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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Why a progressive alliance in Stoke Central might be doomed

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  • Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    edited February 2017
    Mr Divvie

    That is a DRY paper bag. I thought it had to be wet to define uselessness?
  • GeoffM said:

    A welcome endorsement from 'I'm not a racist' Farage for 'I'm not a racist' Sessions.

    https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/829644260488183808

    Thank you for retweeting that, "I'm not a racist" Theuniondivie
    That's okay, 'wee, plastic gun nut' Geoff.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,855

    O/T Apart from a wobble over her Conference speech, Amber Rudd is proving to be rather effective as one of the most senior members of the government. This will surprise some people, but I've long rated her.

    The wobble about something she didn't say, compiling and publishing a list of migrants working in the UK, rather than what she did say, which was that a company's demographic data might be published, as is done in all sorts of other countries including many very liberal places.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    GeoffM said:

    A welcome endorsement from 'I'm not a racist' Farage for 'I'm not a racist' Sessions.

    https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/829644260488183808

    Thank you for retweeting that, "I'm not a racist" Theuniondivie
    That's okay, 'wee, plastic gun nut' Geoff.
    I don't understand 'plastic'.
  • glw said:

    O/T Apart from a wobble over her Conference speech, Amber Rudd is proving to be rather effective as one of the most senior members of the government. This will surprise some people, but I've long rated her.

    The wobble about something she didn't say, compiling and publishing a list of migrants working in the UK, rather than what she did say, which was that a company's demographic data might be published, as is done in all sorts of other countries including many very liberal places.
    I agree, but her choice of words was poor. It was a self-inflicted wound.
  • Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.
  • Mr Divvie

    That is a DRY paper bag. I thought it had to be wet to define uselessness?

    I guess Corbyn's PMQ performance yesterday promoted it to dry.
  • Report from Stoke:

    But Nuttall’s lack of local standing isn’t his biggest challenge. After speaking to locals and activists from the main parties, I think it will probably be a low turnout that delivers a Labour win, if an uninspiring one. While many I speak to are wavering between Labour and Ukip – one 22-year-old office worker calls Labour “the lesser of two evils”, which sums up the tone – a lot seem to have switched off from the contest altogether. There is talk of “election fatigue” among Ukippers, and rainy and cold door-knocking days haven’t helped matters.

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/02/will-labour-win-stoke-road-potteries
  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732
    edited February 2017


    Sales taxes set at non-national level are common worldwide.

    Indeed they are but that does not mean that they are either a good way to do things or even the best way - just that they are common.

    VAT is also messy and contains plenty of exemptions and paperwork. But introducing an element of localisation to the tax offers much more flexibility for local Government.

    VAT is an absolute diddle in comparison. Having worked with both systems VAT is way, way easier and it has one other advantage as well - for consumers, the upfront price is what you pay because it includes the tax. In the US all prices are shown as tax exempt because the tax you pay depends on location. I cannot see UK shoppers happily adapting to a system where they buy something priced at £10 and then have to dig out an addition 76p for local tax when they get to the checkout.

    If you really want to shake up the UK tax system then make it honest. Rename "National Insurance" as "Pension tax" and combine 'EEs and 'ERs together so that people really get to see the tax they pay and abolish this nonsense that paying NI goes toward your future pension.

    Isn't the US system just down to cost saving by retailers? Wouldn't be too difficult (but not without some effort) for stores to include taxes in their prices, especially for smaller stores that only operate in one area. Anyway, I suspect Casino_Royale wasn't looking at it from the punter down the supermarket perspective.
  • Good news. Rapist scum lose an appeal against their deportation:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909352
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    PlatoSaid said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    Jobabob said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Gorsuch is not a fan of Trump's attacks on the judiciary. It will not affect his supreme court judgements.

    I doubt you find any judge who is a fan of presidential abuse about judges.
    Obama was very rude a few years back - but the media loved him so didn't apply the same test.


    Obama Criticizes Supreme Court in State of the Union Address


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDiHX50zT4

    Criticising judgments and courts is very different to criticising judges as individuals.

    Plato is a spoof poster - I finally realised this a week or two ago. Either laugh or ignore!
    She isn't a spoof at all, Plato has been posting here for a decade or more.

    She's gone out of her way to give this place an insight into what's going on in US politics right now, and we can either choose to listen and try to understand a different point of view, or ignore and choose not to be informed.
    While that's true, she is - as is ScottP, and a few others - also guilty of just reposting tonnes of stuff from Twitter. I'd like to keep the Plato comments, but skip the links.
    You aren't perfect either and rubbish stuff you don't like - I refrain from criticising you because of the uber ban hammer power you have. I doubt I'm alone.
    Robert isn't the particular BanHammerMeister that you need to keep a weather eye on.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,855

    All the talk about the health service is how quckly treatment is provided.

    Surely the emphasis should be on how well that treatment is provided?

    Of course measuring 'how well' takes more effort than measuring 'how quickly', so the media only talk about 'how quickly'.

    The whole way we talk about the NHS is effed up. It's all about the number of hospitals, beds, doctors, nurses, operations, and how much we spend. How healthy we are — you know the actual point of a National Health Service — gets much less attention than it should.
  • BudGBudG Posts: 711

    BudG said:

    A bit worrying for Macron backers. For the second day in a row Macron has dropped one point. Now only leads Fillon by just one point in this rolling poll.

    http://opinionlab.opinion-way.com/opinionlab/832/627/presitrack.html

    I did suggest to punters on here yesterday that they took up the 5.4 on offer on BF for Fillon. Drifted down to 4.7 today.

