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System Posts: 12,578
edited August 2016 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Smith should acknowledge that JC’s the likely winner and press for the highest possible vote to “send a message to the party”

This morning there’s been another effort by the Smith campaign to claim that “private polling” suggests that the battle is close and that he could win.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Interesting.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    edited August 2016
    Second like Owen
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Tissue_Price said:

    Here's the full Virgin statement: https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/#/pressreleases/virgin-trains-clarifies-labour-leaders-claim-of-ram-packed-service-1530005

    HAHAHA, as I believe our resident author puts it.

    I'm sure there's a joke to be made about Corbyn lying about riding a Virgin
  • Sandpit
    Sandpit Posts: 56,045
    edited August 2016
    Bronze medal!
    Edit: or not.
  • FrancisUrquhart
    FrancisUrquhart Posts: 85,734
    edited August 2016
    I am waiting for the cult following on twitter to go on about Richard Branson and his tax status and the video being a fake...like the moon landings.

    Also First...after DQs and posters with 3x normal levels of testosterone.
  • AramintaMoonbeamQC
    AramintaMoonbeamQC Posts: 3,901
    edited August 2016
    Smith's team are floating phone bank numbers on Twitter showing him ahead in a reasonable number of seats. I don't vote Labour but he does at least seem like a vaguely sane choice.

    Edit: I've just seen the Corbyn/train story. Ye gods. Its like he's being scripted by Armano Iannucci.

    Lots of Corbynistas on Twitter trumpting that Corbyn is going to give the Jimmy Reid Memorial Lecture? I take it no-one's told him that Jimmy Reid quit Labour and joined the SNP.
  • Theuniondivvie
    Theuniondivvie Posts: 44,327
    Isn't admitting you're going to lose before the vote has taken place rookie error no.1?
  • SouthamObserver
    SouthamObserver Posts: 40,054
    Completely agree. This has been a very bad few weeks for Jeremy Corbyn. Smith's team should not allow Corbyn's win to overshadow that.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    Here's the full Virgin statement: https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/#/pressreleases/virgin-trains-clarifies-labour-leaders-claim-of-ram-packed-service-1530005

    HAHAHA, as I believe our resident author puts it.

    I'm sure there's a joke to be made about Corbyn lying about riding a Virgin
    I don't believe Jeremy has ever ridden me!

    EDIT - D'OH!
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV STV of the railway system.

    I had to correct you. 'cos AV is crap - was rejected by 68% of the UK voters in 2011
  • DaemonBarber
    DaemonBarber Posts: 1,626
    fpt:
    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
  • William_H
    William_H Posts: 346
    I don't think the "send a message" narrative would work very well for Smith in this case. Potential swing voters might be put off if they think their votes will be used as ammunition for further disunity.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    First class = Snob class
    Business = Spiv Class
    Economy/standard = Steerage
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Owen Smith has proved himself to be as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

    He has managed to be portrayed as soft on terrorism by Jeremy Corbyn. That's like being called obnoxious by Simon Cowell.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    Unlike the Olympics, there are no prizes for second place in Leadership elections.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    Lego Minecraft "The village" £169.99 o_O
  • Sandpit
    Sandpit Posts: 56,045
    Well done to Virgin Trains PR and media people, for making Corbyn look even more like a complete numpty than usual. More importantly, it's shown him to be a liar who staged the whole thing to have a pot shot at the train company.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Owen Smith has proved himself to be as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

    He has managed to be portrayed as soft on terrorism by Jeremy Corbyn. That's like being called obnoxious by Simon Cowell.

    Or being accused of having bad taste in footwear by TSE :lol:
  • oxfordsimon
    oxfordsimon Posts: 5,845
    Corbyn will continue to play the mandate card.

