politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Timing is everything. A review of Theresa May’s speech

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

SimonStClare said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Could this be more transparent? The mission is surely to install Farage as the British Trump.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/19/arron-banks-launches-breitbart-style-site-westmonster

Farage as the British Trump? I don’t see that at all. Strip away the Guardian’s hyperbole on the subject and it looks more like a 3rd rate protest blog site to promote Arron Banks.

There’s very little to see content wise thus far, but we’ll know soon enough.

Their logo is similar to the masonic square and compasses:

Dromedary said:

SimonStClare said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Could this be more transparent? The mission is surely to install Farage as the British Trump.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/19/arron-banks-launches-breitbart-style-site-westmonster

Farage as the British Trump? I don’t see that at all. Strip away the Guardian’s hyperbole on the subject and it looks more like a 3rd rate protest blog site to promote Arron Banks.

There’s very little to see content wise thus far, but we’ll know soon enough.

Their logo is similar to the masonic square and compasses:

You know the Masons were persecuted by the Nazis, right?

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Good

@EdConwaySky: Australian finance minister tells me Australia has already started preliminary talks w/ UK abt a trade deal. “It will be done quickly.” #WEF

With what was announced the other day and now this, tt would appear there is plenty of flexibility to the line ‘no official negotiations can start until 2 years after A50 is activated’.

I do not believe that is the actual rule and, even if it is, how it could ever be enforceable. I believe it is that we cannot conclude deals ahead of actually leaving.

MTimT said:

SimonStClare said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Good

@EdConwaySky: Australian finance minister tells me Australia has already started preliminary talks w/ UK abt a trade deal. “It will be done quickly.” #WEF

With what was announced the other day and now this, tt would appear there is plenty of flexibility to the line ‘no official negotiations can start until 2 years after A50 is activated’.

I do not believe that is the actual rule and, even if it is, how it could ever be enforceable. I believe it is that we cannot conclude deals ahead of actually leaving.

We cannot conclude trade agreements while members of the customs union. I know I'm being a bit theological here, but it seems to me that we might end up with some transitional arrangements in respect of our membership.

Mr. Song, May.

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Dreamy rod

Was TMs speech deliberately timed to create a ripple before the A50 ruling?

SouthamObserver said:

PlatoSaid said:

Spiked
Brendan O'Neill on how Obama got away with it https://t.co/sv9ThEmkUw

Poor old Brendan - struggling to accept that Obama is leaving office with a 60% approval rating and the thanks of most Americans, while Trump enters the White House with a falling approval rating and most Americans opposed to him. Oh well, snowflakes will be snowflakes.

Brendan needs to come out of the closet and tell us that, actually, he just adores Trump. He'd be far happier in himself if he did.

williamglenn said:

MTimT said:

Alastair, thanks for the article. For the most part, I agree. However, I don't see this as an admission of defeat. I, for one, as a leaver have always advocated going into the negotiations saying what our red lines are (control of our own laws - hence no ECJ - and immigration, and no contributions save to programs we opt into) and then asking the EU what they are willing to do on free trade given those red line. So to me, following that approach, which is essentially what May is doing, is not an admission of defeat, but just realism.

There's probably a lot you agree with in this analysis:

https://pro.creditwritedowns.com/2017/01/a-qa-with-prime-economics-jeremy-smith-on-brexit-immigration-and-democracy.html

thanks for the link. You were right.

Mr. G, cheers for that. Let's hope Macron wins

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

MTimT said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Dreamy rod

Dom Dreary

My Dear Rod

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. G, cheers for that. Let's hope Macron wins

It appears to be tightening up Mr Dancer. Could be a very close three horse race for the two spots in the run-off.

SeanT said:

felix said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

TSE, have you been giving Osborne fashion tips? And what the bloody hell is Jamie Oliver doing there?

https://order-order.com/2017/01/19/davos-fashion-report/

Catering contract?

Travel the world a bit and you soon realize that Jamie Oliver is incredibly famous, globally, from Oz to Germany to the Americas. He has his own MAGAZINE in Brazil.

Indeed Brazilians are oddly fond of British culture, in general, as my good friend, the lady Cornish mystery writer S K Tremayne, can attest.