    As ever DYOR.
    Could well turn out to be a very astute tip, IF he lasts the course, especially if the charges against him are dismissed and he can play the victim card. The worrying aspect of him reaching the run-off is that it is likely to give Le Pen her best chance of becoming President, poll yesterday showing a relatively narrow victory for him 56-44.

    Interestng article I read this morning along those lines..

    http://www.cityam.com/258677/scandal-hit-francois-fillon-could-gift-marine-le-pen-french
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732
    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    I thought it was possession that was illegal, not the act of consumption?
  • glwglw Posts: 9,855

    I agree, but her choice of words was poor. It was a self-inflicted wound.

    They can't have been that poor, I understood it just fine and it's not a topic that interests me and commands my attention. I think an awful lot of people chose to be "outraged".
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    All the talk about the health service is how quckly treatment is provided.

    Surely the emphasis should be on how well that treatment is provided?

    Of course measuring 'how well' takes more effort than measuring 'how quickly', so the media only talk about 'how quickly'.

    Delay is common, medical negligence is rare. Delay can be anywhere from mildly frustrating (varicose veins) to fatal (cancer, although that's not a great example because there are much more rigorous rules on how quickly cancer patients get treated, which seems to me unfair, as does the blanket exemption from prescription fees even for meds totally unrelated to cancer). The solution to delay is simple and obvious: more money; tightening up training, best practice policies etc. is more difficult and more boring to talk about, and less effective - say you halve the number of operations the NHS completely screws up you are probably only making let's say a 2% to 1% change (those are made up figures just to indicate the ballpark we are in).
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,652

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    Your irony aside, it seems that a rather dismaying (no pun) mercantalism thrives in parts of the EU.
  • PlatoSaid said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    Jobabob said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Gorsuch is not a fan of Trump's attacks on the judiciary. It will not affect his supreme court judgements.

    I doubt you find any judge who is a fan of presidential abuse about judges.
    Obama was very rude a few years back - but the media loved him so didn't apply the same test.


    Obama Criticizes Supreme Court in State of the Union Address


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDiHX50zT4

    Criticising judgments and courts is very different to criticising judges as individuals.

    Plato is a spoof poster - I finally realised this a week or two ago. Either laugh or ignore!
    She isn't a spoof at all, Plato has been posting here for a decade or more.

    She's gone out of her way to give this place an insight into what's going on in US politics right now, and we can either choose to listen and try to understand a different point of view, or ignore and choose not to be informed.
    While that's true, she is - as is ScottP, and a few others - also guilty of just reposting tonnes of stuff from Twitter. I'd like to keep the Plato comments, but skip the links.
    You aren't perfect either and rubbish stuff you don't like - I refrain from criticising you because of the uber ban hammer power you have. I doubt I'm alone.
    Plato - Poster of the Year.
  • Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    RobD said:


    Anyway, I suspect Casino_Royale wasn't looking at it from the punter down the supermarket perspective.

    There are lots of schemes that seem great on paper until they have to deal with Joe/Joanne Public.
  • GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
    First they came for the transporters, and we said nothing – then Morris dancers….!
  • GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
    Absolutely. Tell that uber criminal Nuns Anal Sprains of this here parish.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    RobD said:


    Anyway, I suspect Casino_Royale wasn't looking at it from the punter down the supermarket perspective.

    There are lots of schemes that seem great on paper until they have to deal with Joe/Joanne Public.
    The one problem you state could easily be dealt with by stating that companies need to display prices after all taxes are included. That's even easier to do if you are designing the system from scratch, rather than trying to change a entrenched system such as in the US.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,169
    GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
    Disagree completely, it was one of the greatest British films ever made.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    PlatoSaid said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    Jobabob said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Gorsuch is not a fan of Trump's attacks on the judiciary. It will not affect his supreme court judgements.

    I doubt you find any judge who is a fan of presidential abuse about judges.
    Obama was very rude a few years back - but the media loved him so didn't apply the same test.


    Obama Criticizes Supreme Court in State of the Union Address


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDiHX50zT4

    Criticising judgments and courts is very different to criticising judges as individuals.

    Plato is a spoof poster - I finally realised this a week or two ago. Either laugh or ignore!
    She isn't a spoof at all, Plato has been posting here for a decade or more.

    She's gone out of her way to give this place an insight into what's going on in US politics right now, and we can either choose to listen and try to understand a different point of view, or ignore and choose not to be informed.
    While that's true, she is - as is ScottP, and a few others - also guilty of just reposting tonnes of stuff from Twitter. I'd like to keep the Plato comments, but skip the links.
    You aren't perfect either and rubbish stuff you don't like - I refrain from criticising you because of the uber ban hammer power you have. I doubt I'm alone.
    Plato - Poster of the Year.
    Yes, and I voted for Plato in that poll the other month.
  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
  • Mr. StClare, it's true. Whiny lunatics keep trying to stop morris dancing, attacking morris dancers for blackface etc.
  • geoffw said:

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    Your irony aside, it seems that a rather dismaying (no pun) mercantalism thrives in parts of the EU.
    I'm not being ironic, I genuinely think the Czech PM's message we can work with.

    Of course if you thought Brexit was going to be a land of milk and honey, then that will breed disappointment. But I don't the author is pulling up the drawbridge.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769

    Good news. Rapist scum lose an appeal against their deportation:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909352

    'And take their coats'
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,215
    GIN1138 said:
    It's crazy that the Commons clings to Bercow when there are so many fantastic candidates waiting in the wings. Lindsay Hoyle, Carswell, the Mogster and many others could do the job much better and without the attention seeking grandstanding of Bercow.

    #GetBercow



    Rees Mogg being particularly well know for his modest, unassuming and publicity averse nature...
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    Patrick said:

    GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
    Absolutely. Tell that uber criminal Nuns Anal Sprains of this here parish.
    He'll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769

    geoffw said:

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    Your irony aside, it seems that a rather dismaying (no pun) mercantalism thrives in parts of the EU.
    I'm not being ironic, I genuinely think the Czech PM's message we can work with.