    'I won last year. I won this year - even though people attempted to rig the system against me. I am the leader and I will stay the leader to represent the overwhelming majority of Labour members who have voted for me TWICE'

  • glw
    glw Posts: 10,463
    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    True you do get some better value kits and boxes of bricks. I still can't help thinking it's just a bit of plastic, and wondering how some miracle of modern electronics costs less.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    I remember some posters on here were trying to persuade others to change their vote to "make it close" (Remain -> Brexit) just before the referendum !
  • Casino_Royale
    Casino_Royale Posts: 63,687
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    Best train journey is probably the Caledonian Sleeper, and waking up in the Highlands.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    Sandpit said:

    Well done to Virgin Trains PR and media people, for making Corbyn look even more like a complete numpty than usual. More importantly, it's shown him to be a liar who staged the whole thing to have a pot shot at the train company.

    Virgin Trains = TORY!
  • AndyJS
    AndyJS Posts: 29,395
    I wish Virgin would launch an in-depth investigation whenever I can't find a seat on one of their trains. Lucky Corbyn.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Pulpstar said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    Lego Minecraft "The village" £169.99 o_O
    I paid £129.99 for the Lego Millennium Falcon. Bargain.
  • MTimT
    MTimT Posts: 7,034
    FrancisUrquhart said:

    I am waiting for the cult following on twitter to go on about Richard Branson and his tax status and the video being a fake...like the moon landings.

    Also First...after DQs and posters with 3x normal levels of testosterone.

    First, using my own very special retroactive criteria.
  • Sandpit
    Sandpit Posts: 56,045
    edited August 2016
    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    It's grown up lot in the past few years.
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-MINDSTORMS-EV3-31313
    This one is also worth every penny, for the 38 year old 12 year old. :D
  • John_M
    John_M Posts: 7,503
    edited August 2016
    FPT: For @MTimT I believe Meccano has succumbed to H&S fears. I do remember my daughter trying to eat some of the fastenings, as an alternative to pushing them up her own nostrils. This brought our brief experimentation to an abrupt halt.
  • MTimT
    MTimT Posts: 7,034
    Sandpit said:

    Well done to Virgin Trains PR and media people, for making Corbyn look even more like a complete numpty than usual. More importantly, it's shown him to be a liar who staged the whole thing to have a pot shot at the train company.


    Should Virgin sue him and the filmmakers for defamation and damages?
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Casino_Royale said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    Best train journey is probably the Caledonian Sleeper, and waking up in the Highlands.
    But that terminates in Scotland.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    I do like the Virgin Kings Cross to Leeds, first class. Lots of room, lovely staff and free booze delivered to one's seat every twenty to thirty minutes. And, now that I can book ahead, soooo cheap.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    MTimT said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    I am waiting for the cult following on twitter to go on about Richard Branson and his tax status and the video being a fake...like the moon landings.

    Also First...after DQs and posters with 3x normal levels of testosterone.

    First, using my own very special retroactive criteria.
    You are Ryan Lochte? (only kidding!)
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    https://twitter.com/peter_watts/status/768074027126652928
  • FrancisUrquhart
    FrancisUrquhart Posts: 85,734
    Tissue_Price said:

    https://twitter.com/peter_watts/status/768074027126652928

    The Ryan Lochte of British politics.....
  • MTimT
    MTimT Posts: 7,034
    glw said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    True you do get some better value kits and boxes of bricks. I still can't help thinking it's just a bit of plastic, and wondering how some miracle of modern electronics costs less.
    What's a blender doing in the middle of a lego sculpture?
  • edmundintokyo
    edmundintokyo Posts: 17,735
    edited August 2016
    Not convinced, I'd have thought most Labour waverers will want a decisive result rather than prolonging the food fight.

    I know the private polling looks ridiculous to us but most people don't know the difference. And we're talking about people who are thinking about supporting Corbyn but may change their minds. The set of non-hardliners who think Labour may be better off with Corbyn probably maps very closely to the set of people who don't understand opinion polls.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    HurstLlama said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    I do like the Virgin Kings Cross to Leeds, first class. Lots of room, lovely staff and free booze delivered to one's seat every twenty to thirty minutes. And, now that I can book ahead, soooo cheap.
    Another favourite of mine, and it terminates in Yorkshire.

