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The Masque of the Red Death – politicalbetting.com

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  • malcolmg said:

    I know but as Big G is unlikely to have been in one I was just saying they were a decent chicken shack.
    I have never been in a Nandos either, but I do like their Piri-Piri sauce
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    HYUFD said:

    Scottish Labour once again likely to get squeezed next year outside Glasgow and central Scotland, with Nationalists voting SNP and Unionists voting Tory

    https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1330443847902629888?s=20

    London Labour and London Tories regional offices are Like two bald men fighting over a comb
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,043
    edited November 2020

    Given what we know of the Johnson temperament, I can't imagine that he's planning anything. He wants to be PM basically forever, so I guess he sort of assumes that is what is going to happen. And since nobody in their right mind would want to take over in 2021, he can continue to bumble along.

    On a related note, if IDS is already stiffening his sinews against any sort of deal with the EU, and Rishi is putting on his best "not bovvered" face, how does the PM get any sort of deal through? Or does he have to let late winter be grim first?
    Rishi made clear he would prefer a Deal and that is what Boris will agree with the EU next month, with some compromise on the level playing field from the UK and some compromise from the EU on fishing.

    As Boris has a majority of 80 he will still get his deal through even if IDS, Cash, Francois, Steve Baker, Redwood and a few other No Deal hardliners vote against, May with a hung parliament could never afford to tell Brexit hardliners where to go, Boris with a big majority now can
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546
    edited November 2020
    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    HYUFD said:

    Scottish Labour once again likely to get squeezed next year outside Glasgow and central Scotland, with Nationalists voting SNP and Unionists voting Tory

    https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1330443847902629888?s=20

    You are still conflating the concepts 'Pro-independence', 'Nationalist' and 'SNP voter' in your desperate anxiety. And quite deliberately. Because it helps you create your narrative that only SNP voters would vote for Yes.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546

    Did you see yesterday that a Labour MP compared Jeremy Corbyn to Hannibal, finally some Corbynites have realised a couple of lucky victories in battle ain't worth shit if you lose war so badly you get wiped out.

    https://twitter.com/Mendelpol/status/1330105871691632641
    I actually commented on it, Mr Eagles.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,550

    Christmas has been ruined for years what with things like the rampant commercialisation and people thinking Die Hard is a Christmas film.

    Without wanting to perpetuate the Daily Mail/Farage myth that Muslims want to cancel Christmas, I'm sure delaying Christmas to next summer will be fine, it used to be in the summer did it not, plus there's this precedent.

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

    Only The Grinch denies Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    edited November 2020

    Mr. Eagles, "Now I have a machinegun. Ho ho ho."

    What could be more Christmassy?

    You want to see the link between Christmas and dying hard, check out the ICUs in mid to late January.

    To be fair (!!) to Johnson, I don't see Scotland/Wales/NI doing anything very different on the Save Christmas front. This is a real opportunity for SKS to show some balls and call for its cancellation.
  • JACK_WJACK_W Posts: 682
    Worthy of note in relation to both the betting markets and Trump's long term squatting in the White House is that over the next two days AZ, PA and MI will effectively certify their results and officially push Biden past 270.

    Tick tock ....
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    Don't forget a Battle of Britain flight flypast, crews in Santa costumes, bomb doors of Lanc' opening to scatter Made in China crap upon the land 'for the kiddies'.
    Of course, the Lanc did not fight in the BoB.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,550
    Carnyx said:

    You are still conflating the concepts 'Pro-independence', 'Nationalist' and 'SNP voter' in your desperate anxiety. And quite deliberately. Because it helps you create your narrative that only SNP voters would vote for Yes.
    Are the LibDems still a thing in Scotland?
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,331
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Book a test. No-brainer given your profession.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Test. No question.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,822
    For our German members @matthiasfromhamburg and @kamski, do you know if Germany are doing population sampling like the ONS or have got a tracking app like ZOE that gives realtime data, I've tried to search but my understanding of German is very poor and my wife isn't inclined to help because she doesn't care. If you don't know then don't worry, I can set one of my juniors on the task this week.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,454
    DavidL said:

    Blimey, when people said that the application in Pennsylvania had been dismissed with prejudice they weren't kidding: https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2020/11/Order-Granting-MTD.pdf

    Just a taster:

    Although this case was initiated less than two weeks ago, it has already
    developed its own tortured procedural history. Plaintiffs have made multiple
    attempts at amending the pleadings, and have had attorneys both appear and
    withdraw in a matter of seventy-two hours. There have been at least two perceived
    discovery disputes, one oral argument, and a rude and ill-conceived voicemail
    which distracted the Court’s attention from the significant issues at hand.