    Of course if you thought Brexit was going to be a land of milk and honey, then that will breed disappointment. But I don't the author is pulling up the drawbridge.
    Denmark and Hungary are another couple of nations May might be able to work with in the negotiations.
  • Good news. Rapist scum lose an appeal against their deportation:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909352

    It is along way off due to length of their sentences and will believe it when I see it...how many criminals that are down for deportation actually get put on the plane.
  • GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    GeoffM said:

    Patrick said:

    Seems to be a bit of a moralising tone on PB today. I'm of the view that human beings own their own bodies and are free to use or abuse them as they wish. I think sex, drug taking, alcohol, ultra-marathon running, trainspotting - whatever. People should be free to do as they see fit with their own bodies as long as they don't harm others. Injecting yourself with heroin is illegal. Injecting yourself with super strength drain cleaner is not! That's insane. Get the state our of our private lives. I personally have a serious hot cross bun habit. I'm sure it's bad for me. But the government can have my hot cross buns when it prises them from my cold dead hands.

    No. Any rational and decent society of any moral standing must draw the line at trainspotting.
    Absolutely. Tell that uber criminal Nuns Anal Sprains of this here parish.
    He'll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.
    Along with the twitchers - very dodgy.
  • AlsoIndigoAlsoIndigo Posts: 1,852
    glw said:

    O/T Apart from a wobble over her Conference speech, Amber Rudd is proving to be rather effective as one of the most senior members of the government. This will surprise some people, but I've long rated her.

    The wobble about something she didn't say, compiling and publishing a list of migrants working in the UK, rather than what she did say, which was that a company's demographic data might be published, as is done in all sorts of other countries including many very liberal places.
    Or even in that well known fascist dictatorship Obama's America where they compile and publish a list of migrants working in the USA including quite a few details, and make it available in online.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    Mr. StClare, it's true. Whiny lunatics keep trying to stop morris dancing, attacking morris dancers for blackface etc.

    OT, but did you catch this... http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2017/02/07/donaeld-the-unready-tweets-as-if-trump-is-a-mad-medieval-king/

    :D
  • Mr. Pulpstar, afraid I don't get the reference.

    Mr. Urquhart, you may be right, but I hope not.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    Well quite. There is too much reporting bias in these figures to put any trust in them at all. It's like the period which led to the Dangerous Dogs Act - Dog bites Man became news for a while, and judging by inches of newsprint you would have thought there was a 1,000% rise in dogbites. If you want to detect racism in the EU, get a taxi in Holland and ask the driver what he thinks of muslim immigrants, or go to an Italian football match and marvel at the number of banana skins thrown at the black players. Or to the Italian parliament to hear one politician of ministerial rank call another an orangutan.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,855

    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    Indeed, look at this.

    https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/what-do-Europeans-think-about-Muslim-immigration
  • Mr. D, I actually posted a link to that Twitter account yesterday :)
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732
    edited February 2017

    Mr. D, I actually posted a link to that Twitter account yesterday :)

    Just call me Low Energy Rob for not noticing. :(
  • PlatoSaidPlatoSaid Posts: 10,383
    GeoffM said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    Jobabob said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Gorsuch is not a fan of Trump's attacks on the judiciary. It will not affect his supreme court judgements.

    I doubt you find any judge who is a fan of presidential abuse about judges.
    Obama was very rude a few years back - but the media loved him so didn't apply the same test.


    Obama Criticizes Supreme Court in State of the Union Address


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiDiHX50zT4

    Criticising judgments and courts is very different to criticising judges as individuals.

    Plato is a spoof poster - I finally realised this a week or two ago. Either laugh or ignore!
    She isn't a spoof at all, Plato has been posting here for a decade or more.

    She's gone out of her way to give this place an insight into what's going on in US politics right now, and we can either choose to listen and try to understand a different point of view, or ignore and choose not to be informed.
    While that's true, she is - as is ScottP, and a few others - also guilty of just reposting tonnes of stuff from Twitter. I'd like to keep the Plato comments, but skip the links.
    You aren't perfect either and rubbish stuff you don't like - I refrain from criticising you because of the uber ban hammer power you have. I doubt I'm alone.
    Robert isn't the particular BanHammerMeister that you need to keep a weather eye on.
    Why do you think I don't post Twitter links

    Mr. StClare, it's true. Whiny lunatics keep trying to stop morris dancing, attacking morris dancers for blackface etc.

    Quite - that's got bugger all to with it.

    What really annoyed me with Dear White People was the assertion/scenes where students blacked up on campus - I'm struggling to think of any example, and if it happened - wasn't jumped on. It's clickbait and divisive to suggest it's the view of whites - urgh
  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    That's what happens when you campaign by pandering to xenophobia. People believe your publicity.
  • Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    edited February 2017
    RobD said:

    RobD said:


    Anyway, I suspect Casino_Royale wasn't looking at it from the punter down the supermarket perspective.

    There are lots of schemes that seem great on paper until they have to deal with Joe/Joanne Public.
    The one problem you state could easily be dealt with by stating that companies need to display prices after all taxes are included. That's even easier to do if you are designing the system from scratch, rather than trying to change a entrenched system such as in the US.
    The reason that they do not do that in the US is because the tax can depend on location. Imagine the fun if Boots or Tesco display one price in a given shop and a different price in other shops simply based on location and no tax online because there is no other way to reconcile an online purchase until the user puts in their address.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Good news. Rapist scum lose an appeal against their deportation:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909352

    It is along way off due to length of their sentences and will believe it when I see it...how many criminals that are down for deportation actually get put on the plane.

