You couldn't write this stuff as comedy and get away with it frankly.
Well this was the guy who a couple of days ago used the fact an MP employed a family member to defend Jezza from criticism. Anybody would think Jezza's sons have nothing to do with assisting in running the cult.
Raises an interesting question though: if we were to have a transfer market for European Politicians which politicians should the parties buy and why?
The Lib Dems would presumably want Macron but are likely to find him too expensive. The remaining Blairites would love to have him too but would presumably be outvoted. Would Labour be tempted by Antonio Costa? He is doing a good job in Portugal and is at least coherent.
The Tories might think Merkel was just more of the same and possibly past her best anyway. I'd suspect that they would think that Schauble for Hammond would improve team performance considerably. I'd like to think they would not be tempted by Rajoy but there is a bit of the party that is that authoritarian. Mark Rutte seems to have lost some of his early promise but might still be worth a look. Donald Tusk is a class act but would presumably not be acceptable to the Eurosceptic majority. Varadkar looks a bit flashy for UK tastes but can at least speak English.
Latest on Windrush: Alan Johnson says landing cards decision was made in 2009
Alan Johnson: "It was an administrative decision taken by the UK Border Agency" The decision to destroy the landing cards for Windrush migrants was taken under Labour, former home secretary Alan Johnson has said.
Asked if he knew about the 2009 decision, he told the BBC: "No, it was an administrative decision taken by the UK Border Agency."
The cards were then destroyed in 2010, when Theresa May was home secretary.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mrs May clashed over the issue at prime minister's questions.
On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn accused the government of being "callous and incompetent" and asked if Mrs May, then home secretary, had "signed off" on the decision to destroy the landing cards which was now "causing such pain and such stress to a whole generation" of Windrush migrants.
She replied that the decision had been taken under the previous Labour government in 2009.
Mr Johnson suggested that Mr Corbyn had been "misled" over the issue: "The previous evening, as I understand it... Number 10 were briefing that this happened in 2010.
"What she had up her sleeve, whether it was deliberate or whatever - all's fair in love and Prime Minister's Questions - was that the decision was taken under us."
Raises an interesting question though: if we were to have a transfer market for European Politicians which politicians should the parties buy and why?
The Lib Dems would presumably want Macron but are likely to find him too expensive. The remaining Blairites would love to have him too but would presumably be outvoted. Would Labour be tempted by Antonio Costa? He is doing a good job in Portugal and is at least coherent.
The Tories might think Merkel was just more of the same and possibly past her best anyway. I'd suspect that they would think that Schauble for Hammond would improve team performance considerably. I'd like to think they would not be tempted by Rajoy but there is a bit of the party that is that authoritarian. Mark Rutte seems to have lost some of his early promise but might still be worth a look. Donald Tusk is a class act but would presumably not be acceptable to the Eurosceptic majority. Varadkar looks a bit flashy for UK tastes but can at least speak English.
What about the much vaunted UK internal market? Well worn (if fallen into disrepute recently) managerial path for Jocks going down south..
Anyone paying attention to American polling? According to Harry Enten the "gold" standard polls have shown a big fall of the Dems lead whilst non gold standard polls have shown actually shown a widening in Dem lead. The difference is important for Dems as one lead would likely end up at 6.4% on polling day which would mean GOP retain control of the House.
Special elections however are showing no tightening in the Dem lead....
Very interesting American politics leading up to the big Midterms in November. If you are sick of Brexit everyday I suggest you tune in to that, you can avoid the trump stuff.
Agreed, it's an interesting picture. The table of all polls is here:
I'm not sure what Enten sees as gold standard (and why?) and don't have an opinion myself, though there is a general tendency to treat Rasmussen as biased to the Republicans. Overall it's hard to see much of a shift, though the lead might be fractionally down from 7-8ish to 5-6ish?
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
Raises an interesting question though: if we were to have a transfer market for European Politicians which politicians should the parties buy and why?
The Lib Dems would presumably want Macron but are likely to find him too expensive. The remaining Blairites would love to have him too but would presumably be outvoted. Would Labour be tempted by Antonio Costa? He is doing a good job in Portugal and is at least coherent.
