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SystemSystem Posts: 12,683
edited January 2015 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » With the TV debates making the news Andy Cooke’s counter-factuals make a good read

Andy Cooke, a longstanding PBer and contributor has written two Kindle counter factuals starting starting with the premise of what would have happened if UKIP had been part of the leaders’ debates at GE2010.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,983
    1st 1st
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,422
    2nd - like Ed.....
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    FPT.
    peter_from_putney said:
    » show previous quotes
    SeanT - I have news for you ...... we are in fact now barely 3.5 months away from the General Election, even less than that from when people start casting their postal votes!
    ----------------------
    I was going to say that Peter. Not only that but February is short month and we (UKIP) may have more positive fallout from the UKIP Spring Conference in Margate on Feb 27/28th.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,983
    CarlottaVance said:

    2nd - like Ed.....

    LOL

    Not aware of that spelling of Tories
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    FPT.

    SeanT said:
    This is brilliant, on so many levels:

    UAF ‏@uaf 14m14 minutes ago
    Resistance to Pegida - 'Intolerance must not be tolerated', http://fb.me/4JB4fmSY1
    -----------------
    Yes, the European Greens don't know where to turn now that the cat is out of the bag, for even morons to see, of what Islamism really means for Europe.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Why do I get caught so often by thread changes......sigh?
  • isamisam Posts: 42,619
    On topic

    Betfair Sportsbook are

    5/4 Yes
    4/7 No

    to the question "Will a debate between just Cameron and Miliband take place"

    5/4 seems fair to me
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Mr. Isam, it's interesting it's odds against for a Cameron-Miliband debate to occur.
  • El_SidEl_Sid Posts: 145
    Interesting research on effect of looks on elections, suggests looks alone can swing voters by up to 2%, which would mean 30 seats being determined by looks rather than policy. Interesting thought :
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261379413001819
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,543
    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

  • VerulamiusVerulamius Posts: 1,555
    3 pin UK or 2 pin continental?
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    edited January 2015
    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,113
    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughs on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    I'd be happy to turn up to this too, the amount of cash I'm getting tied up in the GE is quite something for ex Sheffield Hallam due to the generous 4-9 Betfair Sportsbook offered on Clegg there I piled on for £300 yesterday and so Hallam now looks like this:

    Cash tied up: £415

    UKIP/Other -£290
    Lab -£135
    Con +£20
    Lib Dem +£70
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,113
    isam said:

    On topic

    Betfair Sportsbook are

    5/4 Yes
    4/7 No

    to the question "Will a debate between just Cameron and Miliband take place"

    5/4 seems fair to me

    I don't know - is this truly a coin flip ?

    I'd have thought Lib Dem/UKIP would have to be in as many debates as Con/Lab as they enjoy "major party" status.

    No Bet for me.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 45,522
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    Not English, I think: just not Scottish, and too pro-London/City. It's interesting that the Tory decline began from total control in the mid-50s at the same time as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (IIRC) merged with the London-based Tories.

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    edited January 2015
    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    If they did win the independence referendum they would have had a government made up of almost entirely left wing politicians. Not sure how well that would work in principle.
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    I could see that as being one of the reasons. I would have thought UKIP could have made more progress as they aren't an England only party. It is interesting speaking to people in the North of England who truly hate the Tories but are quite sympathetic to UKIP. Only a personal anecdote but there are a fair few Lab -> UKIP switchers up there, in some cases former union officials. This does not seem to have been replicated in Scotland to such an extent.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    I have heard some pretty disappointing stories from someone who lived and worked in Scotland about their "hatred" of the English and how they are discriminated against in the workplace.

  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    There are probably a great many right wing Scots Nats. Is Alex Salmond left wing, for instance? And why are LibDems classed as left wing rather than centrist?
  • nigel4englandnigel4england Posts: 4,800
    Coquelin dead cert to be shown a card, 7/4 about the best price.
  • Willie ZWillie Z Posts: 8
    edited January 2015
    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    Many of the seats which would elect Tory MPs if they were in England elect the SNP. Hence the SLAB label 'tartan tories'.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Pegida Dresden march called off:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30870423

    "German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that intelligence agencies had intercepted messages from known jihadists planning strikes against the group."
  • Willie ZWillie Z Posts: 8
    Many of the strongest 'No' voting areas have also returned SNP politicians for decades.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Pegida Dresden march called off:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30870423

    "German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that intelligence agencies had intercepted messages from known jihadists planning strikes against the group."