    Interesting judgement.

    In other words without the legalese FU*K OFF!!!!
  • HYUFD said:

    Scottish Labour once again likely to get squeezed next year outside Glasgow and central Scotland, with Nationalists voting SNP and Unionists voting Tory

    https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1330443847902629888?s=20

    It tells you that SLab still have a vestigial interest in listening to Scottish voters while the SCons are only interested in talking to their base of the OO, Rangers fans and Kippers while pretending they aren't happy to take over the function of toilet paper in Boris's bog.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546
    OK guys, thank you for the advice. I will contact the Deputy Head to get an authorisation.

    Hopefully it is just a cough. But it's going to be one more headache for tomorrow my unfortunate employers could do without.
  • ydoethur said:

    I actually commented on it, Mr Eagles.
    Oops, I meant to reply to Mr Dancer.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,809
    JACK_W said:

    Worthy of note in relation to both the betting markets and Trump's long term squatting in the White House is that over the next two days AZ, PA and MI will effectively certify their results and officially push Biden past 270.

    Tick tock ....

    Yep. If they don't settle on those certs I will conclude they are going to trade the market right up to the EC meeting.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,247
    edited November 2020

    Go for a test, one of the symptoms is

    a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

    Given your profession you're more than justified in going for a test.
    I agree, and my experience of getting tested on Friday* was that there was plenty of capacity. I was swabbed within an hour of booking a test, and there were far more testing staff than punters. Login and do it.

    *results back 0600 this AM, and negative. Whether it stays this way for another week...
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    Are the LibDems still a thing in Scotland?
    Bumping along the bottom and fighting the Greens for, um let me think, 4th/5th place, pretty much.

    But what's left of them are the more right-wing ones - shy Tories, or with some specific local factor such as the ancient crofting/LD linkage, though that seems to have evaporated except in the Northern Isles.

    In terms of the indyref vote, I'd say a bit for yes and a bit for no. Depends how many are reluctant Yes after the full impact of Brexit. I think @DavidL had some comments on changing attitudes in the professional classes and the like. t.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,822
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Go and get a test ASAP. My mum is able to get priority testing in her area (Enfield) because she's a TA, see if your area has a similar scheme for school and front line workers.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,809
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    That sounds to me like a good enough reason to get a test. Hope you manage to get one and it's negative.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,550
    Carnyx said:

    Bumping along the bottom and fighting the Greens for, um let me think, 4th/5th place, pretty much.

    But what's left of them are the more right-wing ones - shy Tories, or with some specific local factor such as the ancient crofting/LD linkage, though that seems to have evaporated except in the Northern Isles.

    In terms of the indyref vote, I'd say a bit for yes and a bit for no. Depends how many are reluctant Yes after the full impact of Brexit. I think @DavidL had some comments on changing attitudes in the professional classes and the like. t.
    Thanks for the insight.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,568
    edited November 2020
    nichomar said:

    Work with the tories and have your hands bitten off as a minimum.
    Yes, but in fairness they know an ex school chum who now works as a lobbyist for a company that makes pig slop out of human hands, so it's really just being good at business.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097

    I have never been in a Nandos either, but I do like their Piri-Piri sauce
    That is all you get chicken with the piri-Piri sauce, french fries, and beer/wine. Maybe some salad or corn on the cob. Great sauce though.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,550
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys, thank you for the advice. I will contact the Deputy Head to get an authorisation.

    Hopefully it is just a cough. But it's going to be one more headache for tomorrow my unfortunate employers could do without.

    That headache is deffo a reason for a test.....
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,247
    MaxPB said:

    For our German members @matthiasfromhamburg and @kamski, do you know if Germany are doing population sampling like the ONS or have got a tracking app like ZOE that gives realtime data, I've tried to search but my understanding of German is very poor and my wife isn't inclined to help because she doesn't care. If you don't know then don't worry, I can set one of my juniors on the task this week.

    Are people still updating the ZOE app? I got bored of it months ago, so not sure how valid their data is now.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    Roger said:

    Interesting judgement.

