politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Labour’s union plans are about culture as much as cash
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Meanwhile the borrowing figures look better - for last year.
http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/001930.html
Public sector net borrowing in August was £13.2 billion, still very high, but down on the £14.4 billion figure for August 2012. Cumulative figures for the April-August period also suggest borrowing is on the way down: £46.8 billion versus £50.5 billion.
The idea that borrowing was stuck at around £120 billion a year is also challenged by the new figures: the 2012-13 deficit is now put at £115.7 billion, down £2.8 billion on 2011-12.
The figures suggest the public finances are benefiting from stronger activity. In April-August taxes on production (including VAT) were up 3.8% on a year earlier, while taxes on income and wealth were up by 3.3%. Over the same period government current expenditure was up by 2.6%.0 -
F1: time to party like it's 2007:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/24171278
Some say Alonso could go to McLaren, next year.
Edited extra bit: Mr. Slackbladder, indeed. Complaining GTA is violent and in bad taste is somewhat like complaining Metal Gear Solid has too much exposition.0 -
Agreed, there were no flies on Campbell either. But it started with Charlie Whelan.JonathanD said:Fenster said:I'll be buying McBride's book next week. I find the Brown/Blair guerrilla warfare years fascinating. Given that one could barely put a fag paper between Blair and Brown's early political ideologies it is amazing how divided they became. The pursuit of power clouded Brown's mind, judgement and career.
I suspect very few who worked for or against Brown between 1980 and 1997 will deny his quality, or perhaps, his 'greatness'. But his unpreparedness for the job of Prime Minister will forever be his legacy: a clear indication that after 2000 he spent too much of his enormous resources on battling Blair and engaging in paranoid and spiteful insurgencies rather than planning with clarity for the job that would one day inevitably be his.
A Greek tragedy indeed, and McBride's take as an insider will be well worth reading.
As Peter Oborne points out, the poison of spinning was not all with Brown's team
"I was a political reporter throughout the Blair era, and there is no mystery at all why Mr Brown felt that he needed to employ McBride and Whelan.
Gordon Brown employed them because Tony Blair employed Alastair Campbell.
Numerous ministers were targeted by Mr Campbell and his team of Downing Street spin doctors during his time at No 10 from 1997-2003. The viciousness of the briefing – and the willingness to destroy the reputations of decent people who were members of the government – was utterly shocking."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100237005/why-did-gordon-brown-need-damian-mcbride-because-tony-blair-had-alastair-campbell/
From memory - and Rawnsley's "Servants of the People" goes into detail about it - the rot started to set in when Blair's team became concerned, around 1998, about Charlie Whelan, Brown's spin doctor. Whelan was regularly going off-piste and straying dangerously close to trouble and Blair had Campbell shut him down. After that, the paranoia on Brown's side began to gradually rise and the era of consensus between PM and Chancellor started to irrevocably decline.0 -
Mick Twister @twitmericks
There is an old Labourite spinner
Who's owned up to being a sinner.
He smeared & he lied
Yet @DPMcBride
Still couldn't make Gordon a winner.0 -
Good article Henry. But I suspect it wont be Labour's relationship with the unions that'll stop them getting to the promised land.........
It's Ed fiddling while Rome burns......-1 -
I've been fairly consistent in criticising the media on here. In respect to politics, it has been obvious for years that the lobby has been too close to politicians, and that publishing the truth (legal issues aside) is not the main aim of many political journalists.tim said:
Enjoy it while you can.JosiasJessop said:One thing's to be sure:
Poly Toynbee and any other journalists who knew what was going on:
a) Didn't help the Labour Party.
b) Don't deserve to be journalists.
But worse, many journalists have been complicit in ignoring poor behaviour whilst publishing lesser stories about other politicians. It's corruption, plain and simple. It makes all the fine words about protecting sources so much guff.
Clifford made a living out of this, as he readily admitted. Find out a story is about to be published about one individual, and get the editor to spike it by giving another story about someone else. (Mods: hope that's okay to say).
And yes, I daresay there have been Conservatives engaging in such dark arts. Perhaps they are worse than the stories that we all knew were coming out in this book - or perhaps not. The scale of McBride's operation is quite something, especially when you realise there was a counter-operation from the Blairites.
But they were more than just attempts to get one over political rivals. Some of the stories were attempts to destroy the careers of people in their own party.0 -
Guidos pic shows UKIP's line up looking exceedingly white...0
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Actually ultimately this will actually be good for labour in the long run. The boil of fear and loathing at the heart of new labour needed to be lanced, and the poison and puss needs draining.
