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  • notmenotme Posts: 3,293
    Anazina said:

    Roger said:

    Ishmael_Z said:

    Can someone clarify please.

    If you think that Jews should not occupy Israel that seems to make you anti Zionist.

    And being anti Zionist seems to make you anti semitic.

    Is this right?

    The question is more complicated than I thought.

    According to Wikipedia .............

    Semites, Semitic people or Semitic cultures (from the biblical "Shem", Hebrew: שם‎) was a term for an ethnic, cultural or racial group who speak or spoke the Semitic languages

    A DNA study of Jews and Palestinian Arabs (including Bedouins) found that these were more closely related to each other than to neighboring Arabs.

    Genetic studies indicate that modern Jews (Ashkenazi, Sephardic and Mizrahi specifically), Levantine Arabs, Assyrians, Samaritans, Maronites, Druze, Mandaeans, and Mhallami, all have an ancient indigenous common Near Eastern heritage which can be genetically mapped back to the ancient Fertile Crescent, but often also display genetic profiles distinct from one another, indicating the different histories of these peoples.

    Hence those racially against Palestinians are also anti semitic it seems.
    True, but also a quibble (also a reason for thinking that "judeophobia" should be substituted for "anti-semitism.")

    I think (but am willing to be corrected) that to be anti-Zionist is to be against Israeli expansionism and its methods of expanding. If you are against the existence of Israel at all you run in to the problem of what to do with all its citizens. Do you send them "home" bearing in mind there must be 4th and 5th generation Israel-born Jews there now? Or what?
    Zionists believe Israel including Judea and Samaria (The West Bank and beyond) is the home of the Jewish people and they must therefore limit the gentiles who are allowed to live there as keeping it a majority Jewish state is fundamental. Thus the 'Right of Return' which gives all Jews the right to live in Israel is denied to all non Jews -even those born there-which is why some call it a racist/apartheid state
    Could you just convert to Judaism while being of another race? How easy is that to do?
    To convert you have to really really want it. It involves study, and a level of commitment.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,502



    Lightweights. Try Wizz Air out of Luton.

    I have. Seemed fine, what's the problem?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,472
    edited April 2018

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    Ha!
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    What with his championing 'illegal' Commonwealth citizens (which I think is genuinely important to him) and no customs union compromise (does he really care, or does it just curry favour with his party base?) Sir Boris Churchill would seem to be once again on manoeuvres.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,255

    What with his championing 'illegal' Commonwealth citizens (which I think is genuinely important to him) and no customs union compromise (does he really care, or does it just curry favour with his party base?) Sir Boris Churchill would seem to be once again on manoeuvres.
    Do it, Boris, do it. Flounce!
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584

    I think there has to be an amnesty on anyone who can show they have been participating in this country for (say) 10 years.

    It's all very well having a hostile environment going forward, and any immigrants will know that from now on, but the Immigration Act has effectively created a retrospective law. People would have to go back in time to keep documents they never were told they needed to keep. Totally disagree with TMay on this one.

  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,270
    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    Brilliant. :)
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited April 2018
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,657
    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited April 2018
    At the 2014 local elections these were the differences between the actual votes cast and the R&T projected national share:

    Votes cast %:
    Lab 35.65%
    Con 25.87%
    UKIP 15.55%
    LD 11.09%
    Greens 6.58%

    R&T projected national share:
    Lab 31%
    Con 29%
    UKIP 17%
    LD 13%

    http://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YbY7VeOahbUiqf31ZGjmnzvI3M_RfH4LJXwS1NexD9E/edit#
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited April 2018
    R&T are predicting the following shares this year:

    "Con 36% (-3% on last year, +6% on 2014)
    Lab 36% (+8% on last year, +5% on 2014)
    Lib Dem 18% (no change on last year, +7% on 2014)
    Ukip 2% (-2% on last year, -16% on 2014)"

    https://www.markpack.org.uk/154558/colin-rallings-michael-thrasher-2018-local-election-prediction/

    Therefore you'd expect the actual votes cast to be something like:

    Lab 41%
    Con 33%
    LD 16%
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    And of course allocate £5bn a year of the NHS budget to homeopathy, but for greater effect dilute it to 0.5p.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965
    AndyJS said:

    R&T are predicting the following shares this year:

    "Con 36% (-3% on last year, +6% on 2014)
    Lab 36% (+8% on last year, +5% on 2014)
    Lib Dem 18% (no change on last year, +7% on 2014)
    Ukip 2% (-2% on last year, -16% on 2014)"

    https://www.markpack.org.uk/154558/colin-rallings-michael-thrasher-2018-local-election-prediction/

    Therefore you'd expect the actual votes cast to be something like:

    Lab 41%
    Con 33%
    LD 16%

    Thanks Andy - useful advance information. For what it's worth, I'm expecting the Tories to come out ahead on the R&T/BBC projected national figures by approx. 2%.
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382



    PMQs - Snap verdict: For many listeners that may have been a confusing PMQs to follow, because for much of it Corbyn and May appeared to be talking at complete cross purposes, but there was no escaping the fact that May was dodging legitimate and awkward questions about the impact of her policies as home secretary and Corbyn successfully had her wriggling.