    In other words without the legalese FU*K OFF!!!!
    Not quite, more FU*K OFF WITH PREJUDICE!!!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,568

    Did you see yesterday that a Labour MP compared Jeremy Corbyn to Hannibal, finally some Corbynites have realised a couple of lucky victories in battle ain't worth shit if you lose war so badly you get wiped out.

    https://twitter.com/Mendelpol/status/1330105871691632641
    I'm honestly not sure that the point Lewis is making is the one he thinks he is making. To me it shows the value of not giving an opponent another chance.
  • Carnyx said:

    Of course, the Lanc did not fight in the BoB.
    Indeed, another instance of the ahistoricity (no idea if that's a word but using it anyway) of the UK's/England's WWII fetish. Presumably it's there for 'hooray, we killed 10x more Jerry civilians in revenge' reasons.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,809
    On Topic. I can only agree with the Header. Do not have yourself a merry little Christmas. Not this year.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,232

    But tangentially, I did like this.

    https://twitter.com/ChrisMegerian/status/1330321841165111299
    Pat Toomey (GOP Pennsylvania senator) has refferred to the judgement in his latest statement. Points to the judge's conservative credentials.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,568
    Andy_JS said:
    Does it say the same thing as his other ones, just swapping out the details to reference Christmas?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,725
    .
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Agree with TSE.
    Getting tested is a no brainer, and I don’t think you should go in (FWIW).
  • DavidL said:

    Not quite, more FU*K OFF WITH PREJUDICE!!!
    It's actually quite a good microcosm of Trump's strategy. Throw a lot at it and see what sticks.

    Then, paragraph by paragraph, see your claims narrowed down one by one, until there are none that even require an evidentiary hearing.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097

    It tells you that SLab still have a vestigial interest in listening to Scottish voters while the SCons are only interested in talking to their base of the OO, Rangers fans and Kippers while pretending they aren't happy to take over the function of toilet paper in Boris's bog.
    Spot on, though you forgot the Toffs and the deluded small number of rich Fishermen/Farmmers/landed gentry. What an odious mixture.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180

    Are the LibDems still a thing in Scotland?
    The Lib Dems currently have 4x as many Westminster MPs in Scotland as the Labour party.
  • malcolmg said:

    That is all you get chicken with the piri-Piri sauce, french fries, and beer/wine. Maybe some salad or corn on the cob. Great sauce though.
    So I have "been to nandos" when I stick their sauce on my homemade fried chicken & chips? :D:D
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    Indeed, another instance of the ahistoricity (no idea if that's a word but using it anyway) of the UK's/England's WWII fetish. Presumably it's there for 'hooray, we killed 10x more Jerry civilians in revenge' reasons.
    Ahistoricism can be a real downer for those who care. I checked the verbal options and got this at once - a chap who is obviously of the same calibre as thee and me.

    "Ahistoricity in Crusader Kings 2: Syphilis

    In my most recent playthrough, I started in the Old Gods bookmark, and my first king got syphilis. I couldn't produce any heirs and died; game over. Sad times.

    But it occurred to me that current scholarship strongly suggests that syphilis came from the New World, and was not present in Eurasia before European contact with the Americas. This minor ahistorical factor obviously completely destroys any enjoyment that anyone could get from Crusader Kings ever again."
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    MaxPB said:

    For our German members @matthiasfromhamburg and @kamski, do you know if Germany are doing population sampling like the ONS or have got a tracking app like ZOE that gives realtime data, I've tried to search but my understanding of German is very poor and my wife isn't inclined to help because she doesn't care. If you don't know then don't worry, I can set one of my juniors on the task this week.

    A bit of shouting and some cursing and they will be on it.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,568

    So I have "been to nandos" when I stick their sauce on my homemade fried chicken & chips? :D:D
    Nah, but you m ight have 'done a nandos'.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    Carnyx said:

    Of course, the Lanc did not fight in the BoB.
    Reality makes no difference it won the war, did it not so a worthy inclusion.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,043
    edited November 2020
    Carnyx said:

    Bumping along the bottom and fighting the Greens for, um let me think, 4th/5th place, pretty much.

    But what's left of them are the more right-wing ones - shy Tories, or with some specific local factor such as the ancient crofting/LD linkage, though that seems to have evaporated except in the Northern Isles.

