politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Lord Ashcroft is releasing his Boris polling in bits: Phase
The 1st phase of @LordAshcroft Boris polling on recognition level of leading politicians. Sample shown pics
See pic.twitter.com/HRHEwwibX8
Comments
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[turning to the camera] Boris Johnson is an alpha bloke!
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Has Lord A decided to throw his lot in with Boris then?0
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Has Lord Ashcroft got a man crush and is Boris interested in a bromance ?
Waste of time and money frankly.0 -
Boris Johnson should be leader of the Opposition.0
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The confused with columns are amusing
Surprised about Bert though, would've thought it would be Wallace.0 -
Boris Johnson will never be the leader of the opposition.OblitusSumMe said:Boris Johnson should be leader of the Opposition.
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This table is enormous fun but it is also enormously important.
1) It reminds us that political obsessives are a tiny minority. Philip Hammond is one of the favourites to succeed David Cameron but is recognised by one in ten of the public.
2) It shows just what a huge public figure Boris Johnson is. He's more recognisable than the Leader of the Opposition (even making allowance for the fact that Ed Miliband unsurprisingly looks like his brother). When the history of the age is written in future, historians will struggle to explain just how important Boris Johnson was at this time.0 -
R5 doing big feature on how poor nurses have been abused in the street since Stafford.
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Doubt it......he writes:GIN1138 said:Has Lord A decided to throw his lot in with Boris then?
"The political implications of Boris’s ubiquity are another matter. I have looked into these too – and there will be more to follow when my research on the subject is published later this week."
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2013/06/dont-tell-me-its-him-off-the-telly/
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What would the respective recognition levels have been for John Major and Michael Heseltine in November 1990 just before Maggie was booted out?
My guess is that's Major's numbers would have been miniscule - yet he went on to win the contest and GE1992antifrank said:This table is enormous fun but it is also enormously important.
1) It reminds us that political obsessives are a tiny minority. Philip Hammond is one of the favourites to succeed David Cameron but is recognised by one in ten of the public.
2) It shows just what a huge public figure Boris Johnson is. He's more recognisable than the Leader of the Opposition (even making allowance for the fact that Ed Miliband unsurprisingly looks like his brother). When the history of the age is written in future, historians will struggle to explain just how important Boris Johnson was at this time.0 -
Disturbing findings for Labour.
A quarter of the electorate can't identify Ed Miliband
Just wait until 23% of the electorate realise who he is and just how crap he is.
This will happen during a general election campaign.0 -
Ones a yellow skinned, mono-browed, crazy haired, boring Muppet. The other is Bert from Sesame Street.
I thought I'd get that in before someone else did.0 -
Miliblob gets confused with Bert from Sesame Street! LOL.0
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Don't forget Bert was friends with Osama Bin LadenTwistedFireStopper said:Ones a yellow skinned, mono-browed, crazy haired, boring Muppet. The other is Bert from Sesame Street.
I thought I'd get that in before someone else did.
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It's an insult to poor Bert that so many people mistake him for Ed 0
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Boris is a top bloke, funny, witty, intelligent and very recognisable. He ain't Prime Ministerial at all though, and as much as I like him, I wouldn't want him in Number 10.0
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Nice figures from previous thread.CarlottaVance said:Who is to blame for the cuts? 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013
Coalition: 20 / 25 / 26 / 27
Labour: 46 / 39 / 36 / 36
Crossover ~ 2022.....
Labour are very unlikely to get elected if a plurality of the key groups of Ukip and Lib Dems blame them for the current cuts (Ukip voters by 49 to 14 and LD10 voters by 30 to 22). Especially when those two same groups (by decisive pluralities) think the cuts are bad for the economy, are being done unfairly, and are also too deep and too quick. But they are also necessary.
Which is why we get Labour stumbling around for a message to try and avoid implosion before 2015. They shouldn't be aiming to be a one term opposition. I wonder if Miliband really believes he can win while there is still so little trust in his party's economic legacy.0 -
PMQs with Boris as either PM or LOTO would be entertaining.
He's a classicist so he'd compare Ed to Themistocles' eunuch or summat0 -
" You’ll never be leader if no one knows who you are…" says Guido. Certainly 10% is low for Hammond. However, on the whole, I think recognition is far more important for visionaries, where they're asking you to believe in them and their idea of what this country should be like. I don't think Thatcher or Blair could have had much success if they hadn't been recognised.
