Not long now, and good to see there's available slots for first doses without any issues or waiting for a week.
Indeed, I wasn't expecting to get my invite for a few more weeks.
The link came with an address I could get the jab at, and an option to choose different times at different dates. I chose the first available slot at 9:10am tomorrow morning. No point dilly dallying.
Peter Kellner has summarised various targets for each party to claim success.
Conservatives
Open up a five-point lead over Labour in projected Britain-wide vote share Re-elect Tory mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley and win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Gain Hartlepool parliamentary seat from Labour Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win at least 20 (out of 60) seats in Welsh Parliament Gain votes in London mayoral election (having achieved 35 per cent of first-preference votes last time)
Labour
Overtake Tories in projected Britain-wide vote share Win London mayoralty outright on first preference votes (44 per cent last time) Defeat Tory incumbent mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley; win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Hold Hartlepool parliamentary seat Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win absolute majority in Welsh Parliament (two short last time)
Liberal Democrats
Win at least 16 per cent of projected Britain-wide vote share Gain more council seats than they lose Win at least 10 per cent of constituency vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly (8 per cent in both elections last time)
SNP
Win overall majority in Scottish Parliament (they need 65 of the 129 seats; they won 63 last time) Keep Alex Salmond’s new Alba party out of the parliament completely
Greens
Win at least 8 per cent of first preference votes in the London mayoral election Gain 100 seats in English council elections Add to the six seats they won last time in Scotland
Plaid Cymru
Win at least 15 seats in Welsh Assembly (12 last time) Win at least 25 per cent of the vote in either the constituency or party list vote (21 per cent in both last time)
Golly - with targets like some of those I forecast that most will be losers!
Only party I can see achieving all of their targets there next week is the Greens
McLarens are "cheap" if you lease them. Although they don't meet GW's requirements of not having a shitty plastic interior and his kids would have to sit on the roof.
I wonder how much awareness there is in the non-political society that there is an election ongoing right now, without campaigning etc?
Not much sign of it in my area. Received a few leaflets from the Tories, a couple from Labour, no others. On my road there's not many placards advertising parties - the house nearby that permanently flies a Unite the Union flag has a Vote Labour placard on its fence. Not seen any others.
At the last general election there were many more placards. Kinabalu might be interested to know that last time the houses that fly Union Jack flags mostly but not all had Tory placards at the General Election. None of them have placards so far, only the Unite flag flying garden one does.
I guess it depends if they still watch 'live' TV - plenty of party politicals in the just before 'The One Show' slot.
Not long now, and good to see there's available slots for first doses without any issues or waiting for a week.
When I got mine, it was a bit weird, I was able to go the next day or I wouldn't be offered anything for 2 weeks. Then my 2nd dose was only offered at sites only 100s of miles away.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
I wonder how much awareness there is in the non-political society that there is an election ongoing right now, without campaigning etc?
Not much sign of it in my area. Received a few leaflets from the Tories, a couple from Labour, no others. On my road there's not many placards advertising parties - the house nearby that permanently flies a Unite the Union flag has a Vote Labour placard on its fence. Not seen any others.
At the last general election there were many more placards. Kinabalu might be interested to know that last time the houses that fly Union Jack flags mostly but not all had Tory placards at the General Election. None of them have placards so far, only the Unite flag flying garden one does.
If turnout next week in England exceeds 40% we will be doing well.
Last time the county council seats were up in 2017 only 35% turned out and only 34% turned out for the 2016 district elections, by contrast 67% turned out for the 2019 UK general election.
General elections obviously always get higher turnout than local elections
I am just about to change my Skoda Superb for a Toyota Corolla Hybrid. It will be my first ever automatic and for the first time I will buy via a 3 year PCP. I just don't know how many more years of driving I have in me.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
The haggis ranging freely over the glens in their herds are a majestic sight.
Peter Kellner has summarised various targets for each party to claim success.
Conservatives
Open up a five-point lead over Labour in projected Britain-wide vote share Re-elect Tory mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley and win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Gain Hartlepool parliamentary seat from Labour Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win at least 20 (out of 60) seats in Welsh Parliament Gain votes in London mayoral election (having achieved 35 per cent of first-preference votes last time)
Labour
Overtake Tories in projected Britain-wide vote share Win London mayoralty outright on first preference votes (44 per cent last time) Defeat Tory incumbent mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley; win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Hold Hartlepool parliamentary seat Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win absolute majority in Welsh Parliament (two short last time)
Liberal Democrats
Win at least 16 per cent of projected Britain-wide vote share Gain more council seats than they lose Win at least 10 per cent of constituency vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly (8 per cent in both elections last time)
SNP
Win overall majority in Scottish Parliament (they need 65 of the 129 seats; they won 63 last time) Keep Alex Salmond’s new Alba party out of the parliament completely
Greens
Win at least 8 per cent of first preference votes in the London mayoral election Gain 100 seats in English council elections Add to the six seats they won last time in Scotland
Plaid Cymru
Win at least 15 seats in Welsh Assembly (12 last time) Win at least 25 per cent of the vote in either the constituency or party list vote (21 per cent in both last time)
Golly - with targets like some of those I forecast that most will be losers!
