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Should Some Groups Need to Pay to Vote? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,162
edited May 2021 in General
imageShould Some Groups Need to Pay to Vote? – politicalbetting.com

This sounds like a crazy question: but should the government introduce measures that require certain groups to pay if they wish to vote?

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    1st
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,523
    Compelling piece - thanks Robert.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401
    It has already made postal voting more common by at least one.
    I don't drive. I don't want to carry my passport (Which is anyway currently expired, but will be renewed when I have a prospect of going anywhere) on a 3 mile round trip walk to the polling station.
    So I will vote by post. I applied for one in March cos I didn't think it was fair on the poll workers under the circumstances.
    I will continue to do so indefinitely. Doubtless meaning I'll probably get one after I'm dead.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,148
    5th.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,759
    TimT said:

    Perhaps we should go the whole hog and require voters be land owners?

    Steady on. Actual Scottish people own bits of Scotland now you know. We'd not want them voting!
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,990
    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401
    I also note Councils will be required to provide ID for those without them.
    No mention of any kind of funding for the staff needed.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,011
    dixiedean said:

    It has already made postal voting more common by at least one.
    I don't drive. I don't want to carry my passport (Which is anyway currently expired, but will be renewed when I have a prospect of going anywhere) on a 3 mile round trip walk to the polling station.
    So I will vote by post. I applied for one in March cos I didn't think it was fair on the poll workers under the circumstances.
    I will continue to do so indefinitely. Doubtless meaning I'll probably get one after I'm dead.

    We have also got postal votes ad infinitum now. So no need for me to flash my passport. Also no need to step inside our local CofE church, which acts as our polling station. The benefits just keep piling up.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401

    dixiedean said:

    It has already made postal voting more common by at least one.
    I don't drive. I don't want to carry my passport (Which is anyway currently expired, but will be renewed when I have a prospect of going anywhere) on a 3 mile round trip walk to the polling station.
    So I will vote by post. I applied for one in March cos I didn't think it was fair on the poll workers under the circumstances.
    I will continue to do so indefinitely. Doubtless meaning I'll probably get one after I'm dead.

    We have also got postal votes ad infinitum now. So no need for me to flash my passport. Also no need to step inside our local CofE church, which acts as our polling station. The benefits just keep piling up.
    Aren't you grand? Mine was the Baptists. Not even the merest glimpse of glister about the place.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Always surprises me that I can just go into the local polling station, tell them my name and address and they let me vote - it would be easy to send someone else in or play silly buggers somehow. But quite quaint.

    Wouldn’t bother me if they did ask for ID though
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401
    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    I was going to say it sounds like they held a gun to his head during the meeting.
    But better not.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,148
    Thanks for the piece, Robert.

    I'm not really convinced. I would like to see some evidence on these alleged delays rather than guestimated models. And just how many people do not have photo ID, or cannot get it easily.

    I have concerns about photos as that may engage face recognition technology.

    One simple way some countries do it is to require those with no ID to sign a Statement of Truth.

    Here is an interesting account of Sinn Fein personation history:
    https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/parties-agree-to-combat-election-personation-by-sinn-fein-26240298.html
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,413
    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723
    isam said:

    Always surprises me that I can just go into the local polling station, tell them my name and address and they let me vote - it would be easy to send someone else in or play silly buggers somehow. But quite quaint.

    Wouldn’t bother me if they did ask for ID though

    Mr neither. I carry my driving license with me all the time.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    TimT said:

    Perhaps we should go the whole hog and require voters be land owners?

    No, no. They have to have a minimum of property. 3 square metres, sorry 4 square yards, won't cut it.

    Or rent a rather higher rateable value.

    And forget the women.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    Omnium said:

    TimT said:

    Perhaps we should go the whole hog and require voters be land owners?

    Steady on. Actual Scottish people own bits of Scotland now you know. We'd not want them voting!
    does a pretend country REALLY count though :wink:
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723

    dixiedean said:

    It has already made postal voting more common by at least one.
    I don't drive. I don't want to carry my passport (Which is anyway currently expired, but will be renewed when I have a prospect of going anywhere) on a 3 mile round trip walk to the polling station.
    So I will vote by post. I applied for one in March cos I didn't think it was fair on the poll workers under the circumstances.
    I will continue to do so indefinitely. Doubtless meaning I'll probably get one after I'm dead.