    Would be perfect if it departed from Saint Pancras, Kings X and Euston are awful stations.
  • taffys
    taffys Posts: 9,753
    'Best train journey is probably the Caledonian Sleeper, and waking up in the Highlands.'

    Yes and no. If you want your own cabin its expensive. If you share a couchette, its a bit pot luck. And the dining car is pretty small.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    Any train journey away from London, whatever the class, is better than First Class to London...
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    "There’s no point in the Smith campaign making assertions which are simply not believed whatever their substance. Rather he should switch his objective to securing the maximum possible votes"

    presumably Smith doesn't think that there's a conflict between the two - although of course that depends on whether his assertions are believed as to his polling. There does seem to be a lot more anti-Corbyn noise, quite a bit of it coming from people who claim to have voted for him before but how reliable are their comments and how representative are they even if they are all telling the truth?

    I do get the impression that the tide has turned and that we've passed Peak Corbyn - but is that simply the impression that those opposed to him want to give and, given their better media skills, are giving irrespective of the truth?

    FWIW, I predicted in the competition that Corbyn would win by nine point something per cent.
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    Starting to worry Corbyn might lose....

    Then i think...nah, labour's too far gone.
  • MTimT
    MTimT Posts: 7,034
    John_M said:

    FPT: For @MTimT I believe Meccano has succumbed to H&S fears. I do remember my daughter trying to eat some of the fastenings, as an alternative to pushing them up her own nostrils. This brought our brief experimentation to an abrupt halt.

    So sad. Hospital visits to remove beads and nuts from nostrils and ears of various siblings were such a bonding experience for the family. Particularly when they happened on the only sunny day of summer.
  • Sandpit
    Sandpit Posts: 56,045
    MTimT said:

    Sandpit said:

    Well done to Virgin Trains PR and media people, for making Corbyn look even more like a complete numpty than usual. More importantly, it's shown him to be a liar who staged the whole thing to have a pot shot at the train company.

    Should Virgin sue him and the filmmakers for defamation and damages?
    I think they'd be perfectly justified in banning him from their trains, but on balance I think they've managed to made their point pretty well.
  • tlg86
    tlg86 Posts: 26,950
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    HurstLlama said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    I do like the Virgin Kings Cross to Leeds, first class. Lots of room, lovely staff and free booze delivered to one's seat every twenty to thirty minutes. And, now that I can book ahead, soooo cheap.
    Another favourite of mine, and it terminates in Yorkshire.

    Would be perfect if it departed from Saint Pancras, Kings X and Euston are awful stations.
    The 19:55 from St Pancras is the train for you!

    http://tinyurl.com/hkkdhc8
  • AndyJS
    AndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited August 2016
    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    Sandpit said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    It's grown up lot in the past few years.
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-MINDSTORMS-EV3-31313
    This one is also worth every penny, for the 38 year old 12 year old. :D
    I bought one for my son last year as he wanted to use it in his electronic engineering course at uni. Talk about an educational toy.
  • FrancisUrquhart
    FrancisUrquhart Posts: 85,734
    Feel sorry for the guy picking his nose on the footage...
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    tlg86 said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    HurstLlama said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    I do like the Virgin Kings Cross to Leeds, first class. Lots of room, lovely staff and free booze delivered to one's seat every twenty to thirty minutes. And, now that I can book ahead, soooo cheap.
    Another favourite of mine, and it terminates in Yorkshire.

    Would be perfect if it departed from Saint Pancras, Kings X and Euston are awful stations.
    The 19:55 from St Pancras is the train for you!

    http://tinyurl.com/hkkdhc8
    East Midlands Trains are a bit rubbish.
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    Only corbyn could undermine the one policy he might find some public support (which I don't cctually beleive the public do anyway)...
  • ThreeQuidder
    ThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133
    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    Slackbladder said:

    Starting to worry Corbyn might lose....

    Then i think...nah, labour's too far gone.

    If Corbyn loses, the chances are that Labour will further implode. Do you think all the lovely people who back him will take a defeat lying down?

    But I've had enough popcorn.

