Well yes it's done and I don't think it'll have any party political ramifications. But I do think the country-particularly outside London-will find this in the midst of our well trailed austerity program inexplicable.
This wasn't us all being in this together. This was Marie Antoinette. it was grotesque and it was vulgar and there will be some very bemused and angry people out there
Roger.
Just what is wrong with Marie Antoinette?
It wasn't her fault she lost her head. You have the French lefties to blame for that.
And who wouldn't swap a portside flat in Villeneuve-sur-Mer for Le Petit Trianon?
Germans need to wake up and understand that, in the absence of any country leaving the euro, Merkel and their mortal fear of non existent inflation is the problem in the eurozone. They're killing their own market.
The ECB needs to print, print and print some more.
Yes, because that went so well for them back in the early twenties. For a more recent example please see Zimbabwe and also check Hungary in 1946.
"Should have asked a follow up question about Scotland or GB."
Would have been interesting, but the point unionists are keen to avoid is this - if Shetland votes against Scottish independence, that is not the same thing (it's not even vaguely close to the same thing) as a vote for Shetland to leave Scotland in the event of independence.
I think, in the end, this became a morale-boosting knees-up for Tory England. It was a chance for rightwingers to gleefully rub the noses of the left in Thatcher's ongoing victory, and screw the whingeing northerners. And they took it.
Was it risky? Yes. Has it made Tories feel better about themselves? Yes, a little. Did they get away with it? Yes, probably, with the grovelling assistance of the BBC, which was obviously trying to build bridges with the right.
If I were a Tory strategist, I would look at the opinion polls too. Will the pollsters think soppy lefty behaviour will win votes?
Perhaps Margaret Beckett should have raised her concerns about Margaret Thatcher's funeral with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when she was in government rather than go bleating to the media this afternoon.
Perhaps she was out of the loop, or just ignored by the two Labour PMs.
The Salisbury Convention is by far the bigger loosening of the Lords' power when compared to the Parliament Acts which have only been used a half-dozen times in the last generation and threatened to any feasible extent in another dozen. The true effect of the Parliament Acts and Salisbury Convention lie in the democratic deficit's effect on the mindset of the upper chamber which is unlikely to change. In 1908-10, the Lords felt like it had a genuine power to over-rule to commons over various things including Irish Home Rule.
The Salisbury convention came about because of the first parliament act, it may have been used rarely but it's the big stick in the background that is effective even without use.
The Salisbury Convention cam about because of a fear of the sort of parliament that had been around before the 1911 Act.
The Salisbury convention came about because of memories of the first parliament act where Lords opposition caused the Commons to slap it down. The fear of a repeat of that if the Lords opposed the Labour government with them getting slapped down again even harder.
Perhaps Margaret Beckett should have raised her concerns about Margaret Thatcher's funeral with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when she was in government rather than go bleating to the media this afternoon.
Perhaps she was out of the loop, or just ignored by the two Labour PMs.
I didn't realise Margaret Beckett was still around. I thought she had been put in a Findus Lasagne.
I have just seen a photo of the coffin leaving St Paul's and to my amazement the soldier leading it and in charge of the bearer-party was none other than Sergeant Major Billy Mott. I thought he would have retired long ago, but he is still hanging in there. He must surely be well into his fifties and the only veteran of the Falklands Campaign still serving, at least the only non-commissioned one.
Episode 1: Man on a boat. George Osborne narrowly avoided having to resign by the slimmest technicality of not actually having done anything to warrant it.
Episode 2: Man on a train. Quite how George Osborne avoided resignation by actually buying a ticket for train we may never know.
Episode 3: Man gets into a car. He wasn't driving. And didn't park. It's a disgrace.
But now, we bring you, live and direct...
MAN CRIES AT A FUNERAL!!!
It's all over. He had a good run but you can't dodge these things forever. He must be packing his bags right now.
One of the voices complaining about the cost of Mrs Thatcher was the Bishop of Grantham.
This month's Standpoint highlights how the south american catholic church had a mini-reformation to purge itself of priests identifying with party politics, rather than their christian vocation. Lessons there for UK based churches.
"...explicitly banned the translation of Christian terms into Marxist ideology, while also challenging Catholics to develop a more authentic humanism of their own, including the "option for the poor" so beloved of priests working in Latin America, where the Church had traditionally been associated with extremes of social and economic inequality.