    We have also got postal votes ad infinitum now. So no need for me to flash my passport. Also no need to step inside our local CofE church, which acts as our polling station. The benefits just keep piling up.
    Why do you feel hostility to your local church?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    It has already made postal voting more common by at least one.
    I don't drive. I don't want to carry my passport (Which is anyway currently expired, but will be renewed when I have a prospect of going anywhere) on a 3 mile round trip walk to the polling station.
    So I will vote by post. I applied for one in March cos I didn't think it was fair on the poll workers under the circumstances.
    I will continue to do so indefinitely. Doubtless meaning I'll probably get one after I'm dead.

    We have also got postal votes ad infinitum now. So no need for me to flash my passport. Also no need to step inside our local CofE church, which acts as our polling station. The benefits just keep piling up.
    Aren't you grand? Mine was the Baptists. Not even the merest glimpse of glister about the place.
    Mine is the C of S kirk where I was baptised. Ditto lack of glitter.
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,019
    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Other than Corbyn has there ever been a party leader that has had serious challenges to their leadership and has yet managed to hold on for many years?

    (Corbyn is a little different in that he was anti-colgate from day one)

    The challenges to Starmer don't really amount to 'serious' yet, but not so far off.

    Major in '95? He managed two more years (nearly!)
    Thanks. It's sort of easy to forget these things. An in-government challenge though. So far as I can see SKS will be in unique territory if he survives beyond a few months. (Other than Corbyn)

    I'm of course mulling this from a betting perspective.




    Wikipedia tells me that Kinnock was challenged by Benn in '88.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited May 2021

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Blair, Mandy & The Standard laying into Sir Keir today
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,485
    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    Carnyx said:

    TimT said:

    Perhaps we should go the whole hog and require voters be land owners?

    No, no. They have to have a minimum of property. 3 square metres, sorry 4 square yards, won't cut it.

    Or rent a rather higher rateable value.

    And forget the women.
    Oh yes, and give university graduates an extra vote.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,714

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,714
    isam said:


    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Blair, Mandy & The Standard laying into Sir Keir today
    Farage has been having fun as well:



    "I believe the Labour Party is in much bigger trouble than anybody realises."

    "Does Starmer realise that his traditional vote does not feel the need to apologise for everything this country has ever stood for? They are not ashamed of British history. They cannot relate to these gestures."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/12/think-labour-bad-place-now-aint-seen-nothing-yet/
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited May 2021
    Peak Grauardian....

    Are you going to miss the positive aspects of lockdown – are you going to miss it so much that you’re going to create your own personal, regular “lockdown days” just for yourself or your family?

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/11/have-you-decided-to-create-a-regular-lockdown-day-for-yourself-or-your-family

    I would but I'm too busy wild swimming.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991

    Peak Grauardian....

    Are you going to miss the positive aspects of lockdown – are you going to miss it so much that you’re going to create your own personal, regular “lockdown days” just for yourself or your family?

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/11/have-you-decided-to-create-a-regular-lockdown-day-for-yourself-or-your-family

    I would but I'm too busy wild swimming.

    Seems like if Sage get their way the state will be mandating these anyway.
  • ChameleonChameleon Posts: 4,264

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    I will be extremely displeased if they bottle this. Johnson won't be so stupid.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,956
    isam said:

    Polling joke from last Friday


    The tv series on which the character is based was good in bits but the twitter account (run by the writer I assume) occasionally has moments of genius
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,375

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Well, hopefully they’ll be sacked before too long and then yes, we’ll be free of them.

    Oh sorry, was the bug in question CV not SAGE?
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    FPT - Philip_Thompson said:
    » show previous quotes
    "Last week the Teaching Assistant at my daughter's Reception class said to me that she'd asked the class to talk about Birthday Parties - and the kids spoke about Presents and Cake but weren't able to talk much about other things associated with parties as they'd not been to parties. Near the end of the Reception class year and there'd been no school parties in the entire year for them. So the teachers arranged for a birthday party for the class puppet "Claire" and asked for permission to give her cake etc at the party.