Which I suppose leaves the question whether there is such a thing as a "visionary" or whether there are merely successful and unsuccessful prime ministers. I think Cameron shares Major's failure to win votes based on a vision, which leaves you open to the sort of assault by pragmatism (Black Wednesday, Omnishambles, etc.). I don't think they ever really went into the election peddling one, particularly, though.
As to Hammond, he'd be the "safe pair of hands" choice, I would imagine. I think post-2015. assuming the Tories lose, they may well choose someone like that, but I think it would be a mistake.0 -
Don't think it is an accident that the spotlight is being kept off rEd for now.TheScreamingEagles said:Disturbing findings for Labour.
A quarter of the electorate can't identify Ed Miliband
Just wait until 23% of the electorate realise who he is and just how crap he is.
This will happen during a general election campaign.0 -
If being recognised does equal success then Cameron beats Boris.0
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Mr. Eagles, did the Greeks have eunuchs?0
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The whole developed world and China and many others are horribly indebted. The chances of govt debt investors getting repaid in full is clearly not 100%! These are not 'Risk Free' investments. The markets are starting to price this in - by hammering govt debt prices.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/06/uk-lending-costs-are-surging-is-the-bond-bubble-about-to-burst/
Deficit funded welfare states are on their last legs. Austerity hasn't even started yet.0 -
Could be an interesting few weeks/days in the Eurozone - and the Uk 10 year rate is on the rise too - Carney to the rescue ?Patrick said:The whole developed world and China and many others are horribly indebted. The chances of govt debt investors getting repaid in full is clearly not 100%! These are not 'Risk Free' investments. The markets are starting to price this in - by hammering govt debt prices.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/06/uk-lending-costs-are-surging-is-the-bond-bubble-about-to-burst/
Deficit funded welfare states are on their last legs. Austerity hasn't even started yet.0 -
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I love it! Phillip Hammond sometimes confused with Julian Assange. LOL0
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@TGOHF
What can Carney do? We're a trillion in debt and rising - thanks to Gordon Brown and Ed Balls. Debt as a % GDP is way, way too high. At some point the price of that debt will reflect its true risk. And then mortgage rates will go to 7% or something. It's a horrible, horrible risk. And it would ruin the country more comprehensively than real cuts in spending. We need to find 100 billion off public spending. Urgently. Foreign aid, EU subscriptions, welfare, NHS, the lot.
I only hope that Labour are in power when it really hits the fan - because they caused it with their grossly irresponsible borrowing and spending.0 -
Thats the unkindest cut of all TSE.TheScreamingEagles said:0 -
So does Jeremy Hunt go round saying
"The NHS: can we fix it?"0 -
More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/
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Oh quite. I'm not suggesting that Philip Hammond is a dead duck or that Boris Johnson should be seen as David Cameron's heir apparent. But there is more to public life than the greasy pole, and Boris Johnson is far more important in public life right now than many of his critics acknowledge.MikeSmithson said:What would the respective recognition levels have been for John Major and Michael Heseltine in November 1990 just before Maggie was booted out?
My guess is that's Major's numbers would have been miniscule - yet he went on to win the contest and GE1992antifrank said:This table is enormous fun but it is also enormously important.
1) It reminds us that political obsessives are a tiny minority. Philip Hammond is one of the favourites to succeed David Cameron but is recognised by one in ten of the public.
2) It shows just what a huge public figure Boris Johnson is. He's more recognisable than the Leader of the Opposition (even making allowance for the fact that Ed Miliband unsurprisingly looks like his brother). When the history of the age is written in future, historians will struggle to explain just how important Boris Johnson was at this time.0 -
Gob-smacking Neil. I read some of the transcripts yesterday and it really does highlight the cynicism of some of those at the centre of the scandal. But will they escape punishment ?Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/0 -
@antifrank "Boris Johnson is far more important in public life right now than many of his critics acknowledge." I think you're probably right, but to what end? What is Boris' influence doing?0
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Oh, of course, eu = good.
What's nuch, then? Riddance? Slave?0 -
Carney's job is to pull of a confidence trick - to let the market know we are serious about the debt and will never default - look like a safe haven relative to the other cripples.Patrick said:@TGOHF
What can Carney do? We're a trillion in debt and rising - thanks to Gordon Brown and Ed Balls. Debt as a % GDP is way, way too high. At some point the price of that debt will reflect its true risk. And then mortgage rates will go to 7% or something. It's a horrible, horrible risk. And it would ruin the country more comprehensively than real cuts in spending. We need to find 100 billion off public spending. Urgently. Foreign aid, EU subscriptions, welfare, NHS, the lot.
