politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Last night’s confidence vote points to a pathway to the leader

Beverley_C said:

Cyclefree said:

Ed Miliband has a sense of humour. Men underestimate its appeal.

Tony Blair: just no. Too many teeth. Reminds one of a weasel.

Cameron: the sort of boy your mother likes. But I'm allergic to smooth public school City types.

Osborne, I am told, is much nicer in private than his public image would suggest. I'd take an evening with him (talking - no sniggering at the back, please) over Cameron.

Corbyn can probably be charming.

With most of the rest of them you wonder how they managed to persuade anyone to have sex with them once let alone marry and procreate.

Blair always struck me as sweaty and there is nothing appealing about that.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/21/2431A1EB00000578-2882156-image-m-52_1419122431312.jpg

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

grabcocque said:

John_M said:

Cyclefree said:

Jonathan said:

Cyclefree said:

I see our wonderful OGH has chosen a photo of Johnson which reinforces my remark from yesterday evening about Boris looking like - and having all the sex appeal - of an overboiled potato.

Do politicians need sex appeal? The last truly sexy PM was, according to Edwina Curie, John Major.

Well, they don't appear to have any brains or common-sense or knowledge of history or strategy or ability to persuade.

So we may as well judge them on their f***ability.

Mrs Thatcher was a raging beauty in her youth.

I wouldn't go that far.

She looked OK

I'm starting to worry about you, Sunil!

Really?

Most of us have been worried for some time!

I haven't mentioned Rachel Reeves in ages have I?

But then again, there's Heidi Allen and Penny Mordaunt.

Unfortunate moment in staff briefing today, about uniform. We were discussing the problem that certain young ladies were wearing blouses that, umm, leave gaps across certain parts of their body, and skirts that do not fully cover other parts.

We were also discussing how best we could tackle this, and the need for care by male members of staff in doing so.

Senior teacher, female, on this issue:

'I realise it's hard on you men...'

viewcode said:

Cyclefree said:

viewcode said:

Cyclefree said:

Jonathan said:

Do politicians need sex appeal? The last truly sexy PM was, according to Edwina Curie, John Major.

Well, they don't appear to have any brains or common-sense or knowledge of history or strategy or ability to persuade.

So we may as well judge them on their f***ability.

Problem is, it doesn't scale. Some of the beautiful women and handsome men have very ugly opinions, and some of the plain and ugly are kindly and wise.

I was at this point going to compile a list of attractive politicians and crossreferenece against sanity of thought, but it'd take me all night...

Given how few attractive ones there are, about half an hour should do it, I'd have thought.

Please don't make me a list. Dependent on taste, there a quite a few good looking men and women in politics. And if you bring USA, Commonwealth or European politicians into the mix, the numbers go up even further.

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.

Game over.

viewcode said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

I not sure Elon Musk would have been quite as successful with the ladies if he hadn't become a billionaire,

[Instantly googles "Elon Musk hair transplant"]

He's really nailed the ever popular 'gerbil inna wind tunnel' look.

justin124 said:

HYUFD said:

Yorkcity said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Yorkcity said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Is stopBoris something every PBer can actually agree on?

No , I am with HYFUD .
Boris beats Corbyn IMO.

Not sure May or any of the other contenders will.
If he gets to the Conservative members ballot , I think he wins.

Genuine question. Why do you think he beats corbyn but say Javid doesn’t?

I would have thought corbyn could easily dismantle Boris with all his baggage, his “of the few rather than the many” background etc

Because in their own way they are both populist.
I honestly believe to members of the public , who are not interested in politics.
Boris Johnson has cut through with those , who only tune in at general election time,with no party allegiance .
Javid is a good cabinet Minster but would not reach those mentioned above.

Yes Boris is the UK Trump or Berlusconi, a populist who can rouse the masses, Javid the UK's Marco Rubio, ie he looks better on paper then in practice

That may once have had an element of truth in it , but he is now widely perceived to be a pretty vile human being.

Boris or Javid?

Foxy said:

El_Capitano said:

viewcode said:

Cyclefree said:

viewcode said:

Cyclefree said:

Jonathan said:

Do politicians need sex appeal? The last truly sexy PM was, according to Edwina Curie, John Major.

Well, they don't appear to have any brains or common-sense or knowledge of history or strategy or ability to persuade.

So we may as well judge them on their f***ability.

Problem is, it doesn't scale. Some of the beautiful women and handsome men have very ugly opinions, and some of the plain and ugly are kindly and wise.