    On the other hand Mrs Merkel seems to be able to get rid of anyone she fancies no hold ups

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38919038

    Is this because

    a) TM was a crap Home secretary
    b) we have too many lawyers in the UK
    c) the rules dont apply to Germany

    or any combination of the above

  • Sales taxes set at non-national level are common worldwide.

    Indeed they are but that does not mean that they are either a good way to do things or even the best way - just that they are common.

    VAT is also messy and contains plenty of exemptions and paperwork. But introducing an element of localisation to the tax offers much more flexibility for local Government.

    VAT is an absolute diddle in comparison. Having worked with both systems VAT is way, way easier and it has one other advantage as well - for consumers, the upfront price is what you pay because it includes the tax. In the US all prices are shown as tax exempt because the tax you pay depends on location. I cannot see UK shoppers happily adapting to a system where they buy something priced at £10 and then have to dig out an addition 76p for local tax when they get to the checkout.

    If you really want to shake up the UK tax system then make it honest. Rename "National Insurance" as "Pension tax" and combine 'EEs and 'ERs together so that people really get to see the tax they pay and abolish this nonsense that paying NI goes toward your future pension.

    The retailers and businesses price up adjustments all the time, and would include the tax. There are always winners and losers from any change to the tax system but I think it'd be far fairer and give local government many more options, as well as genuine independence.

    I agree with you on National Insurance.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,169
    edited February 2017

    Good news. Rapist scum lose an appeal against their deportation:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909352

    It is along way off due to length of their sentences and will believe it when I see it...how many criminals that are down for deportation actually get put on the plane.
    Take them straight from the prison to the airport. If they want to appeal they can do it from their own country and with their own lawyers.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    RobD said:

    RobD said:


    Anyway, I suspect Casino_Royale wasn't looking at it from the punter down the supermarket perspective.

    There are lots of schemes that seem great on paper until they have to deal with Joe/Joanne Public.
    The one problem you state could easily be dealt with by stating that companies need to display prices after all taxes are included. That's even easier to do if you are designing the system from scratch, rather than trying to change a entrenched system such as in the US.
    The reason that they do not do that in the US is because the tax can depend on my location. Imagine the fun if Boots or Tesco display one price in a given shop and a different price in other shops simply based on location and no tax online because there is no other way to reconcile an online purchase until the user puts in their address.
    Yes, I didn't say it would be free to change it, but it is hardly difficult since the labels are typically printed at the store in question. As for the online store, you can easily solve that for 95% of cases by looking at the IP address of the customer.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972

    BudG said:

    A bit worrying for Macron backers. For the second day in a row Macron has dropped one point. Now only leads Fillon by just one point in this rolling poll.

    http://opinionlab.opinion-way.com/opinionlab/832/627/presitrack.html

    Interesting that candidates on the centre and left take 50% of the vote, while those on the right take 40%. Macron's challenge is clearly to persuade a few Hamon and Melenchon supporters to lend him their votes in the first round. If he can do that he will President.

    Why would Leftwingers vote for a Blairite like Macron in round 1? Fillon is also helped by turnout as his main support cones from pensioners while Macron's comes from the young so if Fillon is only 1% behind Macron today it will be very close between them as to who faces Le Pen in the runoff
  • AlsoIndigoAlsoIndigo Posts: 1,852

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.

    Reported aggression, from unauthenticated sources.

    All these government public information gathering systems, which they pay and arm and a leg for seem to manage to be easily spoofable, and a veritable feast for troublemakers.

  • Mr. Meeks, or maybe it's what happens when the Remain campaign repeatedly accused the other side of xenophobia, racism, being Little Englanders, etc, or when Farage was portrayed as the leader of the Leave campaign.

    Ironic if such a view is held, given May wanted a quick reciprocal agreement on EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU and evil, nasty Merkel refused to countenance it.

    Miss Plato, racism against whites, especially white men, is entirely acceptable to many on Twitter nowadays. Mind you, the other day I saw someone proudly proclaiming himself a Communist.

    I try to avoid posting politics on Twitter.

    Mr. D, nonsense, great minds think alike :D
  • Mr. Eagles, Leeds was split almost precisely 50/50. If it had been known leaving would harm Manchester United, it would've been a landslide for Leave :p
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769
    Man United aren't the only company that will have a big exchange difference in "Other income" this year !
  • AlsoIndigoAlsoIndigo Posts: 1,852
    Nigelb said:


    Rees Mogg being particularly well know for his modest, unassuming and publicity averse nature...

    He appears to be well liked by his colleagues from all parties, and is impeccably educated and unfailing polite. Seems like a fair set of qualifications to me. His ability to slam dunk patronising bollox from Dimbleby is an added bonus ;)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8wKRg-1e6s

  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    That's what happens when you campaign by pandering to xenophobia. People believe your publicity.
    52% of the population voted Leave. That's over 17 million people. A tiny tiny minority were inspired to commit criminal acts.

    I accept that even one extra incident is too many but it is not a systemic problem, and there is no evidence it is "growing".

    I think most who complain about this simply object to the policy grounds on which the referendum was won.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179

    Ironic if such a view is held, given May wanted a quick reciprocal agreement on EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU and evil, nasty Merkel refused to countenance it.

    The baseline for a reciprocal agreement is that every living EU citizen maintains their acquired rights, even if they have not yet exercised them. That is not what May has proposed.
  • HYUFD said:

    BudG said:

    A bit worrying for Macron backers. For the second day in a row Macron has dropped one point. Now only leads Fillon by just one point in this rolling poll.

    http://opinionlab.opinion-way.com/opinionlab/832/627/presitrack.html

    Interesting that candidates on the centre and left take 50% of the vote, while those on the right take 40%. Macron's challenge is clearly to persuade a few Hamon and Melenchon supporters to lend him their votes in the first round. If he can do that he will President.