    She got an invitation to go to 'Claire's birthday' on Friday which she was so excited for and on the Friday came home talking about Pass the Parcel and other things she'd done at the party. 🥳

    Both cool that the school arranged that for the kids and a real shame that it had come to that. Such a simple thing wiped out for them to have never been able to experience for real yet."


    From SSI2 - Bless the teachers AND your little girl! And a give the lass a hug from PB!
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited May 2021
    Calderdale child sexual exploitation: 29 men charged

    Twenty-nine men have been charged in connection with the sexual exploitation and rape of a girl over a seven-year period in West Yorkshire. The offences are said to have taken place in and around Calderdale and Bradford between 2003 and 2010 when the victim was aged between 13 and 20.

    The men are due to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on 7 and 9 July

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57093267

    There appears these men might have something in common.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    I see the TUC went the Novara route - just with extra flags

    Palestinian ones obviously - wouldn't be seen dead with our own flag.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    dixiedean said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    I was going to say it sounds like they held a gun to his head during the meeting.
    But better not.
    The LCC is also seeking a meeting with European Commission vice-president, Maroš Šefčovič, “to ensure that he understands how the Belfast agreement has been breached by the protocol”.

    Sounds ominous. Suspect that Šefčovič will be in no hurry for that understanding.
  • rpjsrpjs Posts: 3,787

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,191

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Can FoxTrot Oscar if vulnerable (And by now the vulnerable really are all jabbed) people don't want to bother.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    Wasn't there a report today that it appears that at least Pfizer and Moderna work against the Indian variant.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    No wonder the UK government said no....

    The Champions League final will now be staged in Porto in Portugal after the UK government and UEFA could not reach agreement over quarantine exemptions for more than 2,000 VIPs, staff and media for the match to be played at Wembley.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    TimT said:

    Perhaps we should go the whole hog and require voters be land owners?

    And they can represent the rest - "virtual representation" they called it in the Days of Walpole, Chatham, Pitt the Younger.

    Surprised that Jacob Rees-Mogg has NOT already suggested this?

    He IS one of England's greatest 18th-century thinkers. Just a couple centuries late!
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,413
    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Oh he can. He most certainly can.

    I still have a fear of Blair. Couldn't lay a finger on him in power.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401
    edited May 2021
    rpjs said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
    Of course they didn't negotiate. Heaven forfend the very idea.
    No need to when you are in total agreement with them.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,723
    rpjs said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
    They didn't...in public...
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,413

    isam said:


    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Blair, Mandy & The Standard laying into Sir Keir today
    Farage has been having fun as well:



    "I believe the Labour Party is in much bigger trouble than anybody realises."

    "Does Starmer realise that his traditional vote does not feel the need to apologise for everything this country has ever stood for? They are not ashamed of British history. They cannot relate to these gestures."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/12/think-labour-bad-place-now-aint-seen-nothing-yet/
    Hang on, everyone is agreeing this is a problem.

    But I keep being told this is only an issue on Twitter?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited May 2021
    We definitely need to ask potential voters some very simple questions to ensure they have some basic level of taste, decency and proof they are reasonably well informed.....I propose some very simple questions about pizza toppings, well known indie bands and the quality of their live performances and famous Christmas films.

    Obviously if you travel cattle class on transatlantic flights and drink bottles of plonk less than a £15 you are automatically barred.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    rpjs said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
    The Tories were negotiating with terrorists for years before the Good Friday Agreement.

    I wonder how many conversations Barnier bothered to have with the Loyalists while seeking to "protect the Good Friday Agreement"?
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,759
    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Other than Corbyn has there ever been a party leader that has had serious challenges to their leadership and has yet managed to hold on for many years?

    (Corbyn is a little different in that he was anti-colgate from day one)

    The challenges to Starmer don't really amount to 'serious' yet, but not so far off.

    Major in '95? He managed two more years (nearly!)
    Thanks. It's sort of easy to forget these things. An in-government challenge though. So far as I can see SKS will be in unique territory if he survives beyond a few months. (Other than Corbyn)

    I'm of course mulling this from a betting perspective.