I only hope that Labour are in power when it really hits the fan - because they caused it with their grossly irresponsible borrowing and spending.
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The other interesting fact to me at least.
Given that the the economy is the number one concern for the voters (per the Mori issues index), 38% of the voters cannot correctly identify the Second Lord of the Treasury.0 -
Eunuch comes from the Greek eunoukhos, originally meaning "guard of the bedchamber or harem," from eune, "bed," + -ekhein, "to have, hold"Morris_Dancer said:Oh, of course, eu = good.
What's nuch, then? Riddance? Slave?0 -
Now I feel like a fool, Mr. Eagles.
This must be how you feel defending Caesar compared to Hannibal.
However, thank you for the educational post.0 -
You mean I'm correct and informative in both instances?Morris_Dancer said:Now I feel like a fool, Mr. Eagles.
This must be how you feel defending Caesar compared to Hannibal.
However, thank you for the educational post.0 -
Have you got any links to yesterday's transcripts?Alanbrooke said:
Gob-smacking Neil. I read some of the transcripts yesterday and it really does highlight the cynicism of some of those at the centre of the scandal. But will they escape punishment ?Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/
I've not been on the interweb for the past few days.
Have I missed anything major?0 -
No, you silly fellow, I mean your view of Caesar and Hannibal is as wrong as wrong can be. Wronger than the Thirteenth Earl of Wrongcaster.0
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Try any of the Irish papers:TheScreamingEagles said:
Have you got any links to yesterday's transcripts?Alanbrooke said:
Gob-smacking Neil. I read some of the transcripts yesterday and it really does highlight the cynicism of some of those at the centre of the scandal. But will they escape punishment ?Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/
I've not been on the interweb for the past few days.
Have I missed anything major?
http://www.independent.ie/blog/day-one-listen-to-the-full-anglo-recordings-29370815.html
"We won't do anything blatant, but . . . we have to get the money in . . . get the f***in' money in, get it in," he tells his senior manager, John Bowe.
Mr Drumm and Mr Bowe are heard laughing at the concerns that the movement of money was causing a rift between Ireland and its EU partners.
Drumm declares to his colleague: "So f***in' what. Just take it anyway . . . stick the fingers up."
Irish Times also has transcipts but link appears to be down atm.
Asked on the call by Peter Fitzgerald, then head of Anglo’s retail funding, where the €7 billion figure came from, Bowe said: “Just, as Drummer [David Drumm] would say, picked it out of my arse.”
“The reality is that, actually, we need more than that. But you know the strategy here is you pull them in, you get them to write a big cheque and they have to keep, they have to support their money,” Bowe told Fitzgerald.
He explained the plan further: “If they saw the enormity of it up front they might decide, they might decide they have a choice. You know what I mean? They might say the cost to the taxpayer is too high. But . . . if it doesn’t look too big at the outset . . . if it looks big, big enough to be important but not too big that it kind of spoils everything.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/anglo-irish-tapes
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@Alanbrooke, blimey, and thanks.0
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Slightly surprised that Ed is more recognisable than Jeffrey.
And would've expected that Gove creature thing to be a bit higher.
Otherwise, meh.0 -
I was chatting the other day with @chris_g0000 late of this parish about the movies Margin Call and Enron - Smartest Guys in the Room = if you haven't seen the latter - you're missing a great, compelling and horrifying documentary about how it all fell apart.Alanbrooke said:
Try any of the Irish papers:TheScreamingEagles said:
Have you got any links to yesterday's transcripts?Alanbrooke said:
Gob-smacking Neil. I read some of the transcripts yesterday and it really does highlight the cynicism of some of those at the centre of the scandal. But will they escape punishment ?Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/
I've not been on the interweb for the past few days.
Have I missed anything major?
http://www.independent.ie/blog/day-one-listen-to-the-full-anglo-recordings-29370815.html
"We won't do anything blatant, but . . . we have to get the money in . . . get the f***in' money in, get it in," he tells his senior manager, John Bowe.
Mr Drumm and Mr Bowe are heard laughing at the concerns that the movement of money was causing a rift between Ireland and its EU partners.
Drumm declares to his colleague: "So f***in' what. Just take it anyway . . . stick the fingers up."