Quite what the fall out will be, and in short term not good for either Ed, they might have a chance to move on from the Blair/Brown years, and need to do that. If they can do it with either Ed at the helm, then that's another question.
The new young guns like the Reeves and Creasy's etc won't be tainted by this.0 -
I think it is fair to say that the Cameron, Miliband and Clegg leaderships all deserve enormous credit for the way they've eschewed personal smears and briefings. I'm sure that they all have spin doctors working away at attack lines, but neither leader seems to want to engage in street-fighting, tribal politics the way Brown's team did. I'd argue that the Cameron and Miliband have turned their back on underhand communication-management (witness the way Campbell would reward 'on-message' journalists and turn his back on others, till they came on side), and rightly so, but at their own expense.JosiasJessop said:
I've been fairly consistent in criticising the media on here. In respect to politics, it has been obvious for years that the lobby has been too close to politicians, and that publishing the truth (legal issues aside) is not the main aim of many political journalists.tim said:
Enjoy it while you can.JosiasJessop said:One thing's to be sure:
Poly Toynbee and any other journalists who knew what was going on:
a) Didn't help the Labour Party.
b) Don't deserve to be journalists.
But worse, many journalists have been complicit in ignoring poor behaviour whilst publishing lesser stories about other politicians. It's corruption, plain and simple. It makes all the fine words about protecting sources so much guff.
Clifford made a living out of this, as he readily admitted. Find out a story is about to be published about one individual, and get the editor to spike it by giving another story about someone else. (Mods: hope that's okay to say).
And yes, I daresay there have been Conservatives engaging in such dark arts. Perhaps they are worse than the stories that we all knew were coming out in this book - or perhaps not. The scale of McBride's operation is quite something, especially when you realise there was a counter-operation from the Blairites.
But they were more than just attempts to get one over political rivals. Some of the stories were attempts to destroy the careers of people in their own party.
Makes for less interesting bloodsport politics than it did under the Brown days though. I detested him, but miss him. He was a fascinating politician.0 -
Iain Dale's long account of how he came to publish the book concludes with this:
"Royalties from sales of the book will be split between Damian McBride’s current employers, CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), and the appeal by his former employers, Finchley Catholic High School, to build a new sixth form centre."
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2013/09/20/damian-mcbride-me-and-his-brilliant-book
Those who don't wish to line Damian McBride's pockets but who want to read the book may buy it with a clean conscience.0 -
That's a fair point. The degree to which New Labour corrupted and hollowed out first the Labour Party itself, then the political establishment, and then the nomenklatura, and even parts of the police and the charity sector, is still something which I don't think has fully been appreciated. Iraq and David Kelly were of course the most dramatic examples, but the whole of the New Labour years were just spin over substance, headlines over sensible policy, vilifying opponents as the principal tool of politics..JonathanD said:As Peter Oborne points out, the poison of spinning was not all with Brown's team
"I was a political reporter throughout the Blair era, and there is no mystery at all why Mr Brown felt that he needed to employ McBride and Whelan.
Gordon Brown employed them because Tony Blair employed Alastair Campbell.
I'd like to be able to say 'Never again', but I don't think we're rid of it yet.0 -
UKIP The Party for white people..has a certain ring to it..0
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One for TSE:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/i-am-utterly-pathetic-says-nagging-voice-in-iphone-queuers-head-2013092079652
“I am such a pathetic dupe, queueing like some Dickensian orphan for my dollop of corporate techno-gruel.
“If only I had a bit more self-esteem I might be able to resist the marketing.”0 -
Depends if you think these so called "charities" are a good cause or now. Ask the former boys from St Augustines if they want more kids going to a cult school.antifrank said:Iain Dale's long account of how he came to publish the book concludes with this:
"Royalties from sales of the book will be split between Damian McBride’s current employers, CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), and the appeal by his former employers, Finchley Catholic High School, to build a new sixth form centre."
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2013/09/20/damian-mcbride-me-and-his-brilliant-book
Those who don't wish to line Damian McBride's pockets but who want to read the book may buy it with a clean conscience.0 -
My choice in footwear shows I have high self esteemAnorak said:One for TSE:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/i-am-utterly-pathetic-says-nagging-voice-in-iphone-queuers-head-2013092079652
“I am such a pathetic dupe, queueing like some Dickensian orphan for my dollop of corporate techno-gruel.
