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edited June 2014 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The coalition parties make progress in this week’s Ashcroft phone poll: LAB, UKIP & GRN all down

For the LDs and Nick Clegg this poll will come as a huge relief. Last week’s 6% was the lowest for the yellows in a phone poll in more than two decades.

Read the full story here


«13

Comments

  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    edited June 2014
    Sleazy broken Lab and UKIP on the slide.

    That said, Lord A's polls are quite volatile.
  • frpenkridge
    frpenkridge Posts: 670
    BBC send reporter to Dundee to interview two politicians, who are in Glasgow. Sky sends Kay to look at the boats in Oban harbour.
  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:
    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Have you made a mistake or has his Lordship done so?
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014
    "For the LDs and Nick Clegg this poll will come as a huge relief. Last week’s 6% was the lowest for the yellows in a phone poll in more than two decades."

    When it's a huge relief that your party is mired in single figures after polling 23% in the last general election, you know you're f*#ked. You'd need a heart of stone, etc.
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193
    Gove really is a class act, never seems to get flustered.
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014

    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:

    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Have you made a mistake or has his Lordship done so?One is comparing to the last GE, and the other to the previous ashcroft poll. Or have I missed something? Those left-leaning protest votes have to go somewhere...

  • Flightpath
    Flightpath Posts: 4,012

    BBC send reporter to Dundee to interview two politicians, who are in Glasgow. Sky sends Kay to look at the boats in Oban harbour.

    What future do we have for democracy? It's terrible isn't it? And this is the press which has such a high opinion of itself that it refuses to be independently regulated.

  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    Anorak said:

    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:

    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Have you made a mistake or has his Lordship done so?
    One is comparing to the last GE, and the other to the previous ashcroft poll. Or have I missed something? Those left-leaning protest votes have to go somewhere...In Mike's header he has the Green poll score on 5%, down from 7% in the previous poll, whereas Ashcroft still has them on 7%.
  • taffys
    taffys Posts: 9,753
    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621

    Anorak said:

    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:

    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Have you made a mistake or has his Lordship done so?
    One is comparing to the last GE, and the other to the previous ashcroft poll. Or have I missed something? Those left-leaning protest votes have to go somewhere...
    In Mike's header he has the Green poll score on 5%, down from 7% in the previous poll, whereas Ashcroft still has them on 7%.Ah. I had indeed missed something!

  • DavidL
    DavidL Posts: 55,867
    I seem to recall predicting this last Monday. I must be psychic. Now who is going to win the 3.00pm tomorrow at ... nah.
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited June 2014
    So, the executive summary is:

    - Theresa May effortlessly brushed off Labour because, for some inexplicable reason, Labour MPs wasted the entire session on asking repeatedly about a very minor detail of the timing of updates to the Home Office website, and

    - Michael Gove effortlessly brushed off Labour because he is Michael Gove.

    That about it?
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    Just remembered it was Rik Mayall which played Lord Flashheart which called Blackadder 'Slackbladder'

    Rik, I owe you everything...
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:

    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Worth pointing out that the Greens stood in only about half of the constituencies.
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193

    So, the executive summary is:

    - Theresa May effortlessly brushed off Labour because, for some inexplicable reason, Labour MPs wasted the entire session on asking repeatedly about a very minor detail of the timing of updates to the Home Office website, and

    - Michael Gove effortless brushed off Labour because he is Michael Gove.

    That about it?

    Yup sounds about the size of it.
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Why Sheffield Rocks

    The Independent ‏@Independent 45s

    Three police cars are chasing a lost Highland cow along the streets in Sheffield

    http://ind.pn/1hAuc0z

    pic.twitter.com/0ARTDavOH7
  • Tissue_Price
    Tissue_Price Posts: 9,039

    Sleazy broken Lab and UKIP on the slide.

    That said, Lord A's polls are quite volatile.

    To be honest, most of the other pollsters don't seem volatile enough, given the vicissitudes of random sampling. I wonder whether any smoothing is applied to their weightings?

    And of course YouGov have the benefit of a panel approach.
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205
    ToryJim said:

    Gove really is a class act, never seems to get flustered.

