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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » It appears Sir Keir Starmer has made a great first impression

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  • ClippPClippP Posts: 1,963
    Charles said:

    Have the Liberal Democrats returned the pensioners money that Michael Brown stole and gave them yet
    I know that your persuaded the electoral commission that it was a legal donation, but that doesn’t mean the source of funds was acceptable.
    Until you repay it your party is beneath contempt.
    Would you like to tell us the whole story, with all the details, please, Lord Charles?

    And then, perhaps, to provide balance, you could provide is with a list of all the donations to the Conservative Party from the tax dodgers we have in our midst?
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    Surrey said:

    From a betting point of view: perception of Trump's health may affect his chance of re-election. He's not helping himself when he lies (or gets confused) about matters related to his health either, in this case saying the slope was steep and that he ran the last 10 feet. What would have made it slippery anyway, in West Point? They must set these events up knowing that officiating dignitaries will be wearing ordinary shoes, not army boots.
    Do we just ignore the fact hes standing against someone older and more doddery ?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,939

    Alternatively even Manchester or Liverpool become commutable to London if you only need to be in the office once a week, along with everywhere en route.
    Even more radical thought. Why not put the office in Liverpool or Manchester or even Wigan and everyone commute there once a week?
    Heretical. But much cheaper.
  • MangoMango Posts: 1,031



    Here's how it can be otherwise - the envisaged drawbacks make a marginal difference, more than offset by the envisaged benefits combined with Government activity accompanying the change that would have been difficult had we still been members.

    Benefits: none.
    Drawbacks: many.
    Damage to west, and liberal democracy: huge.
    Shits given: none.
    Future Tory strategy: look west, across the ocean (culture WARRRRRRR)

    Ho hum.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    dixiedean said:

    Even more radical thought. Why not put the office in Liverpool or Manchester or even Wigan and everyone commute there once a week?
    Heretical. But much cheaper.
    You are better off having a prestigious EC2 address and a ‘back office’ in Wigan where your employees visit once a fortnight.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    IshmaelZ said:

    Colston's boss

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_James_II,_Trafalgar_Square

    How long before the penny drops?
    But the U.K. had the good sense to kick him out for his sins
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    I could argue the same about Obama and his failure to read China which arguably casued more damage . All of them make mistakes but yelling saint or sinner doesn't help reach an objective evaluation of what they have done.
    I beseech you to educate yourself about how Trump has corrupted and vandalised the federal government since he came to office.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    One of the things which I've never understood is why blokes feel the need to piss on something rather than just take a piss on empty ground.

    What do other members of the ape family do ?
    Privacy and protection. The wall you are posting against means that your vulnerable regions are not exposed to attack
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,273
    edited June 2020
    dixiedean said:

    Even more radical thought. Why not put the office in Liverpool or Manchester or even Wigan and everyone commute there once a week?
    Heretical. But much cheaper.
    Lots of businesses have started in Manchester and Liverpool, dont know about Wigan. London attracts more than them as its much bigger, the most connected city in the world and one of two financial centres in the world.

    For small businesses its quite difficult to move locations without losing existing key staff.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    stodge said:

    Nearly evening all :)

    So instead of wittering on about statues and the like, I thought I'd witter on about the real revolution that has taken place since mid March and whether this is a societal development with far-reaching consequences or not.

    For many (I would argue), lockdown hasn't been too bad. Working at home, food delivered, social interaction via Zoom or whatever, still being paid and none of those annoying travel and lunch costs.

    As I talk to clients, some of whom are spending tens of thousands on re-configuring their office spaces for social distancing, there's one message coming through loud and clear - many office workers don't want to go back to their offices and don't see the need.

    This has any number of consequences starting with asking the question - is the age of commuting over? The notion of travelling an hour, two hours or more from home to the office and back now seems absurd and futile.

    Commuting came because the evolution of rapid mass travel by train in particular opened up the country. The suburbs were the result - peaceful, well designed streets of houses near (initially) the station where the train took you to the city or the town where your office was located.

    Now, it literally doesn't matter where you work as long as the technology is robust enough. This has huge implications across a range of issues and, I would argue, will change our culture far more than statues and the like.

    As we plan, the feedback we are getting is juniors (often in shared flats with no garden) want to be back in the office while seniors (country / houses with gardens) don’t
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    kinabalu said:

    I beseech you to educate yourself about how Trump has corrupted and vandalised the federal government since he came to office.
    reading one sided polemics isn't education.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    isam said:

    I doubt it, I am not really a massive fan. I like Scum and Sexy Beast. People I knock about with, people from Essex/East London love all that, but it's not really my cup of tea, I am a nerd! I am sorry if I come across as an EDL type, I just contrast what I read on here with what I hear around me and the gap between the two outlooks is so big I find it interesting and worth commenting on. I think the best candidate for Mayor is Trevor Phillips
    I don't think you are an EDL type at all. Far too cerebral.