“If only I had a bit more self-esteem I might be able to resist the marketing.”
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King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.0
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That's one hell of a first post.Stockie said:King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.
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There's absolutely nothing on the wires [how old fashioned is that?!] so I'll be rather impressed should it turn out to be true.antifrank said:
That's one hell of a first post.Stockie said:King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.
Where's the betting angle?0 -
Welcome to PB, although I fear what your second post might be. After all, you'll have to try to beat that first one.Stockie said:King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.
How about: "Queen of England to marry a burqa-clad Martian in ceremony officiated by a Moonie."
And again, welcome.0 -
Southam's our Spanish expert.Anorak said:
There's absolutely nothing on the wires [how old fashioned is that?!] so I'll be rather impressed should it turn out to be true.antifrank said:
That's one hell of a first post.Stockie said:King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.
Where's the betting angle?
We need his thoughts.
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On another note, the VC-10 is being retired from RAF service today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24165590
I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.0 -
Off-topic (but good article Our 'Enry):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24174586
Surely it is time to rethink our law-enforcement agencies? The various armed-wings of t'Labour Party are no-longer worthy of any respect....0 -
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Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
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Dougie knifted the poor Wendy!0
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Mr. Stockie, welcome to pb.com.
Quite a first post, as others have said!0 -
F1: P1 is underway in Singapore. An interesting piece I read the other day (http://wheels.morethanafan.net/2013/09/16055/setup-guide-singapore-gp-marina-bay/) suggests that times from today should be effectively discounted as qualifying and the race will have a significant fuel effect.
This is because the race is practically at sea level, increasing the weight of the fuel. Also, the pit stop will take a long 29s, so being kind to the tyres (supersoft and medium) could pay a big dividend.0 -
I'd like to be able to say 'Never again', but I don't think we're rid of it yet.
What McBride's account reveals is the list of priorities of the protagonists.
Getting a decent deal for the voter seems to come nowhere.0 -
Guido – “McPoison is finally admitting what we knew all along, for cash. Polly Toynbee has just been on the Today programme admitting that she knew what was happening as well.”
Brings a whole new meaning to Polly’s appeal to ‘hold your nose and vote for Gordon’ – Coupled with her support for the utterly discredited Johann Hari, we should have expected no less – The woman is morally bankrupt.
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Possibly my favourite typoAndreaParma_82 said:Dougie knifted the poor Wendy!
We know he knifed her, but I quite like the suggestion he also knitted her0 -
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
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@tim - No, I think the Labour Party should take responsibility for nearly two decades of corrupting civic society, something unprecedented in the UK. If it was just one spin doctor getting over-enthusiastic, that would be forgivable, but it wasn't: it was systematic, ruthless, and completely intentional, involving the whole of the New Labour leadership as well as the backroom spinners and smearers. It was so pervasive that it also infested the police, the NHS, charities, quangos and the civil service. The whole disaster was based on two things: vilifying opponents, and judging favourable headlines as the entire objective of not only government, but also civic administration.0
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Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.0
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Feeble - no reference to Cameron, on a bed, in bare feet, red box.Stockie said:King Juan Carlos of Spain to announce abdication at 4 pm today Spanish time. You heard it here first.
Must try harder!
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Sad yes, but you'll still vote for them.SouthamObserver said:Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.
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No such thing as a free lunch...NickPalmer said:Wildly O/T: a constituent has urged investment in what appears to be a company aiming to create a sort of secondary market in government solar panel subsidies. I don't have any money to invest, but I'm curious all the same, and there are others here who know more about bonds than me. Would they think this a good proposition?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-2423718/A-Shade-Greener-woos-investors-18-upfront-rate-year-retail-bond.html0 -
I'm pretty sure there's evidence of people in rear-facing seats suffering far fewer and less serious injuries in train crashes - though the difference will be much reduced when you are wearing a seat belt.Richard_Tyndall said:
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
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If Ed Balls is in place I won't. I need to see concrete evidence of change. It probably means I won't vote at all.Alanbrooke said:
Sad yes, but you'll still vote for them.SouthamObserver said:Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.
