politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The first Newark by-election opinion poll is out

Beam me up, Scotty: teleportation ‘could become reality’

Laws of physics do not fundamentally forbid the teleportation of large objects, including humans, professor says

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10863929/Beam-me-up-Scotty-teleportation-could-become-reality.html

Cable

I'm guessing Joey is going to be anti-Blair...

Still a better place to live than a country where the army rules at gunpoint. Sun is not everything.

SeanT said:

SouthamObserver said:

We hit 400mm of rainfall for the year today in Leamington. Reservoirs are at 95% of capacity. It's going to be a lush, bountiful summer. Damp shadows under heavy trees. With a bit of sun between now and September the blackberries will be historic. England is good.

It's disgusting. I've seen the sun once, for about an hour, since I got back from Asia.

What was that brilliant Bill Bryson quote? Living in Britain is like living inside a translucent grey tupperware box in the fridge.

MikeK said:

My cat would make a better chairman of this group than Dimbleby.

He's brought everyone in for reasonable time, asked for clarifications of all of them and made sure to get more UKIP voices from the audience to balance things out, yes terrible Chairing.

SeanT said:

Still, no need for depression about the early summer weather. In 3 weeks the nights start drawing in, and we can look forward to 8 months of winter.

Crikey is the glass even half full? You're alive, healthy and successful. Everything else is just tinsel, nice but unnecessary,

Slightly better odds at Bwin for those who want to indulge.

MikeK said:

BobaFett said:

isam said:

The UKIP is getting on my nerves a bit

Mind you the sanctimonius twat in the audience just made her look good

You should have put up Suzanne or Nige - both top TV performers

I agree the Kipper is not the best calibre debater, but she is learning on the job, also she is not showing signs of nerves, all good pointers for the future.

Yes it is her first time on there, and she is a bit carried away with the momentum I guess.

Farage and Evans have both been on in the last month. Steven Woolfe is my tip for the next Kipper to shine.

SeanT said:

Still, no need for depression about the early summer weather. In 3 weeks the nights start drawing in, and we can look forward to 8 months of winter.

I can't remember having to wear a fleece on 29th May before.

Wheres the data tables for this Survation btw ?

SeanT said:

ToryJim said:

SeanT said:

Still, no need for depression about the early summer weather. In 3 weeks the nights start drawing in, and we can look forward to 8 months of winter.

Crikey is the glass even half full? You're alive, healthy and successful. Everything else is just tinsel, nice but unnecessary,

I'm perfectly content. Just spent a great night in the pub (sober! (driving)), with some old friends, I have an intriguing new romantic liaison, and financially I thrive doing a job I love.

I am ludicrously, ludicrously lucky

But there's no denying the fact that Britain can be a bloody dreary place in weather like this. Almost anywhere else seems preferable. As I may have mentioned, this is my explanation for Britain's martial prowess and imperial aggression: we got so hacked off with the rain we invaded the rest of the world in a desperate hunt for reliable sunshine.

Without weather like this we'd no longer be a green and pleasant land. As an amateur photographer I love weather like this far more atmospheric than gay sunshine and the like.

In the Euro elections in Birmingham, UKIP came second to Labour whereas in the locals the Tories were second:

Euro election, Birmingham:

Lab: 93,740
UKIP: 52,063
Con: 39,329
LD: 19,853
Green: 12,753

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/elections/european/2014

TheScreamingEagles said:

Beam me up, Scotty: teleportation ‘could become reality’

Laws of physics do not fundamentally forbid the teleportation of large objects, including humans, professor says

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10863929/Beam-me-up-Scotty-teleportation-could-become-reality.html

Airlines shaking in their boots ;-)

Scott_P said:

kle4 said:

It does seem that if the gist of a conversation is allowed and is accurate, then what additional harm would specific words have? The opinion, good, bad or neutral, is surely the more important bit.

It's the difference between "The President hailed the Prime Minister with a hearty greeting", and "Yo, Blair!"

Ah yes, the Minuting effect.