    Why would Leftwingers vote for a Blairite like Macron in round 1? Fillon is also helped by turnout as his main support cones from pensioners while Macron's comes from the young so if Fillon is only 1% behind Macron today it will be very close between them as to who faces Le Pen in the runoff

    I am sure it will be close for the reasons you outline. But if Le Pen looks like taking one of the top two spots, it may just be that some left-wingers decide that they would rather have Macron facing her in Round Two than Fillon.

  • Ishmael_Z said:

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    Well quite. There is too much reporting bias in these figures to put any trust in them at all. It's like the period which led to the Dangerous Dogs Act - Dog bites Man became news for a while, and judging by inches of newsprint you would have thought there was a 1,000% rise in dogbites. If you want to detect racism in the EU, get a taxi in Holland and ask the driver what he thinks of muslim immigrants, or go to an Italian football match and marvel at the number of banana skins thrown at the black players. Or to the Italian parliament to hear one politician of ministerial rank call another an orangutan.
    The UK was, is, and remains one of the most tolerant nations in Europe.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972
    edited February 2017

    Another poll showing a big move to the SPD in Germany:
    https://twitter.com/electograph/status/829642211553898498

    CDU still in front there though
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    Nigelb said:


    Rees Mogg being particularly well know for his modest, unassuming and publicity averse nature...

    He appears to be well liked by his colleagues from all parties, and is impeccably educated and unfailing polite. Seems like a fair set of qualifications to me. His ability to slam dunk patronising bollox from Dimbleby is an added bonus ;)

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8wKRg-1e6s

    A great moment!

    On Mogg, he'd have to stop being a Tory, although maybe for him that is a price worth paying!
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,169
    So they're playing players' wages and other big costs in dollars, but have all their income-generating investments in pounds??

    Increase in debt due to Brexit or due to shit financial management?
  • PlatoSaidPlatoSaid Posts: 10,383
    edited February 2017
    I'm genuinely perplexed by the % of Labour members/ voters, et al re Islam. It seems to run counter to everything they say they believe in - LGBT/female rights/tolerance of others.

    I'm not alone here, so all help is most welcome. I'm thinking of the C4 ICM polling here.

    https://www.icmunlimited.com/polls/icm-muslims-survey-for-channel-4/
  • Mr. Glenn, what May proposed is now irrelevant, because Merkel et al. refused to countenance *any* agreement whatsoever.

    And some portray May (whom I find underwhelming in various ways, particularly civil liberties and the daft nuclear power station decision) as being the unreasonable party, even though that's completely at odds with reality.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    That's what happens when you campaign by pandering to xenophobia. People believe your publicity.
    How unlucky is that, that you say this in a thread where someone has already linked to credible polling Dec 16- Jan 17 showing us to be the least anti-islam (which seems a fair proxy for xenophobia) major EU country except Spain?
  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.

    Totally agree. But the fact is that Farage is seen as the face of Brexit abroad; just ask President Trump.
  • nunununu Posts: 6,024

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:


    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    "A spokesman for Czech President Milos Zeman on Saturday praised Donald Trump's Anti-migrant steps, saying the new US president simply cared about the safety of Americans.

    "US President Trump protects his country, he's concerned with the safety of his citizens. Exactly what EU elites do not do," Zeman's spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said in a tweet."

    http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2017/jan/28/czech-president-milos-zeman-backs-trumps-anti-migrant-steps-1564474.html

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/meet-the-pro-russian-anti-muslim-european-leader-who-was-just-invited-to-trumpswhite-house/2017/01/11/18c14536-d808-11e6-9f9f-5cdb4b7f8dd7_story.html?utm_term=.da8edfd39579

    People in glass houses.......
  • Mr. Meeks, or maybe it's what happens when the Remain campaign repeatedly accused the other side of xenophobia, racism, being Little Englanders, etc, or when Farage was portrayed as the leader of the Leave campaign.

    Ironic if such a view is held, given May wanted a quick reciprocal agreement on EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU and evil, nasty Merkel refused to countenance it.

    Miss Plato, racism against whites, especially white men, is entirely acceptable to many on Twitter nowadays. Mind you, the other day I saw someone proudly proclaiming himself a Communist.

    I try to avoid posting politics on Twitter.

    Mr. D, nonsense, great minds think alike :D

    That is some rewriting of history. Unlike some of her rivals, Theresa May abjectly refused to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK in July:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/04/tory-backlash-as-theresa-may-fails-to-guarantee-eu-citizens-righ/

    Unsurprisingly, the rest of the EU declined to let her use this subject as a ruse to enter into preliminary negotiations before the UK serves notice under Article 50.

    And as for your opening line, this is what the rest of the world has seen of Leavers in the last year:

    https://brexiteu.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/breaking-point-nazi-style-propaganda.jpg

    https://politicaladvertising.co.uk/2016/05/24/vote-leaves-new-poster-uses-turkey-as-a-bogeyman/

    http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/139/590x/farage-731813.jpg
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179

    Mr. Glenn, what May proposed is now irrelevant, because Merkel et al. refused to countenance *any* agreement whatsoever.

    As well they should. No Article 50 = no negotiation on exit terms.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    Mr. Glenn, what May proposed is now irrelevant, because Merkel et al. refused to countenance *any* agreement whatsoever.