On visits to the continent, John Paul reinforced his message by confronting, sometimes in person, those priests who persisted in their disobedience. The turning point came on the airport tarmac at Managua, Nicaragua, in 1983, when John Paul arrived to be greeted by the Sandinista government. Squaring up to Father Ernesto Cardenal, the minister of culture, the Pope wagged his finger and declared: "Regularise your position with the Church!" The spell of the Catholic Marxists was broken and they have been in retreat ever since. "
AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 311 3:20PM I have a bad feeling unemployment is heading towards 10% and there's not much that can be done about it.
I would be very surprised if this happens, we currently have positions we cannot fill and the amount of construction work around this area is similar to 10 years ago
"The turning point came on the airport tarmac at Managua, Nicaragua, in 1983, when John Paul arrived to be greeted by the Sandinista government. Squaring up to Father Ernesto Cardenal, the minister of culture, the Pope wagged his finger and declared: "Regularise your position with the Church!" The spell of the Catholic Marxists was broken and they have been in retreat ever since."
Well, except for the fact that the Sandanistas have been back in power in Nicaragua for several years.
In the case of Osborne he wasn't close to Thatcher, he barely knew her and is on record as saying he was too young to remember much about her period in power. His emotions are as valid as anyone elses,pro or anti who have been widely ridiculed on here for being too young to have an opinion still less express strong emotions.
He was around 8 to 19 while she was in power so I imagine he remembers more about the time than he admitted on record (probably part of the de-Thatcherisation of the Tories mentioned earlier).
I'm seven years younger than him and I remember some parts of it very distinctly. I remember that the IRA were trying to kill her and my dad. (They weren't specifically targeting my dad but I remember in the early 80s when we lived in Germany, dad was RAF, and BFBS used to have safety announcements, teaching people to check under their cars for bombs. I was 5 years old and I used to go out every morning and check under dad's car). We were on the same side as Maggie Thatcher and the Queen, who I thought were the two most important women in the world. I'm not sad about her death, it's probably a blessing for her - she was getting madder and lonelier, but I don't know how I would have reacted at her funeral; I can't say I wouldn't have shed a tear or two.
Thanks for the link, Doc. Some interesting histories of past holders of the office. I knew Mott had made GSM, I just thought he would have been long retired by now.
I promised Nick P that I'd keep PB updated with my NHS experiance while I'm having my pre cancerous condition sorted.
Today I had my pre-op assesment at the hospital. I has an ECG, blood tests, MRSA tests, blood pressure, you name it, I had it. The nurse (who was VERY experianced) tehn went through my entire medical history and the procedure I'll be having. The whole process took about 90 minutes and was very, very in-depth.
He was around 8 to 19 while she was in power so I imagine he remembers more about the time than he admitted on record (probably part of the de-Thatcherisation of the Tories mentioned earlier). EDIT: Reply to JonnyJimmy
Spot on. Osborne is the same age as me, he was playing it down.
In the case of Osborne he wasn't close to Thatcher, he barely knew her and is on record as saying he was too young to remember much about her period in power. His emotions are as valid as anyone elses,pro or anti who have been widely ridiculed on here for being too young to have an opinion still less express strong emotions.
Yes, I agree with your second point, but doesn't it invalidate the first? People often cry at films where the characters are fictional. I dont think it matters how well you know someone or if you met them
I just can't see why she had to have a big funeral paid for by the public. the only reason Blair agreed to it would have been because it almost guarantees the same honour for him, as no one could deny a Thrice election winning Leader that privilege now. (I take it that is the qualification)
It depends on who is Prime Minister at the time, but if the future Prime Minister takes the view that Blair does not merit a quasi-State funeral (which I don't think he does), then it can be argued that Thatcher had one at least partly due to being the first woman as Prime Minister - and this then avoids creating a precedent.
Highest unemployment for over a year. Thank God for Maggie's super-lavish funeral or as SeanT described it 'a morale-boosting knees-up for Tory England'. That'll take people's minds off their economic problems.
I just can't see why she had to have a big funeral paid for by the public. the only reason Blair agreed to it would have been because it almost guarantees the same honour for him, as no one could deny a Thrice election winning Leader that privilege now. (I take it that is the qualification)
It depends on who is Prime Minister at the time, but if the future Prime Minister takes the view that Blair does not merit a quasi-State funeral (which I don't think he does), then it can be argued that Thatcher had one at least partly due to being the first woman as Prime Minister - and this then avoids creating a precedent.