    I agree, he is different class
  • taffys
    taffys Posts: 9,753
    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
  • Neil
    Neil Posts: 7,983
    Were the Greens really ahead of the Lib Dems in the last Ashcroft poll? I remember them being at 7% but it doesnt seem to have registered that this was ahead of the Lib Dems. Labour should get a good little boost at GE time when most of that 7% realise they dont have a Green candidate to vote for or the Green candidate hasnt got a chance where they live.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808

    Sleazy broken Lab and UKIP on the slide.

    That said, Lord A's polls are quite volatile.

    To be honest, most of the other pollsters don't seem volatile enough, given the vicissitudes of random sampling. I wonder whether any smoothing is applied to their weightings?

    And of course YouGov have the benefit of a panel approach.
    It maybe a methodology issue with Populus, who conduct these polls, because their online polls can be volatile as well.

    The only other pollster which such volatility is Ipsos-Mori, but that's more down to their certainty to vote filter.
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926
    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822


    It maybe a methodology issue with Populus, who conduct these polls, because their online polls can be volatile as well.

    Isn't it just the sample size? After eliminating Don't Knows and adjusting for certainty to vote, the noble Lord is left with around 500 respondents. Plus, as Oblitus has pointed out, he has to scale up his C2/C3 respondents substantially, which further increases the statistical error.
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808


    It maybe a methodology issue with Populus, who conduct these polls, because their online polls can be volatile as well.

    Isn't it just the sample size? After eliminating Don't Knows and adjusting for certainty to vote, the noble Lord is left with around 500 respondents. Plus, as Oblitus has pointed out, he has to scale up his C2/C3 respondents substantially, which further increases the statistical error.
    Yeah that!
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    You learn something new every day.
  • Easterross
    Easterross Posts: 1,915
    Afternoon all and very sad about Alan B'stard alias Rik Mayall dying.

    Todays polls are suggesting that the Labour increases last week were just outliers. Indeed given how badly the pollsters estimated the Tory and Labour votes at the 3 actual elections in the past month, isn't reality more like to be Tory 33-35, Labour 31-33, LibDem 8-10 and UKIP 10-12?

    SKY doing an excellent day of coverage across Scotland recognising the 100 days until the Indy Ref. Puts the BBC to shame big style.
  • NickPalmer
    NickPalmer Posts: 21,724
    edited June 2014
    Looks like reversion to trend - we all thought the last one was an outlier. Have we seen today's Populus yet?

    Edit: found it: 36/35/9/14. Con and Lab +1 at expense of "others".
  • TheWatcher
    TheWatcher Posts: 5,262

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
  • Speedy
    Speedy Posts: 12,100

    Afternoon all and very sad about Alan B'stard alias Rik Mayall dying.

    Todays polls are suggesting that the Labour increases last week were just outliers. Indeed given how badly the pollsters estimated the Tory and Labour votes at the 3 actual elections in the past month, isn't reality more like to be Tory 33-35, Labour 31-33, LibDem 8-10 and UKIP 10-12?

    SKY doing an excellent day of coverage across Scotland recognising the 100 days until the Indy Ref. Puts the BBC to shame big style.

    Now that death makes you feel old, though he only died aged 56.
  • philiph
    philiph Posts: 4,705
    edited June 2014
    Poor old Labour.

    There they are, sitting pretty with a all that lovely rock solid core vote from 2010, added on to that is a whole batch of sticky RedLibDems, that is bound to have them soaring away at way over the magic 35%. Way over, to borrow a Gordonism, they are exceeding 35% by a full healthy and hearty -2%.

    If they can't get a higher poll now (and I know YouGov is higher) while they should be garnering the support of protest voices, how will they in 2015? The momentum is surely with them at the moment. Just that it is in the wrong direction.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    DavidL said:

    I seem to recall predicting this last Monday. I must be psychic. Now who is going to win the 3.00pm tomorrow at ... nah.

    http://www1.skysports.com/racing/form-profiles/horse/595681/cameron-highland

    Cameron Highland faces Independent Spirit in a match race in September.

    http://www1.skysports.com/racing/form-profiles/horse/80528/independent-spirit

    Cam fav, 4-9; 11-4 the betting.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143

    From Lord Ashcroft's write-up:

    the Green Party’s score of 7% is seven times what they polled at the last general election.
    Worth pointing out that the Greens stood in only about half of the constituencies.Ye-es, but the Greens stood in 128 more constituencies in 2010 than in 2005, but their national total of votes was only 7,485 higher, when the overall turnout was more than 2.5 million higher.