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In my distant and rather fuzzy memory, I seem to recall a study by BR saying that motion sickness was greater in rear-facing seats on trains, for some reason, and even (especially?) if seated near a window. If my memory's correct, then perhaps the effect is worse on planes?Richard_Tyndall said:
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
(A pure guess: perhaps our brains have evolved to react to us moving forwards, and can process us going towards things more easily than going away from them. Unless early man was taken to running backwards).0 -
You should, civic duty and all that, at least spoil your paper as a protest. I won't vote blue as long as Osborne is CoE so I'll simply look for what embarsasses the local MP the most.SouthamObserver said:
If Ed Balls is in place I won't. I need to see concrete evidence of change. It probably means I won't vote at all.Alanbrooke said:
Sad yes, but you'll still vote for them.SouthamObserver said:Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.
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*** Betting Post ***
The German election is looking like an interesting punt. The odds on a grand coalition (CDU/CSU + SDP) have been shortening rapidly. A couple of nights ago I got on at 2.75 and 3.1. Those odds are no longer available, but the bookies still disagree quite sharply:
CDU/CSU+FDP: 2.25 Paddy, 1.8 Ladbrokes, 1.5 Unibet
CDU/CSU+SDP: 1.57 Paddy, 2.25 Ladbrokes, 2.0 Unibet
An arb is tempting but not without risk, as other odd combinations such as CDU/CSU+Greens can't be ruled out (this being PR, it's all about haggling in smoke-free rooms after the election).0 -
Not really difficult to see why.OblitusSumMe said:
I'm pretty sure there's evidence of people in rear-facing seats suffering far fewer and less serious injuries in train crashes - though the difference will be much reduced when you are wearing a seat belt.Richard_Tyndall said:
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
Forward facing in a crash: All the force of the deceleration is transmitted through the belt. On a plane, this is going to cause serious trauma to your stomach and pelvis. Smashing into the seat in front or the steering wheel makes matter worse still. 5kg of head and neck are not restrained and whiplash or a severed spine can be the outcome.
Rearward facing seat: The force of the deceleration is transmitted through the seat, supporting your head and whole back. On a train, the only risk of a flattened nose comes from someone sitting opposite you.
Given the focus on aircraft safety, I'm surprised that *not one* aviation authority has made this a requirement for civil aircraft. You get airsick? Don't look out of the window!0 -
We have rear facing seats in some Scania crewcab versions. It's a grim experience on a bluelight call, if you're unfortunate enough to have be the bloke facing the wrong way!JosiasJessop said:
In my distant and rather fuzzy memory, I seem to recall a study by BR saying that motion sickness was greater in rear-facing seats on trains, for some reason, and even (especially?) if seated near a window. If my memory's correct, then perhaps the effect is worse on planes?Richard_Tyndall said:
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
(A pure guess: perhaps our brains have evolved to react to us moving forwards, and can process us going towards things more easily than going away from them. Unless early man was taken to running backwards).
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Re: McBride a few points
1. The Telegraph's links to McBride and Labour were very extensive, that was why they rejected Guido Fawkes first offer with the inside scoop on McBride's antics years ago.
2. On this website (polbetting) we have no regular smear merchant for the Lib Dems and none for the Conservatives nor for the Greens nor for UKIP. Yet in "tim" we have a regular smear merchant for Labour just like McBride was. Is there something in Labour's drinking water?
3. The way that the Guardian hacks behaved went beyond holding their nose.
4. The revelations about what McBride did whilst he was a civil servant and not a spad, does invite the question as to why his conduct "in office" is not brought up and investigated by the Head of the Civil service. Ideally a public enquiry led by a Judge!. We the tax payers funded a partisan person from our taxes who must have broken a number of civil service codes - where is the justice for us?
Finally (in a told you so voice) I did post many times on here that McBride's book would be very important. Oh deep joy.0 -
For NickP on the bonds.
These look no better and no worse than other small retail corporate bonds.
The thing to remember is that, whenever they pay the interest, they will hold onto the total amount until the date of redemption.
So if you invest £1000, they may give you £180 back straight away (rather than £60 a year), but you will have to wait for three years to get the £1000 back, which will depend on the company being able to pay it.
As these bonds are not tradeable, as I understand it, there is no chance of selling at a profit during the three year period, and no chance of selling at a loss part way through to minimise the damage if the company looks like going bust or you need to get your hands on the money.
You're safer taking 3% to 5% per annum from a large multinational traded corporate bond, but the 6% rate here might be attractive if you're happy with the risk that the company may not be able to pay it back.0 -
I take it you'll be singing "Our fathers knew thee Rome of old, and evil is thy fame."TGOHF said:Forgive me father but I am being brave and confessing my sins.