Did Walpole get a state funeral? Bit sexist if not
I just can't see why she had to have a big funeral paid for by the public. the only reason Blair agreed to it would have been because it almost guarantees the same honour for him, as no one could deny a Thrice election winning Leader that privilege now. (I take it that is the qualification)
It depends on who is Prime Minister at the time, but if the future Prime Minister takes the view that Blair does not merit a quasi-State funeral (which I don't think he does), then it can be argued that Thatcher had one at least partly due to being the first woman as Prime Minister - and this then avoids creating a precedent.
Did Walpole get a state funeral? Bit sexist if not
I think I'm correct in thinking that Walpole is thought of as the first Prime Minister only with hindsight, rather than recognised as such by his contemporaries.
I think he might have been a bit happier with Houghton Hall than a state funeral anyway. At least he could enjoy the former while still alive.
That's good. I'm struggling to guess what the op is for. Are you having a general anaesthetic?
Anyway good luck or break a leg depending on your superstition.
Well, I don't want to bore PB with my ailments, but as you ask I've got a pre-cancerous lesion in my mouth (despite having never smoked and not being a heavy drinker)
The lesion will be excised with a laser and yes, I've got to have a general anaesthetic, but I should only be in for the day (and maybe overnight)
Highest unemployment for over a year. Thank God for Maggie's super-lavish funeral or as Sean described it 'a morale-boosting knees-up for Tory England'. That'll take people's minds off their economic problems.
Within the next two or three years same-sex marriage will no longer be controversial.
You think? It will become very controversial in my family as relatives annoy the hell out of me by asking when I'm going to have one! Leave me in peace, say no to gay marriage.
Well, I don't want to bore PB with my ailments, but as you ask I've got a pre-cancerous lesion in my mouth (despite having never smoked and not being a heavy drinker)
The lesion will be excised with a laser and yes, I've got to have a general anaesthetic, but I should only be in for the day (and maybe overnight)
You think? It will become very controversial in my family as relatives annoy the hell out of me by asking when I'm going to have one! Leave me in peace, say no to gay marriage.
If, at a wedding, they start saying things like "It will be your turn next", just say the same to them at a funeral ;-)
You think? It will become very controversial in my family as relatives annoy the hell out of me by asking when I'm going to have one! Leave me in peace, say no to gay marriage.
If, at a wedding, they start saying things like "It will be your turn next", just say the same to them at a funeral ;-)
Most old folks I know are quite laid back about that prospect, and readily joke about it with each other all ready.
Within the next two or three years same-sex marriage will no longer be controversial.
You think? It will become very controversial in my family as relatives annoy the hell out of me by asking when I'm going to have one! Leave me in peace, say no to gay marriage.
Some of us already have civil partnerships. I'm potentially facing having to do the bloody thing all over again.
I've been impressed today by the even handed objective vituperation directed at Ed Miliband's driver for parking on a double yellow line as was directed at Osborne when his driver parked in a disabled space.....or not:
Meanwhile, the New Statesman must have felt that there wasn't enough political news around, because it has manufactured an entirely artificial story based on polling on the strength of the very most recent polls:
Great that New Zealand has voted to legalise same sex marriage, but why did they spontaneously sing "Pokarekare Ana" instead of the national anthem "Aotearoa"? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22184232
@RichardNabavi The suit no longer fits (a casualty of The Diet). Fortunately, I have updated my sartorial collection, so I would have something equally memorable to mark the occasion.
I promised Nick P that I'd keep PB updated with my NHS experiance while I'm having my pre cancerous condition sorted.
Today I had my pre-op assesment at the hospital. I has an ECG, blood tests, MRSA tests, blood pressure, you name it, I had it. The nurse (who was VERY experianced) tehn went through my entire medical history and the procedure I'll be having. The whole process took about 90 minutes and was very, very in-depth.
Meanwhile, the New Statesman must have felt that there wasn't enough political news around, because it has manufactured an entirely artificial story based on polling on the strength of the very most recent polls:
A stunning graph (courtesy, oddly enough, of Paul Krugman) showing just how dramatic Britain's relative decline in the 20 years before Thatcher was, and how completely she reversed it:
Highest unemployment for over a year. Thank God for Maggie's super-lavish funeral or as SeanT described it 'a morale-boosting knees-up for Tory England'. That'll take people's minds off their economic problems.
Roger
You must pay more attention in class. School is not just about playing sports.
The number of adults (16-64) in employment remained almost static when compared using the ONS's main comparison (Current three months - Dec 2012 to Feb 2013 - over previous three months - Sep - Nov 2012). There is a tiny fall of 2,000.