    Or they were a bit of an embarrassment and it was an effective way to stop the march...
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Mr. Indigo, if that's the case I suspect the German intelligence agencies have seriously miscalculated. A jihadist threat of murder preventing a march against Islamisation of Europe doesn't exactly damage the case of those who had planned on marching.

    [I think Pegida's wrong, and that they go too far, but there is an issue with Western limp-wristedness which has seen political leaders utterly fail to stand up for civilised values such as freedom of speech].
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Morris_Dancer said:

    [I think Pegida's wrong, and that they go too far, but there is an issue with Western limp-wristedness which has seen political leaders utterly fail to stand up for civilised values such as freedom of speech].

    I agree, but you need the UKIPs of this world, to get the Cameron's of this world off their arses and offering referenda on the EU. Pegida is wrong, but they will be useful in putting some backbone in more mainstream politicians worried about losing majorities.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Mr. Indigo, maybe.

    So far Pegida has attracted many marchers but also united Germany's politicians in saying how horrid and wrong they are.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    Pulpstar said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughs on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    I'd be happy to turn up to this too, the amount of cash I'm getting tied up in the GE is quite something for ex Sheffield Hallam due to the generous 4-9 Betfair Sportsbook offered on Clegg there I piled on for £300 yesterday and so Hallam now looks like this:

    Cash tied up: £415

    UKIP/Other -£290
    Lab -£135
    Con +£20
    Lib Dem +£70
    I suggested this a couple of months ago, and will do anything in my power to attend if this takes place (my new job are being a bit sticky about holiday in May, but it should be doable). If we were to do it, we'd need good TV set-ups ideally. I'm not sure Dirty Dicks is the right place, but this would be the most marvellous (or horrifying) election party in the country if we can get it right. I just hope I don't lose my shirt if it is in front of everyone!
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited January 2015
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Indigo, maybe.

    So far Pegida has attracted many marchers but also united Germany's politicians in saying how horrid and wrong they are.

    Their election is still two and a half years away, no one cares about votes yet, give it a year or so ;) They might be united now, but if it looks like a solid block of votes, someone wont be able to resist being able to edge toward it, especially if there are more problems like CH over the next year and the public mood hardens.
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Indigo, maybe.

    So far Pegida has attracted many marchers but also united Germany's politicians in saying how horrid and wrong they are.

    And tried to shout down any legitimate concerns about radical Islam. Support for the AFD should grow as a result of the main parties burying their heads in the sand.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,613
    perdix said:

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    I have heard some pretty disappointing stories from someone who lived and worked in Scotland about their "hatred" of the English and how they are discriminated against in the workplace.

    I am an English person living and working in Scotland, and I haven't experienced discrimination, but I have experienced a sort of extra unintentional offence I've given. I remember once saying a local neighbourhood was a 'dump'. I had already lived in Scotland for 3 years, and had no hesitation in saying it was a dump, the same way I would say Milton Keynes or Crawley were dumps. But to my colleagues, this was undoubtedly an arrogant English person coming up from the South East of England declaring parts of their city beneath me. They objected strongly to my face, and no doubt even more strongly behind my back.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 45,176
    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    It's to do with class as much as Englishness; there's barely a folk memory of a right wing party that looks after the interests of the working class up here. As Carnyx said the subsumation of the Unionist party started the decline and Thatcher finished it off; working class aspiration, BT shares & buying your council house weren't seen as compensation for worklessness in the West of Scotland.
    UKIP might be able to gain some leverage in Scotland, once they get rid of the bufoon that is their sole elected Scottish representative.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,613
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Pegida Dresden march called off:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30870423

    "German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that intelligence agencies had intercepted messages from known jihadists planning strikes against the group."

    Hang on, isn't everybody Charlie now? I thought we were standing up to the jihadist threat.
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    I was suggesting a modest contribution of £10 - £15 per head to pay for staffing a pay bar into the early hours and towards some snacks .... nothing too fancy, sandwiches, etc. and limited to around 30-40 attending. I suppose there will be such events taking place on a ticketed basis all over London and elsewhere that evening.
    I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Pegida Dresden march called off:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30870423

    "German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that intelligence agencies had intercepted messages from known jihadists planning strikes against the group."