The Tories might think Merkel was just more of the same and possibly past her best anyway. I'd suspect that they would think that Schauble for Hammond would improve team performance considerably. I'd like to think they would not be tempted by Rajoy but there is a bit of the party that is that authoritarian. Mark Rutte seems to have lost some of his early promise but might still be worth a look. Donald Tusk is a class act but would presumably not be acceptable to the Eurosceptic majority. Varadkar looks a bit flashy for UK tastes but can at least speak English.
What about the much vaunted UK internal market? Well worn (if fallen into disrepute recently) managerial path for Jocks going down south..
Labour could do a lot worse than Nicola. And Ruth is obviously needed as badly south of the border as she is by the Tories north of it. Scottish Labour used to produce a fair percentage of the cabinet but I really, genuinely, can't think of anyone there who would improve the worst front bench in living memory. Possibly Jenny Marra? If anything SLab need to import talent, ideally not from Yorkshire. Even Willie Rennie would be an improvement on Cable. At least he doesn't positively annoy people.
Anyone paying attention to American polling? According to Harry Enten the "gold" standard polls have shown a big fall of the Dems lead whilst non gold standard polls have shown actually shown a widening in Dem lead. The difference is important for Dems as one lead would likely end up at 6.4% on polling day which would mean GOP retain control of the House.
Special elections however are showing no tightening in the Dem lead....
Very interesting American politics leading up to the big Midterms in November. If you are sick of Brexit everyday I suggest you tune in to that, you can avoid the trump stuff.
Agreed, it's an interesting picture. The table of all polls is here:
I'm not sure what Enten sees as gold standard (and why?) and don't have an opinion myself, though there is a general tendency to treat Rasmussen as biased to the Republicans. Overall it's hard to see much of a shift, though the lead might be fractionally down from 7-8ish to 5-6ish?
When we say generic, at this stage in the process, what do we mean?
I have seen polling which uses name once decided, and only A Democrat and A Republican if not.
Miss Vance, a car called the Pinto [I believe, read about it a few years ago] sold poorly in South America. The makers couldn't work out why.
It turned out 'pinto' also means 'small penis' in the local tongue. So it may as well have been called the Nissan Microdick.
There’s a few of them in the car world. A Vauxhall Nova was called the Opel Corsa when they sold it in Spain, as Nova means “doesn’t go” in Spanish.
RR "Silver Mist" was mooted before the mistake (in German) was realised.
In one of William Gibson's early books - I think it's "Virtual Light" - he has a character whose job is to vet product names to ensure they don't mean Dickhead in Swedish. They should have employed him.
Hmm. Just got my new passport. Mildly surprised as I was expecting burgundy but without the European Union stuff on the front (I'm not fussed, I just thought Apr-Jun was burgundy with the EU stuff absent, and July onwards was blue).
To be honest, feels a bit lower quality than the old one. Not that it affects me much. I rarely travel to foreign realms beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
Edited extra bit: also, my old one wasn't enclosed. Does that normally happen?
Hmm. Just got my new passport. Mildly surprised as I was expecting burgundy but without the European Union stuff on the front (I'm not fussed, I just thought Apr-Jun was burgundy with the EU stuff absent, and July onwards was blue).
To be honest, feels a bit lower quality than the old one. Not that it affects me much. I rarely travel to foreign realms beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
Edited extra bit: also, my old one wasn't enclosed. Does that normally happen?
No, it is usually sent back with the corner snipped so it can't be used. I've got my passports back to the old blue one (which still looks black to me) with a very fresh faced, slightly long haired chap.
Are those dates right? Should it be 16th-18th April?
Some readers have asked what happened to the last regular Guardian/ICM poll. We normally poll every fortnight, and the results normally appear here, but the last set of figures arrived last week on a day when there was no Politics Live and, when the blog did return, it was entirely Syria-focused for a while, and including voting intention figures did not really seem appropriate.
But it would be a shame to forget about them completely and, with the Westminster news machine on a go-slow today, it is a good time to post them.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Hmm. Just got my new passport. Mildly surprised as I was expecting burgundy but without the European Union stuff on the front (I'm not fussed, I just thought Apr-Jun was burgundy with the EU stuff absent, and July onwards was blue).
To be honest, feels a bit lower quality than the old one. Not that it affects me much. I rarely travel to foreign realms beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
Edited extra bit: also, my old one wasn't enclosed. Does that normally happen?
When my husband renewed his in February the old one did indeed come back, but in a separate delivery.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
It does look as if any swing to the Tories from national polling is going to be so small that it will be dwarfed by the Corbyn effect in the areas that are voting. I think we will see moderate Labour gains, say 200 councillors and even more modest Tory losses offset by some recoveries from UKIP.