Heathrow runway arguments? I look forward the classic NIMBY 'Need to increase capacity but not here, in someone elses area', 'Not enough research/consultation (no matter how much is done)' arguments.

Very physical speaker, this UKIP lady, lots of talking with the hands.

That awkward moment when you realise a UKIP person has made the point you agree with most out of a whole hour of Question Time (her thing about Heathrow and the arrogant assumption that everything should happen in London).

TheScreamingEagles said:

RobD said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Beam me up, Scotty: teleportation ‘could become reality’

Laws of physics do not fundamentally forbid the teleportation of large objects, including humans, professor says

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10863929/Beam-me-up-Scotty-teleportation-could-become-reality.html

Airlines shaking in their boots ;-)

At least BA will never lose my luggage again

"Sorry Sir, your baggage appears to have been beamed into the Sun."

Where is the worm when you need it!

The UKIP worm seems to have turned.

AveryLP said:

Louise Bores!

Pulpstar said:

Touch of a clanger from the UKIP lady there. Heathrow is a national issue.

Why is it a national issue?

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

Hate flying, normally have to get pissed to get on a plane.. but I dont know if I have ever been to Heathrow!

Piers Morgan such a prick... hate that he is an Arsenal fan so much

kle4 said:

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

Only inasmuch as it impacts on how far they are from where they want to get to in the capital or elsewhere, I would guess. It just takes so long to sort out, it seems like nothing will get done in time, which is frustrating for those who won't be affected one way or another but do think the need is there.

Piers made it sound like people are taking holidays at the airport.

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

I much prefer Gatwick, with the caveat that I haven't been through Heathrow since the late 90s when it was truly appalling in every way. Also until recently Delta only flew into gatwick.

My favorite airport is manchester, because these days I rarely need to go anywhere outside Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Pulpstar said:

kle4 said:

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

Only inasmuch as it impacts on how far they are from where they want to get to in the capital or elsewhere, I would guess. It just takes so long to sort out, it seems like nothing will get done in time, which is frustrating for those who won't be affected one way or another but do think the need is there.

Piers made it sound like people are taking holidays at the airport.

Well, despite me agreeing with him a surprising amount tonight, he is still a tit.

Scott_P said:

A future Labour government will not undo the hugely unpopular cuts imposed by the current coalition, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is expected to say.

Speaking on Friday, Chris Leslie is to outline Labour’s “radical” policy plans, but will warn that the party is preparing to make some unpopular decisions and will not “be able to undo the cuts that the have been felt in recent years.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/future-labour-government-will-not-undo-hugely-unpopular-coalition-cuts_n_5413596.html
Oh, what a shock that is. Will they still attempt to give the impression they would, without explicitly promising to do so I wonder.

Scott_P said:

A future Labour government will not undo the hugely unpopular cuts imposed by the current coalition, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is expected to say.

Speaking on Friday, Chris Leslie is to outline Labour’s “radical” policy plans, but will warn that the party is preparing to make some unpopular decisions and will not “be able to undo the cuts that the have been felt in recent years.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/future-labour-government-will-not-undo-hugely-unpopular-coalition-cuts_n_5413596.html

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

They may not want them, but they do not want tax rises either.

And at the moment we spend a Billion pounds per week on interest on our national debt.

Danny565 said:

Scott_P said:

A future Labour government will not undo the hugely unpopular cuts imposed by the current coalition, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is expected to say.

Speaking on Friday, Chris Leslie is to outline Labour’s “radical” policy plans, but will warn that the party is preparing to make some unpopular decisions and will not “be able to undo the cuts that the have been felt in recent years.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/future-labour-government-will-not-undo-hugely-unpopular-coalition-cuts_n_5413596.html

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

We are not arguing with the Government about the scale of the challenge. But we do differ significantly on the best way to confront it. George Osborne has had his five years to eradicate the deficit. I am determined that we finish that task on which he has failed.

That truly will be a boon for Labour. They did not promise to eliminate the deficit in four-five years if they won in 2010, so would always have planned to do so sometime in the next partliament. Now the Tories are also planning to do that, but as they promised to do it in five initially, when Labour in government (as I believe they will be) achieve it as the economy has a few years of reasonable growth behind it, they can get the plaudits for the entire deficit reduction, while the Tories attempting to argue they did the hard bit by getting it started and deserve credit will be shot down with 'your plan failed, so you went onto theirs' or some such.