    But I do think you'd vote for Winstone over Khan for London Mayor.

    Something just tells me that you would.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053

    My definition of middle class is that you can afford the average house in your area.

    If you can't then you're not.

    In much of the country people cannot even if they have middle class backgrounds and middle class educations.

    Which is what I refer to in middle class regression.

    When the people who are suffering from this middle class regression learn that working class people from working class backgrounds can afford to own houses in other parts of the country a source of resentment arises.
    Well yes but middle class graduates who live in London and rent largely vote Labour now already anyway
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338
    Charles said:

    But the U.K. had the good sense to kick him out for his sins
    The 'U.K.'?
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526

    You get a lot of that benefit by living in not-London. I've had that for the last couple of years and am not totally convinced about returning.

    If we can arrange things so that people don't have to spend so much time and money on commuting to work, the benefits could be huge. Probably do a lot for the levelling up agenda as well.
    So are you Stuartnotinromford now or are you counting Romford as not London ?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,101

    For at least the last 75 years every generation has been richer than their parents until this one. Yes the youngsters need to be more realistic, but their parents and grandparents need to be more understanding, and governments need to increase asset taxes and reduce employment taxes.
    Time to suck it up , they can admire their blue passports.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,259
    Charles said:

    But the U.K. had the good sense to kick him out for his sins
    I think that the RAC were astute enough to see the way the wind was blowing, and made King Billy a shareholder. An effective way of keeping their own business going.

    I came across this great little graphic recently. You can click on every dot to see its destination.

    https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/database#timelapse

    What is striking is how many voyages were to the Islands, rather than North America. I think the life expectancy of a fieldhand was just a few years on the sugar plantations, due to disease and overwork, so constant importation needed.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053
    IshmaelZ said:

    Colston's boss

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_James_II,_Trafalgar_Square

    How long before the penny drops?
    He was Samuel Pepys' boss too
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,233
    I don't think that chap taking a wizz has deliberately sought out the police memorial. Tanked up with no loos about he's found the nearest corner to empty his bladder and paid no attention whatsoever to the fact it was a memorial.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    But there is no 'encourage the best and appeal to the best' is there.

    Instead its 'get some immigrants in, they're cheap and servile and if anyone complains call them racist'.

    Labour can't help themselves here and no nostalgia trips about BHS restaurants (which were crap btw) will help.

    And while politicians can play monetary games wealth is a different issue - ultimately the rest of the world isn't going to create goods and services for this country to consume without getting something tangible in return.

    Now if Labour want to do some original thinking then they need to consider what's going to happen to all those with middle class upbringings and middle class education but who are unable to get achieve middle class lifestyles. What I refer to as middle class regression.
    I'm looking ahead not miles backwards. That's stale old talk about New Labour.

    But I agree with you about "funny money" not being wealth - and that there are big changes coming to the workplace.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Do we just ignore the fact hes standing against someone older and more doddery ?
    Yes.

    Bidens weakness is that he's doddery and old and speaks like he has dementia. Against anyone normal that'd be a real weakness.

    Trump having those same symptoms essentially neutralises the fact Biden has them too. Which leaves Trumps strengths and weaknesses behind and Biden is pretty much (despite decades in politics) relatively inoffensive compared to eg Hillary last time.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,366

    That colour scale is an abomination. Compare Ireland (-44%) with Belgium (-40%).
    I saw the worst colour scale ever yesterday. I'm not exaggerating when I say it went from emerald green to mint green. It made the chart unreadable.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053

    The 'U.K.'?
    The Jacobite rebellions to put his heirs back on the throne were defeated
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,676
    Charles said:

    As we plan, the feedback we are getting is juniors (often in shared flats with no garden) want to be back in the office while seniors (country / houses with gardens) don’t
    In our office, the media team, who are sociable people who like fast personbal interaction, are keen to return, but nobody else that I know of is bothered. We'll think about a partial return in October or later. Maybe.

    Chatting to a senior engineer at Google in California, I gather they don't expect to go back to office working till the spring - if ever.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526
    HYUFD said:

    Well yes but middle class graduates who live in London and rent largely vote Labour now already anyway
    Many young graduates traditionally voted Labour but became more Conservative as they became homeowners.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,676
    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    nichomar said:

    Of course the tories have never had dodgy money have they
    Of course they have. But rarely (that I can think of) stolen money.