Only party I can see achieving all of their targets there next week is the Greens
We are can't take a stance or join a lobbying campaign, but we are taking a stance....
The BBC as a corporation cannot take part in the campaign. We have special duties that don't apply to other organisations under our Royal Charter and editorial guidelines that prevent us from joining lobbying campaigns. So while we have firm policies to deal with online abuse, the corporation cannot join a lobbying campaign no matter how worthy the cause.
This does not mean that the BBC is neutral on issues such as racism or hate crime. They are abhorrent.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've recently bought a Hyundai i10 as a runaround and for my daughters to learn to drive in. It's perfect. It replaces a Audi A1 which I would have gone for again but for the insurance cost for learner drivers.
All cars are plasticky these days aren't they?
I'd recommend either of above two cars but maybe look at minis as well?
I know nothing, but when has that stopped any of us? We have a Kia Picanto and I believe it is basically the same car as the Hyundai i10 under the bodywork, but you get 7 years rather than 5 year warranty. So if the Hyundai is recommended the Picanto must be in with a shout I guess.
I wonder how much awareness there is in the non-political society that there is an election ongoing right now, without campaigning etc?
Not much sign of it in my area. Received a few leaflets from the Tories, a couple from Labour, no others. On my road there's not many placards advertising parties - the house nearby that permanently flies a Unite the Union flag has a Vote Labour placard on its fence. Not seen any others.
At the last general election there were many more placards. Kinabalu might be interested to know that last time the houses that fly Union Jack flags mostly but not all had Tory placards at the General Election. None of them have placards so far, only the Unite flag flying garden one does.
I guess it depends if they still watch 'live' TV - plenty of party politicals in the just before 'The One Show' slot.
Good question. I haven't watched a PPB in years, except clicking links online as someone interested in politics.
How many people actually watch stuff like The One Show live? And not recorded, fast-forwarding through the PPBs?
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Im not sure how the abundance of wind, water and dwindling oil levels will cover the current day to day spending of the snp. But there we go
I wonder how much awareness there is in the non-political society that there is an election ongoing right now, without campaigning etc?
Not much sign of it in my area. Received a few leaflets from the Tories, a couple from Labour, no others. On my road there's not many placards advertising parties - the house nearby that permanently flies a Unite the Union flag has a Vote Labour placard on its fence. Not seen any others.
At the last general election there were many more placards. Kinabalu might be interested to know that last time the houses that fly Union Jack flags mostly but not all had Tory placards at the General Election. None of them have placards so far, only the Unite flag flying garden one does.
I guess it depends if they still watch 'live' TV - plenty of party politicals in the just before 'The One Show' slot.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've recently bought a Hyundai i10 as a runaround and for my daughters to learn to drive in. It's perfect. It replaces a Audi A1 which I would have gone for again but for the insurance cost for learner drivers.
All cars are plasticky these days aren't they?
I'd recommend either of above two cars but maybe look at minis as well?
I know nothing, but when has that stopped any of us? We have a Kia Picanto and I believe it is basically the same car as the Hyundai i10 under the bodywork, but you get 7 years rather than 5 year warranty. So if the Hyundai is recommended the Picanto must be in with a shout I guess.
A second thumbs up for the Picanto if you want a small vehicle.
I had a Picanto from 2005 to 2010, when I changed it for the C'eed. For a small car it is really good quality - and yes essentially an i10, with a longer warranty, and (last I saw) thousands off the list price.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've been Toyota for the last three cars. AA men frequently comment (when attending other vehicles, such as our classic mini), that they rarely attend Japanese cars as they are so reliable. I also know of a story from a mechanical engineer about Ford. Apparently they routinely castigate parts suppliers if the parts last too long. So if the spec says last 100,000 miles, Ford would prefer it to fail at 100,001, not 200,000. Currently have a hybrid. Bit of a con really, as the self-charging really just makes it more economical (so from about 40 mpg to more like 55 in reality). That said its automatic and electric drive, and drives really nicely. I think I'd prefer plug-in hybrid with small petrol tank as reserve if needed, at least until rapid charging is much more widely established.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've recently bought a Hyundai i10 as a runaround and for my daughters to learn to drive in. It's perfect. It replaces a Audi A1 which I would have gone for again but for the insurance cost for learner drivers.
All cars are plasticky these days aren't they?
I'd recommend either of above two cars but maybe look at minis as well?
I know nothing, but when has that stopped any of us? We have a Kia Picanto and I believe it is basically the same car as the Hyundai i10 under the bodywork, but you get 7 years rather than 5 year warranty. So if the Hyundai is recommended the Picanto must be in with a shout I guess.
If you are not into my niche fetish of having multiple partially disassembled non-functional high performance cars and just want pleasant and reliable transport then the Korean brands are terrific VFM.
I wonder how much awareness there is in the non-political society that there is an election ongoing right now, without campaigning etc?
Not much sign of it in my area. Received a few leaflets from the Tories, a couple from Labour, no others. On my road there's not many placards advertising parties - the house nearby that permanently flies a Unite the Union flag has a Vote Labour placard on its fence. Not seen any others.
At the last general election there were many more placards. Kinabalu might be interested to know that last time the houses that fly Union Jack flags mostly but not all had Tory placards at the General Election. None of them have placards so far, only the Unite flag flying garden one does.