Oh, and greetings from a fiendishly sultry Bangkok.

And thanks to Mister Meeks for a reasonable and interesting Brexit post. I agree with much of it. Seems to me even the most hardened Remoaners are now resigned to Brexit. Apart, perhaps, from our own williamglenn

Sean, it's off-topic, but you might be interested in the following:
http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2017/01/lithium-mining-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-cornwall/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-38667701

SeanT said:

felix said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

TSE, have you been giving Osborne fashion tips? And what the bloody hell is Jamie Oliver doing there?

https://order-order.com/2017/01/19/davos-fashion-report/

Catering contract?

Travel the world a bit and you soon realize that Jamie Oliver is incredibly famous, globally, from Oz to Germany to the Americas. He has his own MAGAZINE in Brazil.

Why though? Is he even that good a cook?

Mr. G, when is the election? April?

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

40 off 16

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. G, when is the election? April?

1st Round 23rd April

2nd Round 7th May

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

The Grand Old Duke of York's staff have clarified his battleplan:

Labour has sought to clarify its position on whether it will impose a three-line whip on any bill allowing the government to trigger article 50. Party sources are now claiming that no final decision has been taken on how the party will whip the vote, although they are not disputing that Jeremy Corbyn wants his MPs to vote in favour.

If Labour does not impose a three-line whip (an instruction to vote a certain way), it could alternatively allow a genuinely free vote or what one might term a “free” vote - one where MPs are technically free to vote as they wish, but encouraged to vote a certain way. It could ask MPs to abstain. Or it could impose a looser, less strict form of whip (a one- or two-line whip), although these are not used for important legislation.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/jan/19/breixt-talks-wil-get-very-nasty-says-former-british-ambassador-to-eu-politics-live

15.59

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Yep.

Nuns anal sprain.

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Nun's anal sprains!

Theuniondivvie said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Yep.

Nuns anal sprain.

Video invite hun

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

Paristonda said:

Macron v Le Pen is the contest France needs to have. The two couldn't be more polar opposites. It will completely jumble up the voting groups.

Well, that's Le Pen's best chance of winning.

It's possible that the French electorate have cyclic preferences, in that the second round results might be:

Fillon --> Le Pen --> Macron --> Fillon

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Theuniondivvie said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Yep.

Nuns anal sprain.

Video invite hun

Hun video invite would make more sense.

I'm always having to turn down invitations from Loyalist pals who want me to come round for a screening of the coronation.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Captain Morgan played a rum innings today.

Maybe he's looking for a similar deal to Wes:
https://twitter.com/Wes5L1nk/status/809382557389377536

TheScreamingEagles said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

As an aside, TSE, how would you fund social care?

I'm wondering whether a social care levy on higher rate earners might make sense.

Another good performance with the bat... but not victory for England

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

As an aside, TSE, how would you fund social care?

I'm wondering whether a social care levy on higher rate earners might make sense.

Additional rate tax payers already contribute enough taxes thank you very much.

I'd hypothecate an increase on the basic rate of tax to fund it, as well as abolishing some pensioner perks/perks for better off purchases, cheerio triple lock for starters.

Mike made a point to spend his winter fuel allowance on the Lib Dems winning Richmond

Tissue_Price said:

Paristonda said:

Macron v Le Pen is the contest France needs to have. The two couldn't be more polar opposites. It will completely jumble up the voting groups.

Well, that's Le Pen's best chance of winning.

It's possible that the French electorate have cyclic preferences, in that the second round results might be:

Fillon --> Le Pen --> Macron --> Fillon

The polls have 65:35 for either Macron or Fillon vs Le Pen.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Theuniondivvie said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Yep.

Nuns anal sprain.

Video invite hun

Hun video invite would make more sense.

I'm always having to turn down invitations from Loyalist pals who want me to come round for a screening of the coronation.

1) Are Sevco fans still called Huns?

2) Why were they called Huns in the first place?

Ooh, now that is a can of worms. Yes, they still are.