I was at this point going to compile a list of attractive politicians and crossreferenece against sanity of thought, but it'd take me all night...

Given how few attractive ones there are, about half an hour should do it, I'd have thought.

Please don't make me a list. Dependent on taste, there a quite a few good looking men and women in politics. And if you bring USA, Commonwealth or European politicians into the mix, the numbers go up even further.

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.

Game over.

Good call. I would get my pencil out for her.

TMI

http://listamaze.com/top-10-most-beautiful-politicians-in-the-world/

viewcode said:

http://listamaze.com/top-10-most-beautiful-politicians-in-the-world/

Very nice, though the effect is somewhat diminished by the pop-up pictures of Jim Davidson.

Wrt to the strange sex appeal of EdM, I recall that his brother was wont to set the pulses racing of certain female acquaintances of mine.

grabcocque said:

Hoepfully by the next referendum, Farage will be serving a lengthy sentence at His Mueller's pleasure.

Hopefully he'll be 30 years into it.

John_M said:

ydoethur said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Don’t hate me cos I’m beautiful.

In my case there's no danger of that.

I have to use a photo of a steam engine as my avatar because there are no known photos of me. Every time I look at a camera it breaks.

You have my sympathy.

In my youth I executed a high velocity exit via the rear side window of a Ford Cortina, without benefit of opening either door or said window (for our younger readers, this was in days of yore before rear seat belts or safety glass), due to being hit by a lorry. My face is, sad to say, not a pretty sight, though somewhat disguised by the wrinkles these days!

That's a grim story, for which you have my sympathy.

But I'm just naturally no Brad Pitt.

Meanwhile, apparently Theresa May has hit on a brilliant solution to the problem of the backstop - just specify a date for the new trade agreement to come into force.

grabcocque said:

This is always the best time to remind people that young Stalin was a stone-cold absolute 10/10 hottie.

He has kind eyes.

AlastairMeeks said:

justin124 said:

grabcocque said:

The Tories are running a three line whip all through next week.

So they clearly expect a VONC is a serious possibility. That tends to focus the minds. Discussions, I imagine, remain ongoing.

I think Labour should move the VONC anyway. Put the DUP on the spot. They know May cannot deliver what they ask, so get them to put their money where their mouth is.

I fail to see that Labour has anything to lose by moving a VONC. If it does not succeed , they can follow Thatcher's example by tabling another motion in late January - or whenever.

The DUP are not going to support a formal vote of no confidence. They’re playing a much cleverer game.

Interviewer need to be much tougher on pushing them to state a position on a second referendum or no Brexit.

I see PB has descended into hot or not.

RobD said:

I see PB has descended into hot or not.

Ascended...

Casino_Royale said:

Jonathan said:

Cyclefree said:

I see our wonderful OGH has chosen a photo of Johnson which reinforces my remark from yesterday evening about Boris looking like - and having all the sex appeal - of an overboiled potato.

Do politicians need sex appeal? The last truly sexy PM was, according to Edwina Curie, John Major.

Both Tony Blair and David Cameron had sex appeal at the start.

Bizarrely, for reasons I’ve never quite understood, so did Ed Miliband.

He's obviously a charming chap. As I am a fond of recalling there was that piece during the GE or before about his wife and previous partners, and it almost seemed to be suggesting he was a loser somehow, despite having involved with many talented, accomplished and beautiful women.

ydoethur said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Don’t hate me cos I’m beautiful.

In my case there's no danger of that.

I have to use a photo of a steam engine as my avatar because there are no known photos of me. Every time I look at a camera it breaks.

Think that's bad? My face is so bad I have to use a balaclava. I would use a paper bag, but the balaclava's warmer.

justin124 said:

HYUFD said:

Yorkcity said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Yorkcity said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Is stopBoris something every PBer can actually agree on?

No , I am with HYFUD .
Boris beats Corbyn IMO.

Not sure May or any of the other contenders will.
If he gets to the Conservative members ballot , I think he wins.

Genuine question. Why do you think he beats corbyn but say Javid doesn’t?

I would have thought corbyn could easily dismantle Boris with all his baggage, his “of the few rather than the many” background etc

Because in their own way they are both populist.
I honestly believe to members of the public , who are not interested in politics.
Boris Johnson has cut through with those , who only tune in at general election time,with no party allegiance .
Javid is a good cabinet Minster but would not reach those mentioned above.

Yes Boris is the UK Trump or Berlusconi, a populist who can rouse the masses, Javid the UK's Marco Rubio, ie he looks better on paper then in practice

That may once have had an element of truth in it , but he is now widely perceived to be a pretty vile human being.