    Hang on, isn't everybody Charlie now? I thought we were standing up to the jihadist threat.
    It was a feel good hash tag (#BringBackOurGirls etc) and a feel good march, everyone can now tell their friends they have taken a stand and done their bit, dinner party conversation in the twittering suburbs of the world is now decided for the new few months, normal service is now resumed.
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045
    Thanks, Mike!

    I've also now got paperback versions, for those who don't like using Kindles:

    The Fourth Lectern at £2.99
    The Fifth Lectern at £5.99

    (Apologies that the price is higher, but that's the best I could get them done for)
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    Pulpstar said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughs on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    I'd be happy to turn up to this too, the amount of cash I'm getting tied up in the GE is quite something for ex Sheffield Hallam due to the generous 4-9 Betfair Sportsbook offered on Clegg there I piled on for £300 yesterday and so Hallam now looks like this:

    Cash tied up: £415

    UKIP/Other -£290
    Lab -£135
    Con +£20
    Lib Dem +£70
    Yep, 4/9 was cracking value, but sadly it is no more, instead the current price is 3/10 which is probably still value but insufficiently tempting for my book.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Mr. Cooke, think you need to amend the Fourth link.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    Mr. Indigo, perhaps, but it would be nice to see better from our leaders.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 64,196
    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    A lot of it comes down to legal, economic and political heritage. Scotland has a quite different history and pattern of land ownership, for instance - more clans, tenants, and fewer freeholders - and a legal system orientated more around Roman law than Common law. England has tended to have a higher number of independent-minded, property-owning small freeholders who prefer to assert their rights against the State. Scotland's also had a larger proportion of its economy in the past devoted to heavy industry, which would also pull it to the Left.

    Although these differences can be exaggerated, if Scotland had a similar political climate to England, it should really have returned 15-20 Tory MPs at the last election, and that would have possibly nudged Cameron (just) to a small overall majority.
  • StonchStonch Posts: 43
    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!
  • Fat_SteveFat_Steve Posts: 361
    peter_from_putney said:

    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    I was suggesting a modest contribution of £10 - £15 per head to pay for staffing a pay bar into the early hours and towards some snacks .... nothing too fancy, sandwiches, etc. and limited to around 30-40 attending. I suppose there will be such events taking place on a ticketed basis all over London and elsewhere that evening.
    I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m.
    Thanks for the suggestion chaps. It's a nice idea - Though as Quincel says, perhaps Dirty Dicks wouldn't be quite the right place. I'll have a think - And of course if anyone wishes to volunteer a suggestion, Please come forward.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 64,196
    peter_from_putney said:

    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    MikeK said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    Thats a good idea. I'm on for a couple of capucinos. ;)
    I was suggesting a modest contribution of £10 - £15 per head to pay for staffing a pay bar into the early hours and towards some snacks .... nothing too fancy, sandwiches, etc. and limited to around 30-40 attending. I suppose there will be such events taking place on a ticketed basis all over London and elsewhere that evening.
    I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m.
    You've changed your tune. You seemed quite "anti" Dirty Dicks a couple of months ago!
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Pegida Dresden march called off:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30870423

    "German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that intelligence agencies had intercepted messages from known jihadists planning strikes against the group."

    Hang on, isn't everybody Charlie now? I thought we were standing up to the jihadist threat.
    Merkel has murky boots where Islam is concerned.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 64,196
    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Sounds interesting. My 2010 version Kindle broke down a few weeks ago unfortunately.

    They still sell like hot cakes on the internet because it's the only version with a free roaming mobile phone internet connection which works anywhere in the world.
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    "I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m."

    IIRC, there were around 15 of us present that evening from PB.com and apart from OGH who put in a guest appearance before retiring early to his bed, the only PBers still around 6 years later are PtP, Double Carpet, Nick Palmer and yours truly .... an indication of the churn rate on the site.
  • StonchStonch Posts: 43
    Casino_Royale said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
    Thanks! I did go through a period where I used to comment a bit, around 2006/7 I think. Used to clash with SeanT a lot and come off worst!

    I'd be really keen to host a event on election night for PB.com readers having read the site most days for a decade! The pub really is perfect for this type of thing. Getting an all night licence via a TEN would be no problem, particularly as it would be ticketed, so those who fancied something stronger than coffee would be well served too!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited January 2015
    It's because they regard the English as being right-of-centre and therefore in order to differentiate themselves from them they have to go in the opposite direction. If Scotland had become independent this factor would have disappeared after a few years.
    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,894
    edited January 2015
    Welcome (back) to pb.com, Mr. Stonch.