Lots of legend and myths, e.g:

'Lots of different stories on how this name came about, but the most likely stems from that a number of Rangers players were able to dodge the war effort in the World Wars due to connections taking roles in the shipyards instead. Critics said that were no better than the "Huns" (slang at the time in the UK media for the Germans and their Axis power counterparts), and the term stuck'

Or:

'In 1912 Harland and Wolff (Belfast) set up a shipyard in Govan. They brought over workers from Belfast who would dominate the yards culture (being charge hands etc). Wolff was German and World War I broke out in 1914 between Germany and Britain and France. If, as was likely, Catholics were discouraged from applying for work in the yards, it is easy to see how the term for Germans was transferred to Govan workers with a German boss who supported their local team Rangers.'

At one point I believe Celtic supporters were called Huns, apparently down to the Easter uprising being supported with guns from Germany and weakening the war effort.

rcs1000 said:

Tissue_Price said:

Paristonda said:

Macron v Le Pen is the contest France needs to have. The two couldn't be more polar opposites. It will completely jumble up the voting groups.

Well, that's Le Pen's best chance of winning.

It's possible that the French electorate have cyclic preferences, in that the second round results might be:

Fillon --> Le Pen --> Macron --> Fillon

The polls have 65:35 for either Macron or Fillon vs Le Pen.

Fair enough. Who do you think she would prefer to face though?

Thinking more about the Surrey Referendum, it looks as though we will have the extraordinary situation of Conservatives campaigning for increased taxes and Liberal Democrats campaigning for lower taxes.

Where will UKIP and Labour be in this ?

Will Surrey Conservatives be campaigning on both sides ?

Will it impact on the County Council elections ?

IF the Referendum succeeds, will we see other authorities following a similar route or will it be blocked in an act of centralisation by central Government ?

stodge said:

Patrick said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

I'll vote against.

Care to explain why ?

An ideological aversion to tax increases or do you think Surrey is a poorly run Council which could provide additional care by cuts in other services ?

A bit of both. I'm not convinced councils focus religiously on core purpose and ruthlessly eliminate waste. Adult learning, arts, and Surrey Climate Change for example are things I feel are over funded. I'd much rather they emptied my bins once a week instead of once a fortnight! I also think social care is vital but should not be the sole burden of the state for moral reasons. When my 80 year old mum gets decrepit I think I have a duty to look after her to a significant extent rather than farming her out to a care home and letting everyone else pay for it. My wife is Chinese and I quite like the Chinese emphasis on family and community. It's how human beings have cared for each other for millenia. Not sure turning everyhting over to the state is actually good for society. And old age loneliness is a real problem. As is inter-generational 'distance'. It would be good for my daughters to help their grandmother and share in her old age. We all seem too busy and selfish to look after our own. It's not good.

stodge said:

Thinking more about the Surrey Referendum, it looks as though we will have the extraordinary situation of Conservatives campaigning for increased taxes and Liberal Democrats campaigning for lower taxes.

Where will UKIP and Labour be in this ?

Will Surrey Conservatives be campaigning on both sides ?

Will it impact on the County Council elections ?

IF the Referendum succeeds, will we see other authorities following a similar route or will it be blocked in an act of centralisation by central Government ?

The Lib Dems will demand another one.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

As an aside, TSE, how would you fund social care?

I'm wondering whether a social care levy on higher rate earners might make sense.

Additional rate tax payers already contribute enough taxes thank you very much.

I'd hypothecate an increase on the basic rate of tax to fund it, as well as abolishing some pensioner perks/perks for better off purchases, cheerio triple lock for starters.

Mike made a point to spend his winter fuel allowance on the Lib Dems winning Richmond

I'd have thought the Lawyers, consultants and high flying accountants whom Brexit will directly and most swiftly benefit paying more would be fair. Increasing the basic rate hurts JAMs relatively more - which doesn't seem exactly fair.

I'm quite a fan of Aussie health style tax supplements for those who can afford it not "opting out" by means of insurance...

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

As an aside, TSE, how would you fund social care?

I'm wondering whether a social care levy on higher rate earners might make sense.

Additional rate tax payers already contribute enough taxes thank you very much.

I'd hypothecate an increase on the basic rate of tax to fund it, as well as abolishing some pensioner perks/perks for better off purchases, cheerio triple lock for starters.