    He repeatedly asked why she ignored warnings about the impact her “hostile environment” strategy would have on Windrush generation migrants, and she couldn’t answer. Instead she more or less ignored the points he was making and kept trying to bring the exchanges back to the issue of illegal immigration, not legal, Windrush-era immigration.

    It may well be the case that there is more public support for May than Labour MPs (or Guardian readers) would care to admit when she says the public do want to see government crack down on illegal immigration. And Corbyn’s firm questioning took a slightly odd turn right at the end, when he threw in a surprise call for Amber Rudd’s resignation after an exchange that had focused on May’s own culpability.

    But, overall, May was very much on the defensive and her efforts to defend herself against Corbyn by quoting Liam Byrne and Yvette Cooper against him was a strategy doomed to failure. You won’t find “controls on immigration” mugs on sale at Labour HQ anymore, and there is a very good reason why Cooper is no longer shadow home secretary. Corbyn can’t be held to responsible for Labour immigration policy pre-2015; he opposed it as strongly as anyone.

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2018/apr/25/pmqs-may-corbyn-david-davis-amber-rudd-windrush-questioned-by-commons-brexit-committee-politics-live

    Just got in , read the snap verdict.However without reading the whole thread.One thing is certain , I bet big g called it for May ?
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,898

    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    Brilliant. :)
    Dilute Tredinnick - he'd be more effective if we only heard him talk about Homeopathy once every ten years.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,853
    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,979
    Anazina said:

    Please pray for me.

    I'm going to see Liverpool play Roma next week, and I'm scared because of the Roma fans I'm going to have to fly on Ryanair.

    You are going to be in for a real shock there!
    Is Ryanair that bad?
    I had to endure it late last year. I am still in counselling.....
    Train it is then.
    In all fairness, if you fly RyanAir with zero expectations of it being much more than being transported like cattle and have noise cancelling headphones to drown out the noise of the stag parties and the constant adverts trying to flog you some RyanAir related crap, it isn't the end of the world.

    I wouldn't want to be on there for more than 2hrs though and would never choose to fly with them (EasyJet are much better if you are going no frills).

    Late time I was sat next to a homeless guy who tried to tell me all about his life. I am guessing flying RyanAir was cheaper than staying in a hostel in the middle of winter.
    The main problem with the no frills airline EasyJet is that they are no longer cheap. In fact they haven't been cheap for ages. They price cut to smoke out the opposition and then hiked up their prices once they got route monopolies. On the routes where they do compete with mainline carriers like BA, BA are often very close to them in headline price and considerably cheaper once you account for EasyJet's daft surcharges and stupid flight times. I recently saved £60 and hours of sleep by choosing BA to Milan over EasyJet simply because their flight times were at a civilised hour. If you have to get a cab in the morning to the airport because the tube isn't yet running, you are making a false economy.
    I enjoy flying now about as much as Alec Guiness enjoyed his corrugated iron box in Bridge Over The River Kwai.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
    It could close down one of the most productive plants in the world and move to a heavily regulated country then be stuffed by intransigent workers and unions.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,147
    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    They still actually count votes?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965
    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    It always takes longer if you have to wait until the votes are actually cast before you can count them.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    felix said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    They still actually count votes?
    In those two locations they weigh them.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
    It could close down one of the most productive plants in the world and move to a heavily regulated country then be stuffed by intransigent workers and unions.
    You have just explained the rationale for keeping Sunderland open with a customs arrangement.
  • HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617
    Anazina said:


    The main problem with the no frills airline EasyJet is that they are no longer cheap. In fact they haven't been cheap for ages. They price cut to smoke out the opposition and then hiked up their prices once they got route monopolies. On the routes where they do compete with mainline carriers like BA, BA are often very close to them in headline price and considerably cheaper once you account for EasyJet's daft surcharges and stupid flight times. I recently saved £60 and hours of sleep by choosing BA to Milan over EasyJet simply because their flight times were at a civilised hour. If you have to get a cab in the morning to the airport because the tube isn't yet running, you are making a false economy.