So the increase in unemployment cannot come from lost jobs.
So where do the 70,000 additional unemployed come from?
It comes from more adults (16-64) being classified as "economically active" by the ONS. The major part is more women coming back into the potential workforce after looking after children or home (45,000 women out of 57,000 of both sexes).
So the increase in unemployment is near-matched by a corresponding decrease in the total of the "economically inactive" in the economy. The economically inactive numbered 2.06 million the lowest figure since 1993.
So employment is only 2,000 short of its highest level ever and the economically inactive at its lowest level since the early nineties. Hardly an "economic problem"!
And then when you throw in the fact that the number on Job-Seekers Allowance has fallen by 7,000 over the same periods, there really isn't much to complain about at all in the Labour Stats published today.
You could rightfully claim that the growth rate in employment seen over the last half of 2012 has slowed but otherwise the news on employment is broadly good.
"It comes from more adults (16-64) being classified as "economically active" by the ONS. The major part is more women coming back into the potential workforce after looking after children or home (45,000 women out of 57,000 of both sexes)."
Indeed, Mr. Avery, or as the Telegraph headline has it, "Stay-at-home mums bear brunt of rise in unemployment". The article underneath the headline is just as awful.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
Not that unexpected. Who in their right mind would line the streets to mourn Maggie bloomin Thatcher? Even if they liked her.
"You must pay more attention in class. School is not just about playing sports."
Foolish of me to take notice of the BBC who announced on several bulletins "Unemployment at it's highest level for over a year up 70,000 that's 7.9% of the workforce"
Perhaps I should have phoned the BBC and asked for a private consultation with Stephanie Flanders and Robert Peston.
Someone commented that the eight coffin-bearers did a good job of lifting and carrying the coffin through the low doors and up the steps etc. because it would have been quite heavy. Out of interest, what would it have weighed (approximately)? PB is the land of experts, so presumably someone will have an idea. I'm assuming it's a lot more than just the primary contents, which would only be about 7 stone or whatever.
Someone else mentioned seeing a few confused foreign tourists, who presumably didn't realise what was going on. It reminds me of when I went to watch outside the church at the funeral of the actress Wendy Richard in 2009. I was explaining what the crowds were to a few passers-by who didn't know that the funeral was happening. The most interesting was an Algerian man who asked me what the crowd was for, but he had no idea what "EastEnders" was or who Wendy Richard was. I explained to him that she was a very famous actress on a TV show who had died of cancer at the age of 65. Most of our conversation was in French, because his English wasn't very good. My French is limited, but I guessed that French would have been his second language as well as being mine - so we managed. Just as I was talking to him, Barbara Windsor arrived, and there was a great kerfuffle of photographers rushing to get pictures. Despite not knowing who any of the famous celebrities were, he was a bit excited by proxy at the knowledge that she was "famous" but without knowing who she was.
14 dead Humphrey Atkins (1986) Christopher Soames (1987) Angus Maude (1993) Keith Joseph (1994) William Whitelaw (1999) Lord Hailsham (2001) George Younger (2003) Mark Carlisle (2005) Ian Gilmour (2007) John Biffen (2007) Francis Pym (2008) Peter Walker (2010) Norman St John-Stevas (2012) Margaret Thatcher (2013)
8 Alive Lord Carrington (93) Patrick Jenkin (86) Geoffrey Howe (86) Jim Prior (85) John Nott (81) Michael Heseltine (80) Nicholas Edwards (79) David Howell (77)
Just in from my day's work having avoided all mention of funerals Prime Ministerial and picked up on Simon's interesting comments.
I must confess that I'm not thinking of May 8th 2015 at this moment but positioning or putting down a marker or two is part of the warp and weft of politics so the comments merit some response from a fellow Lib Dem.
I suspect that not only will the two main parties be wary of entering into "Coalition" (as defined by the current arrangement) but we will be as always. I've always thought that we need 40-45 seats to have any hope of something akin to waht we have now (Ministers in the Cabinet). In the not unlikely event we fall below 40 MPs and yet still hold the balance, I suspect we'll be looking at more of a Supply and Confidence arrangement but who with?
As far as I know, the pre-2010 formula remains the same - first refusal to the party with most votes but while that was easy last time, it might not be this time. It's perfectly possible to imagine the Conservatives winning more seats but Labour having more seats. That complication aside, our options are also constrained by whether either of the other parties wants to talk to us.