    The closest, I believe, is Asil Nadir

    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/business/2012/aug/22/tories-return-donation-asil-nadir

    My understanding is that:

    - Michael Brown stole money from pensioners and some of that money was donated to the LibDems. Tge LibDems case was that it wasn’t possible to tell 100% whether those donations were from the stolen money or from the contractual fees Brown legitimately charged

    - Polly Peck made donations to the Tories (presumably at the behest of its controlling shareholder). Said shareholder also (not sure if at the same time) defrauded the company which went bankrupt. The Tory case is that the donations were received legally from a company and were not donations by Nadir of money he had stolen from that company. (The equivalent to the LD argument would be if Nadir had made the donation directly and the Tories argued “well it may have been from his salary not the stolen money”)

    Basically the LibDems behaved like schmucks
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,482
    Another in my occasional series of looking at European polls (no giggling in the cheap seats).

    Starting tonight in Czechia, or the Czech Republic if you prefer, ANO, the party formed by Andrej Babis, leads with 32% (-2). The Pirates are second on 17% and the ODS party formed by Vaclav Klaus on 14% (+2). ANO's governing partners, the Social Democrats, are on 6% and in fourth we have the SPD, who aren't as you might think the Social Democrats but the Freedom & Direct Democracy Party which has 8%.

    The next GE in Czechia is October 2021.

    Not much change in Italy where Lega leads on 28%, ahead of the Social Democrats on 21% but M5S have dropped to fourth as the new kid on the block, the conservative Brothers of Italy (FdL) have gone third on 15%

    In Austria, Kurz's OVP has dropped slightly but still has a massive lead polling 44% (-2), miles ahead of the SPO on 17% and the Greens on 16%.

    Similar in Germany where the Union has hit 40% in the current Forsa poll with the Greens back second on 17% (+2) and the SPD third on 14% (-2). The FDP are back on 6% which must be a worry for the Union as if the FDP fails to get above 5% they'll be out of the Bundestag making life difficult in terms of finding a coalition partner.

    Spain is more interesting with the governing PSOE on 27%, only just ahead of PP on 23% (+1). VOX have steadied to 15% in third with United Podemos on 12% and Citizens on 7%.

    Finally, for now in Denmark, where the governing Social Democrats are on 33% (+1) with the leading opposition Venstre on 21% (-1) and a clutch of parties on 6-7%. The most interesting of these are the Nye Borgerlige (New Right), the successor to the old Fremskridtsparti - they want Denmark out of the EU and are up two points to six.

    The governing centre-left bloc has a commanding advantage with 54% of the vote.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526

    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?

    I didn't know that.

    Change usually produces more opponents than supporters in the short term at least.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    reading one sided polemics isn't education.
    No. Therefore do not do that.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    ClippP said:

    Would you like to tell us the whole story, with all the details, please, Lord Charles?

    And then, perhaps, to provide balance, you could provide is with a list of all the donations to the Conservative Party from the tax dodgers we have in our midst?
    I’m not the son of an earl, so just a humble Charles will do.

    I’m also not a member of the Tory Party and don’t have access to their donors list

    But I replied to @nichomar comparing and contrasting the Michael Brown and Asil Nadir cases which I think are probably the closest
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,482

    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?

    How do you think that would play out in Surrey, Nick?

    There is one County and eleven District or Borough Councils and my understanding is relations between them haven't always been and aren't always harmonious.

    Could the whole lot become a single Surrey Council (on the Cornwall model)? or would a split between west, central and east be possible?

    Might be interesting to see how Surrey Conservatives react.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    The Democrats threatened 4 years of Freddie Kruger instead we got Yosemite Sam
    The insight. The insight.

    Mine's a pint.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,983
    Andy_JS said:
    Odd thing for her to go out of her way to defend. Sort of thing you'd only do if you were desperate for your side to be faultless at all costs.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526
    kinabalu said:

    I'm looking ahead not miles backwards. That's stale old talk about New Labour.

    But I agree with you about "funny money" not being wealth - and that there are big changes coming to the workplace.
    You might be looking ahead but are Labour ?

    I will look at in with interest if I ever see anything.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    kinabalu said:

    I beseech you to educate yourself about how Trump has corrupted and vandalised the federal government since he came to office.
    Michael Lewis book on that was shocking. Putting the guy from the commercial weather sector in charge of the NOAH data was extraordinary.

    I’m really surprised that no one called that out as a conflict of interests
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338
    Foxy said:

    I think that the RAC were astute enough to see the way the wind was blowing, and made King Billy a shareholder. An effective way of keeping their own business going.

    I came across this great little graphic recently. You can click on every dot to see its destination.

    https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/database#timelapse

    What is striking is how many voyages were to the Islands, rather than North America. I think the life expectancy of a fieldhand was just a few years on the sugar plantations, due to disease and overwork, so constant importation needed.
    On my admittedly not extensive reading on the Atlantic slave trade, the most chilling thing was that the commercial model was actually built on the absolute expectation that that the field hands' life expectancy would only be several years and they ran things on the basis that there would be a very high rate of attrition and replacement.