I guess it depends if they still watch 'live' TV - plenty of party politicals in the just before 'The One Show' slot.
We're drowning in LibDem leaflets here - I've had six so far, all variations on the same themes: we are great personalities, only we can beat the Tories, Labour can't win. They narrowly hold one County seat here (where Labour didn't stand last time, but will this time - it was a deal and the LibDems reneged on a promise not to stand in the other seat) and have probably unrealistic hopes of taking the other. Only one Tory (keep council tax down, repair the roads) and two Labour leaflets (send a message to Johnson, improve schools, fight anti-social behaviour) so far. My subjective impression is that both Tories and LDs are short of deliverers, relying heavily on Royal Mail. Labour has lots of helpers this time following encouraging gains in the Borough elections but start from a weak position.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
I hear that the turnip harvests are the envy of the free world.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Im not sure how the abundance of wind, water and dwindling oil levels will cover the current day to day spending of the snp. But there we go
Then an independent Scotland will need to grow its economy to afford all that day to day spending, or cut its cloth to what it can afford. Teach a man to fish ... what's not to like about that??
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
The haggis ranging freely over the glens in their herds are a majestic sight.
They don't compare to the spaghetti forests of northern Italy! Or the paella pines of Andalucia!
Hartlepool: Labour Party now out to 2.7 with BF. Is this too big?
I've topped up a bit, but I've no confidence in calling this one.
Listening to a reporter on the ground, she expects turnout to be low. Which party will this favour?
Might favour Labour if their GOTV op is superior.
But you know my feelings here. This should be a Con win and I personally don't think Lab at 2.7 is value.
What proportion are PVs already in I wonder. Still expect a tight Labour hold.
Normally I’d expect over half to be returned by now - my guess would be 60%, with the remainder divided between the last weekend, and those that get taken to the polling station (perhaps less of those this year). An anecdotal report from our council is that the return of postal votes is so far lower than expected, especially with more applications due to the pandemic.
c.40% returns yesterday in our area in Lancashire. Should get another update later today.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've been Toyota for the last three cars. AA men frequently comment (when attending other vehicles, such as our classic mini), that they rarely attend Japanese cars as they are so reliable. I also know of a story from a mechanical engineer about Ford. Apparently they routinely castigate parts suppliers if the parts last too long. So if the spec says last 100,000 miles, Ford would prefer it to fail at 100,001, not 200,000. Currently have a hybrid. Bit of a con really, as the self-charging really just makes it more economical (so from about 40 mpg to more like 55 in reality). That said its automatic and electric drive, and drives really nicely. I think I'd prefer plug-in hybrid with small petrol tank as reserve if needed, at least until rapid charging is much more widely established.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Im not sure how the abundance of wind, water and dwindling oil levels will cover the current day to day spending of the snp. But there we go
Then an independent Scotland will need to grow its economy to afford all that day to day spending, or cut its cloth to what it can afford. Teach a man to fish ... what's not to like about that??
Why does England not do that then , enlighten me. It runs a huge deficit but we never see you halfwits whining about how you will not survive.
We are can't take a stance or join a lobbying campaign, but we are taking a stance....
The BBC as a corporation cannot take part in the campaign. We have special duties that don't apply to other organisations under our Royal Charter and editorial guidelines that prevent us from joining lobbying campaigns. So while we have firm policies to deal with online abuse, the corporation cannot join a lobbying campaign no matter how worthy the cause.
This does not mean that the BBC is neutral on issues such as racism or hate crime. They are abhorrent.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Im not sure how the abundance of wind, water and dwindling oil levels will cover the current day to day spending of the snp. But there we go
Then an independent Scotland will need to grow its economy to afford all that day to day spending, or cut its cloth to what it can afford. Teach a man to fish ... what's not to like about that??
Why does England not do that then , enlighten me.
Because of pride and not wanting to lose the union I'm guessing?
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Im not sure how the abundance of wind, water and dwindling oil levels will cover the current day to day spending of the snp. But there we go
I've had an off the wall idea re the wallpaper (ho ho).
The PM says he has now "covered" the costs. Odd word that - "covered".
Maybe what has happened is that the entire sum has been paid by the annual £30k allowance - using unused annual allowances from previous years and years to come. The original donor has been repaid from that sum. So the entire cost has come from the taxpayer but using the annual allowance the PM has for his flat.
The PM has not paid anything himself. He has simply covered the costs out of his annual allowance. The taxpayer has not been charged anything more than they would have been had the allowance been used up every year.
This would explain the tortured refusals to explain everything simply - not just because it looks greedy to blow a 5-year budget in one go but also because it looks bad to have to repay the original rich Tory donor.
Maybe completely wrong of course.
Oh and I doubt it will affect a single vote.
Unless it's different from MP allowances, you can't carry it forward (let alone anticipate it) - use it or lose ir.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
As wind power is taking over, surely Holyrood can generate enough hot air to get them through?
I think the media will go 1. Hartlepool 2. Scotland 3. London/WM mayors 4. Net gains/losses, comparative year disregarded 5. BBC calculated vote share. Everything else will only get local reports.
