politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The revolution will not be televised

nichomar said:

Stewart grows by the day despite his Elton background doesn’t come over as a toff, too good for the Tory’s

Next LEader of the Opposition maybe?

The Liberal Democrats will be glad to have him knocking lumps out of FArage...

(This is a joke - I hope.)

Bloody auto correct

Floater said:

Philip_Thompson said:

asjohnstone said:

Is the UK the only country in the world to retain a TV poll tax ?

I can't see the fairness argument at all for retaining it

I can't boycott the BBC on Friday as I don't watch it anyway. Still have to pay for it but weeks or months can go by without me watching anything on BBC. Why should I pay by tax for it?

I can't remember the last time I watched or listened to the beeb.

I would be very happy to only pay for those tv services I actually use.

Just been watching some episodes of Killing Eve. There is some good stuff on the BBC. But the licence fee is an anachronism that needs to be abolished.

nichomar said:

Stewart grows by the day despite his Elton background doesn’t come over as a toff, too good for the Tory’s

Hold me closer, Tory party.

Peter_the_Punter said:

TGOHF said:

Betfair not moving much.

How many Conservative members with votes in this election do you think have Betfair accounts?

Hello

Philip_Thompson said:

Gallowgate said:

And yet because of your length of service you lose all employment protections and can be dismissed at any time for any reason. Oh and also no redundancy pay.

Fantastic.

Indeed. It is called taking control of your own destiny.

You can cower and do nothing and stay in a job you hate for eternity. Or you can take a leap of faith and hope to find something else. Most people I know who have done that are glad that they did.

Your delusion is crazy. Being conservative and making sure you are leaping into another job is a far better prospect than jumping into a black hole. Sure, some people will land on a big pile of money but most will break every bone in their body.

ydoethur said:

nichomar said:

Stewart grows by the day despite his Elton background doesn’t come over as a toff, too good for the Tory’s

Next LEader of the Opposition maybe?

The Liberal Democrats will be glad to have him knocking lumps out of FArage...

(This is a joke - I hope.)

The Elton was auto correct not a joke

Nigelb said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Abolishing illiteracy. I wonder why no-one has thought of that before.

We could combine it with the Tory law and order platform, and introduce harsh fines for incorrect use of the apostrophe, along with lengthy prison sentences for those unable to read a manifesto...

That would have the advantage of throwing half the MPs int jail - as far too many either haven't read the manifestos or understood them.

Floater said:

Philip_Thompson said:

asjohnstone said:

Is the UK the only country in the world to retain a TV poll tax ?

I can't see the fairness argument at all for retaining it

I can't boycott the BBC on Friday as I don't watch it anyway. Still have to pay for it but weeks or months can go by without me watching anything on BBC. Why should I pay by tax for it?

I can't remember the last time I watched or listened to the beeb.

I would be very happy to only pay for those tv services I actually use.

Do you think you should only pay for the police services that you directly use?

Sean_F said:

Different Conservatives, though.

I think the worst thing that could happen to TBP would be success (as it was for the LDs in all honesty). The internal contradictions within the TBP movement would tear it apart in recrimination and those seeking a genuinely centre-right option would rejoin or reshape what remained of the Conservative Party.

Nature abhors a vacuum - there will always be a centre-right presence in British politics. It may have longer or shorter periods out of power but it will always be there.

Johnsons made a big mistake here, but he'll still get the job.

Oh God , Gove descending into more vomit inducing emotional clap trap .

Philip_Thompson said:

Gallowgate said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Gallowgate said:

And yet because of your length of service you lose all employment protections and can be dismissed at any time for any reason. Oh and also no redundancy pay.

Fantastic.

Indeed. It is called taking control of your own destiny.

You can cower and do nothing and stay in a job you hate for eternity. Or you can take a leap of faith and hope to find something else. Most people I know who have done that are glad that they did.

Your delusion is crazy. Being conservative and making sure you are leaping into another job is a far better prospect than jumping into a black hole. Sure, some people will land on a big pile of money but most will break every bone in their body.

Leaping into another job is preferable if it is an option. Sometimes it isn't.

So are you telling me that you would advise your child to quit their only source of income, and hope they get another job in time for them to pay rent and bills?