    As an aside, Mrs J came out of the bedroom the other day. She's been reading the LRB, and an article made her say: "I never thought I'd say this, but can we have Ed Miliband back please? We need a sane Labour party."

    Labour are really in trouble if Ed's reign is seen as some form of glory days.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    You can sit on them if no one is sitting in them after the train has left the station of first reservation.
  • DaemonBarber
    DaemonBarber Posts: 1,626
    edited August 2016
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    Lego Minecraft "The village" £169.99 o_O
    I paid £129.99 for the Lego Millennium Falcon. Bargain.
    It's such a super kit...
    I want Son wants the new X-Wing.
  • bigjohnowls
    bigjohnowls Posts: 22,951
    Ha ha! Brilliant. Torygraph change the picture after they were busted.

    Removing reserved tickets
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    You mean you've never played 'reserved seat roulette' when you haven't booked one for yourself?
  • SimonStClare
    SimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited August 2016
    Sandpit said:

    MTimT said:

    Sandpit said:

    Well done to Virgin Trains PR and media people, for making Corbyn look even more like a complete numpty than usual. More importantly, it's shown him to be a liar who staged the whole thing to have a pot shot at the train company.

    Should Virgin sue him and the filmmakers for defamation and damages?
    I think they'd be perfectly justified in banning him from their trains, but on balance I think they've managed to make their point pretty well.
    Indeed - Virgin should make no further comment, demand no apology or retraction – just sit back and let Twitter eviscerate him. :lol:
  • ThreeQuidder
    ThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133
    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    As long as you move if the person who has reserved it turns up, it shouldn't ever be a problem.
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    William_H said:

    I don't think the "send a message" narrative would work very well for Smith in this case. Potential swing voters might be put off if they think their votes will be used as ammunition for further disunity.

    Smith's entire campaign is surely about 'sending a message'. I can't imagine many people actually think he's the best person to lead Labour.

    Ironically, Corbyn's campaign is also about 'sending a message', though in his case, a message to different people about different things. It does make you wonder if there's anyone in the party that wants to *do* something rather than pretest about it.
  • AndyJS
    AndyJS Posts: 29,395
    ThreeQuidder said:

    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    As long as you move if the person who has reserved it turns up, it shouldn't ever be a problem.
    Some people don't take kindly to finding another person sitting in their seat.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    DaemonBarber said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    Lego Minecraft "The village" £169.99 o_O
    I paid £129.99 for the Lego Millennium Falcon. Bargain.
    It's such a super kit...
    I want Son wants the new X-Wing.
    That's another reason Casino Royale should have kids. You can buy stuff and say it is for the kids.
  • bigjohnowls
    bigjohnowls Posts: 22,951
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    You can sit on them if no one is sitting in them after the train has left the station of first reservation.
    If you sat in my seat whilst i was purchasing my Newcastle Brown you would regret it.

    Oh hang on you wouldnt be anywhere near scum class in case you caught something nasty!!!
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    Comment from Twitter re VirginSeatGate:

    https://twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668
  • John_M
    John_M Posts: 7,503
    AndyJS said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    As long as you move if the person who has reserved it turns up, it shouldn't ever be a problem.
    Some people don't take kindly to finding another person sitting in their seat.
    I'm 6' 2" and weigh 16 stone. People have always been surprisingly gracious about it.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    HurstLlama said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    I do like the Virgin Kings Cross to Leeds, first class. Lots of room, lovely staff and free booze delivered to one's seat every twenty to thirty minutes. And, now that I can book ahead, soooo cheap.
    Another favourite of mine, and it terminates in Yorkshire.

    Would be perfect if it departed from Saint Pancras, Kings X and Euston are awful stations.
    Euston is indeed a God-awful 1960s monstrosity. Kings Cross much less so these days and the lovely St Pancras is only across the road.