Yep, HY remains behind the times.

This is probably not to most people's musical taste, but I was reflecting that (perhaps unsurprisingly) Macron himself has turned out to be Perlimpinpin salesman... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCK-7Hki4II

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Beverley_C said:

https://www.ranker.com/list/hot-male-politicians/ashley-reign

That has Vladimir Putin at 22! I quote "As more and more images surface on the World Wide Web of Vladimir Putin shirtless, riding horses, and snuggling animals, it gets harder and harder to remember his stance on domestic policies. At 63, he's officially in silver fox territory. " Yikes!

If we are going to comment upon men, then may I present to you the following

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Sánchez_(politician)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Heinrich
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Linde_(Swedish_politician)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Kinzinger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_Leite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Valls

and - I hate to say it, but be honest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Ireland. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

As the Spartan said:

"If'

Apologies if someone has already made that comment.

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Is he referring to unaffordable housing, accumulated debt, student fees or uncontrolled immigration ?

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

I jest not. The Unionists are, bluntly, on the wrong side of history and demographics. If they don't flex, then a united Ireland beckons.

That may be so but I do think that 'the wrong side of history' is a common but dumb phrase in a lot of ways.

Benpointer said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

Neither is living within their means.

Perhaps if they want the political and social situation of 1968 Ulster they could accept the financial situation of 1968 Ulster.

Today I posted a Christmas parcel to my son who is working in Turkey. The postmistress in this very white part of Scotland wondered for a moment whether Turkey was already in the EU before deciding that they're "not in just yet". The Tories got less than a sixth of the vote here in the 2017 GE, and less than a twelfth in 2015, and the small business class in this part of the world is mainly SNP or Labour. She was not interested in my referencing David Cameron's observation that at the current rate of progress Turkey won't join the EU before the year 3000. Nor did she care to learn that accession requires unanimity, and that it is extremely improbable that parties supporting actual full accession by Turkey will form parliamentary majorities, in coalitions or otherwise, in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Poland, or indeed even in a single one of those countries. On the contrary, she spoke as if I were a fool for not having drunk up heard the Leave propaganda to the effect that Remaining in the EU would inevitably lead to a large influx of Turks to Britain, since Turkey is about to become a member state. I soon fell back to my staple impersonation of John Cleese's character in the village idiot sketch.

We Remainers will have our work seriously cut out for us in a future referendum.

kle4 said:

grabcocque said:

This is always the best time to remind people that young Stalin was a stone-cold absolute 10/10 hottie.

He has kind eyes.

Do you think so? Personally I think there's something very wrong even back then, but that could be the power of suggestion.

kle4 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Of all the arguments on Brexit it is not the strongest. Oh woe is me, people besides the young vote, and how dare they come to a different conclusion about what is best for the future, so let's call it betrayal because I'm a old self pitier.

His teary eyes do not move me in the slightest when he makes moronic arguments.

For a GE vote most will live throughout the period of the parliament being elected so all have a more or less equal stake in the outcome.

With constitutional change maybe we should each get a weight to our vote proportional to our remaining expected lifespan? So n 18 year old might get 70 votes (LE at 18 = 88) and a 70 year old would only get 10 votes (LE at 80 = 90).

Should go down well with the Tory party members.

kle4 said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

I jest not. The Unionists are, bluntly, on the wrong side of history and demographics. If they don't flex, then a united Ireland beckons.

That may be so but I do think that 'the wrong side of history' is a common but dumb phrase in a lot of ways.

Khrushchev told Eisenhower he was on the wrong side of history and Eisenhower's grandson would be a Communist.

Not only was Khrushchev wrong about history, his own son is an unabashed capitalist who is an American citizen.

Nemtynakht said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Ugh

Some Leavers are such cretins.

https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1073200950272294912

Whilst I agree the guy is a cretin, I did make the point on here last week that the perpetrator had a history of mental health issues, so the crime was not really committed on a political basis. I would suggest groups such as the old IRA or ETA, Baden Meinhof etc as political murderers / terrorists.

Think about the counter factual if someone had come out and murdered Farage in the last days of the campaign and we had seen a swing to Leave would we be saying the same thing?

I think Lilico is arguing from a false premise (two, in fact: the polls were not giving a 10% lead on average at that time). Single-issue events have to be 9/11 sized to move the polls. I was tracking the polls last year when the two terrorist outrages occurred and when you compare polls from the same company across the events they really don't make a difference: a brief blip at best. What was the most dramatic poll change in UK in the 2010's? Nick Clegg in the debates. What happened in the election? The LD's lost seats.