In 2010, Cameron could have walked away and formed a minority Government - he chose not to and created the conditions for the Coalition. 2015 may be very different and Nick Clegg (or whoever) may be left waiting for a call which never comes.
Were that to happen, that would neatly solve all the problems and resolve all the dilemmas. The Party could easily go into Opposition and regroup/rebuild/redefine and I consider that the most likely option. IF we got a very similar result to 2010, then Coalition 2 remains an option - if Labour is close to the line and Ed Milliband made the call, it would be difficult to say no but the real problem for the party comes if that call is based on Labour winning say forty seats but still finishing behind the Tories in terms of votes.
The dilemma comes if Cameron says no deal and tries to carry on as a minority and Ed M calls offering a deal on the basis of being able to form a majority in the Commons
"It comes from more adults (16-64) being classified as "economically active" by the ONS. The major part is more women coming back into the potential workforce after looking after children or home (45,000 women out of 57,000 of both sexes)."
Indeed, Mr. Avery, or as the Telegraph headline has it, "Stay-at-home mums bear brunt of rise in unemployment". The article underneath the headline is just as awful.
It is not just the Telegraph. Roger points out the misleading BBC headline and Sky News have been just as bad though I have noticed the later bulletins are being toned down.
It doesn't take long to read the ONS Labour Statistics bulletin where the true position is fully explained.
Conspiracy or laziness? I suspect the latter although a pattern of attacking the government on the economy without thinking or researching the facts is well established.
But when, or if, the MSM narrative changes to "economic recovery" the errors will still happen but be reversed in terms of political bias. Bad news will be reported as good.just as good news is reported as bad today.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
Telegraph mentions that Major Nicky Mott and his older brother Garrison Sergeant Major Bill Mott, led the bearer party at today's funeral for Mrs Thatcher.
Trebling of benefit dependey was an accident but a rise in GDP relative to France for 6 years years is Thatchers legacy for the next quarter century, yeah right.
LOL well it's only what you'd claim if the roles were reversed tim, be fair.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
Not that unexpected. Who in their right mind would line the streets to mourn Maggie bloomin Thatcher? Even if they liked her.
True enough, I was expecting a scrum. But there was nothing, no supporters, no protesters, just a few people taking pictures, and loads of cops. It was spooky.
I'm starting to think a right-wing nutter might be the most likely culprit re. Boston now that a ricin letter has been sent to Obama - either a guns fanatic and/or white supremacist:
I'm starting to think a right-wing nutter might be the most likely culprit re. Boston now that a ricin letter has been sent to Obama - either a guns fanatic and/or white supremacist:
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
You can't go to anything now without people blocking your view by holding up their phones... in fact, they're looking at whatever it is they've gone to see ON their phones as they film it. Why bother? They're not looking at the event, they're looking at their phone. There will be better footage on tv or youtube. I especially don't get it at gigs. *gripefest*
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
Works well in the light box - put a few more 'tags' in and the view totals should rise.
Do you live in London? There would have been more people in that area on a normal day. I'm not making a politcal point here as much as one about crowd-scaring- if you predict chaos, no-one comes. As we saw during the Olympics.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
You can't go to anything now without people blocking your view by holding up their phones... in fact, they're looking at whatever it is they've gone to see ON their phones as they film it. Why bother? They're not looking at the event, they're looking at their phone. There will be better footage on tv or youtube. I especially don't get it at gigs. *gripefest*
Correct. Same applies to people who come to town and spend all their time taking pictures of "the sights". Buy a postcard.
Actually it isn't, I'd say that the labour market reforms had a beneficial effect over the next 25 years but Thatchers cancer of benefit dependency had a terrible long term effect
half those years were Tony's years, and while you have a point on the rise of benefits under Mrs T, Tony didn't do anything to unpick it, he consolidated it. Score draw regrettably.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
Good evening. I went to Maggie's funeral, kinda, as I had a business meeting nearby that I could not move, despite my best efforts. I was there when the horses went past. It was all very eerie, because there was hardly anyone around. The Strand was desolate, save for loads of coppers and the odd few onlookers. Totally unexpected. I was thankful though, and I was early for my meeting.
I was in front of the Law Courts, I would call it more than a few onlookers.