Its an interesting question how long the polling companies continue to include them in the polling when the party is clearly dead and unlikely to fight another campaign in a meaningful way. They risk distortions once that 4% find out there is no UKIP candidate to vote for.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
Another privately educated, Oxbridge graduate, using family connections to get on in the world.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Are those dates right? Should it be 16th-18th April?
Some readers have asked what happened to the last regular Guardian/ICM poll. We normally poll every fortnight, and the results normally appear here, but the last set of figures arrived last week on a day when there was no Politics Live and, when the blog did return, it was entirely Syria-focused for a while, and including voting intention figures did not really seem appropriate.
But it would be a shame to forget about them completely and, with the Westminster news machine on a go-slow today, it is a good time to post them.
Thanks. I should have read the article but was too lazy.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
I don’t think this is a great decision. But, I haven’t heard another suggestion, either. The Queen will be pleased. Job done.
Mr. Walker, that's a fair point. If not HM (who is head of state of plenty of Commonwealth nations besides our own) isn't to lead the Commonwealth, who is?
Make it political and you, necessarily, politicise it. HM can be a figurehead for the Commonwealth just as she is for the UK, whilst leaving the grubby practicalities of governance to elected (mostly) politicians.
Not to say Charles might not bugger this up. We must wish Her Majesty many more years of good health.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
I don’t think this is a great decision. But, I haven’t heard another suggestion, either. The Queen will be pleased. Job done.
I guess the dynastic urge is a very strong one to resist.
It does look as if any swing to the Tories from national polling is going to be so small that it will be dwarfed by the Corbyn effect in the areas that are voting. I think we will see moderate Labour gains, say 200 councillors and even more modest Tory losses offset by some recoveries from UKIP.
Its an interesting question how long the polling companies continue to include them in the polling when the party is clearly dead and unlikely to fight another campaign in a meaningful way. They risk distortions once that 4% find out there is no UKIP candidate to vote for.
Labour won the 2014 Local Elections by 2%, they are now level pegging with the Tories in polls but their biggest gains since 2014 have been in London.
That suggests Labour net gains from the Tories in London but small net Tory gains from Labour in the rest of the country.
The LDs will do well in Remain areas like SW London but likely less well in areas which had a big UKIP vote in 2014 though nimbyism may help their vote in the Home Counties
How about: Customs union with U.K. aligning to EU regulatory standards (hence no hard border in Ireland or at Dover) Preference for EU migrants over others in exchange for financial market access for U.K. firms and U.K. piggy-backing on EU trade deals Cut in U.K. financial contribution U.K. membership of key agencies (EASA etc.)
This is the result we were always going to get without decapitating the Remainer establishment, as Cummings intended.
Roughly like this, I think. The devil will be in the detail. We may need to trade financial services for some control over freedom of movement.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
It will annoy the Corbynistas...cos like what has Prince Charles ever done, he never campaigns on any issues....just ask government ministers over the past 25 years, they never get letters on a weekly basis about the plight of the Amazonian lesser spotted bull frog.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
To be completely fair to Jones, his interview videos are very good, especially the ones with those whom he disagrees politically. Not many leftist media types would be up for talking to Dan Hannan or Jacob R-M except to try and catch them out.
How about: Customs union with U.K. aligning to EU regulatory standards (hence no hard border in Ireland or at Dover) Preference for EU migrants over others in exchange for financial market access for U.K. firms and U.K. piggy-backing on EU trade deals Cut in U.K. financial contribution U.K. membership of key agencies (EASA etc.)
This is the result we were always going to get without decapitating the Remainer establishment, as Cummings intended.
And that’s not a bad outcome in terms of what people care about:
More control over immigration (it’s free movement than bugs people not people coming to take up bona fide jobs), more money available (netting off a premium contribution to the specific agencies) to spend on the UK’s priorities and outside the EU’s political programme
You seem to be implying you think EU citizens who are not coming to work should need tourist visas.
I was thinking about working rights not tourism. The latter could easily be handled through a visa waiver programme.
Then how do you propose to stop people looking for work?
Same as now.
I.e. you don’t.
Working on a tourist visa is illegal. The Border Patrol polices this through a combination of spot checks and intelligence led activity. They should continue to do so.
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
The Morning Star delivered free to all households and RT beamed into all places of work.