    I very much doubt that spending another £150k on 300 more deposits will result in a doubling of the Green Party vote, all other things being equal.
  • philiph
    philiph Posts: 4,705

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Society of Friends are averse to gambling as well.
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Yes. First we lost the passing trade because of harsher drink driving laws, then we lost the committed drinkers because of cheap supermarket prices, the smokers were told to smoke at home and then the brewery doubled the rent. There's only so much I'm prepared to drink in a week and it's not enough to keep my landlord in business.
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Oh the Protestant reformation has a lot to answer for.
  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    Neil said:

    Were the Greens really ahead of the Lib Dems in the last Ashcroft poll? I remember them being at 7% but it doesnt seem to have registered that this was ahead of the Lib Dems.

    Yes, they were - and they still are in this poll if you ignore* the certainty to vote and spiral of silence adjustments.

    I deliberately tried to avoid making much of it last week because it's obvious that it will subside as memories of using a PR voting system fade away.

    * Which you shouldn't, because that would be silly, but it's interesting to point out anyway.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    edited June 2014

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Probably because the effin PubCos have put up prices beyond the effin villagers ability to pay; which in itself is due to effin governments sticking their effin oar into matters and markets they don't effin understand.
  • Socrates
    Socrates Posts: 10,322
    ToryJim said:

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Oh the Protestant reformation has a lot to answer for.
    And a lot we owe it for also. The concept of a priesthood of all believers whereby everyone could come to their own beliefs about the Bible was a major step on the way to the Enlightenment. It's not a coincidence that constitutionalism developed in several Protestant European countries.
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Probably because the effin PubCos have put up prices beyond the effin villagers ability to pay; which in itself is due to effin governments sticking their effin oar into matters and markets they don't effin understand.
    Did David Willetts ever work on pub legislation ? Looks just like his kind of balls-up :-)
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014
    Following on from the comments on pub closures, do any of you brew your own beer?

    Been toying with the idea but not sure:
    a) how expensive it is (starting from scratch)
    b) how difficult it is
    c) whether it's worth the effort

    I've no real trouble paying for beer, but thought doing it myself would (could?) be fun. I'm talking kits here, not making it from actual hops, etc.
  • ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Yes, the joy of sobriety and self denial
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    edited June 2014
    Anorak said:

    Following on from the comments on pub closures, do any of you brew your own beer?

    Been toying with the idea but not sure:
    a) how expensive it is (starting from scratch)
    b) how difficult it is
    c) whether it's worth the effort

    I've no real trouble paying for beer, but thought doing it myself would (could?) be fun.

    Home made alcohol is a bit like home made porn.

    Sounds like a good idea at the time, but when you try it, and see and sample your product, you think ewwwww, what was I thinking? Was I thinking?
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014

    Anorak said:

    Following on from the comments on pub closures, do any of you brew your own beer?

    Been toying with the idea but not sure:
    a) how expensive it is (starting from scratch)
    b) how difficult it is
    c) whether it's worth the effort

    I've no real trouble paying for beer, but thought doing it myself would (could?) be fun.

    Home made alcohol is a bit like home made porn.

    Sounds like a good idea at the time, but when you try it, and see and sample your product, you think ewwwww, what was I thinking? Was I thinking?
    You're not doing it right.
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926
    Good to see travelling the world hasn't made Gordon Brown any less of an idiot.
  • HurstLlama
    HurstLlama Posts: 9,098

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Probably because the effin PubCos have put up prices beyond the effin villagers ability to pay; which in itself is due to effin governments sticking their effin oar into matters and markets they don't effin understand.
    Did David Willetts ever work on pub legislation ? Looks just like his kind of balls-up :-)
    He might have done as a very junior SpAD, I wouldn't know. However the man responsible for killing the pub trade in England is no less a person than David Ivor Young, Baron Young of Graffham.
  • Anorak said:

    Following on from the comments on pub closures, do any of you brew your own beer?

    Been toying with the idea but not sure:
    a) how expensive it is (starting from scratch)
    b) how difficult it is
    c) whether it's worth the effort

    I've no real trouble paying for beer, but thought doing it myself would (could?) be fun.