    In terms of the indyref vote, I'd say a bit for yes and a bit for no. Depends how many are reluctant Yes after the full impact of Brexit. I think @DavidL had some comments on changing attitudes in the professional classes and the like. t.
    The LDs are only really a force in Scotland in Edinburgh West, North East Fife, Dunbartonshire East and the Highlands and Orkney and Shetland.

    However they are very good at getting out their vote where it matters, hence the LDs have 4 Scottish MPs now and Scottish Labour only have 1.

    The Scottish LDs also have more constituency MSPs than Scottish Labour, 4 to 3 and it is not inconceivable they could pick up Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (which has a LD MP) and Argyle and Bute next year where they are second behind the SNP if they get tactical votes from the Tories and Labour.

    If we get a trade deal with the EU the Brexit impact will be reduced
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    kinabalu said:

    Yep. If they don't settle on those certs I will conclude they are going to trade the market right up to the EC meeting.
    Bizarrely, there's nothing in the constitution to say that state electors must take account of the vote, in theory a state legislature could order it's electors to vote for anyone in the Electoral College, even people who were never official candidates.

    It won't happen of course and in Betfair's rules it says that 'faithless electors' don't count.
  • ydoethur said:

    OK guys, thank you for the advice. I will contact the Deputy Head to get an authorisation.

    Hopefully it is just a cough. But it's going to be one more headache for tomorrow my unfortunate employers could do without.

    Think of the headache you would cause if you were Positive and turned up for a days work....

    Good luck with the test :+1:
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,279
    edited November 2020
    I opened a Betdaq account yesterday, deposited £10 which qualifies for a free tenner from them, and turned my £10 to £40+ by backing Spurs - and now have their free tenner on Leeds winning tonight.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,232
    The judge in the Pennsylvania case, Matthew Brann, is a Republican who,before his nomination, was involved in Republican politics,the NRA and the Federalist Society. He said the Trump case was "without merit and speculative accusations" "unhinged" and a "Frankenstein's monster".
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    DavidL said:

    The Lib Dems currently have 4x as many Westminster MPs in Scotland as the Labour party.
    Which is, it is a little unkind to point out, a bit like saying the toddler next door is 5x as fast as my tortoise.

    On the other hand, only 5 out of 129 MSPs at Holyrood. Interestingly, mostly constituency - not usual for small parties.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    Carnyx said:

    You are still conflating the concepts 'Pro-independence', 'Nationalist' and 'SNP voter' in your desperate anxiety. And quite deliberately. Because it helps you create your narrative that only SNP voters would vote for Yes.
    You could have just said , "more bilge from a lying no good Tory".
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,107
    ydoethur said:

    OK guys - I need some advice.

    I have just had a strange dry coughing fit. I do sometimes cough on getting up in the early mornings. However, I have now been awake for five hours. It is not usual for me to be coughing at this time of day.

    It's not continuous, and it didn't last an hour. But I did have one yesterday too that I couldn't account for.

    Normally, I'd just be annoyed, drink some water and carry on. Certainly I feel fine, apart from very tired and strained, and I wouldn't normally even be considering whether to contact the school. However, it occurs to me that if I go in tomorrow and again have a strange coughing fit, I will not be Mr Popular if it turns out to be Covid.

    Does anyone know whether under the government guidance on 'a new, continuous cough' this should be enough to book a test? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Combined with tiredness and you a key worker, it probably is. So why not? You do say twice however that it's not unusual, and even allowing for your welshness that suggests no serious reason to worry?
  • Think of the headache you would cause if you were Positive and turned up for a days work....

    Good luck with the test :+1:
    And you probably won't get the result today, so better to call in sick now as a precaution. Hopefully you get the right result and you're back in on Tuesday.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    HYUFD said:

    Rishi made clear he would prefer a Deal and that is what Boris will agree with the EU next month, with some compromise on the level playing field from the UK and some compromise from the EU on fishing.

    As Boris has a majority of 80 he will still get his deal through even if IDS, Cash, Francois, Steve Baker, Redwood and a few other No Deal hardliners vote against, May with a hung parliament could never afford to tell Brexit hardliners where to go, Boris with a big majority now can
    Not heard much of Francois lately , where is he hiding.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,232
    @Thescreamingeagles I don't think the SC will take the case, and if they do I expect Trump will get eviscorated again.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,725
    DeClare said:

    Bizarrely, there's nothing in the constitution to say that state electors must take account of the vote, in theory a state legislature could order it's electors to vote for anyone in the Electoral College, even people who were never official candidates.