What is the sequence with which results will come through? Most County seats are counting on Friday, I believe. So Hartlepool/Mayors/some district seats late Thursday, Counties and other districts Friday, Scotland late Friday?
Wales says 'Hi' Nick
Hasn't forgotten, but sadly I think the UK-wide media will, apart from a footnote. Not defending it - it's just how they are.
Hartlepool: Labour Party now out to 2.7 with BF. Is this too big?
I've topped up a bit, but I've no confidence in calling this one.
Listening to a reporter on the ground, she expects turnout to be low. Which party will this favour?
Might favour Labour if their GOTV op is superior.
But you know my feelings here. This should be a Con win and I personally don't think Lab at 2.7 is value.
What proportion are PVs already in I wonder. Still expect a tight Labour hold.
Normally I’d expect over half to be returned by now - my guess would be 60%, with the remainder divided between the last weekend, and those that get taken to the polling station (perhaps less of those this year). An anecdotal report from our council is that the return of postal votes is so far lower than expected, especially with more applications due to the pandemic.
A survey a decade or so ago in King County WA re: when voters returned their vote-by-mail ballots, showed that one key reason why many folks waited until the last minute to return their voted ballots, was because they were afraid that some late-breaking news MIGHT change how they wanted to vote on something.
For example, four years ago there was a late-breaking story about the incumbent elected Sheriff of King Co, he was alleged to have committed sexual harassment & assault. This resulted in him losing key endorsements, and the election (to one of his deputies). However, quite a few votes had already been cast BEFORE the story broke.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
It has never stopped you! Nice the see you are making your angry inarticulate posts even more Trumpian WITH capitals used randomly. How are the anger management courses going btw?
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've been Toyota for the last three cars. AA men frequently comment (when attending other vehicles, such as our classic mini), that they rarely attend Japanese cars as they are so reliable. I also know of a story from a mechanical engineer about Ford. Apparently they routinely castigate parts suppliers if the parts last too long. So if the spec says last 100,000 miles, Ford would prefer it to fail at 100,001, not 200,000. Currently have a hybrid. Bit of a con really, as the self-charging really just makes it more economical (so from about 40 mpg to more like 55 in reality). That said its automatic and electric drive, and drives really nicely. I think I'd prefer plug-in hybrid with small petrol tank as reserve if needed, at least until rapid charging is much more widely established.
I love my Toyota CH-R
Like lots of people round our way we have a Subaru, for the AWD for our hills in winter. An Impreza in our case (it's not considered a boy racer car here), and it's been amazingly reliable, although we've not really stretched it: just 30,000 miles in six years!
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Hartlepool: Labour Party now out to 2.7 with BF. Is this too big?
I've topped up a bit, but I've no confidence in calling this one.
Listening to a reporter on the ground, she expects turnout to be low. Which party will this favour?
Might favour Labour if their GOTV op is superior.
But you know my feelings here. This should be a Con win and I personally don't think Lab at 2.7 is value.
Shouldn't you be in your idyllic leafy pub where you can just waltz in to their rose garden and have a cold beer on Downshire Hill?
I'm back now. Nice little interlude though. Couple of chilled ones in the middle of the day doesn't hurt. Felt no need to augment with any oysters, oddly.
The only downside was it still wasn't at all "leafy".
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
Maybe not an entirely non-partisan source, but here is some data to start with:
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
Seconded on a BMW X series (5 is the biggest, 3 is a smaller 5 and 1 is the SUV of the Touring). Or touring if you prefer closer to the ground and traditional rear wheel drive.
But we are all skating on thin ice here once Dura comes on and spells out exactly what it is you actually do need.
X7 is the largest BMW SUV. This discussion is like watching me try to opine on wine or coffee.
What do you make of hybrids?
I'm asking for a mate who because of the ULEZ expansion will have to kiss goodbye to his beloved old Merc.
We are can't take a stance or join a lobbying campaign, but we are taking a stance....
The BBC as a corporation cannot take part in the campaign. We have special duties that don't apply to other organisations under our Royal Charter and editorial guidelines that prevent us from joining lobbying campaigns. So while we have firm policies to deal with online abuse, the corporation cannot join a lobbying campaign no matter how worthy the cause.
This does not mean that the BBC is neutral on issues such as racism or hate crime. They are abhorrent.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
haha malcolmg accuses others of being bigots. Absolutely priceless. He will accuse others of being angry next.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
Maybe not an entirely non-partisan source, but here is some data to start with:
Hartlepool: Labour Party now out to 2.7 with BF. Is this too big?
I've topped up a bit, but I've no confidence in calling this one.
Listening to a reporter on the ground, she expects turnout to be low. Which party will this favour?
Might favour Labour if their GOTV op is superior.
But you know my feelings here. This should be a Con win and I personally don't think Lab at 2.7 is value.
Shouldn't you be in your idyllic leafy pub where you can just waltz in to their rose garden and have a cold beer on Downshire Hill?
I'm back now. Nice little interlude though. Couple of chilled ones in the middle of the day doesn't hurt. Felt no need to augment with any oysters, oddly.
The only downside was it still wasn't at all "leafy".
But out of the way and quiet right. With a couple of tables. In Belsize Park.
Sounds like I might give it a go myself. Which pub is it?