    Of course I'm sure like the other great crime of the modern age that there's a whole area of denial that attributes these deaths to disease and scarcity of food about which nothing could be done.

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    The 'U.K.'?
    Shorthand.

    Yes I know that you guys were happy being ruled over by a slaver, but shit happens
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    edited June 2020
    kinabalu said:

    The insight. The insight.

    Mine's a pint.
    Oh sorry. yes Trump evilest man ever worse than Hitler and Stalin, owns a plantation you know and his grandfather was Jefferson Davis etc.

    Happy now ?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,233

    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?

    Long overdue.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,359

    So are you Stuartnotinromford now or are you counting Romford as not London ?
    Temporarily displaced to a small town in Yorkshire, and too lazy to update the name.

    As for Romford- it has red buses and metropolitan police. Of course it's London, and Andrew Rosindell is a chump for campaigning otherwise.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,517
    edited June 2020
    "His life was under threat, if he stayed there he wasn't going to make it"

    https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1272188213705297920?s=19
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    Surrey said:

    From a betting point of view: perception of Trump's health may affect his chance of re-election. He's not helping himself when he lies (or gets confused) about matters related to his health either, in this case saying the slope was steep and that he ran the last 10 feet. What would have made it slippery anyway, in West Point? They must set these events up knowing that officiating dignitaries will be wearing ordinary shoes, not army boots.
    I actually think it might gain him a few votes if it looks like he has a physical health problem.

    "Poor old Trumpy, I didn't realize" type thing.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526
    eadric said:

    Do any of these people realise what this will do to the economy?

    It's not their responsibility, of course, they can choose to work how they like, but if vast swathes of city workers do not return to office life, millions of dependant jobs will go - cafes, restaurants, sandwich bars, convenience stores, taxi services, public transport, petrol stations, on and on.

    It will be a huge, brutal change and it will cost a large chunk of GDP, before things adapt to a new normal. And this on TOP of the costs of the pandemic itself

    BRACE.
    That's a lot of low level service sector jobs in urban areas which could go.

    So what happens to the people who worked in them.

    Even if more jobs are created in the outer suburbs, commuter towns and rural areas they might not be of much use to the urban population.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,482
    Charles said:


    As we plan, the feedback we are getting is juniors (often in shared flats with no garden) want to be back in the office while seniors (country / houses with gardens) don’t

    I've heard that too - as you say, the young who live with parents or in shared accommodation prefer the office environment and the social aspects of work after work (drinking, meals out and the like).

    Older colleagues (and I'm one) tend to be mostly much less keen - those with plenty of children are currently in favour but reason with the re-opening of schools in the autumn homeworking might be quite pleasant. Those without children are the most resistant. Home working is for many very attractive and has worked unexpectedly well.

    No client I've dealt with is envisaging any kind of compulsion at this time - most think their limited offices can't cope with numbers so getting the younger staff back (who would be less at risk anyway) is the shrewd option leaving the more vulnerable staff at home. Almost all are doing some form of risk assessment to get numbers.

    As I said earlier, very few want to come back at this time and messages regarding public transport aren't encouraging that either.

  • JohnOJohnO Posts: 4,307
    edited June 2020

    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?

    There’s apparently a white paper on devolution due in October with local govt reorganisation on the lines you’ve outlined as a condition for more powers being transferred from the centre. What surprised me is that such fundamental reforms do not require new primary legislation and can be enacted under existing Ministerial powers.

    I have my doubts on this timescale and extent, not least as it might entail yet another cancellation of elections in May 2021. It will cause an almighty outcry from many (Tory) councillors seeing their seats and councils disappear. Personally, for Surrey (where we both represent) I could live with three unitaries, and at a stretch two, but having the present County Council as the sole principal authority might be too big an ask.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,359

    I didn't know that.

    Change usually produces more opponents than supporters in the short term at least.
    Seems an odd thing to do in the middle of a crisis. Though it might hide some councils going bust.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    Yes.

    Bidens weakness is that he's doddery and old and speaks like he has dementia. Against anyone normal that'd be a real weakness.

    Trump having those same symptoms essentially neutralises the fact Biden has them too. Which leaves Trumps strengths and weaknesses behind and Biden is pretty much (despite decades in politics) relatively inoffensive compared to eg Hillary last time.
    Hillary was mostly offensive because she was a woman.

    Biden does not have this handicap.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    Andy_JS said:
    It is quite basic. All agree on this.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    kinabalu said:

    Hillary was mostly offensive because she was a woman.

    Biden does not have this handicap.
    Really?

    I believe Hillary had a lot of issues hanging around her neck.


    Her sex was not one of them

  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,705
    edited June 2020
    Charles said:

    I’m not the son of an earl, so just a humble Charles will do.