    I usually get the train up from Sussex to St. Pancras and wait in that nice French Bistro/cafe with a glass of something pleasant before walking over to Kings Cross in time to board the train. The staff in both places are great and especially appreciated when my eyes are really bad.
  • DanSmith
    DanSmith Posts: 1,215
    If Smith wants to maximise his vote, he needs to portray himself as a potential winner. If he gives up, he's going to be destroyed.
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    On another note: I remember the conversations on here when some claimed the Osborne hadn't got a ticket (which, as far as I recall, was just a load of rubbish).

    Yet Corbyn's faux-seat nonsense seems to be virtually umentioned.

    How low can Labour and their supporters go? I think they're deeper than the Clock Face Shaft. Might they beat the Mponeng gold mine?
  • nunu
    nunu Posts: 6,024
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV STV of the railway system.

    I had to correct you. 'cos AV is crap - was rejected by 68% of the UK voters in 2011
    I agree with STV- FPTP is no longer fit for purpose in our multi party system and it would allow us to retain the link between constituencies and MP's.
  • bigjohnowls
    bigjohnowls Posts: 22,951
    ThreeQuidder said:

    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668

    This is the doctored image
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    bigjohnowls said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    You can sit on them if no one is sitting in them after the train has left the station of first reservation.
    If you sat in my seat whilst i was purchasing my Newcastle Brown you would regret it.

    Oh hang on you wouldnt be anywhere near scum class in case you caught something nasty!!!
    I was in pleb class the other day. I haven't been that scared since I accidentally turned up at a English Defence League Demo in the centre of Manchester
  • AndyJS
    AndyJS Posts: 29,395
    In theory train companies should have to refund a certain percentage of the ticket price if a passenger can't find a place to sit. Of course in practice they'd go bankrupt if they had to do so because so many people are in precisely that position on a regular basis.
  • DaemonBarber
    DaemonBarber Posts: 1,626
    Sandpit said:

    DaemonBarber said:

    fpt:

    glw said:

    FrancisUrquhart said:

    Lego is bloody expensive these days...

    It certainly is. I always mentally translate the price into some sort of electronics equivalent and am horrified.
    Some of the kits are.
    But others are quite reasonable - pocket money even, suitable to show saving for a few weeks can buy something good.

    The big buckets of assorted bricks are the best value though.

    Except this, which is currently on my desk at work. This was worth every penny:
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Doctor-Who-21304
    It's grown up lot in the past few years.
    http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-MINDSTORMS-EV3-31313
    This one is also worth every penny, for the 38 year old 12 year old. :D
    Mindstorms has been around for 20+ years. The kits are all ace and all massively expensive.

    In a previous job we were planning on making a robot wars robot using the mindstorms controller as the brains.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    AndyJS said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    AndyJS said:

    "There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on."

    This is news to me. I thought we weren't allowed to sit on seats with tickets sticking out the top of them, even if there's no-one sitting on them.

    As long as you move if the person who has reserved it turns up, it shouldn't ever be a problem.
    Some people don't take kindly to finding another person sitting in their seat.
    As long as the person moves when asked, what is their problem?
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    bigjohnowls said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668

    This is the doctored image
    It really is a cult.
  • oxfordsimon
    oxfordsimon Posts: 5,845
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    JosiasJessop said:

    Slackbladder said:

    Starting to worry Corbyn might lose....

    Then i think...nah, labour's too far gone.

    If Corbyn loses, the chances are that Labour will further implode. Do you think all the lovely people who back him will take a defeat lying down?

    What would or could they do? Sure, there's the NEC and conference and CLPs and so on but without the standard-bearer of Corbyn and without any other leadership contender whether or not there's another election - none of the far left would gain the nominations - the numbers would drift off and the rest would be howling in the wind. That might be enough to put off swing voters and Smith is himself no political giant but Labour would at least still be in the game.
  • Morris_Dancer
    Morris_Dancer Posts: 62,742
    Good afternoon, everyone.
  • SquareRoot
    SquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    Labour never learn. Ed Miliband's lot removed the headrest sheet(forget what its called) so that people wouldn't notice they were in first class...

    Corbyn is not to be trusted, if you didn't already know that...
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    david_herdson said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    Slackbladder said:

    Starting to worry Corbyn might lose....