    Have to disagree with you there. In the main, Easyjet remains very competitive. I flew with them from Gatwick to Paris yesterday, booking only one day ahead, for just £160 return, less than half the last minute Eurostar fare.
  • Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Diane Abbot is helping with adding the numbers up?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,508

    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    Brilliant. :)
    Dilute Tredinnick - he'd be more effective if we only heard him talk about Homeopathy once every ten years.
    Or perhaps if only the almost imperceptible trace of his arse remained on the Parliamentary benches ?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,508

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Diane Abbot is helping with adding the numbers up?
    Your critique of her numeracy night be more persuasive if you could spell her name right...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    edited April 2018
    HHemmelig said:

    Anazina said:


    The main problem with the no frills airline EasyJet is that they are no longer cheap. In fact they haven't been cheap for ages. They price cut to smoke out the opposition and then hiked up their prices once they got route monopolies. On the routes where they do compete with mainline carriers like BA, BA are often very close to them in headline price and considerably cheaper once you account for EasyJet's daft surcharges and stupid flight times. I recently saved £60 and hours of sleep by choosing BA to Milan over EasyJet simply because their flight times were at a civilised hour. If you have to get a cab in the morning to the airport because the tube isn't yet running, you are making a false economy.

    Have to disagree with you there. In the main, Easyjet remains very competitive. I flew with them from Gatwick to Paris yesterday, booking only one day ahead, for just £160 return, less than half the last minute Eurostar fare.
    The only reason I was on PlebAir when I flew over Christmas was that it only cost £50 return.

    I think it would be more precise to say there are a lot less really cheap fairs on RyanAir / EasyJet, long gone are the days of the £1 flights.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,853
    TGOHF said:

    felix said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    They still actually count votes?
    In those two locations they weigh them.
    You'd have thought so, but Labour doesn't actually control Tower Hamlets at the moment - so there is actually alot to play for there for Labour (Obviously in a GE they hoover their left wing opposition vote up)
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
    It could close down one of the most productive plants in the world and move to a heavily regulated country then be stuffed by intransigent workers and unions.
    You have just explained the rationale for keeping Sunderland open with a customs arrangement.
    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506

    I'm old enough to remember when PMQs lasted for 15 mins.

    And was twice a week.
  • HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617


    I think it would be more precise to say there are a lot less really cheap fairs on RyanAir / EasyJet, long gone are the days of the £1 flights.

    £1 fares were always daft and unsustainable. In the main, the low cost carriers remain very competitively priced compared with the alternatives, including relative to the train fare for trips to Scotland and Paris/Brussels, especially for short notice travel.

    Re your "Pleb Air" comment - I wouldn't say there's much difference between legacy carriers like BA and Easyjet any more on short haul routes, in terms of quality of service.

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    edited April 2018
    HHemmelig said:


    I think it would be more precise to say there are a lot less really cheap fairs on RyanAir / EasyJet, long gone are the days of the £1 flights.

    £1 fares were always daft and unsustainable. In the main, the low cost carriers remain very competitively priced compared with the alternatives, including relative to the train fare for trips to Scotland and Paris/Brussels, especially for short notice travel.

    Re your "Pleb Air" comment - I wouldn't say there's much difference between legacy carriers like BA and Easyjet any more on short haul routes, in terms of quality of service.

    There is still a difference in the clientele on RyanAir compared to BA...you don't get many fighting stag doos on BA.

    As I said down below, I think EasyJet is perfectly fine, decent service and fly to the main airports of a city.

    RyanAir is a different kettle of fish, with it constant hard sell of products for pretty much every minute you are on the flight before often dropping you off miles away from the city you are wanting to visit (I remember when they tried to claim that flying you to Malmo was Copenhagen).
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    HHemmelig said:


    I think it would be more precise to say there are a lot less really cheap fairs on RyanAir / EasyJet, long gone are the days of the £1 flights.

    £1 fares were always daft and unsustainable. In the main, the low cost carriers remain very competitively priced compared with the alternatives, including relative to the train fare for trips to Scotland and Paris/Brussels, especially for short notice travel.

    Re your "Pleb Air" comment - I wouldn't say there's much difference between legacy carriers like BA and Easyjet any more on short haul routes, in terms of quality of service.

    There is still a difference in the clientele on RyanAir compared to BA...you don't get many fighting stag doos on BA.

    As I said down below, I think EasyJet is perfectly fine. RyanAir is a different kettle of fish, with it constant hard sell of products for pretty much every minute you are on the flight.
    I find there is a vast discrepancy in prices where both Easyjet and Ryanair run (e.g. Stansted to Edinburgh) and destinations where only one flies.

  • HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617
    TGOHF said:


    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    You Brexiters are always sneering that the predictions of widespread plant closures in the UK haven't happened yet...well here's one example from the real world that I learned of today (courtesy of a bulk shipping agent).

    Tate & Lyle have apparently decided to shut 2 of their 7 UK sugar plants and shift the lost production to elsewhere in the EU, specifically due to concerns over the post-Brexit trading environment.