    I’m also not a member of the Tory Party and don’t have access to their donors list

    But I replied to @nichomar comparing and contrasting the Michael Brown and Asil Nadir cases which I think are probably the closest
    Schoolboy error there Charles. Elder sons of earls are viscounts; younger ones are Hons. Although elder ones could be called Lord Smith but not Lord Charles Smith. Younger sons of dukes or marquesses would be called Lord Charles Smith.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053
    JohnO said:

    There’s apparently a white paper on devolution due in October with local govt reorganisation on the lines you’ve outlined as a condition for more powers being transferred from the centre. What surprised me is that such fundamental reforms do not require new primary legislation and can be enacted under existing Ministerial powers.

    I have my doubts on this timescale and extent, not least as it might entail yet another cancellation of elections in May 2021. It will cause an almighty outcry from many (Tory) councillors seeing their seats and councils disappear. Personally, for Surrey (where we both represent) I could live with three unitaries, and at a stretch two, but having the present County Council as the sole principal authority might be too big an ask.
    It would also reduce the Tory activist base, unless they are very ideological many Tory members and activists are only involved with the aim of getting elected to the council.

    If there are fewer elected council posts available that means fewer will bother to campaign
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338
    Charles said:

    Shorthand.

    Yes I know that you guys were happy being ruled over by a slaver, but shit happens
    Yes, that whole English 'get rid of that Jock slaver' thing was an an astoundingly early example of early wokeism. Shame about the subsequent century long preeminence in the triangular trade, but a mere detail in the big picture.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    Floater said:

    Really?

    I believe Hillary had a lot of issues hanging around her neck.


    Her sex was not one of them
    You are blind to misogyny then.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    By the way, we're told that the Government plans to totally reorganise local government this autumn, abolshing all county councils and borough councils and replacing them by unitaries. I'm not necessarily opposed, but the timing seems curious to me - do they really feel short of things to think about at the moment?

    That would be an immense upheaval, and would cause considerable ructions at a time when, as you rightly point out, there are other things to worry about.

    I seem to have some vague recollection of this being tried many years ago here in Hertfordshire, where we have a county and ten districts. The plan was to create three unitaries. Save for the county council itself, only one of the districts opposed it - North Herts, presumably on account of the fact that the local Tories didn't really fancy being turned into a permanent minority in a proposed unitary dominated by Labour Stevenage, which they suspect would've neglected the villages and market towns whilst using them as a cash machine.

    I would expect similar objections this time around.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483
    HYUFD said:

    It would also reduce the Tory activist base, unless they are very ideological many Tory members and activists are only involved with the aim of getting elected to the council.

    If there are fewer elected council posts available that means fewer will bother to campaign
    Very true, it’s why tories hate lib dems because they take council seats off them. Given the amount of consultation required you won’t see this implemented this side of 24
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053
    stodge said:

    Another in my occasional series of looking at European polls (no giggling in the cheap seats).

    Starting tonight in Czechia, or the Czech Republic if you prefer, ANO, the party formed by Andrej Babis, leads with 32% (-2). The Pirates are second on 17% and the ODS party formed by Vaclav Klaus on 14% (+2). ANO's governing partners, the Social Democrats, are on 6% and in fourth we have the SPD, who aren't as you might think the Social Democrats but the Freedom & Direct Democracy Party which has 8%.

    The next GE in Czechia is October 2021.

    Not much change in Italy where Lega leads on 28%, ahead of the Social Democrats on 21% but M5S have dropped to fourth as the new kid on the block, the conservative Brothers of Italy (FdL) have gone third on 15%

    In Austria, Kurz's OVP has dropped slightly but still has a massive lead polling 44% (-2), miles ahead of the SPO on 17% and the Greens on 16%.

    Similar in Germany where the Union has hit 40% in the current Forsa poll with the Greens back second on 17% (+2) and the SPD third on 14% (-2). The FDP are back on 6% which must be a worry for the Union as if the FDP fails to get above 5% they'll be out of the Bundestag making life difficult in terms of finding a coalition partner.

    Spain is more interesting with the governing PSOE on 27%, only just ahead of PP on 23% (+1). VOX have steadied to 15% in third with United Podemos on 12% and Citizens on 7%.

    Finally, for now in Denmark, where the governing Social Democrats are on 33% (+1) with the leading opposition Venstre on 21% (-1) and a clutch of parties on 6-7%. The most interesting of these are the Nye Borgerlige (New Right), the successor to the old Fremskridtsparti - they want Denmark out of the EU and are up two points to six.

    The governing centre-left bloc has a commanding advantage with 54% of the vote.

