National Poll of 2020 finds two clear front runners competing for the Democratic nomination. Former Vice President Joe Biden leads with 30%, followed closely by Senator Bernie Sanders at 27%. Senator Elizabeth Warren comes in third at 13%, followed by Andrew Yang at 8%, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 7%, and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 6%. Data collected January 21-23, 2020, n=497 +/- 4.1%. https://emersonpolling.reportablenews.com/pr/national-2020-biden-and-sanders-battle-in-two-way-race-for-democratic-nomination
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
Peter Hitchens had a row with her on QT some time back, and wrote an interesting follow up to it on his blog.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
Peter Hitchens had a row with her on QT some time back, and wrote an interesting follow up to it on his blog.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
We have a very lavish coffee-table book in red velvet on the Bulgarian monarchy, presented to my wife by King Boris's son, ex-King Simeon.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
We have a very lavish coffe-table book in red velvet on the Bulgarian monarchy, presented to my wife by King Boris's son, ex-King Simeon.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
Like me when I say with a straight face that I grew up on the mean streets of inner-city Birmingham.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
Wasn't it King Boris' son who became Prime Minister of Bulgaria after the Communist regime fell? Is he still about in Bulgarian politics? Strange country in some ways; went there in 1984 as part of a 'sort of' official group. The first week at each reception, and they were daily, we were served 'our delicious fruits'; strawberries. The second week it was cherries.
Normally at the Wanderers you would have been confident of a result one way or another with bowlers on top but the consensus seems to be no play today and not great for tomorrow. A draw has got to be an improving possibility.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Fascinating. I'd not heard that before.
There have been several attempts to film it. Spielberg tried, but was thwarted at the time by the non-support of King Boris's widow, who lived to a very ripe old age.
As a story, it does rather leave Schindler's List in the shade.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
I) is the most difficult, and nigh on impossible in the short term. Even if its claimed that Labour are united, voters will not believe it unless Momentum is destroyed as a political force.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
We have a very lavish coffe-table book in red velvet on the Bulgarian monarchy, presented to my wife by King Boris's son, ex-King Simeon.
How bougie
Doesn't that depend on whether we actually keep it on the coffee table?
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
I) is the most difficult, and nigh on impossible in the short term. Even if its claimed that Labour are united, voters will not believe it unless Momentum is destroyed as a political force.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
I) is the most difficult, and nigh on impossible in the short term. Even if its claimed that Labour are united, voters will not believe it unless Momentum is destroyed as a political force.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
That was my thought. And it is going to be hard. Cameron was very good at it. So was Blair over a shorter period but trying to get a positive message over when you spend your entire life criticising someone else's ideas is not easy. Most leaders of the Opposition have struggled. I think she is sufficiently robust. Not sure about RLB or Nandy although the latter might grow into it. SKS bores me already.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
What is it? She says they lived on a council estate and were so poor when her father left that her pet cats had to be put down.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
I) is the most difficult, and nigh on impossible in the short term. Even if its claimed that Labour are united, voters will not believe it unless Momentum is destroyed as a political force.
Most voters don't know what ‘Momentum’ is.
Ok lets not argue about semantics. The hard left needs eradicating as Kinnock did, expel the lot of them! The Labour party will not win whilst the hard left holds influence within its ranks.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
I) is the most difficult, and nigh on impossible in the short term. Even if its claimed that Labour are united, voters will not believe it unless Momentum is destroyed as a political force.
Most voters don't know what ‘Momentum’ is.
But they do know the broad theme that “labour isn’t the party it used to be.”
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
We have a very lavish coffee-table book in red velvet on the Bulgarian monarchy, presented to my wife by King Boris's son, ex-King Simeon.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
It was rank bad manners.
There is a kernel of truth in it as she was treated like an officer while involved in courts martial and I can see her understandable confusion.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
What is it? She says they lived on a council estate and were so poor when her father left that her pet cats had to be put down.