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Except they're not dumping you, if you vote for independence then you're voting to dump them. Since pensions are PAYG, in the future Scottish taxes and Scottish pensions would be the responsibility of the Scottish state.
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
I have a lot of time for the Asian brands as a rule of thumb, they tend to have much better value for money than the British or European brands and are a very good quality. Frequently just as often made here too.
I've not looked into new cars in a long time. My car is a Kia. It was far cheaper when I bought it than comparable cars then due to being a relatively unknown brand, but came with a seven year warranty as opposed to a three year one. I would strongly recommend them as a brand and anyone I know with a Kia has said the same, but I don't know if they're still as good value for money as they used to be.
I think they still all come now with a seven year warranty as standard which speaks to their respect in their own quality and reliability - not sure what other brands are like.
EDIT: Kia C'eed is my model, sort of an SUV but not as big as most SUVs. Would probably suit unless you want something smaller.
I've been Toyota for the last three cars. AA men frequently comment (when attending other vehicles, such as our classic mini), that they rarely attend Japanese cars as they are so reliable. I also know of a story from a mechanical engineer about Ford. Apparently they routinely castigate parts suppliers if the parts last too long. So if the spec says last 100,000 miles, Ford would prefer it to fail at 100,001, not 200,000. Currently have a hybrid. Bit of a con really, as the self-charging really just makes it more economical (so from about 40 mpg to more like 55 in reality). That said its automatic and electric drive, and drives really nicely. I think I'd prefer plug-in hybrid with small petrol tank as reserve if needed, at least until rapid charging is much more widely established.
I love my Toyota CH-R
Like lots of people round our way we have a Subaru, for the AWD for our hills in winter. An Impreza in our case (it's not considered a boy racer car here), and it's been amazingly reliable, although we've not really stretched it: just 30,000 miles in six years!
If you (literally) hammer the end of the blow off valve flat you'll get a compressor surge on a closed throttle and that authentic 90s rally car turbo flutter noise. You're welcome.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
'I really don't care if the Scots clear off' seems a long time and 100s of posts ago.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
Seconded on a BMW X series (5 is the biggest, 3 is a smaller 5 and 1 is the SUV of the Touring). Or touring if you prefer closer to the ground and traditional rear wheel drive.
But we are all skating on thin ice here once Dura comes on and spells out exactly what it is you actually do need.
X7 is the largest BMW SUV. This discussion is like watching me try to opine on wine or coffee.
What do you make of hybrids?
I'm asking for a mate who because of the ULEZ expansion will have to kiss goodbye to his beloved old Merc.
I have a large hybrid from a well known German manufacturer. The only thing to really commend it is that it is warm when you get into it in the winter in the morning. Other than that I think the hybrid aspect of it is a bit pointless. It will only go about 15 miles on a full charge. The quoted MPG is ludicrous. I am thinking about going the whole hog and getting a fully electric at some point though
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Except they're not dumping you, if you vote for independence then you're voting to dump them. Since pensions are PAYG, in the future Scottish taxes and Scottish pensions would be the responsibility of the Scottish state.
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
The British state currently, right this second, pays non-uk citizens who are not resident in the UK a British state pension.
That's because the law says that anyone who has qualified for a state pension gets a state pension.
These are people who are currently no contributing a single penny of tax to the UK exchequer.
Now, non-residents do not get the annual _increases_ to the state pension - they get the pension at the level it was first awarded to them but that is the setup.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Quite right, Malcolm. The UK government including Scotland does and would have that obligation.
However, when Scotland decides to become independent, the "UK government including Scotland" ceases to exist.
Who then has the obligation to pay pensions to indpendent Scots?
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Except they're not dumping you, if you vote for independence then you're voting to dump them. Since pensions are PAYG, in the future Scottish taxes and Scottish pensions would be the responsibility of the Scottish state.
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
The British state currently, right this second, pays non-uk citizens who are not resident in the UK a British state pension.
That's because the law says that anyone who has qualified for a state pension gets a state pension.
These are people who are currently no contributing a single penny of tax to the UK exchequer.
Now, non-residents do not get the annual _increases_ to the state pension - they get the pension at the level it was first awarded to them but that is the setup.
But indy is sui generis. And it changes everything
If you ask for pensions we will just say Fuck off. What are you gonna do, invade us with your army of 6 old men in kilts?
Not long now, and good to see there's available slots for first doses without any issues or waiting for a week.
Indeed, I wasn't expecting to get my invite for a few more weeks.
The link came with an address I could get the jab at, and an option to choose different times at different dates. I chose the first available slot at 9:10am tomorrow morning. No point dilly dallying.
Beginning tomorrow we will be monitoring your post to see IF there are any signs of adverse reaction to the jab.
My prognostication: the vac may make your posts even nuttier than per usual!
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
'I really don't care if the Scots clear off' seems a long time and 100s of posts ago.
It's also true - my concern is your typical independence voting scot is being shown all these lovely things when in reality they aren't worth a penny.
Remember I posted an IFS report https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14982 that said the average Scottish deficit has been 8% of Scottish GDP between 2011 and 2020 - and I really can't see what has or can change,
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
'I really don't care if the Scots clear off' seems a long time and 100s of posts ago.