    Looks like Salvini in Italy is the likeliest possibility for another populist right leader to be elected
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,108
    nichomar said:

    Of course the tories have never had dodgy money have they
    Tory double standards. Just like all the fuss over Layla’s argument with her boyfriend and there’s the Tories putting up a self confessed former burglar for London mayor.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,053

    Many young graduates traditionally voted Labour but became more Conservative as they became homeowners.
    And if they move out of London where property is cheaper they still will do
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    TOPPING said:

    Schoolboy error there Charles. Elder sons of earls are viscounts; younger ones are Hons. Although elder ones could be called Lord Smith but not Lord Charles Smith. Younger sons of dukes or marquesses would be called Lord Charles Smith.
    Most people I know don’t use the honorific title that much.

    But I was referring to the difference between Lord Alfred Tennyson and Alfred, Lord Tennyson

  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,676
    JohnO said:

    There’s apparently a white paper on devolution due in October with local govt reorganisation on the lines you’ve outlined as a condition for more powers being transferred from the centre. What surprised me is that such fundamental reforms do not require new primary legislation and can be enacted under existing Ministerial powers.

    I have my doubts on this timescale and extent, not least as it might entail yet another cancellation of elections in May 2021. It will cause an almighty outcry from many (Tory) councillors seeing their seats and councils disappear. Personally, for Surrey (where we both represent) I could live with three unitaries, and at a stretch two, but having the present County Council as the sole principal authority might be too big an ask.
    Yes, that's where I am too. Tke PB Surrey Popular Front, eh?
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Yes, that whole English 'get rid of that Jock slaver' thing was an an astoundingly early example of early wokeism. Shame about the subsequent century long preeminence in the triangular trade, but a mere detail in the big picture.
    Ethical perspectives change over time
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810

    Oh sorry. yes Trump evilest man ever worse than Hitler and Stalin, owns a plantation you know and his grandfather was Jefferson Davis etc.

    Happy now ?
    Now you're just being shallow and facetious.

    Go forth and read.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548
    edited June 2020
    Charles said:

    But the U.K. had the good sense to kick him out for his sins
    Fathering a son on your wife is not generally considered a sin. I am sure even Justin would consider that acceptable although he might have something to say about James’ - ahem - extra marital activities.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    IanB2 said:

    Tory double standards. Just like all the fuss over Layla’s argument with her boyfriend and there’s the Tories putting up a self confessed former burglar for London mayor.
    could you explain the difference between Tory double standards and Liberal Democrat double standards ?
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,218
    Floater said:

    Really?

    I believe Hillary had a lot of issues hanging around her neck.


    Her sex was not one of them

    You think a twice divorced woman who was on record talking about how she could grab mens penises could have won the presidential election?
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    IanB2 said:

    Tory double standards. Just like all the fuss over Layla’s argument with her boyfriend and there’s the Tories putting up a self confessed former burglar for London mayor.
    You could try reading and replying to my argument rather than going for the warm glow of political onanism
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,108
    eadric said:

    Trump looks fine there.

    Plenty of vids evidence his dementia, this isn't one
    He has less to lose than most, anyway.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    kinabalu said:

    I was talking about the PV there but - yes - they will surely be more savvy on the EC front this time. Just in case it is NOT a landslide.
    Do we know who is on Biden's campaign staff? One of my biggest mistakes was assuming Hilary had retained some of Obama's data team when instead she rejected all of them and put in place a bunch of fucking morons who thought Obama had won 'wrong' in 2012.

    I want to make sure none of those thunder fucks are involved with Biden.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,482
    eadric said:


    Do any of these people realise what this will do to the economy?

    It's not their responsibility, of course, they can choose to work how they like, but if vast swathes of city workers do not return to office life, millions of dependant jobs will go - cafes, restaurants, sandwich bars, convenience stores, taxi services, public transport, petrol stations, on and on.

    It will be a huge, brutal change and it will cost a large chunk of GDP, before things adapt to a new normal. And this on TOP of the costs of the pandemic itself

    BRACE.

    There will be winners and losers but capitalism's like that - it's brutal but it provides opportunities for the adroit and the adept.

    Home deliveries for example have grown exponentially - will they continue? We know online retail has prospered. Some local retail will be fine - the corner shop will be all right and for the elderly and others the trip into town will still happen.

    I do agree transport providers face a very uncertain future. For months, trains have run, virtually empty, generating no revenue for the operators but the track needs to be maintained. The buses in my part of London are quiet, the tube largely deserted.

    Local pubs and cafes will be all right - people who work at home still have lunch. The city centre places will still be frequented by the young at the weekend.

    As an aside, if I were a home designer I'd be cutting back on bedrooms in favour of a ready made home office space.

    The suburban retail infrastructure might do well from this - perhaps a return to a more community-focussed retail.