Arrived at City Airport for the first time (from Stockholm) last week. Unfortunately there was an enormous queue at passport control which took about 35 minutes to get through. A bit disappointed, because I've always heard how efficient it is.

Danny565 said:

Scott_P said:

A future Labour government will not undo the hugely unpopular cuts imposed by the current coalition, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is expected to say.

Speaking on Friday, Chris Leslie is to outline Labour’s “radical” policy plans, but will warn that the party is preparing to make some unpopular decisions and will not “be able to undo the cuts that the have been felt in recent years.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/future-labour-government-will-not-undo-hugely-unpopular-coalition-cuts_n_5413596.html

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

I thought UKIP's approach was scorched earth everywhere except defence which would be hiked beyond all credibility, basically the GOP on steroids?

AndyJS said:

Arrived at City Airport for the first time (from Stockholm) last week. Unfortunately there was an enormous queue at passport control which took about 35 minutes to get through. A bit disappointed, because I've always heard how efficient it is.

Did you enjoy the landing?

"(even if the boundaries have changed since then)." I value this site for intelligent debate on political issues. How then can sensible debate take place unless people accept that comparisons MUST be based on a like for like basis or they mean nothing. We need the details and date of the changes and a weighted basis for comparisons with 1997 or it is meaningless.

Allison Pearson's Telegraph article on racism and multiculturalism has received 5,724 comments so far:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10860492/Are-we-all-racist-now.html

AndyJS said:

Allison Pearson's Telegraph article on racism and multiculturalism has received 5,724 comments so far:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10860492/Are-we-all-racist-now.html

Sounds like an open challenge to all the other Telegraph contributors to top that. Lord Tebbit gets comments into the thousands with some regularity, the right topic could manage it for him.

Good night all.

kle4 said:

We are not arguing with the Government about the scale of the challenge. But we do differ significantly on the best way to confront it. George Osborne has had his five years to eradicate the deficit. I am determined that we finish that task on which he has failed.

That truly will be a boon for Labour. They did not promise to eliminate the deficit in four-five years if they won in 2010, so would always have planned to do so sometime in the next partliament. Now the Tories are also planning to do that, but as they promised to do it in five initially, when Labour in government (as I believe they will be) achieve it as the economy has a few years of reasonable growth behind it, they can get the plaudits for the entire deficit reduction, while the Tories attempting to argue they did the hard bit by getting it started and deserve credit will be shot down with 'your plan failed, so you went onto theirs' or some such.

There would be no plaudits for Labour even if they did eliminate the entire deficit, because no-one outside the Westminster bubble cares about whether we have a deficit or not.

Danny565 said:

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

I love your comments on this. Clearly, as a Labour supporter, it doesn't even occur to you that anyone might even ask whether the policy was a good one or one could actually be delivered: if it polls well, promise it, eh?

Has it never occurred to you that there might be a tiny bit of a problem with that in the unfortunate event that Labour gets to form the next government?

The bye-election has disappeared from Betfair and Ladbrokes, and Labour are 16/1 at William Hill.

BobaFett said:

On topic, I hope this poll lengthens the Tory price a bit so I can pile on. I can't see the anti-Tory vote organising efficiently enough to push Lab or Kip past the post.

Pulpstar said:

Oh For sure, Labour is my best result.

I can't work out what a fair price on Kipper is though,

Am on at 8-11 Tories right now..

Also Survation overestimated UKIP, underestimated Conservative slightly at Euros.

I think the current 3/1 on the Kippers looks reasonable, in the sense that I wouldn't immediately want either to back or to lay at that price.

Quincel said:

With two independents, the Monster Raving Loonies, The Bus-Pass Elvis Party, Common Good Party, Greens, and Patriotic Socialists, there's an awful lot of opportunities for the LDs to be embarrassed and beaten into 4th.