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    HHemmelig said:


    I think it would be more precise to say there are a lot less really cheap fairs on RyanAir / EasyJet, long gone are the days of the £1 flights.

    £1 fares were always daft and unsustainable. In the main, the low cost carriers remain very competitively priced compared with the alternatives, including relative to the train fare for trips to Scotland and Paris/Brussels, especially for short notice travel.

    Re your "Pleb Air" comment - I wouldn't say there's much difference between legacy carriers like BA and Easyjet any more on short haul routes, in terms of quality of service.

    If I remember the £1 fares we possible in no small part to kick-backs from local tourist development funds, but the EU ruled them state aid.
  • Nigelb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Diane Abbot is helping with adding the numbers up?
    Your critique of her numeracy night be more persuasive if you could spell her name right...
    I missed a T off her surname. BFD
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
    It could close down one of the most productive plants in the world and move to a heavily regulated country then be stuffed by intransigent workers and unions.
    You have just explained the rationale for keeping Sunderland open with a customs arrangement.
    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    So paragraph 1 implies some sort of....customs arrangement.

    Paragraph 2, I have no doubt a full-Soviet Corbyn government let loose on the economy would be bad. I also happen to think 'cliff edge' Brexit would be an equally disastrous outcome. However after five years we can start to rebuild from the ashes post Corbyn. With Brexit we are lumbered for eternity. Now Corbyn AND Brexit that spells armageddon!
  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    Quincel said:

    Can someone clarify please.

    If you think that Jews should not occupy Israel that seems to make you anti Zionist.

    And being anti Zionist seems to make you anti semitic.

    Is this right?

    The question is more complicated than I thought.

    According to Wikipedia .............

    Semites, Semitic people or Semitic cultures (from the biblical "Shem", Hebrew: שם‎) was a term for an ethnic, cultural or racial group who speak or spoke the Semitic languages

    A DNA study of Jews and Palestinian Arabs (including Bedouins) found that these were more closely related to each other than to neighboring Arabs.

    Genetic studies indicate that modern Jews (Ashkenazi, Sephardic and Mizrahi specifically), Levantine Arabs, Assyrians, Samaritans, Maronites, Druze, Mandaeans, and Mhallami, all have an ancient indigenous common Near Eastern heritage which can be genetically mapped back to the ancient Fertile Crescent, but often also display genetic profiles distinct from one another, indicating the different histories of these peoples.

    Hence those racially against Palestinians are also anti semitic it seems.
    No, the word 'anti-semitic' has changed meaning over time. Etymologically it comes from the word 'semitic' which indeed is a technical term referring to various Middle-Eastern peoples. But 'anti-semitic' has for a long time now referred exclusively to racism against Jews.

    Likewise, the distinction between Zionism and Judaism is an important one. Zionism is a belief in a Jewish state in Israel, being 'pro-zionist' is now also used to mean supporting the way Israel currently acts. Judaism is a culture and/or belief system (depending on the individual) of which support for a Jewish state in Israel is entirely optional. There are some Jews who think Israel shouldn't exist, and many more who think that while it should the current Israeli government acts poorly and should be criticised.

    Being anti-zionist refers to opposing the State of Israel, or opposing various actions of Israel. There is no reason to object to Jewish people generally or Jewish culture generally in order to do this.
    This is the difficulty. Many regard being anti Zionist as being anti-Jew and anti-semitic. This is because saying Jews have no right to be in Israel is a comment against all Jews, implies making current Jewish residents of Israel both stateless and homeless rather than a comment against the current Israeli government.

    Both sides can be argued. How does the Labour party make a decision about anti-Zionists being anti-semitic or not?

  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,270
    edited April 2018
    HHemmelig said:

    TGOHF said:


    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    You Brexiters are always sneering that the predictions of widespread plant closures in the UK haven't happened yet...well here's one example from the real world that I learned of today (courtesy of a bulk shipping agent).

    Tate & Lyle have apparently decided to shut 2 of their 7 UK sugar plants and shift the lost production to elsewhere in the EU, specifically due to concerns over the post-Brexit trading environment.

    Please cite sources for that. It sounds like utter bollocks given that Tate and Lyle campaigned vigorously for Brexit and last month confirmed that support again and launched an attack on the EU because it imposes 35% tariffs on the import of cane sugar.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,442
    Logically the diminution in value of Grenfell flats (by which I mean flats with Grenfell cladding - not Grenfell itself) should be capped by their proportion of liability to replace the cladding. Otherwise, a developer could purchase all the flats in the building, do the work, and then sell at a healthy profit.

    No doubt such a substantive fall is actually being driven by the fact they have become unmortgageable, so that the real value is the value a cash buyer would ascribe to the property to take a risk.

    £50,000 flats that let out at £12k p.a would make an interesting BTL investment even with the threat of a bill...
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,150
    edited April 2018
    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,270

    Foxy said:

    David Tredinnick banging on about homeopathy.