Irish Times also has transcipts but link appears to be down atm.
Asked on the call by Peter Fitzgerald, then head of Anglo’s retail funding, where the €7 billion figure came from, Bowe said: “Just, as Drummer [David Drumm] would say, picked it out of my arse.”
“The reality is that, actually, we need more than that. But you know the strategy here is you pull them in, you get them to write a big cheque and they have to keep, they have to support their money,” Bowe told Fitzgerald.
He explained the plan further: “If they saw the enormity of it up front they might decide, they might decide they have a choice. You know what I mean? They might say the cost to the taxpayer is too high. But . . . if it doesn’t look too big at the outset . . . if it looks big, big enough to be important but not too big that it kind of spoils everything.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/anglo-irish-tapes
The tapes of Enron traders gleefully conniving to bring about the energy blackouts in California are !!!!0 -
Saw Margin Call and it was good viewing.Plato said:
I was chatting the other day with @chris_g0000 late of this parish about the movies Margin Call and Enron - Smartest Guys in the Room = if you haven't seen the latter - you're missing a great, compelling and horrifying documentary about how it all fell apart.Alanbrooke said:
Try any of the Irish papers:TheScreamingEagles said:
Have you got any links to yesterday's transcripts?Alanbrooke said:
Gob-smacking Neil. I read some of the transcripts yesterday and it really does highlight the cynicism of some of those at the centre of the scandal. But will they escape punishment ?Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/
I've not been on the interweb for the past few days.
Have I missed anything major?
http://www.independent.ie/blog/day-one-listen-to-the-full-anglo-recordings-29370815.html
"We won't do anything blatant, but . . . we have to get the money in . . . get the f***in' money in, get it in," he tells his senior manager, John Bowe.
Mr Drumm and Mr Bowe are heard laughing at the concerns that the movement of money was causing a rift between Ireland and its EU partners.
Drumm declares to his colleague: "So f***in' what. Just take it anyway . . . stick the fingers up."
Irish Times also has transcipts but link appears to be down atm.
Asked on the call by Peter Fitzgerald, then head of Anglo’s retail funding, where the €7 billion figure came from, Bowe said: “Just, as Drummer [David Drumm] would say, picked it out of my arse.”
“The reality is that, actually, we need more than that. But you know the strategy here is you pull them in, you get them to write a big cheque and they have to keep, they have to support their money,” Bowe told Fitzgerald.
He explained the plan further: “If they saw the enormity of it up front they might decide, they might decide they have a choice. You know what I mean? They might say the cost to the taxpayer is too high. But . . . if it doesn’t look too big at the outset . . . if it looks big, big enough to be important but not too big that it kind of spoils everything.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/anglo-irish-tapes0 -
http://labourlist.org/2013/06/compasss-alternative-plan-for-deficit-reduction-and-the-end-of-austerity/
"Labour should be offering a genuine alternative to austerity in 2015. This would include a short-term economic stimulus and medium-term economic restructuring. We calculate that a £55billion stimulus package of social and green infrastructure could generate up to 1m jobs, £187bn of additional GDP and almost £75bn in terms of additional taxation.
This stimulus package would also need to be accompanied by clear plans for managing public finances and a means of addressing the party’s association with profligacy and waste. This can be achieved by telling a story about what sort of society and economy it wants to build. If Labour is up front and honest about why it needs public spending in the first place it would receive a much more solid mandate for doing so.
An alternative plan to eliminate the structural deficit over the medium term could be achieved by arguing for a much higher proportion of tax rises to spending cuts as outlined in our briefing. Labour could also win back trust with a series of measures such as:
1. Adopting a zero-based budgeting approach that reviews all current spending to ensure public spending is well targeted to achieve maximum wellbeing, sustainability and reductions in inequality.
2. Setting clear medium term fiscal rules backed by clear and democratic fiscal oversight to demonstrate to the public that they will spend tax money efficiently. It is important that Labour continues to make a clear distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ borrowing and spending and convinces the public that the Labour Party would only borrow and spend for a purpose.
3. Advocating a radical review of the state and public services in which areas of self-evident waste would be cut. This might include cutting such items as Trident renewal and the billions wasted on the Private Finance Initiative. It would also require a drive to devolve and decentralise many government functions to ensure meaningful localism and much greater efficiency and responsiveness of services. The centralised, lever-pulling basis of the British state is no longer viable as the dominant governance model in terms of democracy, accountability and efficiency.