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Of all the arguments on Brexit it is not the strongest. Oh woe is me, people besides the young vote, and how dare they come to a different conclusion about what is best for the future, so let's call it betrayal because I'm a old self pitier.

His teary eyes do not move me in the slightest when he makes moronic arguments.

For a GE vote most will live throughout the period of the parliament being elected so all have a more or less equal stake in the outcome.

With constitutional change maybe we should each get a weight to our vote proportional to our remaining expected lifespan? So n 18 year old might get 70 votes (LE at 18 = 88) and a 70 year old would only get 10 votes (LE at 80 = 90).

Should go down well with the Tory party members.

Yes I'm sure.

But in all seriousness he's not angry that the young were or are being ignored, he's angry that other people take and took a different view on what is best for everyone, including the young. And if the young voters now are upset, what about those even younger than the young? In some nations the young voters are enthusiastic supporters of nasty populists, views shift. Those just being born might not desire to rejoin the EU when they come of age, who the hell knows? And since he doesn't want the young ignored he must want perpetual referendums to make sure the will is still there. Hence the problem with your I am sure totally serious voting system - he doesn't seem to want the big constitutional vote to last more than a few years. And what if someone won a GE on a policy of taking us out or in without a referendum? I'm beginning to think your new voting system wasn't serious after all!

He's just bitter, and cloaking his bitterness with emotion. That is a bad idea full stop for everyone is a much much more powerful argument than something so much a hostage to fortune as in essence saying only the views of the young matter.

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

I jest not. The Unionists are, bluntly, on the wrong side of history and demographics. If they don't flex, then a united Ireland beckons.

That may be so but I do think that 'the wrong side of history' is a common but dumb phrase in a lot of ways.

Khrushchev told Eisenhower he was on the wrong side of history and Eisenhower's grandson would be a Communist.

Not only was Khrushchev wrong about history, his own son is an unabashed capitalist who is an American citizen.

For some perspective, the CPSU General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev averred, around the time he met the queen in Windsor Castle, that were he British he would vote Conservative.

Luckyguy1983 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Were they ignored - I thought they had a vote like everyone else.

Do young people only become young people at the age of 18?

Theuniondivvie said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Were they ignored - I thought they had a vote like everyone else.

Do young people only become young people at the age of 18?

We must wait for all potential young voters to come of age before holding another vote. I will not betray the cohort of 2015 by giving the cohort of 2000/01 a bigger say on what they want - they have even longer to live with the consequences of any vote.

Nemtynakht said:

I wonder if anyone has had similar thoughts about the VONCs - did May or supporters trigger the party election? Rumours went around and letter threshold reached on 11th December and election on 12th - if Labour had called a VONC in the Government on either of these dates the two weeks required after a loss under FTPA would have meant that supporting motion would have been due on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day. May knew a number of letters were already in, could have convinced her own supporters to put letters in by Proxy to trigger vote, and wrong foot ERG.

Doesn't really feel like May's style though. And if she was going to do it, I'm sure she would have done it before now.

Oort said:

Today I posted a Christmas parcel to my son who is working in Turkey. The postmistress in this very white part of Scotland wondered for a moment whether Turkey was already in the EU before deciding that they're "not in just yet". The Tories got less than a sixth of the vote here in the 2017 GE, and less than a twelfth in 2015, and the small business class in this part of the world is mainly SNP or Labour. She was not interested in my referencing David Cameron's observation that at the current rate of progress Turkey won't join the EU before the year 3000. Nor did she care to learn that accession requires unanimity, and that it is extremely improbable that parties supporting actual full accession by Turkey will form parliamentary majorities, in coalitions or otherwise, in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Poland, or indeed even in a single one of those countries. On the contrary, she spoke as if I were a fool for not having drunk up heard the Leave propaganda to the effect that Remaining in the EU would inevitably lead to a large influx of Turks to Britain, since Turkey is about to become a member state. I soon fell back to my staple impersonation of John Cleese's character in the village idiot sketch.

We Remainers will have our work seriously cut out for us in a future referendum.

Isn't it sill British government policy that Turkey should become a member of the EU ?

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Of all the arguments on Brexit it is not the strongest. Oh woe is me, people besides the young vote, and how dare they come to a different conclusion about what is best for the future, so let's call it betrayal because I'm a old self pitier.

His teary eyes do not move me in the slightest when he makes moronic arguments.