    Eesh

    The way to make NHS homeopathy more effective is to dilute it further. If we only make one homeopathic prescription per year, just imagine the potency in a population of 62 million people. Allopaths would appreciate the savings and everyone is a winner!
    Brilliant. :)
    Dilute Tredinnick - he'd be more effective if we only heard him talk about Homeopathy once every ten years.
    LOL. True but you have to admit he has a high amusement factor. Maybe he is a one man placebo effect.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190

    HHemmelig said:

    TGOHF said:


    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    You Brexiters are always sneering that the predictions of widespread plant closures in the UK haven't happened yet...well here's one example from the real world that I learned of today (courtesy of a bulk shipping agent).

    Tate & Lyle have apparently decided to shut 2 of their 7 UK sugar plants and shift the lost production to elsewhere in the EU, specifically due to concerns over the post-Brexit trading environment.

    Please cite sources for that. It sounds like utter bollocks given that Tate and Lyle campaigned vigorously for Brexit and last month confirmed that support again and launched an attack on the EU because it imposes 35% tariffs on the import of cane sugar.
    It does sound like something British Sugar rather than Tate and Lyle would indulge in.
  • NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,329
    With the topics on here today I have noticed an inherent problem for Labour. If you believe as I do that the Windrush generation are British due to the fact they have been here since the 50s and 60s then how can you want to end Israel many who have been there since the 50s and 60s?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    McCluskey does his level best to calm things down.

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/04/corbyn-ultimatum

    Militant throwback to the 70s nonsense. How did he think this piece would help Corbyn is a mystery.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    The McCluskey piece simply confirms what we already knew: Corbyn isn’t going anywhere, despite the antipathy the PLP feels towards him.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,270

    HHemmelig said:

    TGOHF said:


    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    You Brexiters are always sneering that the predictions of widespread plant closures in the UK haven't happened yet...well here's one example from the real world that I learned of today (courtesy of a bulk shipping agent).

    Tate & Lyle have apparently decided to shut 2 of their 7 UK sugar plants and shift the lost production to elsewhere in the EU, specifically due to concerns over the post-Brexit trading environment.

    Please cite sources for that. It sounds like utter bollocks given that Tate and Lyle campaigned vigorously for Brexit and last month confirmed that support again and launched an attack on the EU because it imposes 35% tariffs on the import of cane sugar.
    It does sound like something British Sugar rather than Tate and Lyle would indulge in.
    Yep. The whole system is balanced massively in favour of British Sugar and other Beet processors.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,700
    Ms. Apocalypse, indeed. It'd be very surprising if Corbyn didn't lead Labour into the next election.

    I'd be even more surprised if Labour MPs actually resigned the whip to form a new party, or took other drastic action. (To be fair, I didn't think they'd go as far as they did last Parliament, but they screwed that up when Whatshisname McNeverheardofhim was their alternative candidate [aided by the idiocy of the Milibandite rules reforms, although the PLP itself is to blame for putting Corbyn on the shortlist in 2015]).

    Whilst I hope Mr. Observer et al. succeed, I don't think they will. And, ultimately, if Corbyn remains then every moment others support 'Labour' they're helping to get Corbyn into Ten Downing Street.
  • NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,329

    Logically the diminution in value of Grenfell flats (by which I mean flats with Grenfell cladding - not Grenfell itself) should be capped by their proportion of liability to replace the cladding. Otherwise, a developer could purchase all the flats in the building, do the work, and then sell at a healthy profit.

    No doubt such a substantive fall is actually being driven by the fact they have become unmortgageable, so that the real value is the value a cash buyer would ascribe to the property to take a risk.

    £50,000 flats that let out at £12k p.a would make an interesting BTL investment even with the threat of a bill...

    I heard on the radio this morning that the Association of British insurers were concerned that the official testing of cladding did not happen in 'real life' conditions. Not sure if I understand how the building research establishment can do rigorous scientific testing in laboratory conditions, and also allow for real life conditions!
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Tate & Lyle does not refine sugar, and has not since 2010.
  • AnazinaAnazina Posts: 3,487
    Hemmling

    You aren’t comparing airlines there. Eurostar is relatively expensive but far quicker centre to centre than air on that route, so you are paying for speed and convenience. The new direct Amsterdam route will be similarly good once the Dutch sort out their customs posts.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Hackney must be a day count and Tower Hamlets a night one.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    dr_spyn said:

    McCluskey does his level best to calm things down.

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/04/corbyn-ultimatum

    Militant throwback to the 70s nonsense. How did he think this piece would help Corbyn is a mystery.

    He doesn't want to help - he wants to cleanse the party ASAP.