Mike made a point to spend his winter fuel allowance on the Lib Dems winning Richmond

I'd have thought the Lawyers, consultants and high flying accountants whom Brexit will directly and most swiftly benefit paying more would be fair. Increasing the basic rate hurts JAMs relatively more - which doesn't seem exactly fair.

I'm quite a fan of Aussie health style tax supplements for those who can afford it not "opting out" by means of insurance...

Well the JAMs should look at cutting wasteful/unnecessary expenditure.

How about this, abolish the working tax/family credits and give the money to fund social care.

TheScreamingEagles said:

theuniondivvie said:

Ooh, now that is a can of worms. Yes, they still are.

Lots of legend and myths, e.g:

'Lots of different stories on how this name came about, but the most likely stems from that a number of Rangers players were able to dodge the war effort in the World Wars due to connections taking roles in the shipyards instead. Critics said that were no better than the "Huns" (slang at the time in the UK media for the Germans and their Axis power counterparts), and the term stuck'

Or:

'In 1912 Harland and Wolff (Belfast) set up a shipyard in Govan. They brought over workers from Belfast who would dominate the yards culture (being charge hands etc). Wolff was German and World War I broke out in 1914 between Germany and Britain and France. If, as was likely, Catholics were discouraged from applying for work in the yards, it is easy to see how the term for Germans was transferred to Govan workers with a German boss who supported their local team Rangers.'

At one point I believe Celtic supporters were called Huns, apparently down to the Easter uprising being supported with guns from Germany and weakening the war effort.

The version I had heard was the Protestants/Rangers fans had often questioned the loyalty of Catholics/Celtic fans, and when World War I broke the Celtic fans liked to remind Rangers fans were loyal to a Hun Royal family, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Could be, it's certainly stuck. Of course Billy Fullerton on whom the Billy Boys song is based was an enthusiastic BUF Blackshirt, but I think the term the Huns was pretty well established by then.

The Orcs is a recent, amusing development.

Theuniondivvie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

theuniondivvie said:

Ooh, now that is a can of worms. Yes, they still are.

Lots of legend and myths, e.g:

'Lots of different stories on how this name came about, but the most likely stems from that a number of Rangers players were able to dodge the war effort in the World Wars due to connections taking roles in the shipyards instead. Critics said that were no better than the "Huns" (slang at the time in the UK media for the Germans and their Axis power counterparts), and the term stuck'

Or:

'In 1912 Harland and Wolff (Belfast) set up a shipyard in Govan. They brought over workers from Belfast who would dominate the yards culture (being charge hands etc). Wolff was German and World War I broke out in 1914 between Germany and Britain and France. If, as was likely, Catholics were discouraged from applying for work in the yards, it is easy to see how the term for Germans was transferred to Govan workers with a German boss who supported their local team Rangers.'

At one point I believe Celtic supporters were called Huns, apparently down to the Easter uprising being supported with guns from Germany and weakening the war effort.

The version I had heard was the Protestants/Rangers fans had often questioned the loyalty of Catholics/Celtic fans, and when World War I broke the Celtic fans liked to remind Rangers fans were loyal to a Hun Royal family, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Could be, it's certainly stuck. Of course Billy Fullerton on whom the Billy Boys song is based was an enthusiastic BUF Blackshirt, but I think the term the Huns was pretty well established by then.

The Orcs is a recent, amusing development.

My boss, who I've known for nearly seventeen years is a Partrick fan, some of the stuff he told me about the Rangers/Celtic rivalry I thought he was joking, turned out to be true.

The LOTR fan in me likes the origin of the orcs nickname.

Ishmael_Z said:

Off topically why are my tax dollars being wasted on prosecuting in a 5 week trial the already-incarcerated 86 year old vile person Rolf Harris for stuff he allegedly did, similar to the stuff he is in prison for, in the 1970s? I can see the argument that the current batch of alleged victims will feel they have received justice, but can we not have a sense of proportion about this?

This is going to sound tactless and I apologise to the victims, but I haven't got the energy to be nuanced at the moment.

It helps the victims when suing Rolf Harris and make claims against him and his estate.

I know they aren't doing it for the money, the women deserve it, but it makes life easier for the claim if he's been convicted of abusing them.