You can't go to anything now without people blocking your view by holding up their phones... in fact, they're looking at whatever it is they've gone to see ON their phones as they film it. Why bother? They're not looking at the event, they're looking at their phone. There will be better footage on tv or youtube. I especially don't get it at gigs. *gripefest*
Many moons ago I went on "Butterfield's Indian Railway Tour" where Ashley Butterfield, the tour leader often wondered who was having the holiday - the traveller or their camera - which the "camera wallah" was obligingly transporting between the many sights....
@bobajob No, I live in Hertsmere. It was 2 deep along both sides when I got there just before 9.30. By the time Maggie went passed it was 4 to 5 deep. I thought that it was a decent turnout for a Wednesday morning.
Is it coincidence that the Queen has only attended funerals for Tory Prime Ministers? I suspect not. Until we become a republic nothing meaningful will change. Question to the Scots; If you become independent are you going to ditch the Tory Royal family once and for all?
Is it coincidence that the Queen has only attended funerals for Tory Prime Ministers? I suspect not. Until we become a republic nothing meaningful will change. Question to the Scots; If you become independent are you going to ditch the Tory Royal family once and for all?
An Independent Scotland will be retaining the Tory Royal Family.
If the Nats can see the wisdom of the Tory Royal family, surely you can see that wisdom too?
Comments
Just what is wrong with Marie Antoinette?
It wasn't her fault she lost her head. You have the French lefties to blame for that.
And who wouldn't swap a portside flat in Villeneuve-sur-Mer for Le Petit Trianon?
Marie A was classy, Roger.
Would have been interesting, but the point unionists are keen to avoid is this - if Shetland votes against Scottish independence, that is not the same thing (it's not even vaguely close to the same thing) as a vote for Shetland to leave Scotland in the event of independence.
Perhaps she was out of the loop, or just ignored by the two Labour PMs.
Perhaps she was. And like so many others who were ignored by Blair, over so many issues, that does not make her wrong.
Episode 2: Man on a train. Quite how George Osborne avoided resignation by actually buying a ticket for train we may never know.
Episode 3: Man gets into a car. He wasn't driving. And didn't park. It's a disgrace.
But now, we bring you, live and direct...
MAN CRIES AT A FUNERAL!!!
It's all over. He had a good run but you can't dodge these things forever. He must be packing his bags right now.
He is entitled to be upset at a funeral. He was upset at this one.
There is really nothing more to be said.
Biography of Billy Mott.
http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/gsm/index.htm
This month's Standpoint highlights how the south american catholic church had a mini-reformation to purge itself of priests identifying with party politics, rather than their christian vocation. Lessons there for UK based churches.
"...explicitly banned the translation of Christian terms into Marxist ideology, while also challenging Catholics to develop a more authentic humanism of their own, including the "option for the poor" so beloved of priests working in Latin America, where the Church had traditionally been associated with extremes of social and economic inequality.
On visits to the continent, John Paul reinforced his message by confronting, sometimes in person, those priests who persisted in their disobedience. The turning point came on the airport tarmac at Managua, Nicaragua, in 1983, when John Paul arrived to be greeted by the Sandinista government. Squaring up to Father Ernesto Cardenal, the minister of culture, the Pope wagged his finger and declared: "Regularise your position with the Church!" The spell of the Catholic Marxists was broken and they have been in retreat ever since. "
http://standpointmag.co.uk/features-april-13-pope-francis-in-the-footsteps-of-st-francis-daniel-johnson-catholic-church
AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 311
3:20PM
I have a bad feeling unemployment is heading towards 10% and there's not much that can be done about it.
I would be very surprised if this happens, we currently have positions we cannot fill and the amount of construction work around this area is similar to 10 years ago
Well, except for the fact that the Sandanistas have been back in power in Nicaragua for several years.
I'm seven years younger than him and I remember some parts of it very distinctly. I remember that the IRA were trying to kill her and my dad. (They weren't specifically targeting my dad but I remember in the early 80s when we lived in Germany, dad was RAF, and BFBS used to have safety announcements, teaching people to check under their cars for bombs. I was 5 years old and I used to go out every morning and check under dad's car). We were on the same side as Maggie Thatcher and the Queen, who I thought were the two most important women in the world. I'm not sad about her death, it's probably a blessing for her - she was getting madder and lonelier, but I don't know how I would have reacted at her funeral; I can't say I wouldn't have shed a tear or two.
Thanks for the link, Doc. Some interesting histories of past holders of the office. I knew Mott had made GSM, I just thought he would have been long retired by now.