Only 4th, it would be hilarious to see them finish behind OMRLP as it would have shades of the Bootle by-election in 1990.

Richard_Nabavi said:

Pulpstar said:

Oh For sure, Labour is my best result.

I can't work out what a fair price on Kipper is though,

Am on at 8-11 Tories right now..

Also Survation overestimated UKIP, underestimated Conservative slightly at Euros.

I think the current 3/1 on the Kippers looks reasonable, in the sense that I wouldn't immediately want either to back or to lay at that price.

Hmm Well in that case I'll take the remaining £18 at 7-2 on Betfair and stick a tenner back up at 3.6

foxinsoxuk said:

The bye-election has disappeared from Betfair and Ladbrokes, and Labour are 16/1 at William Hill.

BobaFett said:

On topic, I hope this poll lengthens the Tory price a bit so I can pile on. I can't see the anti-Tory vote organising efficiently enough to push Lab or Kip past the post.

Still 34-1 at bwin (and UKIP 4-1), who I think are foreign-based and perhaps slower to react to UK polls. But kudos to richard N for getting on at 60-1!

Danny565 said:

ToryJim said:

Danny565 said:

Scott_P said:

A future Labour government will not undo the hugely unpopular cuts imposed by the current coalition, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is expected to say.

Speaking on Friday, Chris Leslie is to outline Labour’s “radical” policy plans, but will warn that the party is preparing to make some unpopular decisions and will not “be able to undo the cuts that the have been felt in recent years.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/29/future-labour-government-will-not-undo-hugely-unpopular-coalition-cuts_n_5413596.html

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

I thought UKIP's approach was scorched earth everywhere except defence which would be hiked beyond all credibility, basically the GOP on steroids?

That's traditionally UKIP's policy (although recently they have been hinting at populist leftwing policies on the economy and public spending), but surely it's well-established by now that most people are not voting UKIP because they agree with their detailed domestic policies. There are loads of Lab->UKIP defectors here in the north who say they think Labour don't stand up for the working-class enough, very often because of immigration, occasionally because of the EU, but also because they think they didn't give enough jobs to people who were thrown onto the dole by Thatcher, that they didn't ensure people got good enough wages, that investment in town centres and public services wasn't high enough, and that they sucked up to rich fat-cats too much. I would wager that virtually none of those Lab->UKIP defectors did so because they think "Labour spent too much money".

The trouble is at some point they will have to reveal their hand at which point half their supporter base is gonna have a hissy. If they stick to the bonkers scorched earth nonsense the Lab-kip switchers will fly away. If they go full on left wing populism the scorched earth nutters will fly away plus every one else will kick the crap out of them for the intellectual dishonesty. They can't face two ways simultaneously or at least they can't in the way the Lib Dems did by being wooly centrist mongers. So at some point they are going to shatter their coalition of the angry and possibly scupper their USP at the same time.

Danny565 said:

Richard_Nabavi said:

Danny565 said:

Jesus, they will really never learn.

Latest Ashcroft poll: 60% of people want no more cuts. Proportion among UKIP voters who want no more cuts is even higher.

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ANP-summary-140527.pdf

I love your comments on this. Clearly, as a Labour supporter, it doesn't even occur to you that anyone might even ask whether the policy was a good one or one could actually be delivered: if it polls well, promise it, eh?

Has it never occurred to you that there might be a tiny bit of a problem with that in the unfortunate event that Labour gets to form the next government?

Oh right. Never mind that the public don't want more cuts, they just don't understand enough so they'll have to lump it and take spending cuts anyway.

Some of you PBTories crack me up with your selective approach to "listening to the people". When it comes to immigration or an EU referendum, it's a scandal for Labour to not listen to the voices of the people who say they're against them. Yet, when it's proven time and time again that people also don't want spending cuts, their opinions don't matter, paying off some random guy on a trading floor in Shanghai is the most important thing rather than providing good lives for British people.

Nothing wrong with spending money you earn. But when you're in debt - as the UK is - it's the creditor who decides what you can spend. If people won't lend the money to us,we can't spend no matter how much we might want to. Debtors have very little choice - and we are a heavily indebted nation.