    Wikipedia tells me that Kinnock was challenged by Benn in '88.
    Ah ok - better for Starmer then as a precedent. Kinnock could have got closer than he did to winning.

    (I have no recollection whatsoever of that challenge)
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    edited May 2021

    rpjs said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
    They didn't...in public...
    Well, they negotiated with Boris, didn't they, after he'd terrorized his predecessor, etc, etc?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Indian variant looks to be nasty...
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    He's not wrong, but there are shades of "woke".
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821

    rpjs said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Whatever happened to the Tory party that didn't negotiate with terrorists?
    They didn't...in public...
    "Brits - the War against the IRA" by Peter Taylor is a good read. A fair few years old, but very enlightening.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    He's not wrong, but there are shades of "woke".
    The woke and the woke that have been cancelled for not being sufficiently woke / tweeted something 10 years ago as a kid....
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Other than Corbyn has there ever been a party leader that has had serious challenges to their leadership and has yet managed to hold on for many years?

    (Corbyn is a little different in that he was anti-colgate from day one)

    The challenges to Starmer don't really amount to 'serious' yet, but not so far off.

    Major in '95? He managed two more years (nearly!)
    Thanks. It's sort of easy to forget these things. An in-government challenge though. So far as I can see SKS will be in unique territory if he survives beyond a few months. (Other than Corbyn)

    I'm of course mulling this from a betting perspective.




    Wikipedia tells me that Kinnock was challenged by Benn in '88.
    Ah ok - better for Starmer then as a precedent. Kinnock could have got closer than he did to winning.

    (I have no recollection whatsoever of that challenge)
    Defenestration of Labour leaders by the Red Horde, is significantly more difficult than throwing Tory leader out onto the Dungheap of History is for the Blue Meanies.

    For context, check out wiki page of actual Defenestration of Prague for context:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestrations_of_Prague

    Exerpt - Count von Thurn turned to both Martinice and Slavata and said "you are enemies of us and of our religion, have desired to deprive us of our Letter of Majesty, have horribly plagued your Protestant subjects... and have tried to force them to adopt your religion against their wills or have had them expelled for this reason". Then to the crowd of Protestants, he continued "were we to keep these men alive, then we would lose the Letter of Majesty and our religion... for there can be no justice to be gained from or by them".

    Shortly thereafter, the two Regents and their secretary were defenestrated, but they survived the 70-foot (21-metre) fall from the third floor.

    Catholics maintained the men were saved by angels or by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who caught them; later Protestant pamphleteers asserted that they survived due to falling onto a dung heap, a story unknown to contemporaries and probably coined in response to divine intervention claims. Philip Fabricius was later ennobled by the emperor and granted the title Baron von Hohenfall (literally "Baron of Highfall").

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    isam said:


    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Blair, Mandy & The Standard laying into Sir Keir today
    Farage has been having fun as well:



    "I believe the Labour Party is in much bigger trouble than anybody realises."

    "Does Starmer realise that his traditional vote does not feel the need to apologise for everything this country has ever stood for? They are not ashamed of British history. They cannot relate to these gestures."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/12/think-labour-bad-place-now-aint-seen-nothing-yet/
    Hang on, everyone is agreeing this is a problem.

    But I keep being told this is only an issue on Twitter?
    So what if the Labour lefties, their most successful leader, the brains behind their best schemes, & London’s biggest paper all think Sir Keir’s rubbish, he’s losing safe seats to the govt in by elections, everyone thinks he’s dull as ditchwater & his ratings are at -47?

    All LotOs lose a bit of support once the don’t knows filter out!
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    edited May 2021

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    He's not wrong, but there are shades of "woke".
    Somehow can NOT imagine "Shades of Woke" every emulating the popular success of "Shades of Gray".