Today I had my pre-op assesment at the hospital. I has an ECG, blood tests, MRSA tests, blood pressure, you name it, I had it. The nurse (who was VERY experianced) tehn went through my entire medical history and the procedure I'll be having. The whole process took about 90 minutes and was very, very in-depth.
An excellent NHS experience today.
He was around 8 to 19 while she was in power so I imagine he remembers more about the time than he admitted on record (probably part of the de-Thatcherisation of the Tories mentioned earlier).
EDIT: Reply to JonnyJimmy
Spot on.
Osborne is the same age as me, he was playing it down.
Hope all goes well for you.
No, tim. The powder has been identified as ricin.
"An excellent NHS experience today."
That's good. I'm struggling to guess what the op is for. Are you having a general anaesthetic?
Anyway good luck or break a leg depending on your superstition.
Perhaps Commons reform (without a referendum of course), Lords, and equalisation of boundaries (based on population).
It's what Maggie would have wanted.
Of the Liberal MPs elected in 1979, 3 are alive and 8 are dead.
I think he might have been a bit happier with Houghton Hall than a state funeral anyway. At least he could enjoy the former while still alive.
The lesion will be excised with a laser and yes, I've got to have a general anaesthetic, but I should only be in for the day (and maybe overnight)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10604117
My best NHS experience was undoubtedly when I was about 15 and went to child's A&E, where I was tended to by a fantastically attractive blonde nurse.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/SLIDESHOW-Ed-Miliband-hits-campaign-trail-in-Cambridge-20130415160716.htm
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/04/what-lies-behind-labours-shrinking-poll-lead
I wonder what they would have written this time last week?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22184232
Where I lead, the New Statesman follows ?
I guess this my cue for some more Ed is crap threads right?
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-04-17/apple-cored
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/current-affairs/apple-specials
'nuff said
http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/UK-France-per-Capita-GDP-over-60-years.png
You must pay more attention in class. School is not just about playing sports.
The number of adults (16-64) in employment remained almost static when compared using the ONS's main comparison (Current three months - Dec 2012 to Feb 2013 - over previous three months - Sep - Nov 2012). There is a tiny fall of 2,000.
So the increase in unemployment cannot come from lost jobs.
So where do the 70,000 additional unemployed come from?
It comes from more adults (16-64) being classified as "economically active" by the ONS. The major part is more women coming back into the potential workforce after looking after children or home (45,000 women out of 57,000 of both sexes).
So the increase in unemployment is near-matched by a corresponding decrease in the total of the "economically inactive" in the economy. The economically inactive numbered 2.06 million the lowest figure since 1993.
So employment is only 2,000 short of its highest level ever and the economically inactive at its lowest level since the early nineties. Hardly an "economic problem"!
And then when you throw in the fact that the number on Job-Seekers Allowance has fallen by 7,000 over the same periods, there really isn't much to complain about at all in the Labour Stats published today.
You could rightfully claim that the growth rate in employment seen over the last half of 2012 has slowed but otherwise the news on employment is broadly good.
If you do get married.
Can I DJ at your wedding ?
If you do get married.
Can I DJ at your wedding ?
"It comes from more adults (16-64) being classified as "economically active" by the ONS. The major part is more women coming back into the potential workforce after looking after children or home (45,000 women out of 57,000 of both sexes)."
Indeed, Mr. Avery, or as the Telegraph headline has it, "Stay-at-home mums bear brunt of rise in unemployment". The article underneath the headline is just as awful.
One last push, we can do this!
Foolish of me to take notice of the BBC who announced on several bulletins "Unemployment at it's highest level for over a year up 70,000 that's 7.9% of the workforce"
Perhaps I should have phoned the BBC and asked for a private consultation with Stephanie Flanders and Robert Peston.
Someone commented that the eight coffin-bearers did a good job of lifting and carrying the coffin through the low doors and up the steps etc. because it would have been quite heavy. Out of interest, what would it have weighed (approximately)? PB is the land of experts, so presumably someone will have an idea. I'm assuming it's a lot more than just the primary contents, which would only be about 7 stone or whatever.
Someone else mentioned seeing a few confused foreign tourists, who presumably didn't realise what was going on. It reminds me of when I went to watch outside the church at the funeral of the actress Wendy Richard in 2009. I was explaining what the crowds were to a few passers-by who didn't know that the funeral was happening. The most interesting was an Algerian man who asked me what the crowd was for, but he had no idea what "EastEnders" was or who Wendy Richard was. I explained to him that she was a very famous actress on a TV show who had died of cancer at the age of 65. Most of our conversation was in French, because his English wasn't very good. My French is limited, but I guessed that French would have been his second language as well as being mine - so we managed. Just as I was talking to him, Barbara Windsor arrived, and there was a great kerfuffle of photographers rushing to get pictures. Despite not knowing who any of the famous celebrities were, he was a bit excited by proxy at the knowledge that she was "famous" but without knowing who she was.