Let's assume you were unable to help and support them and they had no savings of any kind.

Or would you actually advise them to look for another job and hand their notice in once they had accepted another offer?

Don't lie.

argyllrs said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Abolishing illiteracy. I wonder why no-one has thought of that before.

Is he going to abolish state education?
It can be argued that, albeit, very basic literacy, was highest just before the state got to take over 'educating' us.

Literacy in 1871 was defined as the ability to write your name in a marriage register.

IIRC, on that basis 67% of the male population and around 30% of the female population were literate, although those figures are skewed by the fact that almost all Scots and Welsh could read and write.

eristdoof said:

Floater said:

Philip_Thompson said:

asjohnstone said:

Is the UK the only country in the world to retain a TV poll tax ?

I can't see the fairness argument at all for retaining it

I can't boycott the BBC on Friday as I don't watch it anyway. Still have to pay for it but weeks or months can go by without me watching anything on BBC. Why should I pay by tax for it?

I can't remember the last time I watched or listened to the beeb.

I would be very happy to only pay for those tv services I actually use.

Do you think you should only pay for the police services that you directly use?

The BBC are an emergency service now? Ridiculous fanboy.

Gallowgate said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

Casino_Royale said:

Mauve said:

So far it seems the debate is likely to help Stewart the most and Javid a bit. Gove and Raab not doing well and could be damaged by their performances. Hunt probably fairly neutral

Stewart is running for the leadership contest after this one.

Yes, I would imagine he's going down pretty well with most viewers and like a lead balloon with the voters in this contest.

He can always join the Liberal Democrats.

Well, somebody has to fill the gap the Conservatives are leaving.

argyllrs said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Abolishing illiteracy. I wonder why no-one has thought of that before.

Is he going to abolish state education?
It can be argued that, albeit, very basic literacy, was highest just before the state got to take over 'educating' us.

That is not true.

See for instance
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/spread-of-literacy-in-nineteenthcentury-england/8F696710081BF83DC7E1136CC79647E3

DavidL said:

Floater said:

Philip_Thompson said:

asjohnstone said:

Is the UK the only country in the world to retain a TV poll tax ?

I can't see the fairness argument at all for retaining it

I can't boycott the BBC on Friday as I don't watch it anyway. Still have to pay for it but weeks or months can go by without me watching anything on BBC. Why should I pay by tax for it?

I can't remember the last time I watched or listened to the beeb.

I would be very happy to only pay for those tv services I actually use.

Just been watching some episodes of Killing Eve. There is some good stuff on the BBC. But the licence fee is an anachronism that needs to be abolished.

Of course - but the government should show some guts and fund the national broadcaster out of general taxation.
Though at the same time we should seriously consider what it is we want out of the BBC.

Am I the last person alive to find out that Rory Stewart’s real name is Rod Stewart?

Better from Hunt but the audience don't warm to Raab

Hunt's body language when he's listening to the others reminds me of Mitt Romney, in a bad way.

JackW said:

Better from Hunt but the audience don't warm to Raab

Hunt is showing some class here.

Casino_Royale said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

Casino_Royale said:

Mauve said:

So far it seems the debate is likely to help Stewart the most and Javid a bit. Gove and Raab not doing well and could be damaged by their performances. Hunt probably fairly neutral

Stewart is running for the leadership contest after this one.

Yes, I would imagine he's going down pretty well with most viewers and like a lead balloon with the voters in this contest.

He wouldn't do if he didn't run so vociferously against his own party.

But, I think he's playing a longer game.

It's not inconceivable he becomes PM inside a year.

I agree that Stewart is playing the longer game. However there are big dangers in this. Being a favourite for Conservative leader is harmful to careers, as everyone attacks you - the opposition, the media, even people in their own party. That's one reason why so few favourites become leader. Also, leadership elections are generally few and far between - you;re lucky if you're in position when one comes along.

Johnson looks set to be one to contradict this. But if Stewart is seen as favourite for too long, he'll miss the opportunity and be wounded by a thousand snipes.

Stewart knocks it out of the park with his response to the weakness question .