Possibly they were just referring to you and malcolmg on here.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Except they're not dumping you, if you vote for independence then you're voting to dump them. Since pensions are PAYG, in the future Scottish taxes and Scottish pensions would be the responsibility of the Scottish state.
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
The British state currently, right this second, pays non-uk citizens who are not resident in the UK a British state pension.
That's because the law says that anyone who has qualified for a state pension gets a state pension.
These are people who are currently no contributing a single penny of tax to the UK exchequer.
Now, non-residents do not get the annual _increases_ to the state pension - they get the pension at the level it was first awarded to them but that is the setup.
Law? Which law? I mean this is really basic. Scotland would be outside of the UK for jurisdictional purposes. There's simply no way that and independent Scotland could count on the UK treasury for anything at all.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
Maybe not an entirely non-partisan source, but here is some data to start with:
Of course, some of the countries with the greatest natural resources wealth are not exactly paradigms of paradise. Russia, Congo ...
What tax revenue or profit comes from that. If it's just sat there being unutilised it's not worth anything.
The question was over whether Scotland is rich in natural resources. The answer is yes.
Now the benefit of having natural resources is an entirely different question. You have many examples of low natural resource countries doing very well, many examples of high natural resource doing badly, and a few high resource countries doing well. I don't see much of a correlation between natural resources per se and economic performance.
However, there is a correlation between share of national income from exploitation of natural resources and overall economic performance - a negative correlation between over-dependence economically on natural resources and economic performance.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
Don’t forget as well, rUK will be paying Scottish pensions in the event of indy
More garbage, Scotland will pay its own pensions like normal countries, England will pay the debts it owes for the money people paid into their pension scam scheme or perhaps welch on their commitments.
There are no such 'debts' owed by England other than to english people. The OAP doesn't work that way. Current Scots would pay Scottish pensions , etc
The UK government guarantees to pay a state pension to anyone, UK citizen or not, that has made sufficient qualifying contributions.
The clown just talks through his posterior. They are so ignorant due to their bigotry that they cannot even rationalise that if you have paid someone for a pension they cannot just dump you, pathetic.
Except they're not dumping you, if you vote for independence then you're voting to dump them. Since pensions are PAYG, in the future Scottish taxes and Scottish pensions would be the responsibility of the Scottish state.
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
The British state currently, right this second, pays non-uk citizens who are not resident in the UK a British state pension.
That's because the law says that anyone who has qualified for a state pension gets a state pension.
These are people who are currently no contributing a single penny of tax to the UK exchequer.
Now, non-residents do not get the annual _increases_ to the state pension - they get the pension at the level it was first awarded to them but that is the setup.
Law? Which law? I mean this is really basic. Scotland would be outside of the UK for jurisdictional purposes. There's simply no way that and independent Scotland could count on the UK treasury for anything at all.
Im not even sure why this is a argument - Scottish pensions become the responsibility of a newly independent Scotland.
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
First Boris will refuse indyref2 regardless as 2014 was a once in a generation referendum, if a referendum is granted by the UK government before a generation has elapsed even if No narrowly wins the Nationalists would demand a third referendum within a year.
Second a plurality of Scottish Green voters now oppose independence so only an SNP and Alba majority can even be considered to have a mandate for indyref2, an SNP and Green majority will not count https://archive.ph/eg2lt
Bit in bold really is a nonsense. Even the best analysts have blind spots and Scotland is yours. Mine is Japan. I have no clue at all what's going on over there. But I'm planning a trip to see the blossoms soon (covid allowing) so that will hopefully change.
It does seem "ambitious" to think that there is a good claim against AZ for "only" delivering 50m doses, when identical contracts with other suppliers were entered into at the same time or earlier who have delivered zero.
Well, this is embarrassing. Checked my bank balance this morning and couldn’t understand why I was missing 324m euros. Then I remembered. I gave a non-refundable down payment to Sanofi for 300 million doses of vaccine that didn’t work. Silly me.
Re: new cars, yours truly is holding out for the introduction of the personal jet packs, that I was promised as a kid would be the norm "within a few decades".
Got my helmet already, made of high-quality tin-foil!
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
'I really don't care if the Scots clear off' seems a long time and 100s of posts ago.
Possibly they were just referring to you and malcolmg on here.
Luvin' the 'this a Unionist site for Unionist people' bantz from newbies.
Thanks for the achingly dull recommendations, although I accept my requirement is achingly dull.
So, do I buy or lease?
FWIW I buy and write it off. Probably not the cheapest, but I simply can't be arsed with leases and finance on cars and all the Delboy nonsense that goes with it.
Except that if you lease you tend to get better offers on the purchase price, and there are some very low interest (indeed a few zero per cent) offers around. If you can get a zero per cent lease offer, you don’t need to decide whether to buy the car until the three years are up, at no extra cost.
I rented a really smart almost brand new shiny black Audi A6 Sportline on a trip to Tuscany. The villa's gates were approx 100mm wider than the car. One hungover morning, I completely forgot, put the tunes on full blast as I was leaving the premises ––– and ran a three foot long scratch down the passenger side, incurring a €600 excess claim. Thankfully the excess cover paid out - albeit several months later...