It's all for charidee of course - you know sending money to teach wee africans to worship the church - you know the one with the huge gold plated palace in Italy filled with treasures worth more than the GDP of africa. I am confessing and saying 3 hail Tonys - can I go to heaven now ?
Puke.0 -
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Don;t forget mass immigration
And there was that mischievous almost sixth-form mentality about the labour government as typified by Liam Byrne's final 'there's no money left' note.
Oooh, we've just sold a bucket of the nation's gold at rock bottom prices.......pfft!! yikes!!!!
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F1: brief extra thought on Alonso to McLaren in 2014. If the Mercedes engine is 100bhp, or anything like it, better than rivals than that could be a critical advantage for him. And if he plans on going there in 2015 anyway, maybe it would make sense to just go sooner rather than later and enjoy that one-off advantage for a season (McLaren shift to Honda engines in 2015).0
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Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?0 -
The thing that really bugs me about the Blair/Brown spat is that Blair had a stonking majority, the country was full of hope, the economy wasn't bad (Brown had abolished bust, after all), and New Labour could really have been a game changer, built a significantly better nation. Turns out, they were too busy trying to feck each other over, too busy building empires, to take the big, bold decisions.
What a wasted opportunity.0 -
either you'd have a guide listing them and phone ahead or use a tourist office.OblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?0 -
That's wildly unfair...... on McBriderichardDodd said:tim ... PB's very own version of McBride...
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How did one do ANYTHING before the internet?OblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?
The answer to your specific question is that you bought or borrowed a book listing B+Bs.0 -
The phone book, from memory. Also ads in papers.OblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?
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Local tourism boards/officesOblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?
Advertising in Magazines
Yellow Pages
I mean, it did happen.0 -
I remember 'Dizzy thinks' doing a back-of-the-envelope sum that if New Labour had cut taxes, instead of increasing government spending, they could have eliminated income tax.TwistedFireStopper said:The thing that really bugs me about the Blair/Brown spat is that Blair had a stonking majority, the country was full of hope, the economy wasn't bad (Brown had abolished bust, after all), and New Labour could really have been a game changer, built a significantly better nation. Turns out, they were too busy trying to feck each other over, too busy building empires, to take the big, bold decisions.
What a wasted opportunity.
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I think I'll buy Mcbride's book. It sounds like a modern version of the Twelve Caesars.0
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In my case, I'd just get a travel guide, and 'phone round.OblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?
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On facing backwards and seat belts, the story of the HANS device is very interesting. It stops the head/helmet shooting forward and chopping through the spinal cord in a crash.
It mandatory in almost all four-wheel racing now. NASCAR was one of the last to include this rule, which game in following the death of Dale Earnhardt. Indy 500 winner Earnhardt had previously referred to the device as "that damn noose". The "noose" would almost certainly have saved him, as it would have saved Ayrton Senna.0 -
This is why we got a rear facing child seat for our toddler...Anorak said:
Not really difficult to see why.OblitusSumMe said:
I'm pretty sure there's evidence of people in rear-facing seats suffering far fewer and less serious injuries in train crashes - though the difference will be much reduced when you are wearing a seat belt.Richard_Tyndall said:
I much prefer rear facing seats and always try to choose them when we are on choppers. They are also, apparently much safer in a ditching or crash. I know there was a suggestion a few decades ago that passenger aircraft should have rear facing seats but it was thought passengers wouldn't like it.FluffyThoughts said:
Noisy. Had rear-facing seats when I flew on them. [They also cured me of travel-sickness. Wierd....]JosiasJessop said:I never flew on one, but they were nice planes.
Forward facing in a crash: All the force of the deceleration is transmitted through the belt. On a plane, this is going to cause serious trauma to your stomach and pelvis. Smashing into the seat in front or the steering wheel makes matter worse still. 5kg of head and neck are not restrained and whiplash or a severed spine can be the outcome.
Rearward facing seat: The force of the deceleration is transmitted through the seat, supporting your head and whole back. On a train, the only risk of a flattened nose comes from someone sitting opposite you.
Given the focus on aircraft safety, I'm surprised that *not one* aviation authority has made this a requirement for civil aircraft. You get airsick? Don't look out of the window!
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Anecdote - mrs scrap has got the telly on with Farage speech on mute.
Just come in to say he looks really odd when talking his chin/neck keeps lurching forward every few seconds.