    Mr. JS, I think that must be the version I have. I like the keyboard, as I use it for redrafting and making notes. Do new versions not have a free internet connection?
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Cooke, think you need to amend the Fourth link.

    That's really weird - the link address is right ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fourth-Lectern-Entered-Election-Debates/dp/1505268451 ), but it's going to the wrong place...
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    Andy_Cooke said:


    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Cooke, think you need to amend the Fourth link.

    That's really weird - the link address is right ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fourth-Lectern-Entered-Election-Debates/dp/1505268451 ), but it's going to the wrong place...
    Works for me -- goes straight to the paperback (and I bought the kindle version earlier).
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 64,196
    edited January 2015
    peter_from_putney said:

    "I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m."

    IIRC, there were around 15 of us present that evening from PB.com and apart from OGH who put in a guest appearance before retiring early to his bed, the only PBers still around 6 years later are PtP, Double Carpet, Nick Palmer and yours truly .... an indication of the churn rate on the site.

    I'm not sure it's as high as you think it is. I've been reading since 2004, and periodically posting since 2005, but I've also had phases of 1+ years when I've barely posted at all. I recognise lots of names from 10 years ago: Sean T, Sean Fear, Stodge, Southam Observer, Morris Dancer, Innocent Abroad, JackW, Mark Senior etc.

    Those who do leave tend to come back. Eventually.

    It's very hard to stay away: once a PB'er, always a PB'er.
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045
    DecrepitJohnL said:

    Andy_Cooke said:


    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Cooke, think you need to amend the Fourth link.

    That's really weird - the link address is right ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fourth-Lectern-Entered-Election-Debates/dp/1505268451 ), but it's going to the wrong place...
    Works for me -- goes straight to the paperback (and I bought the kindle version earlier).
    Cool.
    And I'd offer to sign your copy, but I'm not sure how to go about that for an ebook... :smile:
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited January 2015
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Mr. Indigo, perhaps, but it would be nice to see better from our leaders.

    The politicians didn't even march of course, just did the phony photo op
    http://i.imgur.com/mmV3E8i.jpg

    One of the American commentators called it "pseudo-solidarity"
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,789
    Casino_Royale said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
    Sounds like a brilliant idea to me. Unfortunately I may be a bit tied up that evening... :-)

  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,789
    Incidentally, I see today's YG shows (a) a net 6-point "Miliband doing well/badly" bounce and (b) a net 5-point "Coalition good/bad for people like me" bounce (in both cases from very negative to somewhat less negative). Polarisation as May approaches?

    Generally level-headed responses about Muslims - people think there's a problem but find most Muslims friendly. And various questions trying to elicit signs of anti-semitism get a resounding negative.
  • StonchStonch Posts: 43
    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Much though I'd like to take part in a pb allnighter for the general election, my other half has a zero birthday on 8 May and so I shall be required to be sensible that night.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Interesting to see YouGov's Peter Kellner is predicting the coalition to win 323 seats which would be enough to govern assuming Sinn Fein continue not to take their seats. Seems a bit optimistic to me for the government.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Not sure why the government is so worried about SnapChat

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/15/eff_whos_got_your_back_2014/
    On the opposite end of the list, Snapchat does publish such guidelines, but the EFF found that it doesn't do anything else. The self-destructing selfie service received just one star out of six, the lowest rating of any company surveyed.

    That means you can't expect Snapchat to ask to see a warrant before it turns over your data to the government. It also won't disclose when the government comes a-knockin', it doesn't publish transparency reports, and it doesn't do anything to stick up for its users' rights, either in the courts or in Congress.
    Perhaps the wrong government, such a shame Obama wasn't interested
    https://twitter.com/alantravis40/status/556152716964405249
  • Y0kelY0kel Posts: 2,307
    Just a couple of notes on the Pegida march cancellation.

    In principle its a bad idea, you just do not let those who threaten put you off. German agencies, however, have felt the marches were a wide open target and its noticeable that the railway station in Dresden was a proposed target for Jihadis. To what extent though the political establishment have used that threat as a way of trying to stifle the momentum of Pegida is an open question.

    The other night I posted how Kosher supermarket terrorist Ahmed Coulibaly looked to have led plenty of breadcrumbs that has linked together a lot of individuals. This definitely appears to have been the case, quite literally. It is reported they tested pizza crusts from his bins for DNA that they matched to names.