    Home made alcohol is a bit like home made porn.

    Sounds like a good idea at the time, but when you try it, and see and sample your product, you think ewwwww, what was I thinking? Was I thinking?
    My dad used to make his own bitter, lager and wine when I was younger. The beer cost less than 10p a pint to make and his mates certainly seemed to like it
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193
    Socrates said:

    ToryJim said:

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Oh the Protestant reformation has a lot to answer for.
    And a lot we owe it for also. The concept of a priesthood of all believers whereby everyone could come to their own beliefs about the Bible was a major step on the way to the Enlightenment. It's not a coincidence that constitutionalism developed in several Protestant European countries.
    To an extent, ultimately the enlightenment is incomplete whilst irrational belief systems hold such dominance.
  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    Anorak said:

    Following on from the comments on pub closures, do any of you brew your own beer?

    Been toying with the idea but not sure:
    a) how expensive it is (starting from scratch)
    b) how difficult it is
    c) whether it's worth the effort

    I've no real trouble paying for beer, but thought doing it myself would (could?) be fun. I'm talking kits here, not making it from actual hops, etc.

    a) It's one of those things where you can spend as much as you want on it, but if you look in the right places you can pick up some of the necessary equipment fairly cheaply.

    b) The few people I know who have tried home brewing have produced good stuff at the end of it, but we're talking PhDs in physics and toxicology, so...

    c) None of the people I know who have brewed in the past have the time for it anymore, but I think they're all very glad that they did so at the time.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080
    edited June 2014

    Afternoon all and very sad about Alan B'stard alias Rik Mayall dying.

    My favourites were Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and of course, Richie in Bottom. RIP!
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205
    The idiot Hodges using the oldest left wing tactic in the book

    Dan Hodges ‏@DPJHodges 34m
    To be fair to @GoodwinMJ he's totally abandoned any pretence of being objective towards Ukip. Just a cheerleader now.


    Matthew Goodwin ‏@GoodwinMJ 1m
    .@DPJHodges pointing out basic electoral arithmetic is not "cheerleading" for Ukip. Questioning my objectivity is low, even for you Dan.
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Probably because the effin PubCos have put up prices beyond the effin villagers ability to pay; which in itself is due to effin governments sticking their effin oar into matters and markets they don't effin understand.
    Did David Willetts ever work on pub legislation ? Looks just like his kind of balls-up :-)
    He might have done as a very junior SpAD, I wouldn't know. However the man responsible for killing the pub trade in England is no less a person than David Ivor Young, Baron Young of Graffham.
    You are of course correct Mr L. Isn't it ironic that conservative politicians just can't resist damaging their own constituencies ?
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
  • ToryJim
    ToryJim Posts: 4,193
    edited June 2014
    Interesting suggestion in this piece that Reinfeldt could be a compromise candidate if Juncker is junked.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27757991
  • Smarmeron
    Smarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Anorak
    "do any of you brew your own beer"

    Not now, but that's because I don't drink much beer these days.

    Best thing to do is to find a specialty homebrew shop and talk to them.
    A friend tried a "premium kit", and said to the store owner how disappointed he was with the result. As he was a regular, the owner gave him a free replacement, and a bag of gypsum.(Glasgow water is very soft)
    It's like very slow cooking, follow the instructions carefully till you get the hang, then experiment.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    antifrank said:

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
    All the market are here.

    http://sportsbeta.ladbrokes.com/UK-General-Election/Next-General-Election-Constituency-Betting/Politics-N-1z140vgZ1z140v7Z1z141ne/

    Anything that stands out for you?
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    antifrank said:

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
    All the market are here.

    http://sportsbeta.ladbrokes.com/UK-General-Election/Next-General-Election-Constituency-Betting/Politics-N-1z140vgZ1z140v7Z1z141ne/

    Anything that stands out for you?
    I shall need to pore over this at home this evening. This is a moment I've been waiting for.
  • Neil
    Neil Posts: 7,983
    edited June 2014
    isam said:

    The idiot Hodges using the oldest left wing tactic in the book

    Because no right winger has ever questioned an opponent's objectivity?!
  • Luckyguy1983
    Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,095
    ToryJim said:

    Socrates said:

    ToryJim said:

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Oh the Protestant reformation has a lot to answer for.
    And a lot we owe it for also. The concept of a priesthood of all believers whereby everyone could come to their own beliefs about the Bible was a major step on the way to the Enlightenment. It's not a coincidence that constitutionalism developed in several Protestant European countries.
    To an extent, ultimately the enlightenment is incomplete whilst irrational belief systems hold such dominance.
    There's nothing irrational about Religious faith. The irrationality lies with those who don't believe but feel they must convince everyone else not to believe either.
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    antifrank said:

    antifrank said:

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
    All the market are here.

    http://sportsbeta.ladbrokes.com/UK-General-Election/Next-General-Election-Constituency-Betting/Politics-N-1z140vgZ1z140v7Z1z141ne/

    Anything that stands out for you?
    I shall need to pore over this at home this evening. This is a moment I've been waiting for.
    It sometimes appears to me as though Shadsy uses PB to "beta test" his odds. Adjustments seem to follow very closely behind tips...
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808

    antifrank said:

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
    All the market are here.

    http://sportsbeta.ladbrokes.com/UK-General-Election/Next-General-Election-Constituency-Betting/Politics-N-1z140vgZ1z140v7Z1z141ne/

    Anything that stands out for you?
    Free money alerts

    Labour to gain Manchester Withington 1/10 - 10% return in a year not bad

    LD to hold Hallam, 1/4 - 25% return in a year.

    Better than a bank
  • Sean_F
    Sean_F Posts: 39,132
    ToryJim said:

    Socrates said:

    ToryJim said:

    ToryJim said:

    taffys said:

    I see some of these trojan horse schools banned Raffles. Wonder what it was about rakish fin du siecle gentleman thieves that they found particularly offensive?

    I think it is seen as a form of gambling, I believe some Presbyterians feel the same thing.
    I seem to remember it stems from distaste over the casting of lots to divide the garments of Christ at the crucifixion.
    Maybe you are correct, but the Roman Catholic church and, hence the CofE, has never been unpleasant about gambling or gamblers. I suspect that the religious antagonism came from the extreme protestant movement which objected to anyone enjoying themselves.
    Oh the Protestant reformation has a lot to answer for.
    And a lot we owe it for also. The concept of a priesthood of all believers whereby everyone could come to their own beliefs about the Bible was a major step on the way to the Enlightenment. It's not a coincidence that constitutionalism developed in several Protestant European countries.
    To an extent, ultimately the enlightenment is incomplete whilst irrational belief systems hold such dominance.
    I don't think there's a very clear divide between rational and irrational belief systems. Jean Bodin, who advocated death for witches, was the most rational political and economic thinker of his time. Marxists believe that their arguments are highly rational. So do radical feminists.

  • Smarmeron
    Smarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Anorak
    You don't even have to go to the expense of buying a "brewbin". A large sturdy cardboard box and a extra large white plastic binbag sealed loosely at the top with an elastic band does service as bin and airlock.
  • Ishmael_X
    Ishmael_X Posts: 3,664
    Islam permits gambling but only on horse and camel races, and archery. See under maisir.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Neil said:

    isam said:

    The idiot Hodges using the oldest left wing tactic in the book

    Because no right winger has ever questioned an opponent's objectivity?!
    No Kipper has ever questioned Mike's objectivity either.
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822



    LD to hold Hallam, 1/4 - 25% return in a year.

    1/3 at Hills
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808



    LD to hold Hallam, 1/4 - 25% return in a year.

    1/3 at Hills
    Thanks.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Grrr Shadsy, UKIP 4/1 to take Rotherham is a bit mean.
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205

    Neil said:

    isam said:

    The idiot Hodges using the oldest left wing tactic in the book

    Because no right winger has ever questioned an opponent's objectivity?!
    No Kipper has ever questioned Mike's objectivity either.
    That is beyond question
  • anotherDave
    anotherDave Posts: 6,746
    "UKIP Deputy Treasurer Andrew Reid will become the party’s Treasurer from July 1, it has been agreed.

    Mr Reid will take over from Stuart Wheeler who is stepping down after three years in the role."

    http://www.ukip.org/new_treasurer_for_ukip
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    edited June 2014
    13/8 on the SNP taking Danny's seat.