Not long now, and good to see there's available slots for first doses without any issues or waiting for a week.
Indeed, I wasn't expecting to get my invite for a few more weeks.
The link came with an address I could get the jab at, and an option to choose different times at different dates. I chose the first available slot at 9:10am tomorrow morning. No point dilly dallying.
Beginning tomorrow we will be monitoring your post to see IF there are any signs of adverse reaction to the jab.
My prognostication: the vac may make your posts even nuttier than per usual!
[EDIT] Just kidding! (I think!!)
Hehe. I think if the vaccine had been rolled out under a Labour government, rather than one led (and I use that word loosely) by his hero from Eton, Philip would have been a fully paid up Q-Anon antivaxer.
The last car I owned was a 1967 Triumph Herald convertible. That was back in Auckland, when I was a student.
Fast forward twenty odd years.
I live in London Zone 2, with a driveway. I have two small kids. I would like a car for the wife to commute in, and for country trips on the weekend.
I am not suffering a mid-life crisis and do not need a Ferrari. But I also hate cheap plasticky cars.
What kind of car should I get? And, do I buy or lease?
budget?
I am not a car person; largely I regard them as frustrating opex rather than sensible capex.
So, I am reasonable well off I suppose, but begrudge the cost I am likely to need to spend.
Does that help?
Seconded on a BMW X series (5 is the biggest, 3 is a smaller 5 and 1 is the SUV of the Touring). Or touring if you prefer closer to the ground and traditional rear wheel drive.
But we are all skating on thin ice here once Dura comes on and spells out exactly what it is you actually do need.
X7 is the largest BMW SUV. This discussion is like watching me try to opine on wine or coffee.
What do you make of hybrids?
I'm asking for a mate who because of the ULEZ expansion will have to kiss goodbye to his beloved old Merc.
New clean diesels are Ulez exempt – you don't need to buy a hybrid should you prefer an ICE.
Peter Kellner has summarised various targets for each party to claim success.
Conservatives
Open up a five-point lead over Labour in projected Britain-wide vote share Re-elect Tory mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley and win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Gain Hartlepool parliamentary seat from Labour Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win at least 20 (out of 60) seats in Welsh Parliament Gain votes in London mayoral election (having achieved 35 per cent of first-preference votes last time)
Labour
Overtake Tories in projected Britain-wide vote share Win London mayoralty outright on first preference votes (44 per cent last time) Defeat Tory incumbent mayors in West Midlands and Tees Valley; win mayoral election in West Yorkshire Hold Hartlepool parliamentary seat Win at least 25 per cent support in constituency vote in Scotland Win absolute majority in Welsh Parliament (two short last time)
Liberal Democrats
Win at least 16 per cent of projected Britain-wide vote share Gain more council seats than they lose Win at least 10 per cent of constituency vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly (8 per cent in both elections last time)
SNP
Win overall majority in Scottish Parliament (they need 65 of the 129 seats; they won 63 last time) Keep Alex Salmond’s new Alba party out of the parliament completely
Greens
Win at least 8 per cent of first preference votes in the London mayoral election Gain 100 seats in English council elections Add to the six seats they won last time in Scotland
Plaid Cymru
Win at least 15 seats in Welsh Assembly (12 last time) Win at least 25 per cent of the vote in either the constituency or party list vote (21 per cent in both last time)
Golly - with targets like some of those I forecast that most will be losers!
Yes, those look like the bars for claiming significant success. It would be useful to calibrate with what an undeniably bad result would look like, which would least define a ‘not too bad, not too good’ range within which most of the results will probably fall.
Hartlepool: Labour Party now out to 2.7 with BF. Is this too big?
I've topped up a bit, but I've no confidence in calling this one.
Listening to a reporter on the ground, she expects turnout to be low. Which party will this favour?
Might favour Labour if their GOTV op is superior.
But you know my feelings here. This should be a Con win and I personally don't think Lab at 2.7 is value.
Shouldn't you be in your idyllic leafy pub where you can just waltz in to their rose garden and have a cold beer on Downshire Hill?
I'm back now. Nice little interlude though. Couple of chilled ones in the middle of the day doesn't hurt. Felt no need to augment with any oysters, oddly.
The only downside was it still wasn't at all "leafy".
But out of the way and quiet right. With a couple of tables. In Belsize Park.
Sounds like I might give it a go myself. Which pub is it?
I had assumed The Stag, although the garden there is quite sizeable IIRC?
Professor JohnCurtice (for it is He) says that whilst SNP support is slipping, the Greens are romping along, so a majority of MSPs will support independence. Strap yourselves in - when HYUFD explodes as a result of Boris doing what he has endlessly said he won't do, it will be messy.
Although I support Scottish independence, I think the funniest result "for the bantz" would be SNP minority, majority with Greens, second referendum occurs, second referendum goes No.
That is actually my expected result - the issue needs to be laid to bed and the only way to do that is for the Scottish to see how much they are subsidised by the rest of the UK.
Which I know is something that MalcolmG is going to argue isn't the case but the reality is the oil has gone and Scotland has little else...
You really are ignorant of Scotland, it has far more natural resources than England.
Whatever - we are never going to agree
Exactly , you spouting about things you have absolutely NO clue about is extremely pointless.