    More importantly but not yet admitted, as intelligence services in the respective countries keep denying links between their respective arrest operations, Coulibaly was very much a link man and his comms and other history has turned up some significant information regarding Jihadis outside of France as well as within.

  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Which Gunmakers out of interest - Marylebone?
  • Y0kelY0kel Posts: 2,307
    There appears to have been some kind of shooting incident out Joe Biden's weekend home in Delaware. Biden was in town but not at the location.

    So far looks a bit of a random one but someone has been lifted.
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Interesting to hear your news Stonch - irrespective of what happens on GE night, I should try to call in and inspect your new establishment in Earl's Court ..... after all you're only around 3 miles distant from me in fun-loving SW15!
  • StonchStonch Posts: 43
    TheWatcher said:

    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Which Gunmakers out of interest - Marylebone?
    No, the other one - Clerkenwell

  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    Casino_Royale said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    "I recall attending a similar office-based all night event at Kings Cross on the night Obama was elected as POTUS, when we PBers emerged bleary-eyed at around 6 a.m."

    IIRC, there were around 15 of us present that evening from PB.com and apart from OGH who put in a guest appearance before retiring early to his bed, the only PBers still around 6 years later are PtP, Double Carpet, Nick Palmer and yours truly .... an indication of the churn rate on the site.

    I'm not sure it's as high as you think it is. I've been reading since 2004, and periodically posting since 2005, but I've also had phases of 1+ years when I've barely posted at all. I recognise lots of names from 10 years ago: Sean T, Sean Fear, Stodge, Southam Observer, Morris Dancer, Innocent Abroad, JackW, Mark Senior etc.

    Those who do leave tend to come back. Eventually.

    It's very hard to stay away: once a PB'er, always a PB'er.
    Casino - I accept the point you are making and indeed there are many, many more old timers than those you mention, including a number who have since changed their names, I was merely relating the proportion to those attending the all night POTUS election on 4 November 2008 ..... God was it really so long ago?
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Hello Stonch welcome back!!!

    You may recall we had a few disagreements on here in the mid 2000s!

    If you host the GE2015 event will Tipopils be on at a discount? :)
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited January 2015
    Stonch said:

    TheWatcher said:

    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Which Gunmakers out of interest - Marylebone?
    No, the other one - Clerkenwell

    Ah, know that one too. Great to see that the Finborough has been brought back to life; that part of the world has lost a lot of decent pubs.
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    NickPalmer said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
    Sounds like a brilliant idea to me. Unfortunately I may be a bit tied up that evening... :-)

    Nick - We really don't need to know about the somewhat unusual nature of your personal celebrations that evening.
  • MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Stonch said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
    Thanks! I did go through a period where I used to comment a bit, around 2006/7 I think. Used to clash with SeanT a lot and come off worst!

    I'd be really keen to host a event on election night for PB.com readers having read the site most days for a decade! The pub really is perfect for this type of thing. Getting an all night licence via a TEN would be no problem, particularly as it would be ticketed, so those who fancied something stronger than coffee would be well served too!
    I may be interested in attending as its not too far away from me in South London. I haven't given it much thought as to what I will be doing GE night. Either way I need to book the following day off as I really don't want to be working hung-over and tired.

  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Just off out to boo Wenger at a local Manc train station....
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Unless I've got my wires crossed this is the UKIP candidate for Holborn & St Pancras:

    https://twitter.com/Colderthananice
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    AndyJS said:

    Unless I've got my wires crossed this is the UKIP candidate for Holborn & St Pancras:

    https://twitter.com/Colderthananice

    If that twitter picture is accurate then she has my vote. Just off to sharpen my pencil...
  • peter_from_putneypeter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Stonch - I've just had a look at your website and I'm very impressed - it could well be ideal for our GE night. It's certainly a very small world - my sister, who is also a Solicitor, used to have a flat on Ifield Road, probably within 50 yards or so of your Pub!
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,613
    peter_from_putney said:

    NickPalmer said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    Wow - one of the original PB'ers of yonder. What a fantastic offer. Welcome!
    Sounds like a brilliant idea to me. Unfortunately I may be a bit tied up that evening... :-)

    Nick - We really don't need to know about the somewhat unusual nature of your personal celebrations that evening.
    Let's just hope he's careful -it's been known to go very wrong.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Panelbase: snivelling losing whinging SNP on the slide!

    Con gain angus north and mearns!