The diagram above is a perfect representation of Thornberry's problem: she has no support north of the Severn-Thames line. She is seen as the candidate of the Metropolitan South. (For which Keith Stormer is very grateful...)
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
What is it? She says they lived on a council estate and were so poor when her father left that her pet cats had to be put down.
Her dad was a senior academic at the LSE who taught me there in the 1960s
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
Wasn't it King Boris' son who became Prime Minister of Bulgaria after the Communist regime fell? Is he still about in Bulgarian politics? Strange country in some ways; went there in 1984 as part of a 'sort of' official group. The first week at each reception, and they were daily, we were served 'our delicious fruits'; strawberries. The second week it was cherries.
Yes, and no.
King Simeon became PM for a few years in the noughties (and got Bulgaria into the EU) but fell from power at the next election, partly due to vested interests in Bulgaria which he was challenging. It’s a corrupt country, sadly, and that really holds it back.
Lots of fruit there. They also grow a lot of roses. It was the Roman province of “Thrace” and used to be quite a wealthy one.
Now, it’s more like a very affordable Spain. Although, you can’t get a good steak there you can get delicious salads, pork, lamb and wine for a pittance. Same with spa treatments and spa resorts. Younger generation speak fluent English and will be delighted to see (non lager lout) Brits, which means avoiding Sunny Beach and the Black Sea resorts. Instead, try Bansko for skiing or Plovdiv (excellent Roman ruins, including an intact original amphitheatre) or Sofia for a city break. Older generation will speak Russian, but little or no English, and be more circumspect about the West, although curious about the UK.
Both are very moderately but consistently respectful of religious traditions through the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in a “CofE” type way.
Thanks for the interesting snippet about the King Boris. Hadn't heard that before.
I went and looked it up. the site I looked at said that reason for his death was uncertain, it might have been a heart attack or poison..
He was not the first person to cross Hitler who died in the same way though. There is a gloriously sinister guy (even by Nazi standards) who lurks in the shadows, who was said to be Hitler's Poisoner.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Your “entirely down to the efforts of Boris” appears highly questionable according to the history.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
What is it? She says they lived on a council estate and were so poor when her father left that her pet cats had to be put down.
Her father had a successful career at the UN but apparently abandoned his wife and children into poverty. Which is what I heard, and as far as I can tell from a tiny bit of research true. But it appears Thornberry spent part of her childhood with her father in much more comfortable surroundings.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
It was rank bad manners.
There is a kernel of truth in it as she was treated like an officer while involved in courts martial and I can see her understandable confusion.
We heard "kernel".
She heard "Colonel".
We can all start the day knowing we have had Colonel knowledge of Emily Thornberry.....
Surely there weren't any Remainers clinging to the dream they might block Brexit?
I think the line is ‘we always thought this would happen, and on the EU’s terms” and they’ve now moved on to putting on their football colours again ready to cheer the EU on from the sidelines during the next phase of the negotiations.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
Boris is not Tony Blair
fortunately he is not. He won't be taking us into illegal wars.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
Boris is not Tony Blair
fortunately he is not. He won't be taking us into illegal wars.
I bet Johnson won't be as reviled by his party in 20 years time as Blair is by his party now.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
What is it? She says they lived on a council estate and were so poor when her father left that her pet cats had to be put down.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
Depends whether voters care about Johnson's dishonesty and incompetence. I'm not sure enough of them will.
Blair wasn't honest either, though.
Should add Blair was much better at PMQs than Johnson is based on this week's showing
Starmer leads in every region in terms of CLP nominations but without going over 50% in the Midlands and the North West. Nandy does best in London and the West Midlands and Thornberry's only nominations so far have come from the South East
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour 2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years 3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections 4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
Keir will be ripping Boris a new one on the daily.
And yet, no-one will notice.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
He won't be Hague, he is far more presentable and telegenic, Tories should not get complacent about Starmer, he is the best of the Labour field and provided Labour reject Long Bailey it will be seen by the public as a shift more towards the centre.