Mr. L, I got my first (adult) one back like that, but not the more recent (expired) one. Hmm.
Mrs. Nester, thanks for that, I'll wait and see if it comes. Mildly surprised they wouldn't come together. Not a huge thing, it just surprised me.
The old one comes back under separate cover, usually a few days later. I guess the office where they handle the applications is in a different place from where they print the passports.
Sky News Breaking - @SkyNewsBreak: Sky Sources: Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Retreat at Windsor Castle have discussed the Commonwealth Succession and approved Prince Charles as the next Head of the Commonwealth after the Queen
I don’t think this is a great decision. But, I haven’t heard another suggestion, either. The Queen will be pleased. Job done.
It might have been better done 20 years ago. Given modern longevity we could very well have a succession of kings aged 70-90; the Commonwealth job with the attendant travel might be better suited to 50-70.
I wonder whether a convention has been established today?
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
Be interesting to see the proposals that Labour are cooking up on this.
There has been at least one attempt iirc to set up a independent, leftish newspaper with union involvement.
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
I think he must mean that he wants half of BBC employees to be Leavers, lots of journalists to be over 65, most commentators to favour capital punishment, that sort of thing
The irony is that Owen is broadly correct about the media (though, putting the class issues to one side, I'd argue having a mainstream media located around the centre is probably a good thing for national harmony).
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
I think he must mean that he wants half of BBC employees to be Leavers, lots of journalists to be over 65, most commentators to favour capital punishment, that sort of thing
Sadly, I suspect Owens is simply helping along the growing narrative within the cult that if they fail to sweep to victory in 2022, it will be mostly down to the media.* The blame game has already started.
Hmm. Just got my new passport. Mildly surprised as I was expecting burgundy but without the European Union stuff on the front (I'm not fussed, I just thought Apr-Jun was burgundy with the EU stuff absent, and July onwards was blue).
To be honest, feels a bit lower quality than the old one. Not that it affects me much. I rarely travel to foreign realms beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
Edited extra bit: also, my old one wasn't enclosed. Does that normally happen?
No, it is usually sent back with the corner snipped so it can't be used. I've got my passports back to the old blue one (which still looks black to me) with a very fresh faced, slightly long haired chap.
I believe these days you have to tick a better x on the form to get it sent back
There does seem to be a consensus among journalists that Owen is a bit of a numpty.
Is that cultish groupthink, or objective reporting?
It’s probably a bit of both. It can be both true that Jones can be a bit of an idiot at times, and also that journos might not react well to him because his political views are out of whack with liberal centrism.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
He also doesn't get how the left view gay rights. Clue: look at Russia.
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
I think he must mean that he wants half of BBC employees to be Leavers
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
His output has been any different to what he’s writing now? I know there was a time when even he gave up on Corbyn, but I can’t say I’ve noticed much change in his output over the years.
...and he's doubling down on it all. Please can any PBers send in example of Owen's work for local papers where most journalists learn their trade, rather than parachuting into a columnists role via a book.
"The fight for a representative media won't be easy, but it can be won." Somehow I think Owen's definition of representative media would be wildly at odds with anything found in a dictionary.
I think he must mean that he wants half of BBC employees to be Leavers, lots of journalists to be over 65, most commentators to favour capital punishment, that sort of thing
Sadly, I suspect Owens is simply helping along the growing narrative within the cult that if they fail to sweep to victory in 2022, it will be mostly down to the media.* The blame game has already started.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Back into?
Yes, before the great betrayal...
Clearly the wrong kind of journalist. #changeiscoming
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
His output has been any different to what he’s writing now? I know there was a time when even he gave up on Corbyn, but I can’t say I’ve noticed much change in his output over the years.
I'd say he's got more personal in his attacks and ever more prone to pander to his huge following. He's also become even more of a cheerleader (obviousness as a polemicist that's reasonable, up to a point).
The spat between him and Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) yesterday was illuminating (I think she's spot-on).
The irony is that Owen is broadly correct about the media (though, putting the class issues to one side, I'd argue having a mainstream media located around the centre is probably a good thing for national harmony).
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
I'd settle for journalists reporting and discussing both sides fairly and letting readers use their own brains. Dan always used to be a good read, but he's turned into a boring one-track mind. And yes, I'd like Polly Toynbee to air alternative arguments too, if only to say why she disagreed with them. The Watergate experience has infected far too many writers with the idea that their job is to campaign rather than to (also) inform.