    :)
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,751
    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    A very good idea. Happy to contribute / attend.

  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    Carnyx said:

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    Not English, I think: just not Scottish, and too pro-London/City. It's interesting that the Tory decline began from total control in the mid-50s at the same time as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (IIRC) merged with the London-based Tories.

    They have a fixation , low self esteem issue thinking we do not like them when it is indeed just the London troughers we don't take to. Despite being almost invisible and treated badly.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    perdix said:

    Sean_F said:

    SeanT said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    I've asked this question myself and received no clear answer. Polls show that Scots are slightly to the Left of the English, but not by much: and given that the English are clearly rightwing on many issues, there must be huge votes in Scotland for a rightwing party.

    Yet Scotland has three big leftwing parties - Labour, Libs, Nats (esp under Sturgeon) - plus the Greens - and the Tories toil and fail.

    Where are the right wing voters going? Are they just staying at home? Were they the forgotten 100,000s who came out for the referendum and made sure it was a NO?
    I think the basic problem is that the main right wing party is seen as an English party.

    I have heard some pretty disappointing stories from someone who lived and worked in Scotland about their "hatred" of the English and how they are discriminated against in the workplace.

    Bollox, sad excuse for being crap at your job
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    I am perfect Tory material, right wing , highly paid , etc but would not spit on the sock puppets involved in the sub regional office up here. Bunch of dross, they had an opportunity when Murdo wanted to declare UDI but they stage managed their London puppet in instead. Will never get anywhere.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806
    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    Sean T - I assume that comment was in jest.

  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    Yes, they're crying out for angry, ranting, drunkards to join up.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Useless fact: there are more former Tory Scottish MPs over the age 89 than there are current Tory MPs in Scotland.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_McQuarrie
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Myles_(politician)
  • FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    What a self serving load of bigoted rubbish. You care so much why is the health of the scottish nation so bad?
    And really, 'care so much'??
    'CHILDREN in Scotland have been the victims of evil ritual abuse including rape, murder and even the production of so-called ‘snuff films’ '
    'One veteran campaigner said he had even heard of babies being born and never registered, so the innocent youngsters would not be missed when they were eventually killed by secret paedophile networks.'
    'the ritual abuse of children is said to have gone unchecked in Scotland for decades'
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/533158/Child-abusers-filmed-murder-claims-charity

    Braveheart indeed.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,931
    Scrapheap_as_was said:

    Just off out to boo Wenger at a local Manc train station....

    I'm glad West Ham finally returned to winning ways today against Hull :)
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    malcolmg said:

    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    I am perfect Tory material, right wing , highly paid , etc but would not spit on the sock puppets involved in the sub regional office up here. Bunch of dross, they had an opportunity when Murdo wanted to declare UDI but they stage managed their London puppet in instead. Will never get anywhere.
    You'd fit in very well with UKIP.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    TheWatcher said:

    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    Yes, they're crying out for angry, ranting, drunkards to join up.
    Creepy is out of his cardboard box , posting diarrhoea as ever. Your fixations on drinking seem to point to an issue, put the cork back in the bottle a little more often and save yourself some hallucinations. Methinks you doth protest too much cockroach.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    Flightpath said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    What a self serving load of bigoted rubbish. You care so much why is the health of the scottish nation so bad?
    And really, 'care so much'??
    'CHILDREN in Scotland have been the victims of evil ritual abuse including rape, murder and even the production of so-called ‘snuff films’ '
    'One veteran campaigner said he had even heard of babies being born and never registered, so the innocent youngsters would not be missed when they were eventually killed by secret paedophile networks.'
    'the ritual abuse of children is said to have gone unchecked in Scotland for decades'
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/533158/Child-abusers-filmed-murder-claims-charity

    Braveheart indeed.
    Cuckoo , Cuckoo, do you see spaceships as well you numpty.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    TheWatcher said:

    malcolmg said:

    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    We care much more about people who hit hard times and so tend to dislike grasping rightwing Tory vultures who would sell their granny if it made them money. Fine to be hard working and make it but silver spoon/greedy arsewipes who spit on the poor are not so popular.
    It is indeed a shame the Tories have lost Scottish voices as decent, persuasive and plausible as yours.
    I am perfect Tory material, right wing , highly paid , etc but would not spit on the sock puppets involved in the sub regional office up here. Bunch of dross, they had an opportunity when Murdo wanted to declare UDI but they stage managed their London puppet in instead. Will never get anywhere.
    You'd fit in very well with UKIP.
    You on other hand would not join as no nice uniforms
  • calumcalum Posts: 3,046
    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    The top 30 landowners in Scotland own around 35% of Scotland:

    http://www.highlandclearances.co.uk/clearances/postclearances_whoownsscotland.htm

    Many of these estates were created during the Highland Clearances, although many of the Highlanders settled overseas, a reasonable % stayed on in the Central belt of Scotland. This might in part explain why the left wing parties are dominant.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,969
    edited January 2015
    calum said:

    MP_SE said:

    Can anyone provide some insight on why do parties to the right of the political spectrum poll so badly in Scotland?