Boris can still beat Starmer but assuming no effort will be required is dangerously complacent, especially as the Tories will soon be over 10 years in power
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
Too many snowflakes about, pathetic creatures that need hand holding and constant attention and praise or they think they are being bullied.
Interesting morning thread, especially Casino's briefing on Bulgaria, all of which was new to me.
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
It was rank bad manners.
There is a kernel of truth in it as she was treated like an officer while involved in courts martial and I can see her understandable confusion.
There seems to be general confusion about her claims. Perhaps if she’d better marshalled her arguments...
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
It was rank bad manners.
There is a kernel of truth in it as she was treated like an officer while involved in courts martial and I can see her understandable confusion.
Civvies aboard the Grey Funnel Line have their status assessed by the Captain to ascertain where their grot will be and where they will mess. We had quite a few of these on Ark Royal and the boss applied a ruthless apartheid policy based on whether they could play bridge or not.
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
Too many snowflakes about, pathetic creatures that need hand holding and constant attention and praise or they think they are being bullied.
People can be too sensitive, and mere sternness or lack of positive reinforcement is not bullying. However that doesnt mean that horrible bullies do not exist in workplaces, nor that it is unacceptable at any age to act so, no matter the age or position of the victim. Someone who feels the need to act in such a manner is deeply pathetic, boosting their ego by treating others like crap.
In short, certainly the accusation of being bullied is not proof it is so. But it happens and is never necessary. We all know stern or tough people who did not and so not bully. Same reasons teachers dont need to cane kids - they can control matters without it, theres no need for it.
Edit: and I say that as someone critical of overuse of the term bullying especially in partisan reporting of media questioning of politicians. Eg tough interviewers bullying candidates
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
Too many snowflakes about, pathetic creatures that need hand holding and constant attention and praise or they think they are being bullied.
People can be too sensitive, and mere sternness or lack of positive reinforcement is not bullying. However that doesnt mean that horrible bullies do not exist in workplaces, nor that it is unacceptable at any age to act so, no matter the age or position of the victim. Someone who feels the need to act in such a manner is deeply pathetic, boosting their ego by treating others like crap.
In short, certainly the accusation of being bullied is not proof it is so. But it happens and is never necessary. We all know stern ir tough people who did not bully. Same reasons teachers dont need to cane kids - they can control matters without it.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment.
True, though.
Any evidence for this, or just a baseless smear?
Didn't you just make a comment accusing someone of being a bigot despite their consistency? It has disappeared...
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment. She is fab. Go Em.
Unfortunately, five minutes with Google suggests Thornberry is accentuating the negative as far as the poverty of her childhood is concerned. Not to say it's all untrue, though.
I was thinking more of her bizarre claims that she was a Colonel in the British Army, which she invented to try and pretend she had a more distinguished military career than Julian Brazier.
In general I would be supportive, but that was a major error.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment.
True, though.
Any evidence for this, or just a baseless smear?
Didn't you just make a comment accusing someone of being a bigot despite their consistency? It has disappeared...
Kim Il-sung is still the president of NK despite being dead for 25 years. With a "when will event x happen" there is often the opportunity that x will never happen, with that option missing from the selection.
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
Surely the problem is that for voters aged 60+, what passes as poverty today doesn't come close to what they saw/experienced as children.
Thornberry would be a dream for the Tories. The living embodiment of the liberal elite.
Like Boris Johnson?
Actually not like Johnson. Thornberry had quite an unpriveleged upbringing, I believe, and got to where she is through her own efforts.
She’s almost as fluent a liar as he is though. That’s one reason why stories about the modesty of her background should be treated with considerable care.
What a snide comment.
True, though.
Any evidence for this, or just a baseless smear?
Didn't you just make a comment accusing someone of being a bigot despite their consistency? It has disappeared...
17% swing to the Tories and 27% to the LibDems against Labour in London? Suggests they might just have bigger issues than the Hindus......
The Britain Elects council elections previews are a great read. An understated treasure. It seems the previous Labour councillor in one of those wards defrauded a charity out of an inheritance owing to them. He resigned to be replaced by a candidate with a very dodgy Twitter feed who was suspended from the party but couldn't be removed from the ballot paper in time.