Not quite a king abdicating but damn important info I'm sure you agree..... keeping my standards as per normal.0 -
To a certain extent, then yes. – However, there were also plenty of guide books and publications available at the time, including the AA, RAC and various agencies that would rate B&Bs with ‘star’ ratings. – And of course the telephone had been invented back then…!OblitusSumMe said:Genuine question: How did people find a bed and breakfast before the internet?
Would you just turn up somewhere and look around until you found one?0 -
then why did you oppose gay marriage?
(fao: N Farage, currently re-defining UKIP)0 -
Today's Populus Lab 39 Con 33 LD 11 UKIP 90
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Anecdote Alert...
Here at work we have bbc news24 on mute on TVs dotted about the place (feck know why)
Farage looks quite hot and sweaty - not good.0 -
I have to say that Southam Observer's comments today are a welcome antidote to Tim's attempt to ignore the main story of the day. It proves that not all on the left lack a segment of principle.
I remain deeply sceptical about the timing of today's revelations - especialy if Ed Miliband pretends he knew nothing and is the new broom to sweep clean.0 -
very boring Farage speech, btw.
We get it. You don't like Europe. Great. We're thrilled.
What about health, education, the railways, god give the euro thing a rest.
heading easilly <5% at GE2015. Perhaps 3%.0 -
Populus @PopulusPolls
New Populus Voting Intention figures: Lab 39 (-1); Cons 33 (=); LD 11 (=); UKIP 9 (=); Oth 8 (+2) Tables popu.lu/s_vi2009130 -
tim said:MarkSenior said:
Today's Populus Lab 39 Con 33 LD 11 UKIP 9
Labour on 39 in todays YouGov too before the strange weighting adjustment for the second day running
Ah I see YouGov has a 'strange' weighting adjustment. What a 'strange' world you must live in!
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Labour.. still soaring away.. a full 6 points... amazing achievement0
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ah missed that bit, picked it up mid-euro/immigration rant. Which he is still on...tim said:TOPPING said:very boring Farage speech, btw.
We get it. You don't like Europe. Great. We're thrilled.
What about health, education, the railways, god give the euro thing a rest.
heading easilly <5% at GE2015. Perhaps 3%.</p>
To be fair he talked about Grammar Schools, meat and drink to the older 90% of the Tory Party
Michael Savage @michaelsavage 16m
Significant that Farage is flagging up new grammar schools campaign - more destabilising for Tories. See this: http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/only-more-grammars-can-offer-parents-real-choice-8827013.html …
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...and on...0
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To be fair today's Yougov weighting adjustment was rather more justified than yesterday's but still looks to me to be about twice the amount justified by the past vote and party ID figures .tim said:MarkSenior said:Today's Populus Lab 39 Con 33 LD 11 UKIP 9
Labour on 39 in todays YouGov too before the strange weighting adjustment for the second day running0 -
Did he say that 92% of crime in London was committed by Romanians?
Aren't 10% of court cases for non-payment of the TV license?
Does this mean that the majority of crime in London is committed by Romanian non-license fee payers?0 -
I'm not sure it would have saved Senna. Senna was not killed by a basilar skull fracture, but by a piece of suspension puncturing his helmet's visor. If anything, his helmet was forced back, not forwards. A pure fluke.Anorak said:On facing backwards and seat belts, the story of the HANS device is very interesting. It stops the head/helmet shooting forward and chopping through the spinal cord in a crash.
It mandatory in almost all four-wheel racing now. NASCAR was one of the last to include this rule, which game in following the death of Dale Earnhardt. Indy 500 winner Earnhardt had previously referred to the device as "that damn noose". The "noose" would almost certainly have saved him, as it would have saved Ayrton Senna.
However, the sadly much-forgotten Roland Ratzenberger, who died the day before, did die of a spinal fracture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Ratzenberger
Prof Watkins implemented another safety device in F1 at about the same time. Several drivers in other formulae had been seriously injured whilst being extracted out from their cars after spinal injuries. Initially he specified two boards, one that could be slid under the driver, and one along the back. These could then be secured together so that the driver could be slipped out without their back moving. This was a stop-gap until the teams could alter the cars to allow removable seats.
Another rather simple regulation was a unified tool and system between all teams for removing the harness (seatbelt). This was apparently after a rather embarrassing incident in testing, involving a knife and an uninjured driver. At least uninjured until they tried to cut the harness ...0 -
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Have YouGov given any explanation as to why they've made the changes?tim said:@SeanT
It's worse than you think, the conspiracy has continued under the Tories too
Net migration to the UK increased in the year ending December 2012, the Office for National Statistics says.