For a GE vote most will live throughout the period of the parliament being elected so all have a more or less equal stake in the outcome.

With constitutional change maybe we should each get a weight to our vote proportional to our remaining expected lifespan? So n 18 year old might get 70 votes (LE at 18 = 88) and a 70 year old would only get 10 votes (LE at 80 = 90).

Should go down well with the Tory party members.

Constitutional changes are not necessarily for life.

another_richard said:

Oort said:

Today I posted a Christmas parcel to my son who is working in Turkey. The postmistress in this very white part of Scotland wondered for a moment whether Turkey was already in the EU before deciding that they're "not in just yet". The Tories got less than a sixth of the vote here in the 2017 GE, and less than a twelfth in 2015, and the small business class in this part of the world is mainly SNP or Labour. She was not interested in my referencing David Cameron's observation that at the current rate of progress Turkey won't join the EU before the year 3000. Nor did she care to learn that accession requires unanimity, and that it is extremely improbable that parties supporting actual full accession by Turkey will form parliamentary majorities, in coalitions or otherwise, in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Poland, or indeed even in a single one of those countries. On the contrary, she spoke as if I were a fool for not having drunk up heard the Leave propaganda to the effect that Remaining in the EU would inevitably lead to a large influx of Turks to Britain, since Turkey is about to become a member state. I soon fell back to my staple impersonation of John Cleese's character in the village idiot sketch.

We Remainers will have our work seriously cut out for us in a future referendum.

Isn't it sill British government policy that Turkey should become a member of the EU ?

The British Government has a policy????

another_richard said:

Oort said:

Today I posted a Christmas parcel to my son who is working in Turkey. The postmistress in this very white part of Scotland wondered for a moment whether Turkey was already in the EU before deciding that they're "not in just yet". The Tories got less than a sixth of the vote here in the 2017 GE, and less than a twelfth in 2015, and the small business class in this part of the world is mainly SNP or Labour. She was not interested in my referencing David Cameron's observation that at the current rate of progress Turkey won't join the EU before the year 3000. Nor did she care to learn that accession requires unanimity, and that it is extremely improbable that parties supporting actual full accession by Turkey will form parliamentary majorities, in coalitions or otherwise, in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Poland, or indeed even in a single one of those countries. On the contrary, she spoke as if I were a fool for not having drunk up heard the Leave propaganda to the effect that Remaining in the EU would inevitably lead to a large influx of Turks to Britain, since Turkey is about to become a member state. I soon fell back to my staple impersonation of John Cleese's character in the village idiot sketch.

We Remainers will have our work seriously cut out for us in a future referendum.

Isn't it sill British government policy that Turkey should become a member of the EU ?

I don't think Britain has a policy any more on who should join the EU, but to the extent that Britain is a member state and Turkey is supposedly on the road to membership, yes. Note my use of the word "actual". Turkey is not going to join the EU.

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

John_M said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

Benpointer said:

kle4 said:

I still prefer my solution to the backstop which is everyone just pretends it doesn't exist. Self delusion is all the rage.

Remind me?

Of what? The solution? It's as simple as I said - it happens, we just pretend it doesn't. No problem.

If you thought I had an actual good solution I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

Ah right. Sadly, I fear JRM and co. would believe the backstop was still there even if the EU agreed to scrap it.

I liked (though can't recall who suggested it), co-sovereignty of Northern Island. I'm sure we could do something suitably retro to assuage unionist fears, a la Andorra.

You must be joking - even Britain is not British enough for the unionists and 'compromise' is not in their lexicon.

I jest not. The Unionists are, bluntly, on the wrong side of history and demographics. If they don't flex, then a united Ireland beckons.

That may be so but I do think that 'the wrong side of history' is a common but dumb phrase in a lot of ways.

Khrushchev told Eisenhower he was on the wrong side of history and Eisenhower's grandson would be a Communist.

Not only was Khrushchev wrong about history, his own son is an unabashed capitalist who is an American citizen.

Nikita had his moments, but was famously bonkers.

Luckyguy1983 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Were they ignored - I thought they had a vote like everyone else.

If the demographics were the other way round the europhiles would be applauding the wisdom and experience of the old, and berating the ignorance and foolishness of the youth who hadn't accumulated enough knowledge yet to vote.

Theuniondivvie said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

williamglenn said:

2.6 million views for Hezza.

https://twitter.com/channel4news/status/1072930873752907782?s=21

Were they ignored - I thought they had a vote like everyone else.

Do young people only become young people at the age of 18?

No, they only become adults at the age of 18.