    Another to fill yer boots IMHO

    I've also backed the LDs to take Oxford West & Abingdon at 5/2
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Anorak said:

    antifrank said:

    antifrank said:

    O/T I see that Shadsy has reinstated the Ladbrokes constituency markets

    Good to see that we have some serious news today.
    All the market are here.

    http://sportsbeta.ladbrokes.com/UK-General-Election/Next-General-Election-Constituency-Betting/Politics-N-1z140vgZ1z140v7Z1z141ne/

    Anything that stands out for you?
    I shall need to pore over this at home this evening. This is a moment I've been waiting for.
    It sometimes appears to me as though Shadsy uses PB to "beta test" his odds. Adjustments seem to follow very closely behind tips...
    That's fair enough. If I were a bookie, I'd be drawing on the wisdom of crowds at least to some extent. Just so long as we're aware of that.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Is Con taking Sherwood at 5/2 value?

    I missed out on the 5/1 with Paddy.
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Grrr Shadsy, UKIP 4/1 to take Rotherham is a bit mean.

    There's a theme to notice there.

  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    Smarmeron said:

    @Anorak
    You don't even have to go to the expense of buying a "brewbin". A large sturdy cardboard box and a extra large white plastic binbag sealed loosely at the top with an elastic band does service as bin and airlock.

    Doesn't sound, erm, hygenic. If I'm going to do it, don't mind spending a bit to do it right. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll need to clear the next phase with the wife, which may be a troublesome hurdle after my short-lived flirtation with breadmaking...
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    antifrank said:

    Grrr Shadsy, UKIP 4/1 to take Rotherham is a bit mean.

    There's a theme to notice there.

    I've gone for the 25/1 on UKIP to win Penistone & Stocksbridge.
  • NickPalmer
    NickPalmer Posts: 21,724
    Sean_F said:

    ToryJim said:



    To an extent, ultimately the enlightenment is incomplete whilst irrational belief systems hold such dominance.

    I don't think there's a very clear divide between rational and irrational belief systems. Jean Bodin, who advocated death for witches, was the most rational political and economic thinker of his time. Marxists believe that their arguments are highly rational. So do radical feminists.

    Not sure we can hope to eliminate irrational belief systems - some things which now seem to us commonplace - e.g. that slavery is wrong - will have seemed very eccentric in the past. What is perhaps more important is to fight belief systems which put all the money on their being right, with death the appropriate punishment for disagreement.
  • OblitusSumMe
    OblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    Sean_F said:

    I don't think there's a very clear divide between rational and irrational belief systems. Jean Bodin, who advocated death for witches, was the most rational political and economic thinker of his time. Marxists believe that their arguments are highly rational. So do radical feminists.

    It depends what you mean by "rational".

    In making a rational argument one needs to start with a number of assumptions, and then apply the laws of logic to these assumptions to reach your conclusions. Most people can accept people questioning their logic, and consequently logic tends to be relatively well formed, but most people find it harder to accept people questioning their assumptions.

    Thus a Marxist may apply perfect logic to their argument, but what you really disagree with are their initial starting assumptions.

    In Maths and Physics it is customary to state ones assumptions at the beginning, but people's inherent beliefs and assumptions are so central to their sense of self that they can't help but assume that all right-thinking people will share them. Thus they are less often made explicit.

    This is why values and character matter so much more in elections than policies. Policies are all about applying logic to your assumptions, but values and character are about the essence of what those assumptions are. It's why so many people in Britain reflexively do not trust the Tories - they recognise that they have a very different view of the world at a fundamental level - and why otherwise sensible posters to this board can dismiss socialism - a broad and rich political tradition - as being about state control and spending other people's money to excess.
  • Stuart_Dickson
    Stuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557

    Jane Merrick ‏@janemerrick23 6 mins
    Gordon Brown says "it would be good" if David Cameron did head to head debate with Alex Salmond #indyref #pressgallery

    Andrew Neil ‏@afneil 8 mins
    Gordon Brown says you can't allow referendum to be Britain v Scotland. Must be about two visions of Scotland.

    So at least one person doesn't think an Eck v Dave debate would be an Scotland v England thing.