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
I'd settle for journalists reporting and discussing both sides fairly and letting readers use their own brains. Dan always used to be a good read, but he's turned into a boring one-track mind. And yes, I'd like Polly Toynbee to air alternative arguments too, if only to say why she disagreed with them. The Watergate experience has infected far too many writers with the idea that their job is to campaign rather than to (also) inform.
Ironically Watergate was a classic example of old-fashioned investigative reporting rather than polemical campaigning. Too many journalists think we are - or ought to be - interested in their opinions. With most of them you can work out what they are going to say from the headline or the first paragraph and there is little point going further - the rest will be both trite and obvious, much like most political comedians these days. There seems little appetite for the thoughtful, surprising and well-argued.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
His output has been any different to what he’s writing now? I know there was a time when even he gave up on Corbyn, but I can’t say I’ve noticed much change in his output over the years.
I'd say he's got more personal in his attacks and ever more prone to pander to his huge following. He's also become even more of a cheerleader (obviousness as a polemicist that's reasonable, up to a point).
The spat between him and Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) yesterday was illuminating (I think she's spot-on).
I didn’t see that spat yesterday so just went to Marie Le Conte’s twitter to check it out - yes I agree, she’s absolutely right in what she says about pile ons and online discourse. I suppose I’ve not picked up on the more aggressive tone Jones’ has adopted on twitter because it seems to have become so normalised in political discourse online generally.
Tbh I put him being a cheerleader being down to the fact that the Labour leadership now reflects his views. Whereas when he first came to prominence the Labour leadership didn’t reflect his worldview.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
His output has been any different to what he’s writing now? I know there was a time when even he gave up on Corbyn, but I can’t say I’ve noticed much change in his output over the years.
I found his early stuff a bit light on evidence... he now comes across as much better informed. His youtube channel is sometimes really good - when he lets his guests speak and expand on their views. And the diversity of viewpoints he has shown is really impressive. I like it when he finds common ground with Peter Hitchens or JRM.
The recent interview with Jon Lansmann was very interesting on anti-semitism.
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
I'd settle for journalists reporting and discussing both sides fairly and letting readers use their own brains. Dan always used to be a good read, but he's turned into a boring one-track mind. And yes, I'd like Polly Toynbee to air alternative arguments too, if only to say why she disagreed with them. The Watergate experience has infected far too many writers with the idea that their job is to campaign rather than to (also) inform.
Could you not argue that an ex-labour man who sees his party now out of power for 8 years and counting, is right to keep banging on about the things or people who he thinks are stopping a credible Labour party getting back in to power... might that not explain a supposed 'one track mind'? I seem to recall he was also dismissed by some on the left for continually criticising EICIPM.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Back into?
Yes, before the great betrayal...
I thought that before that he was a Blairite whipping dog who then ratted to join the proletariat heros. Surprised that a rat ever got inside the circle of trust... that he re-ratted* is just proof that it should never happen again.
* and only Churchill gets to re-re-rat. And Owen ain’t Churchill...
OT it looks like HMQ has cleaned up on the "next head of the Commonwealth" betting. Well done to all pbers who followed her in. I suppose this rules Prince Charles out of the Arsenal job. Prince Charles to be next Commonwealth head http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43840710
Tbh I put him being a cheerleader being down to the fact that the Labour leadership now reflects his views. Whereas when he first came to prominence the Labour leadership didn’t reflect his worldview.
But they reflected his views before, when he gave up on them as politically incompetent. Obviously we all have lessons to learn from June 2017 but I don't think "back Corbyn 100%" should be one of them.
Anyone got the Perth & Kinross result yet? Its actually quite key as the Council is currently 16 Tories, 15 SNP plus some also rans. If the SNP win they may well regain control of the Council.
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Back into?
Yes, before the great betrayal...
I thought that before that he was a Blairite whipping dog who then ratted to join the proletariat heros. Surprised that a rat ever got inside the circle of trust... that he re-ratted* is just proof that it should never happen again.
* and only Churchill gets to re-re-rat. And Owen ain’t Churchill...
You can join the heroes from whatever tradition cf. Emily Thornberry. But betrayal can't ever be forgiven.