    EDIT - Unless perhaps you could convince Helen Mirren to reprise her role from "Caligula"?
  • dodradedodrade Posts: 597
    Photo ID threads are the the new AV!
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,191

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Indian variant looks to be nasty...
    It's just more transmissable is all, hotspots will appear where people haven't bothered to get vaxxed.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,405

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Indian variant looks to be nasty...
    It looks to be highly transmissible, but no more deadly. Evidence is stacking up that the vaccines will be fine against it. The explosion of cases in India are among the still mostly unvaccinated population, and this is true here too. Notably at a school... I can imagine sage want to meet to try to contain the variant as best they can, but that does not yet threaten the June date for lifting restrictions.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821
    dodrade said:

    Photo ID threads are the the new AV!

    Is that your photo ID in the picture? :lol:
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,175

    No wonder the UK government said no....

    The Champions League final will now be staged in Porto in Portugal after the UK government and UEFA could not reach agreement over quarantine exemptions for more than 2,000 VIPs, staff and media for the match to be played at Wembley.

    But presumably we’ve agreed to such demands for the Euros.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,011
    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821

    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
    Groucho?

    "These are my radicals - And if you don't like them, I have others!"
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,744

    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
    It's ripped off from Macmillan:

    As usual the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original ideas. Unfortunately none of the sound ideas is original and none of the original ideas is sound.

    https://libquotes.com/harold-macmillan/quote/lbn1e0z
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,705
    Pulpstar said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Indian variant looks to be nasty...
    It's just more transmissable is all, hotspots will appear where people haven't bothered to get vaxxed.
    Or haven't been offered yet.

    We really could do with getting the remaining adult population first dosed tout de suite.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277
    The Calderdale grooming case is unspeakable

    It would surely be blistering headline news if the "ethnic" details were in any way reversed
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277

    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
    It's ripped off from Macmillan:

    As usual the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original ideas. Unfortunately none of the sound ideas is original and none of the original ideas is sound.

    https://libquotes.com/harold-macmillan/quote/lbn1e0z
    That's not "ripping off", it's riffing. There is nothing wrong with taking a classic line and then tweaking it so it sounds new, and says something true.
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,744
    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,355

    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
    Everyone takes different lessons from their reading of Marx. Some better than others obviously.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    Leon said:

    The Calderdale grooming case is unspeakable

    It would surely be blistering headline news if the "ethnic" details were in any way reversed

    Compile a list of all similar cases - it is a national scandal and disgrace

    Never forget the powers that be tried to cover it up too
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,485
    Chameleon said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    I will be extremely displeased if they bottle this. Johnson won't be so stupid.
    Mood music on Twitter (yes, I know) is that it’s probably just laying the groundwork for surge vaccinations in and around Bolton. Almost all the new cases are in the unvaccinated cohorts up there apparently...
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,496
    Couldn't agree more with this article. Additionally there is a chance that it would backfire on the government, maybe only a small chance, but to take a chance when there is no merit in your scheme and you are avoiding the real menace of the postal ballot not being reliably secret is exceedingly foolish.

    Proper compromise: bring your polling card or simple ID (including gas bill, bit of paper from govt about your pension, Co-op card).
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,759

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Other than Corbyn has there ever been a party leader that has had serious challenges to their leadership and has yet managed to hold on for many years?

    (Corbyn is a little different in that he was anti-colgate from day one)

    The challenges to Starmer don't really amount to 'serious' yet, but not so far off.

    Major in '95? He managed two more years (nearly!)
    Thanks. It's sort of easy to forget these things. An in-government challenge though. So far as I can see SKS will be in unique territory if he survives beyond a few months. (Other than Corbyn)

    I'm of course mulling this from a betting perspective.




    Wikipedia tells me that Kinnock was challenged by Benn in '88.
    Ah ok - better for Starmer then as a precedent. Kinnock could have got closer than he did to winning.

    (I have no recollection whatsoever of that challenge)
    Defenestration of Labour leaders by the Red Horde, is significantly more difficult than throwing Tory leader out onto the Dungheap of History is for the Blue Meanies.

    For context, check out wiki page of actual Defenestration of Prague for context:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestrations_of_Prague

    Exerpt - Count von Thurn turned to both Martinice and Slavata and said "you are enemies of us and of our religion, have desired to deprive us of our Letter of Majesty, have horribly plagued your Protestant subjects... and have tried to force them to adopt your religion against their wills or have had them expelled for this reason". Then to the crowd of Protestants, he continued "were we to keep these men alive, then we would lose the Letter of Majesty and our religion... for there can be no justice to be gained from or by them".