SeanT said:

Tim_B said:

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

I much prefer Gatwick, with the caveat that I haven't been through Heathrow since the late 90s when it was truly appalling in every way. Also until recently Delta only flew into gatwick.

My favorite airport is manchester, because these days I rarely need to go anywhere outside Lancashire and Yorkshire.

With all respect, you're talking total bollocks (which, to be fair, you halfway admit)

I fly constantly in my job. Heathrow has been transformed beyond recognition in recent years. And the evidence isn't anecdotal: it recently entered the top ten airports in the world, in the most important list:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2579974/On-Heathrow-rises-ranks-enter-surveys-Best-Airport-awards.html

Way ahead of similar world city airports like JFK or CDG.

Meanwhile, Terminal 5 has been voted the Best Terminal IN THE WORLD for three years running.

http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.com/Press-releases/Heathrow-awarded-for-best-terminal-and-best-shopping-globally-86e.aspx

Yer out of date, dude. Heathrow is now an excellent airport, with peerless access to the great city it serves.

BUILD THE THIRD RUNWAY.

I think I more than halfway admiited I was talking bollocks! :-)

I'm more than happy to accept that Heathrow has come on like gang busters since the awful place it was 15-18 years ago. All power to it.

Unfortunately I have no need of it, as my trips to the UK involve the north of England, and I can just drive on those occasions when I need to go south.

Heathrow may be much better, but the UK motorway system appears to have not changed much over 30 years. The M1, M4, M3, M6 etc are all the same size they were then.

Regarding Burqas, I think banning them would be shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted... the repercussions from angry extremists would be worse than the weird sight of women walking about, shut off from the world by creepy costumes

I would suggest that governments and influential moderate muslims went on the offensive in another way: an advertising campaign saying that it is ok to take off your burqa if you like, and make intimidating a woman into wearing one a crime

@SeanT‌
I think the govt is unduly worried. Yes there'd be a bit of sound and fury and Zak would flounce off in a huff. Caroline Lucas would jump up and down spouting her rubbish about how we should all live in yurts made from organic fair traded flax eating mung bean casseroles and communing with Gaia but then it would simmer down and everyone would get on with it.

BobaFett said:

SeanT said:

BobaFett said:

SeanT said:

Tim_B said:

Pulpstar said:

Do people seriously care which airport around London they come into ?

Does it matter so much that people fly into Heathrow ? Are people really that vain ?!

I much prefer Gatwick, with the caveat that I haven't been through Heathrow since the late 90s when it was truly appalling in every way. Also until recently Delta only flew into gatwick.

My favorite airport is manchester, because these days I rarely need to go anywhere outside Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Right. People don't seem to grasp that the integration of the Heathrow site with rail and tube is world class. If you moved the hub, you'd have to hook it up from scratch. Would cost billions, take nearly a generation to build, and disrupt thousands of acres for something we already have.

Not just rail and tube - road as well. The M25 is two minutes away, likewise the M5, M4, M3.

Heathrow is actually in pretty much the PERFECT position for a London airport that wants to be a national and global hub. Anywhere else is inferior, especially when you take into account the vast expense and time it would take to shift it all.

e,g. There are rumours that they are going to expand Gatwick instead. Sheer stupidity. Gatwick is south of London making it a nightmare for anyone who is coming from north of London (i.e, most of the UK). Similarly, east of London is seriously suboptimal for a British/global hub.

The strange thing is that while we have dithered, Heathrow has turned itself into a massively successful international airport, admired across the world (as these prizes show). It would be an act of self harm not to expand it (if we have to expand, which we do). Are we that stupid? Possibly.

LHR3 is the way to go. But no party seems to want to touch it.

LHR3 - This is what I don't understand. Here in Atlanta we have 5 runways. There are suburbs on both ends of the runways. Everyone understands the economic benefits of airport traffic growth, and there was litttle opposition to expansion.

Why is there such opposition in the UK? I remember KACAN in the 70s to protest at aircraft noise, but that's long gone now with the new jets.