  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338

    Seems an odd thing to do in the middle of a crisis. Though it might hide some councils going bust.
    If you've just cottoned onto this being a divisive issue in the SNP I may have to withdraw your PB Scotch expert membership.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,650
    TOPPING said:

    Schoolboy error there Charles. Elder sons of earls are viscounts; younger ones are Hons. Although elder ones could be called Lord Smith but not Lord Charles Smith. Younger sons of dukes or marquesses would be called Lord Charles Smith.
    I think, @Charles , that someone is comparing you to a ventriloquist's dummy :-) .

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0fqRS94cwA
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    kinabalu said:

    Now you're just being shallow and facetious.

    Go forth and read.
    well yes,but lets face it you having a sulk about me not reading an article you couldn't even be arsed to provide a link to has its own fun
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548

    On a slightly related note I was thinking a month back as to how much nicer things were then and would be permanently if the population was down by a third of half.

    Less pollution, quieter roads, cheaper housing, more countryside.
    Wanting teachers to have lower salaries is reprehensible but possibly understandable.

    Thinking ‘how much nicer’ things would be if there was a genocide is - rather disturbing.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,705
    Charles said:

    Most people I know don’t use the honorific title that much.

    But I was referring to the difference between Lord Alfred Tennyson and Alfred, Lord Tennyson

    I have no idea what you are talking about.

    You said for the poster not to call you Lord Charles because you were not the son of an earl.

    But the son of an earl wouldn't be called Lord Charles.

    That's all.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    edited June 2020
    Charles said:

    Michael Lewis book on that was shocking. Putting the guy from the commercial weather sector in charge of the NOAH data was extraordinary.

    I’m really surprised that no one called that out as a conflict of interests
    Yes that was quite incredible that whole "no transition" thing. Started as he meant to go on. Let's not even bother trying to pretend we give a shit.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    George W, Bush would've handled this situation - at least politically - with ease. Call for rallying around the flag and look concerned. Easy. And in 2004, he faced a tougher opponent in Kerry.
    No he wouldn't. The Bush presidency descended into the massacre of the 2006 midterms because of how incompetent his Hurricane Katrina response was.

    It exposed how badly fucked up and crony riddled his administration was.

    Just because Trump is appalling don't forget that Bush was bloody awful.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,517
    edited June 2020
    eadric said:
    Missed the....Having weekly riots.....
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548
    JohnO said:

    There’s apparently a white paper on devolution due in October with local govt reorganisation on the lines you’ve outlined as a condition for more powers being transferred from the centre. What surprised me is that such fundamental reforms do not require new primary legislation and can be enacted under existing Ministerial powers.

    I have my doubts on this timescale and extent, not least as it might entail yet another cancellation of elections in May 2021. It will cause an almighty outcry from many (Tory) councillors seeing their seats and councils disappear. Personally, for Surrey (where we both represent) I could live with three unitaries, and at a stretch two, but having the present County Council as the sole principal authority might be too big an ask.
    Bloody stupid idea. Unitary authorities have always proven unpopular and most of them are very bad.

    Of course that is not to say all is rosy in County councils. Northamptonshire springs to mind.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526
    ydoethur said:

    Wanting teachers to have lower salaries is reprehensible but possibly understandable.

    Thinking ‘how much nicer’ things would be if there was a genocide is - rather disturbing.
    :lol:
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,705
    MattW said:

    I think, @Charles , that someone is comparing you to a ventriloquist's dummy :-) .

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0fqRS94cwA
    Aaaahhhh. Yes of course.

    I couldn't possibly comment.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,482

    Yes, that's where I am too. Tke PB Surrey Popular Front, eh?
    If you're looking for savings, I doubt the "three council" model will deliver much if anything. In truth, abolishing the 12 and replacing with one is probably the most cost effective.

    You'd end up with 120-140 Councillors (perhaps) so a split between east and west Surrey (on the Sussex model) may be the more acceptable. To be fair, combining the back office functions between the two authorities while maintaining separate democratic functions wouldn't be difficult.
  • nichomarnichomar Posts: 7,483
    ydoethur said:

    Bloody stupid idea. Unitary authorities have always proven unpopular and most of them are very bad.

    Of course that is not to say all is rosy in County councils. Northamptonshire springs to mind.
    They are either too big eg cornwall or to small as happened in Berkshire. They do lose the sense of community representation and walk over existing preferred party administrations.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,259
    Just a traditional French pastime, and one that seems to have been imported here...
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,536
    I'd split Surrey into three:

    North West Surrey: Surrey Heath, Woking, Elmbridge, Runneymede and Spelthorne
    South West Surrey: Guildford and Waverley
    East Surrey: Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,526
    stodge said:

    If you're looking for savings, I doubt the "three council" model will deliver much if anything. In truth, abolishing the 12 and replacing with one is probably the most cost effective.