    Shortly thereafter, the two Regents and their secretary were defenestrated, but they survived the 70-foot (21-metre) fall from the third floor.

    Catholics maintained the men were saved by angels or by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who caught them; later Protestant pamphleteers asserted that they survived due to falling onto a dung heap, a story unknown to contemporaries and probably coined in response to divine intervention claims. Philip Fabricius was later ennobled by the emperor and granted the title Baron von Hohenfall (literally "Baron of Highfall").

    That's a terrific history.

    I think Labour moved on from the idea of no challenges with Corbyn.

    I suspect Starmer will be challenged. I suspect from the left. I'm pretty sure that he can be defeated too.

    On balance though I don't actually think it will happen.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,153
    Leon said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
    While it is those things, it also brings Jo Cox's murder back into focus. It is therefore moderately clever politics.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,153
    Leon said:

    The Calderdale grooming case is unspeakable

    It would surely be blistering headline news if the "ethnic" details were in any way reversed

    Thank God it's typeable, or we wouldn't be able to read about it.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821
    edited May 2021
    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Foss said:

    Omnium said:

    Other than Corbyn has there ever been a party leader that has had serious challenges to their leadership and has yet managed to hold on for many years?

    (Corbyn is a little different in that he was anti-colgate from day one)

    The challenges to Starmer don't really amount to 'serious' yet, but not so far off.

    Major in '95? He managed two more years (nearly!)
    Thanks. It's sort of easy to forget these things. An in-government challenge though. So far as I can see SKS will be in unique territory if he survives beyond a few months. (Other than Corbyn)

    I'm of course mulling this from a betting perspective.




    Wikipedia tells me that Kinnock was challenged by Benn in '88.
    Ah ok - better for Starmer then as a precedent. Kinnock could have got closer than he did to winning.

    (I have no recollection whatsoever of that challenge)
    Defenestration of Labour leaders by the Red Horde, is significantly more difficult than throwing Tory leader out onto the Dungheap of History is for the Blue Meanies.

    For context, check out wiki page of actual Defenestration of Prague for context:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestrations_of_Prague

    Exerpt - Count von Thurn turned to both Martinice and Slavata and said "you are enemies of us and of our religion, have desired to deprive us of our Letter of Majesty, have horribly plagued your Protestant subjects... and have tried to force them to adopt your religion against their wills or have had them expelled for this reason". Then to the crowd of Protestants, he continued "were we to keep these men alive, then we would lose the Letter of Majesty and our religion... for there can be no justice to be gained from or by them".

    Shortly thereafter, the two Regents and their secretary were defenestrated, but they survived the 70-foot (21-metre) fall from the third floor.

    Catholics maintained the men were saved by angels or by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who caught them; later Protestant pamphleteers asserted that they survived due to falling onto a dung heap, a story unknown to contemporaries and probably coined in response to divine intervention claims. Philip Fabricius was later ennobled by the emperor and granted the title Baron von Hohenfall (literally "Baron of Highfall").

    That's a terrific history.

    I think Labour moved on from the idea of no challenges with Corbyn.

    I suspect Starmer will be challenged. I suspect from the left. I'm pretty sure that he can be defeated too.

    On balance though I don't actually think it will happen.
    Didn't Corbyn get challenged by Owen Smith?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277
    Floater said:

    Leon said:

    The Calderdale grooming case is unspeakable

    It would surely be blistering headline news if the "ethnic" details were in any way reversed

    Compile a list of all similar cases - it is a national scandal and disgrace

    Never forget the powers that be tried to cover it up too
    There is a website that does that. Compiles all of these cases. It is horrendous, the scale of it. Tens of thousands of victims is not an exaggeration

    Unfortunately the website has a far right slant, so it severely taints the data (even tho it seems true to me). This is a phenomenon which has bedevilled reportage of this from the off: most mainstream media are STILL too nervous to really go heavy on this story, even though it is probably the greatest "scandal" in postwar British history.