    Omlette, eggs.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    TGOHF said:

    The Customs Union is a silly thing for Boris to get in a huff about. Fair enough, with FoM you can have strong and divergent opinions about the impact of unfettered migration and its social consequences. But if those in the know say trade will be better served with the EU rather than with Liam's trade deals, then everyone will just think 'fair enough'. Trading arrangements will hardly cause riots on the streets.

    Customs union prevents you from making trade deals and locks in high prices from protectionist tariffs. Well worth resigning over.
    The flip side to that argument is Mini production moves to Antwerp and Nissan to some under-utilized Renault plant, and so on. As only 20% of the UK economy relies on manufacturing a free trade agreement with Venezuela is a price worth paying, I guess.
    It could close down one of the most productive plants in the world and move to a heavily regulated country then be stuffed by intransigent workers and unions.
    You have just explained the rationale for keeping Sunderland open with a customs arrangement.
    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    So paragraph 1 implies some sort of....customs arrangement.
    No problem with an arrangement - but not a union that locks all members into the protectionist trade cartel shenannigans of the EU.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,799

    Tate & Lyle does not refine sugar, and has not since 2010.

    No wonder they want to close a couple of their plants. :p
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,442
    Associated British Foods (ABF) which owns the old British Sugar (sold under the "Silver Spoon" brand) has had a good trading period, albeit driven by Primark*

    *Neither British nor a Food, but there you go
  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,704
    HHemmelig said:

    TGOHF said:


    Only if you believe the Germans want to have any sort of tariffs on goods coming into the Uk.

    A bigger threat to the productivity of Nissan in Sunderland than Brexit is Corbyn becoming PM.

    You Brexiters are always sneering that the predictions of widespread plant closures in the UK haven't happened yet...well here's one example from the real world that I learned of today (courtesy of a bulk shipping agent).

    Tate & Lyle have apparently decided to shut 2 of their 7 UK sugar plants and shift the lost production to elsewhere in the EU, specifically due to concerns over the post-Brexit trading environment.

    I heard it was because the government had the audacity to offer them a sweetener.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,442
    AndyJS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Hackney must be a day count and Tower Hamlets a night one.
    In Tower Hamlets, they don't have to count the ballots. They know what the result will be already
  • dr_spyn said:

    McCluskey does his level best to calm things down.

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/04/corbyn-ultimatum

    Militant throwback to the 70s nonsense. How did he think this piece would help Corbyn is a mystery.

    Compare and contrast:

    McClusky: "There is, to say the least, a marked overlap between those who backed Theresa May in risking a new bloody intervention in the Middle East, and those who work overtime trying to present the Labour Party as a morass of misogyny, anti-Semitism and bullying. How dare they try to toxify the Labour Party that has been the voice and hope of millions of ordinary working people for generations, including the nearly 13 million people who voted for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in 2017?"

    Jennie Formby (letter to all CLPs) "As Jeremy Corbyn has made clear, tackling antisemitism in the party is a central priority. If your party is considering holding such discussions, please therefore make every effort to ensure they take place on our founding principles of solidarity and equality. Criticism of any individual or organisation who has expressed concern about antisemitism would be deeply unhelpful to that process."

    And this "deeply unhelpful" crap goes on daily online and within my own CLP. A bunch of utter wassocks* determined to keep the antisemitism train a rolling by denying there is a train. Have been several points this last month where I've considered "ah fuck it walk away" as an option. But if I do that the lunatics win. And we can't afford that because Tories.

    *with esses not zeds because Lancashire
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,344
    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    edited April 2018

    Associated British Foods (ABF) which owns the old British Sugar (sold under the "Silver Spoon" brand) has had a good trading period, albeit driven by Primark*

    *Neither British nor a Food, but there you go

    That £50,000 ABF gave the guy to setup Primark has had a hell of an ROI...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    A Russian scientist who claimed to develop the nerve agent that poisoned Sergei Skripal has reportedly been hit by a car in Russia

    http://uk.businessinsider.com/skripal-poisoning-novichok-scientist-vladimir-uglev-reportedly-hit-by-car-in-russia-2018-4
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,853
    edited April 2018
    I have no idea if Macron likes Trump personally, but France seems to be just about the only country that has dealt with the President of the United States of America as with the office rather than the man in office.
    Our offering POTUS the red carpet treatment then withdrawing/delaying indefinitely really isn't a great look for diplomatic relations. Especially when you consider some past leaders that have had the works when they've visited here. Trump has probably paid no heed personally to the slight - but others in his administration will have noted it.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,508

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    Given the current Johnson’s propensity to spray in all directions, having the protection of a tent would seem preferable to his being inside...
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,700
    Mr. Urquhart, shockingly unsurprising.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,190
    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    You have pretty horrific nightmares! Was it all OK when you woke up?
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,385
    Another towering day in the history of the Labour Party.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,508
    Pulpstar said:

    I have no idea if Macron likes Trump personally, but France seems to be just about the only country that has dealt with the President of the United States of America as with the office rather than the man in office.
    Our offering POTUS the red carpet treatment then withdrawing/delaying indefinitely really isn't a great look for diplomatic relations. Especially when you consider some past leaders that have had the works when they've visited here. Trump has probably paid no heed personally to the slight - but others in his administration will have noted it.
    Sim

    Nigelb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    AndyJS said:
    Wonder why Hackney is so much slower than Tower Hamlets..
    Diane Abbot is helping with adding the numbers up?
    Your critique of her numeracy night be more persuasive if you could spell her name right...
    I missed a T off her surname. BFD
    Like her, you seem to be a sensitive soul.

    :smile:
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,853
    Sim ?
  • He is going down a storm. US witnessing the difference between a leader and a disaster and no doubt wishing Macron and Trump would change places
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,442
    "Republican Debbie Lesko won the House special election in Arizona Tuesday night, holding off a closer-than-expected Democratic challenge in a district that President Donald Trump won by 21 points in 2016.

    Lesko had 53 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race an hour after the polls closed, with over 155,000 early votes tallied. Democrat Hiral Tipirneni had 47 percent of the vote."

    I assume I missed discussion before - something for both sides in the result, I think.

    Just pleased (having not stayed up - or got up early, it's about the most annoying possible time) the Dems never looked like winning
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    https://twitter.com/bbcjonsopel/status/989159178848669696

    Our media is literally obsessed with this ‘special relationship’ stuff, it’s beyond sad.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 62,749
    edited April 2018
    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.
    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be overwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.

    I did not call PMQ's for TM nor Corbyn. It was poor from both
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,344

    "Republican Debbie Lesko won the House special election in Arizona Tuesday night, holding off a closer-than-expected Democratic challenge in a district that President Donald Trump won by 21 points in 2016.

    Lesko had 53 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race an hour after the polls closed, with over 155,000 early votes tallied. Democrat Hiral Tipirneni had 47 percent of the vote."

    I assume I missed discussion before - something for both sides in the result, I think.

    Just pleased (having not stayed up - or got up early, it's about the most annoying possible time) the Dems never looked like winning

    If the DEMs pull back 15 points on the Republicans across the country should Trump expect to be dealing with a Dem Congress?
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.
    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be ovdrwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.

    I did not call PMQ's for TM nor Corbyn. It was poor from both
    Cheers big g , I got that wrong then.

    I thought May had ruled out joining a customs union ? Anyways I am sure it will be called a customs arrangement and as you say we move on.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.
    the hard Brexiteers will be overwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.

    Brave prediction.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,700
    Ms. Apocalypse, agreed. It's pathetic.

    Have to say, I found it faintly hilarious that Sopel was gushing about Macron's masterclass, including being touchy-feely. Can't quite recall that being said when Trump held May's hand.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,344
    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.

    If by pragmatic you means he’ll jump the way he thinks is populist......

    His Uxbridge (etc) majority dropped significantly in the 2017 election.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,150



    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be overwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.


    Boris is a proven winner (three times) and Tories want to saddle themselves with loser Theresa!

    It's baffling to me but there we are...
  • AndrewAndrew Posts: 2,900
    Yorkcity said:

    I thought May had ruled out joining a customs union ? Anyways I am sure it will be called a customs arrangement and as you say we move on.

    She has, but it's all negotiation atm though. Set a red line, then concede by fudging it a bit, it seems like a major concession ..... for which you can hopefully get a similar major concession in return.

  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395

    Another towering day in the history of the Labour Party.

    The question is do their voters care about it.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830

    Ms. Apocalypse, agreed. It's pathetic.

    Have to say, I found it faintly hilarious that Sopel was gushing about Macron's masterclass, including being touchy-feely. Can't quite recall that being said when Trump held May's hand.

    Looks like Macron’s and Trump’s love in is not going down well in France: https://twitter.com/cnni/status/989151033682259968
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382
    GIN1138 said:



    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be overwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.


    Boris is a proven winner (three times) and Tories want to saddle themselves with loser Theresa!

    It's baffling to me but there we are...
    Same here, maybe the main parties nowadays dislike winners.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,147

    https://twitter.com/bbcjonsopel/status/989159178848669696

    Our media is literally obsessed with this ‘special relationship’ stuff, it’s beyond sad.

    Agreed - we have crap politicians and a press corps to match. It's worse than a school playground.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,700
    Ms. Apocalypse, as per May, probably no-win for Macron. Get along with Trump and people boo-hiss, don't get along with him and you don't advance the national interest whatsoever.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,965

    Ms. Apocalypse, agreed. It's pathetic.