    You'd end up with 120-140 Councillors (perhaps) so a split between east and west Surrey (on the Sussex model) may be the more acceptable. To be fair, combining the back office functions between the two authorities while maintaining separate democratic functions wouldn't be difficult.
    Its probably easier to make such changes in areas which are electorally similar.
  • fox327fox327 Posts: 373
    stodge said:

    I've heard that too - as you say, the young who live with parents or in shared accommodation prefer the office environment and the social aspects of work after work (drinking, meals out and the like).

    Older colleagues (and I'm one) tend to be mostly much less keen - those with plenty of children are currently in favour but reason with the re-opening of schools in the autumn homeworking might be quite pleasant. Those without children are the most resistant. Home working is for many very attractive and has worked unexpectedly well.

    No client I've dealt with is envisaging any kind of compulsion at this time - most think their limited offices can't cope with numbers so getting the younger staff back (who would be less at risk anyway) is the shrewd option leaving the more vulnerable staff at home. Almost all are doing some form of risk assessment to get numbers.

    As I said earlier, very few want to come back at this time and messages regarding public transport aren't encouraging that either.

    I think in time the people who don't want to work in the office will leave through early retirement, or will start going to the office again. There will probably be a vaccine by the end of next year so there will be no public health justification for not going to the office. Social distancing will also have to end after the epidemic is over. It is true that some people will still want to work from home, but employers will prefer staff who want to be involved in the organisation. This is more difficult to do if you do not come into the office. In time the proportion of people going to the office will increase and it may end up close to what it was before.

    I think some people find it comforting to believe that the epidemic will never end, for some reason.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548
    nichomar said:

    They are either too big eg cornwall or to small as happened in Berkshire. They do lose the sense of community representation and walk over existing preferred party administrations.
    If they really want to rile all their supporters, there is no better way than smashing up the counties they live in.

    Labour got a huge amount of grief for dividing up Cheshire. I’ve got cousins in Telford who go absolutely apeshit every time they’re reminded they’re no longer in Shropshire.

    Heck, some people still haven’t forgiven Heath for the original reorganisation.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    stodge said:

    There will be winners and losers but capitalism's like that - it's brutal but it provides opportunities for the adroit and the adept.

    Home deliveries for example have grown exponentially - will they continue? We know online retail has prospered. Some local retail will be fine - the corner shop will be all right and for the elderly and others the trip into town will still happen.

    I do agree transport providers face a very uncertain future. For months, trains have run, virtually empty, generating no revenue for the operators but the track needs to be maintained. The buses in my part of London are quiet, the tube largely deserted.

    Local pubs and cafes will be all right - people who work at home still have lunch. The city centre places will still be frequented by the young at the weekend.

    As an aside, if I were a home designer I'd be cutting back on bedrooms in favour of a ready made home office space.

    The suburban retail infrastructure might do well from this - perhaps a return to a more community-focussed retail.

    Quite. People are still going to want to go out to dinner and go shopping, it's just that some of the resultant economic activity will move location. There'll be less economic activity in city centres, more in smaller towns and the countryside.

    One could even view this as contributing significantly to the Government's agenda of rebalancing the economy away from London and the South East. If a large fraction of jobs which were done in big London office blocks can now be done from home then first of all London gets hollowed out, as a lot of activity moves into the Home Counties, and then some of that activity spreads, in turn, further out into the country to escape ludicrous house prices.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338

    If you've just cottoned onto this being a divisive issue in the SNP I may have to withdraw your PB Scotch expert membership.
    Sorry, wrong poster replied to!
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,548
    Foxy said:

    Just a traditional French pastime, and one that seems to have been imported here...
    Will we have to pay tariffs on it as of next year?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,338
    eadric said:

    What is going on in the SNP?!

    Some huge internal stramash about trans rights.....?

    https://twitter.com/joannaccherry/status/1272220455974428675?s=20
    If you've just cottoned onto this being a divisive issue in the SNP I may have to withdraw your PB Scotch expert membership.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,650

    Yes, that's where I am too. Tke PB Surrey Popular Front, eh?
    But remember that times of crisis are also times of maximum leverage.

    WW2 and the Welfare State etc?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,810
    Where is @AlastairMeeks?

    well yes,but lets face it you having a sulk about me not reading an article you couldn't even be arsed to provide a link to has its own fun
    I assumed you had read it.

    Google throws it straight up so you can rectify if you haven't.

    Needs 15 mins though.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,079




  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,650
    stodge said:

    If you're looking for savings, I doubt the "three council" model will deliver much if anything. In truth, abolishing the 12 and replacing with one is probably the most cost effective.

    You'd end up with 120-140 Councillors (perhaps) so a split between east and west Surrey (on the Sussex model) may be the more acceptable. To be fair, combining the back office functions between the two authorities while maintaining separate democratic functions wouldn't be difficult.
    I'd merge Surrey with Kingston because that is where the headquarters are :=D .
This discussion has been closed.