Except for the fact you don't provide any evidence of anything that actually generates money.
You are the one claiming to be the expert on Scotland's budget and resources , now you expect me to show how little you know.
Nope you claim it has large amounts of resources that generate real income and tax.
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
You stated Scotland had nothing and would be skint , so you can do your own research thank you. I am perfectly happy that we can survive well without subsidising England's follies and be just like all other small independent nations. I will not be making up my mind based on people on here talking through their trousers.
Comments
https://twitter.com/moylato/status/1387139670962843658
The link came with an address I could get the jab at, and an option to choose different times at different dates. I chose the first available slot at 9:10am tomorrow morning. No point dilly dallying.
I think the computer might have done a woophsie.
Last time the county council seats were up in 2017 only 35% turned out and only 34% turned out for the 2016 district elections, by contrast 67% turned out for the 2019 UK general election.
General elections obviously always get higher turnout than local elections
Man, that fucker's Flemish accent is something else. Straight off a muddy beet field.
Something tells me the fans of the winning club will not stay quiet on social media.
How many people actually watch stuff like The One Show live? And not recorded, fast-forwarding through the PPBs?
I had a Picanto from 2005 to 2010, when I changed it for the C'eed. For a small car it is really good quality - and yes essentially an i10, with a longer warranty, and (last I saw) thousands off the list price.
Currently have a hybrid. Bit of a con really, as the self-charging really just makes it more economical (so from about 40 mpg to more like 55 in reality). That said its automatic and electric drive, and drives really nicely.
I think I'd prefer plug-in hybrid with small petrol tank as reserve if needed, at least until rapid charging is much more widely established.
We've hit herd immunity.
Re-fu(c)k? Sounds like poetic justice!
They should.
Yes yes, a girly car, overpriced, all that - but wow they are fast and growly and fantastic fun to drive
For example, four years ago there was a late-breaking story about the incumbent elected Sheriff of King Co, he was alleged to have committed sexual harassment & assault. This resulted in him losing key endorsements, and the election (to one of his deputies). However, quite a few votes had already been cast BEFORE the story broke.
The only downside was it still wasn't at all "leafy".
The HoL, the brightest and the best making decisions on our behalf so let's not worry about the democracy thing.
https://twitter.com/danielmgmoylan/status/1388066714714316806?s=20
https://www.businessforscotland.com/scotland-is-one-of-the-worlds-most-naturally-wealthy-nations/
Of course, some of the countries with the greatest natural resources wealth are not exactly paradigms of paradise. Russia, Congo ...
And I have not got a clue what they are as I don’t believe they exist.
As it’s impossible to prove a negative it makes sense to ask you to provide a list of things in Scotland (beyond oil and whiskey) that generate large amounts of profit and so tax...
I'm asking for a mate who because of the ULEZ expansion will have to kiss goodbye to his beloved old Merc.
Sounds like I might give it a go myself. Which pub is it?
Otherwise are you expecting to still be paying taxes to Westminster in the future?
That's because the law says that anyone who has qualified for a state pension gets a state pension.
These are people who are currently no contributing a single penny of tax to the UK exchequer.
Now, non-residents do not get the annual _increases_ to the state pension - they get the pension at the level it was first awarded to them but that is the setup.
However, when Scotland decides to become independent, the "UK government including Scotland" ceases to exist.
Who then has the obligation to pay pensions to indpendent Scots?
If you ask for pensions we will just say Fuck off. What are you gonna do, invade us with your army of 6 old men in kilts?
My prognostication: the vac may make your posts even nuttier than per usual!
[EDIT] Just kidding! (I think!!)
Germany, YouGov poll:
GRÜNE-G/EFA: 25% (+4)
CDU/CSU-EPP: 24% (-3)
SPD-S&D: 14% (-3)
AfD-ID: 11%
FDP-RE: 11% (+1)
LINKE-LEFT: 8%
+/- vs. 25-29 March 2021
Fieldwork: 23-26 April 2021
Sample size: 2,021 total respondents, 1,643 declared"
https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1388059351315881984
Remember I posted an IFS report https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14982 that said the average Scottish deficit has been 8% of Scottish GDP between 2011 and 2020 - and I really can't see what has or can change,
The rest of us a just as eager for your report!
Now the benefit of having natural resources is an entirely different question. You have many examples of low natural resource countries doing very well, many examples of high natural resource doing badly, and a few high resource countries doing well. I don't see much of a correlation between natural resources per se and economic performance.
However, there is a correlation between share of national income from exploitation of natural resources and overall economic performance - a negative correlation between over-dependence economically on natural resources and economic performance.
https://www.piie.com/publications/chapters_preview/6765/02iie6765.pdf
https://twitter.com/SpinningHugo/status/1388135206637408259?s=20
Well, this is embarrassing. Checked my bank balance this morning and couldn’t understand why I was missing 324m euros. Then I remembered. I gave a non-refundable down payment to Sanofi for 300 million doses of vaccine that didn’t work. Silly me.
They’re French though, so it’s ok
https://twitter.com/EuRollout/status/1388110515877171206?s=20
Got my helmet already, made of high-quality tin-foil!
http://meadesshrine.blogspot.com/1994/01/fa.html#ep5