    I've always wondered which opponent Gordon Brown hates most: the SNP or the Tories? We are beginning to see what has long been suspected: it is the Tories.
    In that particular respect he seems out of step with much of SLAB.
    Indeed.
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205
    Can anybody actually get on w Lads? If so I have a bet or two...
  • Life_ina_market_town
    Life_ina_market_town Posts: 2,319
    edited June 2014
    Sean_F said:

    I don't think there's a very clear divide between rational and irrational belief systems. Jean Bodin, who advocated death for witches, was the most rational political and economic thinker of his time. Marxists believe that their arguments are highly rational. So do radical feminists.

    Indeed, there was a time when Althusser and structural Marxism were in fashion, when it was endlessly repeated that "scientific Marxism" and "Marxist science" were both tautological phrases.
  • No_Offence_Alan
    No_Offence_Alan Posts: 5,120
    Why no price for the Greens in Sheffield Central? They came a very strong second in the local elections last month.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808

    Why no price for the Greens in Sheffield Central? They came a very strong second in the local elections last month.

    tweet shadsy @ladpolitics, and he'll price it up for you.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    isam said:

    Can anybody actually get on w Lads? If so I have a bet or two...

    Is a bit slow, but fine.
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205
    The schools in question all seem to being doing very well academically. Could this explain why Tower Hamlets schools are doing so well? Similar demographic
  • macisback
    macisback Posts: 382
    4-1 Conservative to take Derby North has to be great value.
  • dr_spyn
    dr_spyn Posts: 11,312
    Rik Mayall. RIP.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aUxilWb2Og

    Wasn't he less than enamoured of the EU as well?
  • Speedy
    Speedy Posts: 12,100
    This should be used every time some one famous dies.
    And no Sheffield Hallam LD hold is not free money due for Clegg doing pretty poor in constituency polls there.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dklS3I7jM&feature=kp
  • Scrapheap_as_was
    Scrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Gutted to hear (P)rik, Flasheart, B'stard genius has died, part of my youth goes with him...

    University Challenge for the Young Ones is still one of the funniest programmes in my whole life on the first viewing way back when.
  • Smarmeron
    Smarmeron Posts: 5,099
    @Anorak
    I meant a brand new bag (white signifies food grade)
  • isam
    isam Posts: 42,205
    Our man Shadsy has shortened a lot of UKIP targets a lot despite it being all over for them

    What gwan on?
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    edited June 2014
    Speedy said:

    This should be used every time some one famous dies.
    And no Sheffield Hallam LD hold is not free money due for Clegg doing pretty poor in constituency polls there.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dklS3I7jM&feature=kp

    The most recent polling in the seat, if it used ICM's normal methodology, Clegg wins the seat comfortably.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,080

    taffys said:

    My parents' church did not allow raffles until the late 1970s and they are still somewhat disapproved of by many in the congregation.

    Coming from Wales I can remember 'dry areas' where pubs did not open on a Sunday.

    We have "dry areas" still in Warwickhire.

    The effing breweries have closed half the village pubs :-(
    Would that be because the effing villagers weren't drinking in them?
    Probably because the effin PubCos have put up prices beyond the effin villagers ability to pay; which in itself is due to effin governments sticking their effin oar into matters and markets they don't effin understand.
    Did David Willetts ever work on pub legislation ? Looks just like his kind of balls-up :-)
    He might have done as a very junior SpAD, I wouldn't know. However the man responsible for killing the pub trade in England is no less a person than David Ivor Young, Baron Young of Graffham.
    You are of course correct Mr L. Isn't it ironic that conservative politicians just can't resist damaging their own constituencies ?
    @Alanbrooke

    Sent you a personal message.
  • Anorak
    Anorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014
    Smarmeron said:

    @Anorak
    I meant a brand new bag (white signifies food grade)

    That's a relief :)
    I think it was the use of the term "bin bag", which I'm sure you'll agree was rather ambiguous (especially to someone who had not, until 30 minutes ago, heard of a "brew bin")!
  • Richard_Nabavi
    Richard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited June 2014
    Labour Bradford West at 4/9 looks like a humdinger to me. Unfortunately I'm already quite exposed at 1/5 with PP (who currently go 1/8). Respect have disintegrated in Bradford:

    http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2014/may/23/labour-gains-control-of-bradford-george-galloway-respect-fails
This discussion has been closed.