    The top 30 landowners in Scotland own around 35% of Scotland:

    http://www.highlandclearances.co.uk/clearances/postclearances_whoownsscotland.htm

    Many of these estates were created during the Highland Clearances, although many of the Highlanders settled overseas, a reasonable % stayed on in the Central belt of Scotland. This might in part explain why the left wing parties are dominant.
    Calum you would need to point out on a map where that was for these clowns, not meant for original poster asking a sensible question but for the zoonies it has stirred up, they get dizzy after they get to Watford on the map.

    PS a good reason is down to the attitudes of plankton like Watcher and Flightpath.
  • StonchStonch Posts: 43
    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Stonch said:

    Regarding a potential election all-nighter in a pub: I've been reading this site since 2004 but have rarely commented. I am a publican. Have a pub by Earl's Court - the Finborough Arms - with a good set-up for this type of event and would host. Big TV screen on wall visible from everywhere in the bar, wifi, open plan layout. If site admins are interested just email me finborougharms at gmail!

    I remember you Stonch from way back (how could i forget a name like that), although I hadn't realised you were a publican.
    Thanks for putting forward your premises as a possible venue.
    Now that Fat's Steve's offered to become involved, I'm encouraged that something might be do-able.
    Peter, I used to be a solicitor back when I commented on PB. Quit my job and bought a pub in 2009. Sold that one (the Gunmakers) in autumn to concentrate on my new business, the Finborough (reopened it in Feb of last year).
    Stonch - I've just had a look at your website and I'm very impressed - it could well be ideal for our GE night. It's certainly a very small world - my sister, who is also a Solicitor, used to have a flat on Ifield Road, probably within 50 yards or so of your Pub!
    Well if one of you who is a regular on the site and keen to do this event drops me an email we can work out some details and get it confirmed!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,931
    Cyclefree said:

    peter_from_putney said:

    Fat Steve ..... or OGH, etc.
    Any thoughts on organising a Pub session overnight at Dirty Dicks or elsewhere on 7-8 May, obviously with TV and wifi access for us punters ...... I reckon it would be great fun and well attended. I'd be happy to pay say £10-£15 for some bar snacks + tea & coffee to be available.

    A very good idea. Happy to contribute / attend.

    Sounds like it will be fun!
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 11,942
    I'm curious. Theresa May is urging us all not to be anti-Semitic, but apart from the daftness that is the Middle East is there anyone that has anything at all bad to say about anyone of the Jewish faith, or race?

    I heard recently too that there were some very hostile acts conducted against Buddhists in Thailand. Why?

    Now I can completely understand wishing to poke a Christian in the eye (verbally, not literally), and so too a Muslim - I've met many examples of both faiths that are bloody annoying. What I'm asking though is whether it's really the case that I've led some sort of charmed life and have failed to meet all the evil Jews, and evil Buddhists which people seem to rail against?

    If someone tells me that I'm daft as a brush for my Atheism I don't mind at all - you can bang on all day about it, I won't mind. If on the other hand I tell someone of faith that they might (just might) be wrong it'll undoubtedly cause them to become almost sulphur-emitting.

    Jews are great. Muslims are great. Christians are great, and any other religion you might pick. There's the odd daft belief here and there, but hey who am I to comment - although I don't get my daft beliefs out of a belief-cook-book I'm no less prone to them.



  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited January 2015
    In an enormously surprising development, Timothy Garton Ash comes out against the Pegida movement in Germany:

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/18/germany-xenophobic-anti-islamic-pegida-france
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,789
    Y0kel said:

    Just a couple of notes on the Pegida march cancellation. ...

    What's your current view on the Syrian situation? I recall you were optimistic about the opposition's chances a while back, but it now seems totally deadlocked in the south while ISIS is chugging ahead in the north?

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