    Then i think...nah, labour's too far gone.

    If Corbyn loses, the chances are that Labour will further implode. Do you think all the lovely people who back him will take a defeat lying down?

    What would or could they do? Sure, there's the NEC and conference and CLPs and so on but without the standard-bearer of Corbyn and without any other leadership contender whether or not there's another election - none of the far left would gain the nominations - the numbers would drift off and the rest would be howling in the wind. That might be enough to put off swing voters and Smith is himself no political giant but Labour would at least still be in the game.
    Fight.

    Besides, the longer he stays in position, the more Labour's rules and processes will be perverted to keep him, and the likes of him, in power. That process is already well under way.
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    oxfordsimon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
    Their politics team is very good, imo: Jim Waterson, Emily Ashton, Alan White (disclosure, I know him slightly) & Marie Le Conte.
  • FrancisUrquhart
    FrancisUrquhart Posts: 85,734
    edited August 2016
    https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/768078852446760961
    You might have to sit on the floor though...as all the empty seats are taken.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    I didn't notice a single difference, positive or negative in my last two train trips (Both ECML) one Virgin, one state run.

    Both perfectly adequate.
  • DavidL
    DavidL Posts: 55,867
    FPT:

    John_M said:
    I have been dubbed an expert (by people who would know, I hasten to add) during two periods of my career. It's not a magical power. I was mostly conscious of the huge amount of things I didn't know rather than the things I did.

    My abiding view is the global economy has passed beyond the humanly comprehensible event horizon. It's just too complex, with too many factors to model accurately. Hence, while I'm perfectly happy to use the models that are available (e.g. NIESR), I do so in the knowledge that as far as predicting 2030 economic out turns is concerned, I may as well be examining chicken entrails and rattling the bones.

    I said:

    This is undoubtedly true and there are many fields of economics which are increasingly detached from the day to day experience.

    For example, is it really true that free trade is a good thing? Especially if you are in a western country whose workforce are going to be undercut by developing economies? At what point does the unemployment, cutting of real wages and inequalities become more of an issue than the cheaper products?

    Does cutting interest rates really stimulate a modern economy with more savers than borrowers? Or does it encourage people to save even more? Or, in the case of our recent cut, make people assume that there are troubles ahead?

    Why is it suddenly ok for our government to buy up a significant percentage of its debt with money created for this purpose? Why has this policy had so little effect? And how do we avoid the trap that Japan has now been in for more than 20 years?

    What we are missing is not ever more sophisticated models (because as you say the quantity of data is simply unending) but a structure that allows us to identify a number of key indicators that give us a sensible direction of travel. We need a JM Keynes for our day, someone who can give us a new vocabulary that can help us make sense of where we are and, more importantly, where we are going.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Tissue_Price said:

    oxfordsimon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
    Their politics team is very good, imo: Jim Waterson, Emily Ashton, Alan White (disclosure, I know him slightly) & Marie Le Conte.
    Marie is awesome, despite being French.
  • TwistedFireStopper
    TwistedFireStopper Posts: 2,538
    edited August 2016
    Sky News saying that Corbyn having to sit on the floor of that train last week was staged, and the train wasn't "jam packed". Virgin are calling him out on it and have released CCTV footage.
    TwistedFireStopper said:

    Sky News saying that Corbyn having to sit on the floor of that train last week was staged, and the train wasn't "jam packed". Virgin are calling him out on it and have released CCTV footage.

    Bloody hell. Vanilla was giving me the impression I was first to post this!
  • DaemonBarber
    DaemonBarber Posts: 1,626

    Owen SmithVerified account
    ‏@OwenSmith_MP
    My campaign remains on track. Proud to be genuinely standing up for ordinary people.
  • MarkHopkins
    MarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    bigjohnowls said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668

    This is the doctored image

    Feel free to check the original images for yourself.

    https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/#/latest_media

  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    FrancisUrquhart said:

    https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/768078852446760961
    You might have to sit on the floor though...as all the empty seats are taken.