    As well they should. No Article 50 = no negotiation on exit terms.
    That moment is coming!
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972
    edited February 2017

    HYUFD said:

    BudG said:

    A bit worrying for Macron backers. For the second day in a row Macron has dropped one point. Now only leads Fillon by just one point in this rolling poll.

    http://opinionlab.opinion-way.com/opinionlab/832/627/presitrack.html

    Interesting that candidates on the centre and left take 50% of the vote, while those on the right take 40%. Macron's challenge is clearly to persuade a few Hamon and Melenchon supporters to lend him their votes in the first round. If he can do that he will President.

    Why would Leftwingers vote for a Blairite like Macron in round 1? Fillon is also helped by turnout as his main support cones from pensioners while Macron's comes from the young so if Fillon is only 1% behind Macron today it will be very close between them as to who faces Le Pen in the runoff

    I am sure it will be close for the reasons you outline. But if Le Pen looks like taking one of the top two spots, it may just be that some left-wingers decide that they would rather have Macron facing her in Round Two than Fillon.

    Macron is basically the French equivalent of a LD, if they have not already switched to him there is not much chance of supporters of the Corbynite Hamon or the Communist Melenchon doing so later on
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769
    Sandpit said:

    So they're playing players' wages and other big costs in dollars, but have all their income-generating investments in pounds??

    Increase in debt due to Brexit or due to shit financial management?
    No. The debt loaded onto the club (Which isn't dealt with properly in the tax system, but that's another matter entirely) is in US dollars. The owners are American, ultimately they care only about the US dollar position of the club - wages are of course in sterling as Wayne Rooney lives in Cheshire not Miami etc.
    This is as technical a debt increase as you'll ever see and points to no mismanagement whatsoever.
  • Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.

    Totally agree. But the fact is that Farage is seen as the face of Brexit abroad; just ask President Trump.
    Yes, this is a problem. It frustrates me deeply.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,662
    edited February 2017
    Mr. Meeks, a unilateral declaration that EU citizens would be guaranteed rights is completely different to a reciprocal agreement including UK citizens. May was absolutely right not to hang out UK citizens to dry to assuage the wailing and teeth-gnashing numpties who think the UK Government's first duty is to foreign nationals rather than their own.

    Mr. Glenn, a perfectly legitimate perspective on that narrow point, although it remains an argument for the tolerance of the UK contrary to the 'evil UK' nonsense spouted by some.

    Edited extra bit: Mr. Royale, agree entirely.
  • PlatoSaidPlatoSaid Posts: 10,383
    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179

    Mr. Meeks, a unilateral declaration that EU citizens would be guaranteed rights is completely different to a reciprocal agreement including UK citizens. May was absolutely right not to hang out UK citizens to dry to assuage the wailing and teeth-gnashing numpties who think the UK Government's first duty is to foreign nationals rather than their own.

    May was and is trying to frame the discussion of acquired rights as being purely a trade off between rEU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the rEU when it is actually a much broader question.
  • HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    BudG said:

    A bit worrying for Macron backers. For the second day in a row Macron has dropped one point. Now only leads Fillon by just one point in this rolling poll.

    http://opinionlab.opinion-way.com/opinionlab/832/627/presitrack.html

    Interesting that candidates on the centre and left take 50% of the vote, while those on the right take 40%. Macron's challenge is clearly to persuade a few Hamon and Melenchon supporters to lend him their votes in the first round. If he can do that he will President.

    Why would Leftwingers vote for a Blairite like Macron in round 1? Fillon is also helped by turnout as his main support cones from pensioners while Macron's comes from the young so if Fillon is only 1% behind Macron today it will be very close between them as to who faces Le Pen in the runoff

    I am sure it will be close for the reasons you outline. But if Le Pen looks like taking one of the top two spots, it may just be that some left-wingers decide that they would rather have Macron facing her in Round Two than Fillon.

    Macron is basically the French equivalent of a LD, if they have not already switched to him there is not much chance of supporters of the Corbynite Hamon or the Communist Melenchon doing so later on

    That is a bold statement. We shall see.

  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    Mr. Meeks, a unilateral declaration that EU citizens would be guaranteed rights is completely different to a reciprocal agreement including UK citizens. May was absolutely right not to hang out UK citizens to dry to assuage the wailing and teeth-gnashing numpties who think the UK Government's first duty is to foreign nationals rather than their own.

    May was and is trying to frame the discussion of acquired rights as being purely a trade off between rEU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the rEU when it is actually a much broader question.
    Which is?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,068

    Ishmael_Z said:

    Via Patrick Wintour, a speech by the Czech Europe Minister on how Czechia sees Brexit:

    http://www.prouza.cz/blog/projev-na-konferenci-brexit-vyzvy-pro-evropskou-unii-a-spojene-kralovstvi/

    Not very compromising. Two passages stood out:

    "The UK’s ambitions to have trade relations as close as possible without being a part of the single market and the customs union are frankly speaking unrealistic. The EU cannot undermine the very principles on which the internal market was established and has to ensure a level playing field.

    The possibility of cherry-picking is the biggest danger that would devalue the existing efforts of all Member States. We cannot allow unhindered access to the single market in areas that suit the UK and limit access to the UK market for European companies. There must be some “Give” for all the UK’s “Take”."

    And:

    "Our legacy for future generations cannot be a world where the clock turned back a century and everybody is an enemy. However, we cannot achieve this if we continue to make unfounded claims about each other. I am speaking about the continuing and growing aggression towards other nationals, especially citizens from central Europe, in the UK."

    Sounds pretty positive for the UK government here.
    The "continued and growing aggression" is a myth. The EU seem to think we're all now Brownshirts in the UK.

    In reality, it's a small and tiny minority and the talk of 100%-200% increases in attacks was, in reality, a case of 60 incidents a month in a population of 65 million going up to 120-150 incidents a month, in a population of 65 million, just after the EU Ref and has since died back.