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
I'd settle for journalists reporting and discussing both sides fairly and letting readers use their own brains. Dan always used to be a good read, but he's turned into a boring one-track mind. And yes, I'd like Polly Toynbee to air alternative arguments too, if only to say why she disagreed with them. The Watergate experience has infected far too many writers with the idea that their job is to campaign rather than to (also) inform.
Which countries do you think have a better media than Britain? At least here we have the BBC.
Anyone got the Perth & Kinross result yet? Its actually quite key as the Council is currently 16 Tories, 15 SNP plus some also rans. If the SNP win they may well regain control of the Council.
Kevin Alcock - @kevina364: Highland (Perth & Kinross) 1st pref Con 1907 SNP 1466 Ind 280 Lab 239 Green 104 LD 79 Ind 12 - Con Hold after round 6 on STV -1st Pref Swing (May 2017) SNP-Con 1.9%
@rkrkrk I haven’t see the Lansmann interview yet, I’ll try and watch it soon.
@Tissue_Price Prior to giving up on Corbyn, Jones IIRC was a cheerleader in much of the same way he is now. I think he might look back the 2017 GE thinking that Corbyn’s day to day incompetence didn’t matter as much as he thought it would given the result.
Anyone got the Perth & Kinross result yet? Its actually quite key as the Council is currently 16 Tories, 15 SNP plus some also rans. If the SNP win they may well regain control of the Council.
Kevin Alcock - @kevina364: Highland (Perth & Kinross) 1st pref Con 1907 SNP 1466 Ind 280 Lab 239 Green 104 LD 79 Ind 12 - Con Hold after round 6 on STV -1st Pref Swing (May 2017) SNP-Con 1.9%
Some people may not like Owen Jones (I don’t agree with all of what he says) but in period in which Corbyn’s Labour is polling 40%, it’s important to get an insight into how Corbynistas see the world. In that sense, he’s useful (his YouTube channel isn’t bad either - his interviews with various political figures including JRM, Hitchens and Soubry are pretty interesting). As it happens, I think the charge of ‘groupthink’ is something which could be applied to both the Labour Party leadership and the media.
Yes, I follow Owen Jones on Twitter. But (imo) his desperation to be allowed back into the Corbynite circle of trust [which he'll never be] has increasingly affected the quality of his output.
Back into?
Yes, before the great betrayal...
I thought that before that he was a Blairite whipping dog who then ratted to join the proletariat heros. Surprised that a rat ever got inside the circle of trust... that he re-ratted* is just proof that it should never happen again.
* and only Churchill gets to re-re-rat. And Owen ain’t Churchill...
You can join the heroes from whatever tradition cf. Emily Thornberry. But betrayal can't ever be forgiven.
Anyone got the Perth & Kinross result yet? Its actually quite key as the Council is currently 16 Tories, 15 SNP plus some also rans. If the SNP win they may well regain control of the Council.
Kevin Alcock - @kevina364: Highland (Perth & Kinross) 1st pref Con 1907 SNP 1466 Ind 280 Lab 239 Green 104 LD 79 Ind 12 - Con Hold after round 6 on STV -1st Pref Swing (May 2017) SNP-Con 1.9%
Good results for the Tories in both Wales and Scotland today then
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
I'd settle for journalists reporting and discussing both sides fairly and letting readers use their own brains. Dan always used to be a good read, but he's turned into a boring one-track mind. And yes, I'd like Polly Toynbee to air alternative arguments too, if only to say why she disagreed with them. The Watergate experience has infected far too many writers with the idea that their job is to campaign rather than to (also) inform.
Comments
The Lib Dems would presumably want Macron but are likely to find him too expensive. The remaining Blairites would love to have him too but would presumably be outvoted. Would Labour be tempted by Antonio Costa? He is doing a good job in Portugal and is at least coherent.
The Tories might think Merkel was just more of the same and possibly past her best anyway. I'd suspect that they would think that Schauble for Hammond would improve team performance considerably. I'd like to think they would not be tempted by Rajoy but there is a bit of the party that is that authoritarian. Mark Rutte seems to have lost some of his early promise but might still be worth a look. Donald Tusk is a class act but would presumably not be acceptable to the Eurosceptic majority. Varadkar looks a bit flashy for UK tastes but can at least speak English.
Alan Johnson: "It was an administrative decision taken by the UK Border Agency"
The decision to destroy the landing cards for Windrush migrants was taken under Labour, former home secretary Alan Johnson has said.