    I cannot think of anything that remotely compares, in sheer size
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Quite surprising it was 60/40 Leave in the aftermath of Cox’s murder really. Was it likely to be more Leavey before she was killed?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401

    Chameleon said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    I will be extremely displeased if they bottle this. Johnson won't be so stupid.
    Mood music on Twitter (yes, I know) is that it’s probably just laying the groundwork for surge vaccinations in and around Bolton. Almost all the new cases are in the unvaccinated cohorts up there apparently...
    Yes. Andy Burnham is suggesting it.
    And as he's the LOTO, the government will implement any of his sensible ideas.
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,744
    Leon said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
    Sentimental cant and gestural bollocks - when it's of the right sort - goes down well with voters.

    But more importantly, the work she's done since Cox's death, with the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common, is very impressive and by itself more than justifies her place as a parliamentary nominee.

    Also, if she is the candidate, it'll be bloody hard to run any kind of effective negative campaign against Labour.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,990
    @RuthDavidsonPC tells #peston that the Voter ID plans in the queen’s speech are “total bollocks”. Says no evidence to support it.
    https://twitter.com/AnushkaAsthana/status/1392577906803609610
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,218
    Leon said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
    Exploiting sentimental cant and gestural bollocks?

    Maybe Labour have got some life in them yet.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,786
    Excellent article Robert.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401

    Leon said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
    Sentimental cant and gestural bollocks - when it's of the right sort - goes down well with voters.

    But more importantly, the work she's done since Cox's death, with the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common, is very impressive and by itself more than justifies her place as a parliamentary nominee.

    Also, if she is the candidate, it'll be bloody hard to run any kind of effective negative campaign against Labour.
    Plus she's local.
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,744
    Leon said:

    dixiedean said:

    Blair hasn't lost it. He's got Woke in one:

    "On cultural issues, Labour is being backed into electorally off-putting positions... defined by the woke left." People "dislike prejudice; but they dislike extremism in combating prejudice."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/05/tony-blair-without-total-change-labour-will-die

    Amongst progressives, "The radicals aren't sensible, and the sensible aren't radical".
    On Trump. "Uniquely strange and unacceptable in his behaviour."
    Say what you like about him. He can turn a phrase like few others.
    Stylistically, the first of those reminds me of Marx.
    It's ripped off from Macmillan:

    As usual the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original ideas. Unfortunately none of the sound ideas is original and none of the original ideas is sound.

    https://libquotes.com/harold-macmillan/quote/lbn1e0z
    That's not "ripping off", it's riffing. There is nothing wrong with taking a classic line and then tweaking it so it sounds new, and says something true.
    I'll be kind. On a theme of.

    Macmillan's almost certainly wasn't the first of its kind. Cicero probably said something similar.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    edited May 2021

    Pulpstar said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    Oh FFS. Will we ever be free of this bug?
    Indian variant looks to be nasty...
    It's just more transmissable is all, hotspots will appear where people haven't bothered to get vaxxed.
    Or haven't been offered yet.

    We really could do with getting the remaining adult population first dosed tout de suite.
    If it was me running the show, at this stage would be giving everyone who showed up for a jab a free toaster oven, or whatever the kids want these days of comparable value.

    PLUS a ticket to win

    > 1st prize - £10,000 per year for life AND same for one person you select when you pass (so that IF the jab gets you at least not a total loss).

    > 2nd prize (several) - One week, all expenses paid luxury holiday to sunny Gibraltar OR any other appealing destination that will take a fully vaxed-up Brit.

    > 3rd prize (say 50) - Personal, guided tour of newly-refurbished No. 10 Downing Street conducted by Carrie herself (a la Jackie Kennedy) including complementary English champagne, Welsh rarebit, Scotch egg (only good in parts) and English mushy peas on brioche PLUS several samples of new No. 10 draperies, carpets and . . . wait for it . . . wallpaper!

    That's the CARROTS.

    STICKS could include requiring all non-vaccinated to travel to South Shetland Islands for two week attitude adjustment campaign, shortened & concluded as soon as participants/victims get jabbed with one-shot J&J.