    Or to put it another way 99.9973% of us are capable of ending a year without launching any aggression.
    Well quite. There is too much reporting bias in these figures to put any trust in them at all. It's like the period which led to the Dangerous Dogs Act - Dog bites Man became news for a while, and judging by inches of newsprint you would have thought there was a 1,000% rise in dogbites. If you want to detect racism in the EU, get a taxi in Holland and ask the driver what he thinks of muslim immigrants, or go to an Italian football match and marvel at the number of banana skins thrown at the black players. Or to the Italian parliament to hear one politician of ministerial rank call another an orangutan.
    The UK was, is, and remains one of the most tolerant nations in Europe.
    I'm not remotely convinced that Theresa May's government is a far right one. It seems more like a fairly standard Tory government to me.
  • AlsoIndigoAlsoIndigo Posts: 1,852
    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179
    RobD said:

    Mr. Meeks, a unilateral declaration that EU citizens would be guaranteed rights is completely different to a reciprocal agreement including UK citizens. May was absolutely right not to hang out UK citizens to dry to assuage the wailing and teeth-gnashing numpties who think the UK Government's first duty is to foreign nationals rather than their own.

    May was and is trying to frame the discussion of acquired rights as being purely a trade off between rEU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the rEU when it is actually a much broader question.
    Which is?
    Most obviously, maintenance of freedom of movement for current EU citizens.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,203
    PlatoSaid said:

    I'm genuinely perplexed by the % of Labour members/ voters, et al re Islam. It seems to run counter to everything they say they believe in - LGBT/female rights/tolerance of others.

    I'm not alone here, so all help is most welcome. I'm thinking of the C4 ICM polling here.

    https://www.icmunlimited.com/polls/icm-muslims-survey-for-channel-4/

    What specifically are you perplexed about?
  • PlatoSaidPlatoSaid Posts: 10,383
    Oh dear me - I've been enormously entertained by Democrats character assassinating Sessions whilst bleating about treating judges with respect.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-08/elizabeth-warren-silenced-again-after-video-surfaces-mlks-wife-thanking-senator-sess

    https://youtu.be/JmVAbxDgV2s
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,179
    edited February 2017
    Pulpstar said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
    I can imagine him taking a future dissenting judgement from the SC as being their actual verdict and using it to build a media narrative.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,347
    edited February 2017

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    New balls please New supreme court judge nomination please...I always said Gorsuch was a gigantic liar...I call him grumbling Gorsuch...
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,732

    RobD said:

    Mr. Meeks, a unilateral declaration that EU citizens would be guaranteed rights is completely different to a reciprocal agreement including UK citizens. May was absolutely right not to hang out UK citizens to dry to assuage the wailing and teeth-gnashing numpties who think the UK Government's first duty is to foreign nationals rather than their own.

    May was and is trying to frame the discussion of acquired rights as being purely a trade off between rEU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the rEU when it is actually a much broader question.
    Which is?
    Most obviously, maintenance of freedom of movement for current EU citizens.
    If they are citizens of the EU after we leave, how will that change?
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,203

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Why do that though? Surely would have been smarter for Gorsuch to just not say anything or dey saying something...
    Trump can withdraw the nomination if he wants presumably?
  • Pulpstar said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
    He'll be a laughing stock well before the 4 years are up.
  • PlatoSaid said:

    Oh dear me - I've been enormously entertained by Democrats character assassinating Sessions whilst bleating about treating judges with respect.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-08/elizabeth-warren-silenced-again-after-video-surfaces-mlks-wife-thanking-senator-sess

    https://youtu.be/JmVAbxDgV2s

    Let me get this straight, because Coretta Scott King opposed Jeff Sessions nomination, and then was complimentary about something he did, this makes Elizabeth Warren what? A hypocrite? A liar?

    However this is from Zero Hedge, so the fact it's a steaming pile of cr*p is not a great surprise.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769

    Pulpstar said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
    He'll be a laughing stock well before the 4 years are up.
    I wonder if he'll retract/apologise on Twitter. Probably not, but this feels different to his previous foul ups.
    Gorsuch is not a "liberal judge" by any stretch of the imagination. He's precisely the sort of judge Trump needs in place.
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,364
    edited February 2017
    Mr Meeks.

    From relatively genial Antifrank, you've become very one-eyed when it comes to Brexit.

    There are always two sides to every story.

    I worked on the land by way of the gang system for all my school holidays from age thirteen upwards. But one university summer holiday, I managed to get a job at the fertilizer factory instead.

    Only because my dad worked there and I knew the foreman.

    I was employed to load lorries with the 1cwt (50 kilo bags). Alternatively, I could load the newly-sealed bags neatly on to pallets as they came down a chute every six seconds. There was an emergency button just in case. The first two days were hard. I put on nearly four pounds in weight in one month and none of it was fat. It wouldn’t be allowed now for health and safety reasons.

    Yet that job was preferable to working on the land.

    I still remember one April day in the sixties long-hoeing a row of cabbages which stretched to the horizon. And the horizon is a long way away In the Lincolnshire fens. And when you’ve seen one cabbage surrounded by weeds, you’ve seen them all. To increase my misery, there was a biting wind sweeping across from Siberia that chilled me to the bone.

    It never occurred to me that there were options.

    Post 2000, the Eastern Europeans arrived. The pay was marvellous compared to their homeland and gradually the land workers became almost exclusively Lithuanian and Polish. That’s easy to understand.

    The town changed too. There weren’t many old ‘uns but they still need schools, language services and maternity care.

    The locals saw the town change before their eyes, and jobs disappear, and the link was broken. The farmers are addicted to cheap foreign labour. The locals have other options now that benefits are better and there are other job options in the warm.