Not only did Labour bring in immigrants to upset the Tories, they hypnotised the Tories into bringing in immigrants to upset themselves.0 -
92% of ATM crime.TOPPING said:Did he say that 92% of crime in London was committed by Romanians?
Aren't 10% of court cases for non-payment of the TV license?
Does this mean that the majority of crime in London is committed by Romanian non-license fee payers?
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If AfD make it to over 5% that would set quite a precedent in Germany. There is no eurosceptic consensus in Germany so in 2017 the CDU could face their own UKIP problem like the Tories.0
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SouthamObserver that is to your credit. I will pay more attention to your views in future.SouthamObserver said:
If Ed Balls is in place I won't. I need to see concrete evidence of change. It probably means I won't vote at all.Alanbrooke said:
Sad yes, but you'll still vote for them.SouthamObserver said:Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.
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Has Nigel Farage explained how his campaigning for a Miliband/Balls government will help achieve any of his aims?0
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So basically the entire political and media class knew what the goblins were up to but kept it to themselves?0
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The significance of this Yougov is that the 1 point lead makes the 0 point lead survey far less of an outlier.
Apparently McBride's book tries to be loyal to Balls but spills the beans on the rest, I just wonder if Balls denying (at the time of the resignation) that he knew McBride well, is undermined by the book's contents?0 -
He's campaigning for UKIP, not Labour. Do keep up!RichardNabavi said:Has Nigel Farage explained how his campaigning for a Miliband/Balls government will help achieve any of his aims?
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Are Labour or Libs?tim said:David Jones @DavidJo52951945
Farage- challenges LabLibCon to close doors to Romanian and Bulgaria but they will do nothing
Are the Tories going to tell these xenophobic scum to f*ck off?0 -
I think he wants small-c conservative Tory voters to switch parties.RichardNabavi said:Has Nigel Farage explained how his campaigning for a Miliband/Balls government will help achieve any of his aims?
Just a guess though.0 -
tim again proving that lefties aren't obsessed with race - lol.0
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I share many of your reservations. I do think a centre-left Liberal Democrat Party could have had a positive impact on Labour. Having now been taken over by Clegg and a few uber-Liberals that all looks pretty unlikely. Balls is a problem but he does have his strengths. No-one would deny he is knowledgeable on economic matters as he showed in the leadership election. Unless he was swapped for his wife there simply isn't an obvious replacement for him though. It's all a great shame as the last 20 years presented a great opportunity for non-Conservative forces to really re-shape this country. For all sorts of reasons so much of it was flunked.SouthamObserver said:Not much to say really except for anyone on the centre left this is a very depressing day. Labour is unfit to govern while people like Ed Balls hold positions of power in the party. He needs to go away, but he won't. Over time, if EdM's reforms get through, Labour will become more democratic, the membership will become more powerful and it will be harder for dysfunctional morons like Gordon Brown to manipulate things to their advantage. But that time has not come yet. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Tories for a few more years. I very much hope that EdM does get his reforms through so that Labour can start to build something that is relevant for the 21st century and which recognises the realities of today's Britain and its place in the globalised economy. That party does not yet exist. All very sad.
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Sadiq Khan hints that he could for run London Mayor http://bit.ly/17OqsjH
Tipped by Henry G Manson when he was at 33/1 on Politicalbetting in Mar http://bit.ly/YK5zyw0 -
There doesn't seem to be much evidence that they're fishing in the same pool as the CDU. It's the FDP who need to worry about them.MaxPB said:If AfD make it to over 5% that would set quite a precedent in Germany. There is no eurosceptic consensus in Germany so in 2017 the CDU could face their own UKIP problem like the Tories.
PS. Since we went and used the word "eurosceptic" for people who are sceptical about the EU, we're now stuck for a name for people who are sceptical about the Euro. I'm not sure what to do about it, but using the same word for both is causing all kinds of confusion.0 -
So somebody from Tower Hamlets will get the nomination ?tim said:MikeSmithson said:Sadiq Khan hints that he could for run London Mayor http://bit.ly/17OqsjH
Tipped by Henry G Manson when he was at 33/1 on Politicalbetting in Mar http://bit.ly/YK5zyw
That was a great tip whatever happens
Ed has proposed that, for the next London Mayoral election, Labour will use a “primary” to
select our candidate. Any Londoner should be eligible to vote in that selection provided they
have registered as a supporter of the Labour Party at any time up to the ballot. This draws
on experience in other countries, which have seen an enormous outreach to new supporters
in the course of a primary process.