Philip_Thompson said:

Gallowgate said:

And yet because of your length of service you lose all employment protections and can be dismissed at any time for any reason. Oh and also no redundancy pay.

Fantastic.

Indeed. It is called taking control of your own destiny.

You can cower and do nothing and stay in a job you hate for eternity. Or you can take a leap of faith and hope to find something else. Most people I know who have done that are glad that they did.

Quitting a sh!t job that paid well, to go work for myself, was the best decision I ever made.

ydoethur said:

argyllrs said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Abolishing illiteracy. I wonder why no-one has thought of that before.

Is he going to abolish state education?
It can be argued that, albeit, very basic literacy, was highest just before the state got to take over 'educating' us.

Literacy in 1871 was defined as the ability to write your name in a marriage register.

IIRC, on that basis 67% of the male population and around 30% of the female population were literate, although those figures are skewed by the fact that almost all Scots and Welsh could read and write.

I thought almost everyone could write their own name by 1871.
Not claiming that people were better educated then though.

DavidL said:

tlg86 said:

DavidL said:

Rory, he's great.

So was Dave until he wasn't.

True, but by then he'd won the leadership, 2 elections and 1 majority.

To be fair, Rory is genuine about his views on Brexit, which of course was the big problem with Cameron's tenure as Tory leader.

JosiasJessop said:

JohnO said:

Is Rory THAT authentic? If he is - and I think he is - it’s an intriguing and attractive trait.

Having now read a couple of his books, he's either that authentic or the best damned actor-spy there is.

Tough call. But his books are excellent. Beautifully written, self effacing and with a dry humour.

stodge said:

Sean_F said:

Different Conservatives, though.

I think the worst thing that could happen to TBP would be success (as it was for the LDs in all honesty). The internal contradictions within the TBP movement would tear it apart in recrimination and those seeking a genuinely centre-right option would rejoin or reshape what remained of the Conservative Party.

Nature abhors a vacuum - there will always be a centre-right presence in British politics. It may have longer or shorter periods out of power but it will always be there.

Oh, I agree TBP would fall apart if it got substantial Parliamentary representation.

Rory: Woke
Gove: Broke
Saj: Nope
Hunt: Mope
Raab: Dope

Rory talking for the first time about why he's a Conservative, and articulating how he shares the compassionate approach of Raab.

That's better. Running and identifying with his party.

This has been his problem up to now.

Foxy said:

nico67 said:

Stewart knocks it out of the park with his response to the weakness question .

Yes, as someone who does a lot of interviewing, I hate it when people give a strength as a weakness, as all the others apart from Stewart. Instantly marked down.

What is the right answer, in your opinion? An actual weakness?

Sean_F said:

stodge said:

Sean_F said:

Different Conservatives, though.

I think the worst thing that could happen to TBP would be success (as it was for the LDs in all honesty). The internal contradictions within the TBP movement would tear it apart in recrimination and those seeking a genuinely centre-right option would rejoin or reshape what remained of the Conservative Party.

Nature abhors a vacuum - there will always be a centre-right presence in British politics. It may have longer or shorter periods out of power but it will always be there.

Oh, I agree TBP would fall apart if it got substantial Parliamentary representation.

Will we be in the EU long enough for them to start losing MEPs (again)? It is surely a matter of time and not much of it.

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Gallowgate said:

Rory
Saj
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hunt
Gove
Raab
-
-
-
Johnson

Fine by this voting conservative member

Seconded by this also voting member, though I’d put Hunt (narrowly) in second place. And Raab above Gove on the also runs. Rory emphatic in the top slot. Now, the BIG, indeed ONLY question is how many Tory MPs are watching and will it affect their votes on Tuesday.

Final impression:
Stewart
Hunt
Raab
Javid
Johnson
Gove way down the bottom

Once they got off Brexit I found myself starting to find Raab much more agreeable. Javid started well but started to fade at the end. Hunt came back strongly once health and education came up. Stewart top of the class by quite a way.

Boris beats Gove without turning up

Foxy said:

nico67 said:

Stewart knocks it out of the park with his response to the weakness question .

Yes, as someone who does a lot of interviewing, I hate it when people give a strength as a weakness, as did all the others apart from Stewart. Instantly marked down.