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

logical_song said:

MTimT said:

logical_song said:

logical_song said:

Dromedary said:

Patrick said:

I note with amusement in a Speccie comments thread that Tim Farron is an anagram of Minor Fart. Seems about right.

Says someone whose chosen name is an anagram of "Crap kit".

Love these anagrams, Guess who is 'Am Hater, Yes"

Or "Prominent Turd Paddles"

Must be Mandelson.

Clue, it will apply from tomorrow for 4 years.

Where's the "J"?

Everyone's a critic.

Snog call go I

Nasal An Rips Nun
I'm sure it could be worse.

Noooo! I thought my name is un-anagrammable!

Annuls pirannas

Jeremy Corbyn confirms he will ask Labour MPs to vote for Theresa May's Brexit http://ind.pn/2k7tL4v

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Mortimer said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

stodge said:

As expected, Surrey County Council are going to hold a referendum on raising Council Tax by 15% to fund adult social care provision:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-38678629

Fascinating to see how this goes. Received wisdom is people don't usually vote for higher taxes.

My friend who works at SCC finance told me last week the Budget setting for 17-18 had proved the most challenging ever and of course it's election year as well.

Interested to hear the comments of Conservatives on this.

The optics of this look bad for the Tories when you consider the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs.

Ditto the Leader of the House, throw in backbench MPs like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.

As an aside, TSE, how would you fund social care?

I'm wondering whether a social care levy on higher rate earners might make sense.

Additional rate tax payers already contribute enough taxes thank you very much.

I'd hypothecate an increase on the basic rate of tax to fund it, as well as abolishing some pensioner perks/perks for better off purchases, cheerio triple lock for starters.

Mike made a point to spend his winter fuel allowance on the Lib Dems winning Richmond

I'd have thought the Lawyers, consultants and high flying accountants whom Brexit will directly and most swiftly benefit paying more would be fair. Increasing the basic rate hurts JAMs relatively more - which doesn't seem exactly fair.

I'm quite a fan of Aussie health style tax supplements for those who can afford it not "opting out" by means of insurance...

Well the JAMs should look at cutting wasteful/unnecessary expenditure.

How about this, abolish the working tax/family credits and give the money to fund social care.

I'm all for punishing the breeders, won't affect me

A fair proposal.

Corbyn's gone with the three line whip, despite knowing that there will be a significant number of rebels. His weak position likely to come home to roost.

Bollocks to Blair T shirt wearers were arrested.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3624668/Wear-an-anti-Blair-jacket...-and-youll-have-your-collar-felt.html

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

theuniondivvie said:

Ooh, now that is a can of worms. Yes, they still are.

Lots of legend and myths, e.g:

'Lots of different stories on how this name came about, but the most likely stems from that a number of Rangers players were able to dodge the war effort in the World Wars due to connections taking roles in the shipyards instead. Critics said that were no better than the "Huns" (slang at the time in the UK media for the Germans and their Axis power counterparts), and the term stuck'

Or:

'In 1912 Harland and Wolff (Belfast) set up a shipyard in Govan. They brought over workers from Belfast who would dominate the yards culture (being charge hands etc). Wolff was German and World War I broke out in 1914 between Germany and Britain and France. If, as was likely, Catholics were discouraged from applying for work in the yards, it is easy to see how the term for Germans was transferred to Govan workers with a German boss who supported their local team Rangers.'

At one point I believe Celtic supporters were called Huns, apparently down to the Easter uprising being supported with guns from Germany and weakening the war effort.

The version I had heard was the Protestants/Rangers fans had often questioned the loyalty of Catholics/Celtic fans, and when World War I broke the Celtic fans liked to remind Rangers fans were loyal to a Hun Royal family, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Could be, it's certainly stuck. Of course Billy Fullerton on whom the Billy Boys song is based was an enthusiastic BUF Blackshirt, but I think the term the Huns was pretty well established by then.

The Orcs is a recent, amusing development.

My boss, who I've known for nearly seventeen years is a Partrick fan, some of the stuff he told me about the Rangers/Celtic rivalry I thought he was joking, turned out to be true.

The LOTR fan in me likes the origin of the orcs nickname.

My understanding was that it was an acronym, the first word being "orange" and it rather falling away from there. I suspect the somewhat misshapen appearance of the Tolkien version was just a bonus