    It won't happen of course and in Betfair's rules it says that 'faithless electors' don't count.
    There is plenty in the states’ own laws to say they can’t, though.
    (And faithless electors are not the same thing.)
  • YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    edited November 2020
    "The latest figures in England in particular are at best grim."

    True. Though they are grimmer in Wales.

    https://twitter.com/UKCovid19Stats/status/1330234743296831488/photo/1

    I have some sympathy with the argument that a proper statistical analysis is needed, and it is true that the respective performances of the countries of the UK does change with time ... but since Oct, Wales has been at the top almost every week in the death league (normalised according to population size)

    AIso, I see Cyclefree has been complaining about lobbyists (possibly rightly).

    There is a register for lobbyists for Westminster ..... and for the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh ... and even for Stormont in Northern Ireland. In these countries, there is at least some (possibly minimal) regulation.

    There is a country missing. There is no statutory register of lobbyists whatsoever in Wales.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,454

    Roger, just let it go.
    Britain's finest. You know very well no one's going to let it go! This has got years to run.....

    ...The Red Bus will be in the Tate Modern....

    Every financial glitch.. lorry hold up ...passport delay... freeze in wages ...seasonal flu...leaves on the line... shortage of fish....cold snap....motorway madness.. rise in inflation will be blamed on it. Might as well get used to it.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,550
    DavidL said:

    The Lib Dems currently have 4x as many Westminster MPs in Scotland as the Labour party.
    But if your benchmark is that Labour are no longer a thing in Scotland...not sure that helps much! 😉
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097

    So I have "been to nandos" when I stick their sauce on my homemade fried chicken & chips? :D:D
    Only if you have wine/beer with it :D , corn on the cob is optional
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180

    It's actually quite a good microcosm of Trump's strategy. Throw a lot at it and see what sticks.

    Then, paragraph by paragraph, see your claims narrowed down one by one, until there are none that even require an evidentiary hearing.
    I thought that the kernel of it was that the 2 individual voters who complained that they had been denied the opportunity to correct their postal votes by making good a deficiency were not looking to "level up" and be counted as the judge put it but to have 7.8m other voters "levelled down" by saying that their votes could not be counted. It is just a completely ridiculous proposition and would be the end of the democratic process.

    There's not a chance, contrary to what the Trump campaign are saying, that this is going to get anywhere near the Supreme Court.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    HYUFD said:

    The LDs are only really a force in Scotland in Edinburgh West, North East Fife, Dunbartonshire East and the Highlands and Orkney and Shetland.

    However they are very good at getting out their vote where it matters, hence the LDs have 4 Scottish MPs now and Scottish Labour only have 1.

    The Scottish LDs also have more constituency MSPs than Scottish Labour, 4 to 3 and it is not inconceivable they could pick up Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (which has a LD MP) and Argyle and Bute next year where they are second behind the SNP if they get tactical votes from the Tories and Labour.

    If we get a trade deal with the EU the Brexit impact will be reduced
    In view of what other PBers have been saying will happen EVEN IF THERE IS A DEAL, your use of the word 'reduced' is as heavily strained as your use of the word 'most' the other day.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,107
    Foxy said:

    Are people still updating the ZOE app? I got bored of it months ago, so not sure how valid their data is now.
    I am still doing it, the app churns out the reminders, and it gives priority for a test if I need one. He claims over a million are doing it
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,822
    Foxy said:

    Are people still updating the ZOE app? I got bored of it months ago, so not sure how valid their data is now.
    In England they are partnered with the official testing system so app users are tested, this is why the readout is reliable now and gives pretty good realtime trend data.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,097
    Stocky said:

    I opened a Betdaq account yesterday, deposited £10 which qualifies for a free tenner from them, and turned my £10 to £40+ by backing Spurs - and now have their free tenner on Leeds winning tonight.

    Nice one
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546

    Think of the headache you would cause if you were Positive and turned up for a days work....

    Good luck with the test :+1:
    Yes - that's what's making me cautious. I've started the process, we'll see what happens.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    Carnyx said:

    Which is, it is a little unkind to point out, a bit like saying the toddler next door is 5x as fast as my tortoise.