    Have to say, I found it faintly hilarious that Sopel was gushing about Macron's masterclass, including being touchy-feely. Can't quite recall that being said when Trump held May's hand.

    Looks like Macron’s and Trump’s love in is not going down well in France: https://twitter.com/cnni/status/989151033682259968
    He certainly is France's answer to Blair. Sucking up to an undesirable US President is all part of the package.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 13,800
    Pulpstar said:


    You'd have thought so, but Labour doesn't actually control Tower Hamlets at the moment - so there is actually alot to play for there for Labour (Obviously in a GE they hoover their left wing opposition vote up)

    There's a Mayoral Contest in Tower Hamlets, I believe, which will mean two sets of ballot papers to verify and count.

    TH looks a certain LAB gain and if that is all they manage it will be a disastrous night for Labour. The Queen Mary College poll due out tomorrow is going to be fascinating - Owen Jones tweeted it was bad for Labour but how would he know that ?

    IF the Conservatives hold Barnet, Kingston and Richmond it will be a tremendous escape for them from what seemed likely a couple of months back.

    From where I'm sitting, Labour need as a minimum to pick up TH and Barnet and/or one of Hillingdon, Westminster and Wandsworth. Two of the four would be decent, three very good and all four would be superb for them.

    For the LDs a great night means Kingston, Richmond and Sutton. Holding two of the three would be decent, just the one acceptable and to end up with none would be a disaster.

    For the Conservatives it's the reverse - the best scenario would be to hold all their current councils plus picking up Sutton and Havering. A net loss of zero Councils would be fine - ending up down two (Barnet and Kingston) acceptable but further losses would look poor and the nightmare scenario would see them left with Bromley. Bexley and K&C.

  • Yorkcity said:

    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.
    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be ovdrwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.

    I did not call PMQ's for TM nor Corbyn. It was poor from both
    Cheers big g , I got that wrong then.

    I thought May had ruled out joining a customs union ? Anyways I am sure it will be called a customs arrangement and as you say we move on.
    I consider myself to be reasonably practical and in addition have chaired various organisations over my working life and have normally been able to see that when something becomes impossible to attain due to lack of the numbers, then move on, and accept the reality and act accordingly

    The HOC oppose leaving a CU and when that is proven in the votes, TM will accept the will of the HOC and act accordingly. If some Brexiteers resign that will give her the opportunity to refresh her cabinet from the newer intake
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    edited April 2018
    This is how some commentators are interpreting Macron’s speech though:
    https://twitter.com/bbcjlandale/status/989164818711171072
    https://twitter.com/mepfuller/status/989165564869464065
    This dance with Trump is a tricky one....
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,414
    edited April 2018

    https://twitter.com/bbcjonsopel/status/989159178848669696

    Our media is literally obsessed with this ‘special relationship’ stuff, it’s beyond sad.

    Trudeau / Macron can do no wrong. Meet Trump, great, bomb Syria without consulting parliament, shrug, pass laws to deport illegal immigrants faster, no problemo....May does the same, boooooooooooo.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,577
    GIN1138 said:



    Boris's day has past and the hard Brexiteers will be overwhelmed in the HOC. I cannot see any other result than us remaining in some form of customs union and moving on.


    Boris is a proven winner (three times) and Tories want to saddle themselves with loser Theresa!

    It's baffling to me but there we are...
    "It is complete balderdash. It is an inverted pyramid of piffle. It is all completely untrue and ludicrous conjecture. I am amazed people can write this drivel."
  • rural_voterrural_voter Posts: 2,038
    edited April 2018

    This is how some commentators are interpreting Macron’s speech though:
    https://twitter.com/bbcjlandale/status/989164818711171072
    https://twitter.com/mepfuller/status/989165564869464065
    This dance with Trump is a tricky one....

    Especially if Trump agrees with the last person he's spoken to.

    I nominate Macron and Trudeau as the joint leaders of the free world. If the UN was effective, it would provide such PMs or Presidents with a greater role while they're in office.
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Yorkcity said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Time for Boris to make his move...

    Imagine Boris as PM, Gove as CotE and JRM as foreign Secretary.

    #dreamteam :D
    Good riddance say I! I know about the (Lyndon) Johnson view, but I wonder if our Johnson might find himself with fewer friends than he thinks he’ll have.
    I think the opposite OKc , Boris is a winner and a pragmatic one at that.As his intervention yesterday on a amnesty for immigration, as he previously suggested when London Mayor.

    If by pragmatic you means he’ll jump the way he thinks is populist......

    His Uxbridge (etc) majority dropped significantly in the 2017 election.
    Yes agreed , he in my opinion was a significant factor, when he eventually supported Brexit.

    Cameron desperately wanted him on the remain side.

    He is a good campaigner as is Corbyn .
This discussion has been closed.