The best one I ever got - before I stopped asking the question - was: "Interviews!"

Not that interviewee, but a friend of mine is a brilliant engineer that would grace any tech company. But he's hideous at interviews, and gets jobs through word-of-mouth.

“He’s really bald!” Verdict of 11yr old son.

Boris loser.

Rory winner, but largely because he’s not really a Tory.

JohnO said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Gallowgate said:

Rory
Saj
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hunt
Gove
Raab
-
-
-
Johnson

Fine by this voting conservative member

Seconded by this also voting member, though I’d put Hunt (narrowly) in second place. And Raab above Gove on the also runs. Rory emphatic in the top slot. Now, the BIG, indeed ONLY question is how many Tory MPs are watching and will it affect their votes on Tuesday.

He's got 3 now from this non-watching member but that's cos Ken was already leading me this way.

AlastairMeeks said:

Gallowgate said:

Foxy said:

nico67 said:

Stewart knocks it out of the park with his response to the weakness question .

Yes, as someone who does a lot of interviewing, I hate it when people give a strength as a weakness, as all the others apart from Stewart. Instantly marked down.

What is the right answer, in your opinion? An actual weakness?

Yes: eg I don’t suffer fools gladly.

IMHO, suffering fools (and bores) gladly is probably one of the most useful traits in a leader.

If I was the target audience (which thank the lord I'm not sir) Rory would walk it.

Brilliant end speech by Stewart.

Hunt went all Make Britain Again.

viewcode said:

Artist said:

Seems like a remain friendly audience, one of the dangers Boris was right to avoid.

If he won't turn up because he's afraid of people debating him, how in the name of all that's holy do we justify him becoming the person who has to negotiate with Putin and Trump?

He'd probably find Putin and Trump a softer audience than this one.

Peter_the_Punter said:

Slamdunk finish from the Eton kid!

I thought his best answer was his weakness. It was so human, so modest and made those who tried to pretend that their biggest weakness was actually a strength just look ridiculous.

Having him as PM would be genuinely interesting.

AlastairMeeks said:

Am I the last person alive to find out that Rory Stewart’s real name is Rod Stewart?

Puts Maggie May in a whole new light.

The morning sun, when it's in your face really shows your age
But that don't worry me none in my eyes, you're everything
I laughed at all of your jokes, my love you didn't need to coax
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more

Who ever comes out on top at the end of C4 news Conservative Leadership debate tonight, its been a big win for the party in Government after their recent slump in polling and election results. Expecting an up tick in the Conservatives polling on the back of this focus on the leadership contest. Biggest loser tonight is Boris, no doubt about it, he has proved he can derail his own Leadership momentum juggernaut without opening his mouth or making a gaffe.

Casino_Royale said:

solarflare said:

Gallowgate said:

Rory
Saj
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hunt
Gove
Raab
-
-
-
Johnson

Similar, except with the empty lectern between Hunt and Gove and the concept of disappointment just below Raab.

Boris will get away with it.

Noone watches Channel 4 on a Sunday. But had he attended he'd have been rounded on by all other candidates and had some poor Monday headlines just before the next round of voting, risking giving one of his rivals a boost.

The BBC debate on Tuesday night is far more important, and he'll be fighting it from a stronger position.

The risk for Boris is that -- as Gordon Brown found out -- if you spend your life ducking debates and interviews, you never develop the skills and techniques necessary for it.

DavidL said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

Slamdunk finish from the Eton kid!

I thought his best answer was his weakness. It was so human, so modest and made those who tried to pretend that their biggest weakness was actually a strength just look ridiculous.

Having him as PM would be genuinely interesting.

Exactly so. Empathy does matter.

tlg86 said:

AlastairMeeks said:

Gallowgate said:

Foxy said:

nico67 said:

Stewart knocks it out of the park with his response to the weakness question .

Yes, as someone who does a lot of interviewing, I hate it when people give a strength as a weakness, as all the others apart from Stewart. Instantly marked down.

What is the right answer, in your opinion? An actual weakness?

Yes: eg I don’t suffer fools gladly.

Is that a weakness? I often hear that said as praise for someone, though I always get the feeling that it's reserved for a privileged few.

It's not praise if you want to lead people.