There are 75 MPs currently under 40 years of age.
Con 34, Lab 32, LD 8, PC 1.
Percentages:
Con: 11.1%
Lab: 12.4%
LD: 14.0%
PC: 33.3%
14 dead
Humphrey Atkins (1986)
Christopher Soames (1987)
Angus Maude (1993)
Keith Joseph (1994)
William Whitelaw (1999)
Lord Hailsham (2001)
George Younger (2003)
Mark Carlisle (2005)
Ian Gilmour (2007)
John Biffen (2007)
Francis Pym (2008)
Peter Walker (2010)
Norman St John-Stevas (2012)
Margaret Thatcher (2013)
8 Alive
Lord Carrington (93)
Patrick Jenkin (86)
Geoffrey Howe (86)
Jim Prior (85)
John Nott (81)
Michael Heseltine (80)
Nicholas Edwards (79)
David Howell (77)
Just in from my day's work having avoided all mention of funerals Prime Ministerial and picked up on Simon's interesting comments.
I must confess that I'm not thinking of May 8th 2015 at this moment but positioning or putting down a marker or two is part of the warp and weft of politics so the comments merit some response from a fellow Lib Dem.
I suspect that not only will the two main parties be wary of entering into "Coalition" (as defined by the current arrangement) but we will be as always. I've always thought that we need 40-45 seats to have any hope of something akin to waht we have now (Ministers in the Cabinet). In the not unlikely event we fall below 40 MPs and yet still hold the balance, I suspect we'll be looking at more of a Supply and Confidence arrangement but who with?
As far as I know, the pre-2010 formula remains the same - first refusal to the party with most votes but while that was easy last time, it might not be this time. It's perfectly possible to imagine the Conservatives winning more seats but Labour having more seats. That complication aside, our options are also constrained by whether either of the other parties wants to talk to us.
In 2010, Cameron could have walked away and formed a minority Government - he chose not to and created the conditions for the Coalition. 2015 may be very different and Nick Clegg (or whoever) may be left waiting for a call which never comes.
Were that to happen, that would neatly solve all the problems and resolve all the dilemmas. The Party could easily go into Opposition and regroup/rebuild/redefine and I consider that the most likely option. IF we got a very similar result to 2010, then Coalition 2 remains an option - if Labour is close to the line and Ed Milliband made the call, it would be difficult to say no but the real problem for the party comes if that call is based on Labour winning say forty seats but still finishing behind the Tories in terms of votes.
The dilemma comes if Cameron says no deal and tries to carry on as a minority and Ed M calls offering a deal on the basis of being able to form a majority in the Commons
You've shown correlation but not necessarily causation.
It is not just the Telegraph. Roger points out the misleading BBC headline and Sky News have been just as bad though I have noticed the later bulletins are being toned down.
It doesn't take long to read the ONS Labour Statistics bulletin where the true position is fully explained.
Conspiracy or laziness? I suspect the latter although a pattern of attacking the government on the economy without thinking or researching the facts is well established.
But when, or if, the MSM narrative changes to "economic recovery" the errors will still happen but be reversed in terms of political bias. Bad news will be reported as good.just as good news is reported as bad today.
Grumble over.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95017929@N02/8657635981/in/photostream
Telegraph mentions that Major Nicky Mott and his older brother Garrison Sergeant Major Bill Mott, led the bearer party at today's funeral for Mrs Thatcher.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/10001325/Margaret-Thatcher-Falklands-brothers-lead-pallbearers.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22190031
She even blames her for my current unemployment!
It looks to be a man captured on CCTV videos carrying and dropping a black bag at the restaurant where the second bomb was detonated.
tags -Margaret Thatcher Funeral, 17 April 2013, The Strand.
I used it at the Chesney Hawkes gig last year.
No, I live in Hertsmere.
It was 2 deep along both sides when I got there just before 9.30.
By the time Maggie went passed it was 4 to 5 deep.
I thought that it was a decent turnout for a Wednesday morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22184232
If the Nats can see the wisdom of the Tory Royal family, surely you can see that wisdom too?
Huzzah for the Tory Royal Family.