    Or possibly a ten-hour seminar in a sealed-room with the entire Shadow Cabinet?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    dixiedean said:

    Chameleon said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    I will be extremely displeased if they bottle this. Johnson won't be so stupid.
    Mood music on Twitter (yes, I know) is that it’s probably just laying the groundwork for surge vaccinations in and around Bolton. Almost all the new cases are in the unvaccinated cohorts up there apparently...
    Yes. Andy Burnham is suggesting it.
    And as he's the LOTO, the government will implement any of his sensible ideas.
    It's a very sensible idea, that can happen under the radar with minimal of fuss given we're in the home stretch now anyway. We're already into the 30-somethings so won't take much juice to finish this off in areas of concern.

    A vaccine centre has nearby has said they have 800 first doses to give ANYONE who wants them. No age requirements.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,496
    edited May 2021

    Scott_xP said:

    Loyalist paramilitaries to David Frost: Protocol isn't gonna work. You need to change it.
    Later, Frost to EU: Protocol isn't gonna work, we need to change it.


    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/12/uk-ministers-meet-representatives-of-ni-paramilitaries-to-discuss-brexit

    Good on Frost. 👍

    Shame the EU didn't want to listen to both sides during the divorce. Time to face reality now though.
    Boris has played it right. There is no solution to Ireland on current red lines. It was too much of a risk to leave without a deal. So leave on a deal you know will unfold, then you are negotiating both with a deal which in general is workable, and you are not locked into the EU for ever because you have left. And there is a level playing field over who will in the end give way over Irish red lines.

    And as a plus it gives him, and all British unionists, a massive piece of ammunition in the argument against Scotland creating an EU land border at Berwick and Gretna.

  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,148
    isam said:

    isam said:

    Polling joke from last Friday


    The tv series on which the character is based was good in bits but the twitter account (run by the writer I assume) occasionally has moments of genius
    My fav


    Good job it is not croquet.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,175
    isam said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Quite surprising it was 60/40 Leave in the aftermath of Cox’s murder really. Was it likely to be more Leavey before she was killed?
    Not necessarily - the Tories lost Eastbourne, after all:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_Eastbourne_by-election
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,401

    dixiedean said:

    Chameleon said:

    Any credence to the rumours that Sage want to delay the 21 June unlock because of the Indian variant??

    I will be extremely displeased if they bottle this. Johnson won't be so stupid.
    Mood music on Twitter (yes, I know) is that it’s probably just laying the groundwork for surge vaccinations in and around Bolton. Almost all the new cases are in the unvaccinated cohorts up there apparently...
    Yes. Andy Burnham is suggesting it.
    And as he's the LOTO, the government will implement any of his sensible ideas.
    It's a very sensible idea, that can happen under the radar with minimal of fuss given we're in the home stretch now anyway. We're already into the 30-somethings so won't take much juice to finish this off in areas of concern.

    A vaccine centre has nearby has said they have 800 first doses to give ANYONE who wants them. No age requirements.
    Which one out of interest?
    Have friends in Bolton.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    edited May 2021
    MattW said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Polling joke from last Friday


    The tv series on which the character is based was good in bits but the twitter account (run by the writer I assume) occasionally has moments of genius
    My fav


    Good job it is not croquet.
    Or jai alai. Or hurling
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,821
    dixiedean said:

    Leon said:

    This should substantially increase Labour's chance of winning in Batley & Spen, if they're sensible enough to run with her candidacy.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767

    Why? She's the sister of the woman that was murdered. It's a sad sad story, but it doesn't make her the right person to be the MP by itself, in any way or form. It's patronising and insulting to Batley and Spen voters to say it DOES. It is sentimental cant and gestural bollocks.
    Sentimental cant and gestural bollocks - when it's of the right sort - goes down well with voters.

    But more importantly, the work she's done since Cox's death, with the Jo Cox Foundation and More In Common, is very impressive and by itself more than justifies her place as a parliamentary nominee.

    Also, if she is the candidate, it'll be bloody hard to run any kind of effective negative campaign against Labour.
    Plus she's local.
    "This is a LOCAL election for LOCAL people! There's nothing for YOU here!"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meF7NmfnXZ0
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