Asked if he knew about the 2009 decision, he told the BBC: "No, it was an administrative decision taken by the UK Border Agency."
The cards were then destroyed in 2010, when Theresa May was home secretary.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mrs May clashed over the issue at prime minister's questions.
On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn accused the government of being "callous and incompetent" and asked if Mrs May, then home secretary, had "signed off" on the decision to destroy the landing cards which was now "causing such pain and such stress to a whole generation" of Windrush migrants.
She replied that the decision had been taken under the previous Labour government in 2009.
Mr Johnson suggested that Mr Corbyn had been "misled" over the issue: "The previous evening, as I understand it... Number 10 were briefing that this happened in 2010.
"What she had up her sleeve, whether it was deliberate or whatever - all's fair in love and Prime Minister's Questions - was that the decision was taken under us."
Politics Hey
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/2018_generic_congressional_vote-6185.html
I'm not sure what Enten sees as gold standard (and why?) and don't have an opinion myself, though there is a general tendency to treat Rasmussen as biased to the Republicans. Overall it's hard to see much of a shift, though the lead might be fractionally down from 7-8ish to 5-6ish?
https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/987284850766962688
I have seen polling which uses name once decided, and only A Democrat and A Republican if not.
Is the result then just the cumulative result?
To be honest, feels a bit lower quality than the old one. Not that it affects me much. I rarely travel to foreign realms beyond the borders of Yorkshire.
Edited extra bit: also, my old one wasn't enclosed. Does that normally happen?
But it would be a shame to forget about them completely and, with the Westminster news machine on a go-slow today, it is a good time to post them.
but in a separate delivery.
Its an interesting question how long the polling companies continue to include them in the polling when the party is clearly dead and unlikely to fight another campaign in a meaningful way. They risk distortions once that 4% find out there is no UKIP candidate to vote for.
Mrs. Nester, thanks for that, I'll wait and see if it comes. Mildly surprised they wouldn't come together. Not a huge thing, it just surprised me.
But, I haven’t heard another suggestion, either.
The Queen will be pleased. Job done.
Make it political and you, necessarily, politicise it. HM can be a figurehead for the Commonwealth just as she is for the UK, whilst leaving the grubby practicalities of governance to elected (mostly) politicians.
Not to say Charles might not bugger this up. We must wish Her Majesty many more years of good health.
That suggests Labour net gains from the Tories in London but small net Tory gains from Labour in the rest of the country.
The LDs will do well in Remain areas like SW London but likely less well in areas which had a big UKIP vote in 2014 though nimbyism may help their vote in the Home Counties
I wonder whether a convention has been established today?
There has been at least one attempt iirc to set up a independent, leftish newspaper with union involvement.
It bombed totally.
https://twitter.com/wizbates/status/987297867776909312
https://twitter.com/Birdyword/status/987283631650623490
https://twitter.com/youngvulgarian/status/987296186372587520
Is that cultish groupthink, or objective reporting?
* the rest of the blame will be on Blairites.
As I say, Owen is helping along the narrative that the British will reject hard socialism at the ballot box because of the media's reporting of Corbyn.
The spat between him and Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) yesterday was illuminating (I think she's spot-on).
https://mobile.twitter.com/WelshConserv/status/987278284496031744
Tbh I put him being a cheerleader being down to the fact that the Labour leadership now reflects his views. Whereas when he first came to prominence the Labour leadership didn’t reflect his worldview.
The recent interview with Jon Lansmann was very interesting on anti-semitism.
* and only Churchill gets to re-re-rat. And Owen ain’t Churchill...
Prince Charles to be next Commonwealth head
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43840710
At least here we have the BBC.
@Tissue_Price Prior to giving up on Corbyn, Jones IIRC was a cheerleader in much of the same way he is now. I think he might look back the 2017 GE thinking that Corbyn’s day to day incompetence didn’t matter as much as he thought it would given the result.
http://hurryupharry.org/2018/04/19/labour-party-political-broadcast-includes-individual-who-has-posted-antisemitic-content/
Followed by
https://order-order.com/2018/04/20/producer-labours-race-row-election-broadcast-tweeted-jewish-kapos/
Nothing to see though, not at all.
https://order-order.com/2018/04/20/thornberry-dont-accept-russia-blocking-chemical-weapons-inspectors/
https://order-order.com/2018/04/20/corbyn-forgets-israel-independence-day/
The militant fighter against Anti semitism who errrr does nothing.