Thats from the Collins review.
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Wow! That would be some tip if that came off. Almost on a par with your Barack Obama tip, Mike.MikeSmithson said:Sadiq Khan hints that he could for run London Mayor http://bit.ly/17OqsjH
Tipped by Henry G Manson when he was at 33/1 on Politicalbetting in Mar http://bit.ly/YK5zyw
Have people on here ever heard about that one?
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Picking him is to prevent that.TGOHF said:
So somebody from Tower Hamlets will get the nomination ?tim said:MikeSmithson said:Sadiq Khan hints that he could for run London Mayor http://bit.ly/17OqsjH
Tipped by Henry G Manson when he was at 33/1 on Politicalbetting in Mar http://bit.ly/YK5zyw
That was a great tip whatever happens
Ed has proposed that, for the next London Mayoral election, Labour will use a “primary” to
select our candidate. Any Londoner should be eligible to vote in that selection provided they
have registered as a supporter of the Labour Party at any time up to the ballot. This draws
on experience in other countries, which have seen an enormous outreach to new supporters
in the course of a primary process.
Thats from the Collins review.0 -
"Nigel Farage
I've no doubt by 2015 they'll all be offering a referendum but I don't believe they're sincere. Let's make May 22nd that referendum"
twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/3810167375061442560 -
Tim is so desperate today - his instructions are clear DON'T MENTION MACBRIDE DON'T MENTION MACBRIDE DON'T MENTION DON'T DON'T MAC MAC BRIDE BRIDE.........................0
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Nick: 2 words of warning. Investors in such bonds are not protected under the FCA Compensation scheme (which is not the case if you invest in a 2 year bond with the Nationwide) and you can lose all your money. There's a reason why the interest is high and paid up front. And that's because it is a riskier investment. So if your friend doesn't want to take that level of risk, he/she shouldn't invest.NickPalmer said:Wildly O/T: a constituent has urged investment in what appears to be a company aiming to create a sort of secondary market in government solar panel subsidies. I don't have any money to invest, but I'm curious all the same, and there are others here who know more about bonds than me. Would they think this a good proposition?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-2423718/A-Shade-Greener-woos-investors-18-upfront-rate-year-retail-bond.html
Do your own due diligence / this is not financial advice etc etc......
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The Collins report says it will be a primary - you suggesting that the Collins report is of Andrex quality ?MrJones said:
Picking him is to prevent that.TGOHF said:
So somebody from Tower Hamlets will get the nomination ?tim said:MikeSmithson said:Sadiq Khan hints that he could for run London Mayor http://bit.ly/17OqsjH
Tipped by Henry G Manson when he was at 33/1 on Politicalbetting in Mar http://bit.ly/YK5zyw
That was a great tip whatever happens
Ed has proposed that, for the next London Mayoral election, Labour will use a “primary” to
select our candidate. Any Londoner should be eligible to vote in that selection provided they
have registered as a supporter of the Labour Party at any time up to the ballot. This draws
on experience in other countries, which have seen an enormous outreach to new supporters
in the course of a primary process.
Thats from the Collins review.0 -
CCHQ Press Office @RicHolden 2m
PA: "Labour leader Ed Miliband knew about the activities of disgraced former spin doctor Damian McBride, Dame Tessa Jowell has claimed."
Time to grab popcorn...0 -
When they say "The Right" they don't just mean Tories they mean everyone who isn't 100% politically correct.SeanT said:
Don't forget the mass immigration engineered "just to rub the noses of the Right in diversity". That claim doesn't seem so absurd now. In fact it seems perfectly believable. Labour let 3m immigrants into Britain, solely to upset the ToriesRichardNabavi said:@tim - No, I think the Labour Party should take responsibility for nearly two decades of corrupting civic society, something unprecedented in the UK. If it was just one spin doctor getting over-enthusiastic, that would be forgivable, but it wasn't: it was systematic, ruthless, and completely intentional, involving the whole of the New Labour leadership as well as the backroom spinners and smearers. It was so pervasive that it also infested the police, the NHS, charities, quangos and the civil service. The whole disaster was based on two things: vilifying opponents, and judging favourable headlines as the entire objective of not only government, but also civic administration.
Oooh, I feel a blog comin' on.
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