    On the other hand, only 5 out of 129 MSPs at Holyrood. Interestingly, mostly constituency - not usual for small parties.
    The efficiency of the Lib Dem vote in Scotland must make them seriously wonder about the merits of PR!

    It does seem that their previous stronghold in the borders, David Steel country, has now completely vanished. Where they lose they seem to disappear fairly quickly.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,043
    edited November 2020
    DavidL said:

    The efficiency of the Lib Dem vote in Scotland must make them seriously wonder about the merits of PR!

    It does seem that their previous stronghold in the borders, David Steel country, has now completely vanished. Where they lose they seem to disappear fairly quickly.
    David Steel country is now solid Tory, the LD base is now Jo Grimond country in Orkney and Shetland, Charles Kennedy or Ming Campbell country around the Highlands and Fife and Remain central in posh west Edinburgh
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,320
    ydoethur said:

    ? Because I will admit at this moment I am very conflicted as to what to do.

    Look deep within yourself and the correct course of action will come to you.



  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    DavidL said:

    The efficiency of the Lib Dem vote in Scotland must make them seriously wonder about the merits of PR!

    It does seem that their previous stronghold in the borders, David Steel country, has now completely vanished. Where they lose they seem to disappear fairly quickly.
    Quite so. Not just David Steel and his Borders colleagues. John Robertson in East Lothian too ... I had an old friend in Hawick who was very active in the LDs. He died some years back - I wonder what he would have said about today.

    Isn't their vote in NE Fife due in substantial part to St Andrews University?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546
    Carnyx said:

    Ahistoricism can be a real downer for those who care. I checked the verbal options and got this at once - a chap who is obviously of the same calibre as thee and me.

    "Ahistoricity in Crusader Kings 2: Syphilis

    In my most recent playthrough, I started in the Old Gods bookmark, and my first king got syphilis. I couldn't produce any heirs and died; game over. Sad times.

    But it occurred to me that current scholarship strongly suggests that syphilis came from the New World, and was not present in Eurasia before European contact with the Americas. This minor ahistorical factor obviously completely destroys any enjoyment that anyone could get from Crusader Kings ever again."
    Not quite true. There was a possible case of congenital syphilis among the bodies at Pompeii, although it is disputed.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569
    Carnyx said:

    Ahistoricism can be a real downer for those who care. I checked the verbal options and got this at once - a chap who is obviously of the same calibre as thee and me.

    "Ahistoricity in Crusader Kings 2: Syphilis

    In my most recent playthrough, I started in the Old Gods bookmark, and my first king got syphilis. I couldn't produce any heirs and died; game over. Sad times.

    But it occurred to me that current scholarship strongly suggests that syphilis came from the New World, and was not present in Eurasia before European contact with the Americas. This minor ahistorical factor obviously completely destroys any enjoyment that anyone could get from Crusader Kings ever again."
    A swap for smallpox, IIRC. Wonder from whence the Native Americans contracted it.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795

    Personally, now there is definitely a vaccine on the horizon I find myself becoming more risk averse.

    If we had no prospect of a vaccine, I'd be shrugging my shoulders and thinking I'm going to catch it at some point anyway - but with a vaccine only months away why risk catching Covid now?

    How stupid that would be.
    Yes, this is my position too.

    My view is - and always has been - absent a vaccine we need to live with the virus (risk segmentation etc).

    Now we have a vaccine, infecting granny before injecting granny seems utterly stupid.
  • ydoethur said:

    Yes - that's what's making me cautious. I've started the process, we'll see what happens.
    If you've not had one before, having the swab in your throat is really not nice, but it really helps to go "ahhhhh" fairly loudly as they're doing it. You'll like sound a weirdo, but it'll help you gag less as they're doing it.
    You can opt to do the swab yourself, but if it's your first time I'd recommend having them do it for you.
  • IanB2 said:

    Something tells me this one flew past you....
    No it didn't.

    I just do not see the point of turning every statement into a snide political comment
  • JACK_WJACK_W Posts: 682
    Pulpstar said:

    The judge in the Pennsylvania case, Matthew Brann, is a Republican who,before his nomination, was involved in Republican politics,the NRA and the Federalist Society. He said the Trump case was "without merit and speculative accusations" "unhinged" and a "Frankenstein's monster".