    Labour’s response in opposition? Ensure the jobs are better paid and conditions are better and here’s a small fund to help with the increased services. Too bloody late, and too bloody little. You should have thought of that before you opened the taps. That’s why they locals voted 76% to leave.

    I may be an old curmudgeon now (I hold my hand up to that), and I’m not up to date with the new technology - we picked tates by hand. But land work remains a hard and boring job. Forget the picture of sunny days, with young man carrying sheaths of straw and romping with rosy-cheeked girls in low-cut dresses. That was never real.

    Thanks to Labour, the law of unintended consequences lives on. And lectures by the metropolitan elite in London don’t impress.

    Yes, they should embrace diversity. But it was thrust upon them without a choice.
  • Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
    He'll be a laughing stock well before the 4 years are up.
    I wonder if he'll retract/apologise on Twitter. Probably not, but this feels different to his previous foul ups.
    Gorsuch is not a "liberal judge" by any stretch of the imagination. He's precisely the sort of judge Trump needs in place.
    I'm hoping Justice Gorsuch turns out to be a Justice Christopher Mulready
  • PlatoSaidPlatoSaid Posts: 10,383
    edited February 2017

    PlatoSaid said:

    Oh dear me - I've been enormously entertained by Democrats character assassinating Sessions whilst bleating about treating judges with respect.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-08/elizabeth-warren-silenced-again-after-video-surfaces-mlks-wife-thanking-senator-sess

    https://youtu.be/JmVAbxDgV2s

    Let me get this straight, because Coretta Scott King opposed Jeff Sessions nomination, and then was complimentary about something he did, this makes Elizabeth Warren what? A hypocrite? A liar?

    However this is from Zero Hedge, so the fact it's a steaming pile of cr*p is not a great surprise.
    Here's an award for Sessions from NAACP - the demonisation of Sessions is beyond silly.

    http://freebeacon.com/issues/naacp-opposes-sessions-ag-after-once-giving-him-award-excellence/

    NAACP are now claiming they didn't blah blah.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,203

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    PlatoSaid said:

    I was getting a trifle bored with Trump tweets, and then BAM!

    Donald J Trump
    Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?

    Its going to get messy:

    Steve Herman
    @W7VOA

    Judge Gorsuch's office confirmed to media organizations his words quoted by @SenBlumenthal were accurate.
    Trump's put his foot in it there. But this is Trump.
    He'll be a laughing stock well before the 4 years are up.
    I wonder if he'll retract/apologise on Twitter. Probably not, but this feels different to his previous foul ups.
    Gorsuch is not a "liberal judge" by any stretch of the imagination. He's precisely the sort of judge Trump needs in place.
    I'm hoping Justice Gorsuch turns out to be a Justice Christopher Mulready
    On a rewatching binge and that episode is next. Fichtner is a great actor.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981

    Mr. Meeks, or maybe it's what happens when the Remain campaign repeatedly accused the other side of xenophobia, racism, being Little Englanders, etc, or when Farage was portrayed as the leader of the Leave campaign.

    Ironic if such a view is held, given May wanted a quick reciprocal agreement on EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU and evil, nasty Merkel refused to countenance it.

    Miss Plato, racism against whites, especially white men, is entirely acceptable to many on Twitter nowadays. Mind you, the other day I saw someone proudly proclaiming himself a Communist.

    I try to avoid posting politics on Twitter.

    Mr. D, nonsense, great minds think alike :D

    That is some rewriting of history. Unlike some of her rivals, Theresa May abjectly refused to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK in July:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/04/tory-backlash-as-theresa-may-fails-to-guarantee-eu-citizens-righ/

    Unsurprisingly, the rest of the EU declined to let her use this subject as a ruse to enter into preliminary negotiations before the UK serves notice under Article 50.

    And as for your opening line, this is what the rest of the world has seen of Leavers in the last year:

    https://brexiteu.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/breaking-point-nazi-style-propaganda.jpg

    https://politicaladvertising.co.uk/2016/05/24/vote-leaves-new-poster-uses-turkey-as-a-bogeyman/

    http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/139/590x/farage-731813.jpg
    The Turkey poster is a perfect illustration of the hypocrisy of the holier-than-thou Remainer. Turkey's position was at the time that "Negotiations were started on 3 October 2005 and out of 35 Chapters necessary to complete the accession process, 16 have been opened and one has been closed." That is Wikipedia. Life is too short to investigate in detail what this means, but it certainly means that accession talks were in progress. Accession talks are in principle intended to bring about accession. Just to underline the point that this was the case in June 2016, the EU parliament put a stop to the talks in November 2016.

    The Remainer case seems to be: the claim that the intention was that Turkey should join the EU was misleading and intended to the Turcophobia of the horrible average UK prole. It was misleading because the clever EU non-proles were playing a game because it was obvious in reality that Turkey's accession would be blocked by the clever EU non-proles - and that this outcome was guaranteed because of the latent Turcophobia of the average cler EU non-prole.

    I am still not sure what would have been the better result on 23 June, but fecking hell, Remain deserved to lose.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Pulpstar said:

    I wonder if he'll retract/apologise on Twitter. Probably not, but this feels different to his previous foul ups.
    Gorsuch is not a "liberal judge" by any stretch of the imagination. He's precisely the sort of judge Trump needs in place.

    The relationship between Trump and Twitter is probably going to be the defining aspect of his period in office, however long that might be.

    Twitter are among the tech companies that have filed a lawsuit against the travel ban.

    The travel ban might be in legal trouble anyway as a result of things Trump has tweeted.

    Using the Presidential account to retweet a personal tweet has apparently opened another legal avenue against him.

    I am not sure if that counts as good publicity or not
This discussion has been closed.