17% swing to the Tories and 27% to the LibDems against Labour in London? Suggests they might just have bigger issues than the Hindus......
What do you expect now JC is stepping down?!
Are Labour losing their remainers to the Lib Dems now they're a pro Brexit party ?
The LD vote was down in 2/3 of the wards up last night, plus even Layla Moran has said the relationship must move to alignment with the EU not reversing Brexit, no different to Starmer more local factors as FF43 says
Rent a flat above a shop, Cut your hair and get a job, Smoke some fags and play some pool, Pretend you never went to school.
That song is a perfect description of the way people who move into an urban area marvel at and boast of the things that a lot of those who were born and bred there want to get away from
Yet with the tax being introduced in April, Facebook announced this week a 1,000 new highly paid jobs in London.
Can’t Boris move those jobs to Leeds?
9 out of 10 React Native developers, who expressed a preference, wanted to live in Armley.
Facebook looks at Silicon Valley wages and goes - hmm we save 50% in London and get the pick of European talent, they don't need to go elsewhere and save more.
For them London is an ideal location, great links to the US and a place senior management like going to.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
Too many snowflakes about, pathetic creatures that need hand holding and constant attention and praise or they think they are being bullied.
People can be too sensitive, and mere sternness or lack of positive reinforcement is not bullying. However that doesnt mean that horrible bullies do not exist in workplaces, nor that it is unacceptable at any age to act so, no matter the age or position of the victim. Someone who feels the need to act in such a manner is deeply pathetic, boosting their ego by treating others like crap.
In short, certainly the accusation of being bullied is not proof it is so. But it happens and is never necessary. We all know stern or tough people who did not and so not bully. Same reasons teachers dont need to cane kids - they can control matters without it, theres no need for it.
Edit: and I say that as someone critical of overuse of the term bullying especially in partisan reporting of media questioning of politicians. Eg tough interviewers bullying candidates
It’s not inconsistent with Bercow’s pompous and belittling behaviour in the chamber, which we can all see on live TV, so it doesn’t surprise me to learn he’s alleged to be an arse off camera as well.
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
Surely the problem is that for voters aged 60+, what passes as poverty today doesn't come close to what they saw/experienced as children.
Our tolerances of what constitutes poverty have changed too. Hunger and no heating (and limited lighting) were far more common in the 1970s than today, but we now view any of that as wholly unacceptable.
There are also social/market trends creating a level of poverty, or at least making it much harder. I find it hard to keep up (in my 30s) with the almost compulsory technological innovations banks and utility providers make on their services and billing, which seem to change every 18 months and get ever more digital and smartphone “appy” with the passwords ever more fiendishly complicated.
Yet with the tax being introduced in April, Facebook announced this week a 1,000 new highly paid jobs in London.
Can’t Boris move those jobs to Leeds?
9 out of 10 React Native developers, who expressed a preference, wanted to live in Armley.
Facebook looks at Silicon Valley wages and goes - hmm we save 50% in London and get the pick of European talent, they don't need to go elsewhere and save more.
For them London is an ideal location, great links to the US and a place senior management like going to.
London does give the pick of European talent but that is partly due to FoM with the EU.
Comments
The real action right now is for Deputy Leader, where it’s becoming increasingly hard to see anyone other than Rayner making the ballot without some kind of stitch up.
Interesting stat.
Mr. L, I'm not sure Thornberry would be the asset some think. If I were trying to win back disaffected Northerners then she wouldn't be my pick.
Starmer stands a better chance, in that regard.