    In Trump-World - "The greatest bigly legal win in the history of mankind."
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,331
    DavidL said:

    I thought that the kernel of it was that the 2 individual voters who complained that they had been denied the opportunity to correct their postal votes by making good a deficiency were not looking to "level up" and be counted as the judge put it but to have 7.8m other voters "levelled down" by saying that their votes could not be counted. It is just a completely ridiculous proposition and would be the end of the democratic process.

    There's not a chance, contrary to what the Trump campaign are saying, that this is going to get anywhere near the Supreme Court.
    And even if somehow it did, not a chance in hades that it’s anything other than a 9-0 against Trump.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569
    IanB2 said:

    I am still doing it, the app churns out the reminders, and it gives priority for a test if I need one. He claims over a million are doing it
    That's you, me, Granddaughter One and 1 million more then!
  • DeClare said:

    Bizarrely, there's nothing in the constitution to say that state electors must take account of the vote, in theory a state legislature could order it's electors to vote for anyone in the Electoral College, even people who were never official candidates.

    It won't happen of course and in Betfair's rules it says that 'faithless electors' don't count.
    But there is something in the constitution about no post dated legislation, so any changes to the laws governing how the electors are appointed can now only apply to the next election.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    Carnyx said:

    Quite so. Not just David Steel and his Borders colleagues. John Robertson in East Lothian too ... I had an old friend in Hawick who was very active in the LDs. He died some years back - I wonder what he would have said about today.

    Isn't their vote in NE Fife due in substantial part to St Andrews University?
    Presumably a bit but when I worked in NE Fife the driving forces were more the staggering incompetence of the Tory group on the local council and, of course, Emperor Ming.

    I remember a story about one of my friends canvassing with him. They would have a team working the street ahead of him. Anyone who wanted to meet him got a chance and he ran from house to house all day. His young supporters would be utterly exhausted at the end of the day but he was fine. He was, of course, an Olympian.
  • Pulpstar said:

    @Thescreamingeagles I don't think the SC will take the case, and if they do I expect Trump will get eviscorated again.

    I think the only reason they'd take the case is if they collectively decided they wanted to provide some 9-0 closure. There's no serious constitutional point to address.
  • kle4 said:

    I'm honestly not sure that the point Lewis is making is the one he thinks he is making. To me it shows the value of not giving an opponent another chance.
    Corbyn has repeatedly failed to do what was required of him and at each stage has raised the stakes so that what would have been sufficient from him before is now no longer enough. Corbyn has on two occasions over the past month left Starmer with the choice of losing all credibility with the wider public or acting in response to his actions. More generally, for the whole of 2020 we've seen continual coordinated attempts to undermine Starmer by a far left unwilling to come to terms with his leadership.

    I think Corbyn is incapable of the actions that will be necessary for him to regain the Labour whip.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    This country now runs on institutionalised mawkishness. Picture an extended family gathering of obese poppy wearing retards standing round the Christmas table toasting Our NHS Carers at the end of the Queen's (gawd bless her) speech. Mess with that vision at your peril.
    And some people here accuse me of having a downer on the UK?????????

    :D:D:D
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180
    DavidL said:

    Presumably a bit but when I worked in NE Fife the driving forces were more the staggering incompetence of the Tory group on the local council and, of course, Emperor Ming.

    I remember a story about one of my friends canvassing with him. They would have a team working the street ahead of him. Anyone who wanted to meet him got a chance and he ran from house to house all day. His young supporters would be utterly exhausted at the end of the day but he was fine. He was, of course, an Olympian.
    Ming was at a Stable dinner with me at the end of February, my last event before lockdown. He's getting on a bit now but still good company. We had a lengthy chat which I very much appreciated.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,725
    Pulpstar said:

    @Thescreamingeagles I don't think the SC will take the case, and if they do I expect Trump will get eviscorated again.

    The SC will not take an appeal on a no hope case just to eviscerate it a second time.

    Unless the conservative justices intend a genuine attempt to fix the election - which seems extraordinarily unlikely - they won’t accept any request for review.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180

    And even if somehow it did, not a chance in hades that it’s anything other than a 9-0 against Trump.
    Yes, but the Conservative Justices would hate that, much better to decline a hearing.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    A swap for smallpox, IIRC. Wonder from whence the Native Americans contracted it.
    Endemic in the population from ancient times, presumably. But there seems to be a theory that it was the local version fo yaws (essentially a childhood disease, tho nasty) which evolved into virulence in the immunonaive Conquistadors and their fellow Europeans (much as covidiots only encourage the bug to evolve virulence at present). Must read up some more - long time since I read into this and this has got me interested"
  • "The latest figures in England in particular are at best grim."