    I might make a joke about Corbyn, sitting, face and Diane Abbott, but I'm not that sort of person. I comport myself with dignity
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    Owen Smith VERIFIED ACCOUNT
    ‏@OwenSmith_MP

    My campaign remains on track. Proud to be genuinely standing up for ordinary people.


    He really sounds like a winner 'remains on track'?
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    oxfordsimon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
    Their politics team is very good, imo: Jim Waterson, Emily Ashton, Alan White (disclosure, I know him slightly) & Marie Le Conte.
    Marie is awesome, despite being French.
    Not least as her name is an anagram of both ELITE ROMANCE and MALE ERECTION.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Tissue_Price said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    oxfordsimon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
    Their politics team is very good, imo: Jim Waterson, Emily Ashton, Alan White (disclosure, I know him slightly) & Marie Le Conte.
    Marie is awesome, despite being French.
    Not least as her name is an anagram of both ELITE ROMANCE and MALE ERECTION.
    That made me giggle so much at work I had to explain myself.
  • oxfordsimon
    oxfordsimon Posts: 5,845
    Tissue_Price said:

    oxfordsimon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Tissue_Price said:

    When in a hole...

    But Corbyn’s team appear to be sticking to the original story. Asked if is was true that the train wasn’t full, a spokesperson for Corbyn’s campaign told BuzzFeed News: “That’s a lie. It was full and he gave his seat up so a woman could sit down. Others were sat in the aisles too!”

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/marieleconte/virgin-say-corbyn-train-wasnt-full?utm_term=.jdeAEDXZO#.tnzg15R0N

    There's digging a hole, and then there's hiring a fleet of JCBs
    And there is the strange concept of BuzzFeed being involved in news... given that they are just clickbait SJW-types with a very specific agenda.
    Their politics team is very good, imo: Jim Waterson, Emily Ashton, Alan White (disclosure, I know him slightly) & Marie Le Conte.
    They may be - but BuzzFeed is driven by those with a very twisted and narrow world view. Outside of a few fun food and cat videos, they are very, very regressive.
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    AndyJS said:

    In theory train companies should have to refund a certain percentage of the ticket price if a passenger can't find a place to sit. Of course in practice they'd go bankrupt if they had to do so because so many people are in precisely that position on a regular basis.

    Like busses, the regulations allow a certain number of people to stand. I can't remember the figure, though I think I linked it to Mr Tyndall a few months ago.

    I've very rarely had to stand on a surface (non-tube) railway service. Though I don't commute into London or any major connurbation by train, where the problem's at its worst.

    I believe guards are allowed to let people into First Class if the train is overcrowded, and ISTR (nothing firmer than that, I'm afraid), that some operators allow full-fare paying First Class passengers to claim a partial refund in that particular case.
  • DaemonBarber
    DaemonBarber Posts: 1,626
    bigjohnowls said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668

    This is the doctored image
    not a cult, not a cult, not a cult....
  • nunu
    nunu Posts: 6,024
    Tissue_Price said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    ThreeQuidder said:

    https://www.twitter.com/Sean_Kemp/status/768074472175857668

    This is the doctored image
    It really is a cult.
    *puts face in hands and cries* *remembers I don't support Labour* *Smiles*


    (Just for tyson...... :) )
  • NickPalmer
    NickPalmer Posts: 21,724
    Personally I'd rather that EITHER candidate won by a good margin, so whoever it is can get on with being a strong opposition. A narrow result with the leader constantly harassed by the runner-up sounds the worst option.
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    SandyRentool said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    Any train journey away from London, whatever the class, is better than First Class to London...
    Nah - the Eurostar starts there: the gateway to wonderful adventures under the sea and beyond.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    david_herdson said:

    SandyRentool said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Virgin Manchester to Euston, first class, is the best train journey in the country.

    It is the AV of the railway system.

    Any train journey away from London, whatever the class, is better than First Class to London...
    Nah - the Eurostar starts there: the gateway to wonderful adventures under the sea and beyond.
    You mean France and Belgium? Hmmm
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