The first Emerson College National Poll of 2020 finds two clear front runners competing for the Democratic nomination. Former Vice President Joe Biden leads with 30%, followed closely by Senator Bernie Sanders at 27%. Senator Elizabeth Warren comes in third at 13%, followed by Andrew Yang at 8%, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 7%, and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 6%. Data collected January 21-23, 2020, n=497 +/- 4.1%.
https://emersonpolling.reportablenews.com/pr/national-2020-biden-and-sanders-battle-in-two-way-race-for-democratic-nomination
2% of Danish Jews were killed
13% of Italian Jews were killed
21% of Estonian
22% of French
34% of Romanain
90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2012/06/the-phoney-outrage-of-emily-thornberry-slime-factories-on-overtime.html
He has been quite complimentary to her in later articles
https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2016/09/why-im-sort-of-slightly-sympathetic-towards-emily-thornberry.html
I grew up in Solihull.
Main EU Parliament plenary vote on Wednesday, and then the European Council ratify on Thursday.
The A50 process is then complete and we leave fully and legally at 11pm next Friday.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200123IPR70904/brexit-the-withdrawal-agreement-passes-the-first-european-parliament-test
Strange country in some ways; went there in 1984 as part of a 'sort of' official group. The first week at each reception, and they were daily, we were served 'our delicious fruits'; strawberries. The second week it was cherries.
As a story, it does rather leave Schindler's List in the shade.
1. Stop splits and unite Labour
2. Be an interesting and effective LoO maintaining interest for five long years
3. Build a coalition to get Labour safely over 40% and start to regularly win elections
4. Be a credible PM candidate when the time comes.
Challenging, but doable. I reckon (2) is the hardest. Thornberry might be good at that.
He will be Labour's William Hague. Roundly beating Blair at PMQs. With no electoral effect at all.
King Simeon became PM for a few years in the noughties (and got Bulgaria into the EU) but fell from power at the next election, partly due to vested interests in Bulgaria which he was challenging. It’s a corrupt country, sadly, and that really holds it back.
Lots of fruit there. They also grow a lot of roses. It was the Roman province of “Thrace” and used to be quite a wealthy one.
Now, it’s more like a very affordable Spain. Although, you can’t get a good steak there you can get delicious salads, pork, lamb and wine for a pittance. Same with spa treatments and spa resorts. Younger generation speak fluent English and will be delighted to see (non lager lout) Brits, which means avoiding Sunny Beach and the Black Sea resorts. Instead, try Bansko for skiing or Plovdiv (excellent Roman ruins, including an intact original amphitheatre) or Sofia for a city break. Older generation will speak Russian, but little or no English, and be more circumspect about the West, although curious about the UK.
Both are very moderately but consistently respectful of religious traditions through the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in a “CofE” type way.
She heard "Colonel".
We can all start the day knowing we have had Colonel knowledge of Emily Thornberry.....
Blair wasn't honest either, though.
Should add Blair was much better at PMQs than Johnson is based on this week's showing
Boris can still beat Starmer but assuming no effort will be required is dangerously complacent, especially as the Tories will soon be over 10 years in power
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
Good analysis by Polly today - I absolutely recognise her description much of the electorate - the soaraway wealthy, the preoccupied middle, the non-voting very poor.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/23/boris-johnson-poverty-voters-pmqs-child-poverty-benefits
In short, certainly the accusation of being bullied is not proof it is so. But it happens and is never necessary. We all know stern or tough people who did not and so not bully. Same reasons teachers dont need to cane kids - they can control matters without it, theres no need for it.
Edit: and I say that as someone critical of overuse of the term bullying especially in partisan reporting of media questioning of politicians. Eg tough interviewers bullying candidates
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51231047
https://twitter.com/britainelects/status/1220509886771007488?s=20
Rent a flat above a shop,
Cut your hair and get a job,
Smoke some fags and play some pool,
Pretend you never went to school.
Enjoy your last full Friday in the EU.....
For them London is an ideal location, great links to the US and a place senior management like going to.
There are also social/market trends creating a level of poverty, or at least making it much harder. I find it hard to keep up (in my 30s) with the almost compulsory technological innovations banks and utility providers make on their services and billing, which seem to change every 18 months and get ever more digital and smartphone “appy” with the passwords ever more fiendishly complicated.
God knows how the elderly cope.