    True. Though they are grimmer in Wales.

    https://twitter.com/UKCovid19Stats/status/1330234743296831488/photo/1

    I have some sympathy with the argument that a proper statistical analysis is needed, and it is true that the respective performances of the countries of the UK does change with time ... but since Oct, Wales has been at the top almost every week in the death league (normalised according to population size)

    AIso, I see Cyclefree has been complaining about lobbyists (possibly rightly).

    There is a register for lobbyists for Westminster ..... and for the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh ... and even for Stormont in Northern Ireland. In these countries, there is at least some (possibly minimal) regulation.

    There is a country missing. There is no statutory register of lobbyists whatsoever in Wales.

    And we have been through a one off fire breaker (Drakeford's words) and it seems by the activity around town that most think covid is over
  • paulyork64paulyork64 Posts: 2,507
    malcolmg said:

    Only if you have wine/beer with it :D , corn on the cob is optional
    dont forget the grilled halloumi.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,569
    Carnyx said:

    Endemic in the population from ancient times, presumably. But there seems to be a theory that it was the local version fo yaws (essentially a childhood disease, tho nasty) which evolved into virulence in the immunonaive Conquistadors and their fellow Europeans (much as covidiots only encourage the bug to evolve virulence at present). Must read up some more - long time since I read into this and this has got me interested"
    Went to WEA day course on Ancient Diseases some years ago; fascinating. Don't recall the yaws theory, but IIRC there's something similar about the Black Death.
  • No it didn't.

    I just do not see the point of turning every statement into a snide political comment
    Ooooo..... attacking Jeremy Corbyn?

    :D
  • DavidL said:

    He was, of course, an Olympian.

    As he will remind anyone 43 seconds into any interview. Paddy Ashdown was a bit the same with regard to being a marine/in the SBS, though tbf it was often the hackneyed hack interviewing him that would bring it up.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,079
    IanB2 said:

    I am still doing it, the app churns out the reminders, and it gives priority for a test if I need one. He claims over a million are doing it
    I'm doing it every day.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,180

    As he will remind anyone 43 seconds into any interview. Paddy Ashdown was a bit the same with regard to being a marine/in the SBS, though tbf it was often the hackneyed hack interviewing him that would bring it up.
    In fairness he could run the best part of 400m in that time!

    He was also a very competent QC specialising in licensing law.
  • DavidL said:

    In fairness he could run the best part of 400m in that time!

    He was also a very competent QC specialising in licensing law.
    But he was no Jo Swinson...er...Ed Davey...er...
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,568
    edited November 2020

    Corbyn has repeatedly failed to do what was required of him and at each stage has raised the stakes so that what would have been sufficient from him before is now no longer enough. Corbyn has on two occasions over the past month left Starmer with the choice of losing all credibility with the wider public or acting in response to his actions. More generally, for the whole of 2020 we've seen continual coordinated attempts to undermine Starmer by a far left unwilling to come to terms with his leadership.

    I think Corbyn is incapable of the actions that will be necessary for him to regain the Labour whip.
    I think his problem, and why Starmer's action was, though surprising, smart, is that Corbyn has always said what he thinks and then, as Leader and now ex-Leader, had to pretend he thinks something else when there is criticism (going from 'dramatically exagerrated' to pretending he didn't mean that it was exaggerated), then returning to what he actually thinks later. Starmer clearly knows that's how Corbyn operates, so is either expecting him to say something to justify not restoring the whip, or is providing a warning to Corbyn what will happen if he does say what he thinks.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    kle4 said:

    I think his problem, and why Starmer's action was, though surprising, smart, is that Corbyn has always said what he thinks and then, as Leader and now ex-Leader, had to pretend he thinks something else when there is criticism (going from 'dramatically exagerrated' to pretending he didn't mean that it was exaggerated), then returning to what he actually thinks later. Starmer clearly knows that's how Corbyn operates, so is either expecting him to say something to justify not restoring the whip, or is providing a warning to Corbyn what will happen if he does say what he thinks.
    I think Lewis's point is that the decent thing to do would have been to exile Corbyn to Elba.
This discussion has been closed.