Aping Tory spending totals after 2015 will not win back economic credibility for Labour and it would be an economic, social and political disaster for Britain if all that was on offer from the largest centre-left party in 2015 was more austerity. Economic credibility comes from outlining a genuine alternative that would begin to tackle our interlinked economic, social and ecological crises."0 -
And led to a change of state governor: Gray Davis was replaced in a recall election by Arnold Schwarzenegger.Plato said:
I was chatting the other day with @chris_g0000 late of this parish about the movies Margin Call and Enron - Smartest Guys in the Room = if you haven't seen the latter - you're missing a great, compelling and horrifying documentary about how it all fell apart.
The tapes of Enron traders gleefully conniving to bring about the energy blackouts in California are !!!!
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How many times over did they spend £55billion and leave us with nothing to show for it ?Financier said:http://labourlist.org/2013/06/compasss-alternative-plan-for-deficit-reduction-and-the-end-of-austerity/
"Labour should be offering a genuine alternative to austerity in 2015. This would include a short-term economic stimulus and medium-term economic restructuring. We calculate that a £55billion stimulus package of social and green infrastructure could generate up to 1m jobs, £187bn of additional GDP and almost £75bn in terms of additional taxation.
This stimulus package would also need to be accompanied by clear plans for managing public finances and a means of addressing the party’s association with profligacy and waste. This can be achieved by telling a story about what sort of society and economy it wants to build. If Labour is up front and honest about why it needs public spending in the first place it would receive a much more solid mandate for doing so.
An alternative plan to eliminate the structural deficit over the medium term could be achieved by arguing for a much higher proportion of tax rises to spending cuts as outlined in our briefing. Labour could also win back trust with a series of measures such as:
1. Adopting a zero-based budgeting approach that reviews all current spending to ensure public spending is well targeted to achieve maximum wellbeing, sustainability and reductions in inequality.
2. Setting clear medium term fiscal rules backed by clear and democratic fiscal oversight to demonstrate to the public that they will spend tax money efficiently. It is important that Labour continues to make a clear distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ borrowing and spending and convinces the public that the Labour Party would only borrow and spend for a purpose.
3. Advocating a radical review of the state and public services in which areas of self-evident waste would be cut. This might include cutting such items as Trident renewal and the billions wasted on the Private Finance Initiative. It would also require a drive to devolve and decentralise many government functions to ensure meaningful localism and much greater efficiency and responsiveness of services. The centralised, lever-pulling basis of the British state is no longer viable as the dominant governance model in terms of democracy, accountability and efficiency.
Aping Tory spending totals after 2015 will not win back economic credibility for Labour and it would be an economic, social and political disaster for Britain if all that was on offer from the largest centre-left party in 2015 was more austerity. Economic credibility comes from outlining a genuine alternative that would begin to tackle our interlinked economic, social and ecological crises."
The problem for Labour, as ever, is until they show recognition of how badly they handled the economy and some remorse through an apology, all their plans have a huge credibility question mark set against them.0 -
Time to collect on those Jeffrey bets?
http://order-order.com/2013/06/25/watch-jeffrey-joke-falls-flat/0 -
@Financier
You can't borrow and spend your way out of a debt hole. Labour already borrowed and spent the UK's money. As Liam Byrne noted: There's no money left.
So pain it must be.0 -
Financier - not really the end of austerity is it : "tax rises and nice cuts"
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Yet 94% can identify the Minister for the Civil Service. Although if you asked it the other way...TheScreamingEagles said:The other interesting fact to me at least.
Given that the the economy is the number one concern for the voters (per the Mori issues index), 38% of the voters cannot correctly identify the Second Lord of the Treasury.
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Dan Hodges:
"Let the mad Left have a General Strike. It'll keep them happy and the rest of us will get a nice long weekend."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100223340/let-the-mad-left-have-a-general-strike-itll-keep-them-happy-and-the-rest-of-us-will-get-a-nice-long-weekend/0 -
If we had a General Strike, Boris Johnson could get to edit the British Gazette.0
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Grandiose said:
Yet 94% can identify the Minister for the Civil Service First Lord of the Treasury. Although if you asked it the other way...TheScreamingEagles said:The other interesting fact to me at least.
Given that the the economy is the number one concern for the voters (per the Mori issues index), 38% of the voters cannot correctly identify the Second Lord of the Treasury.0 -
Carlotta...
The phrase 'peoples Assembly' is cropping up more and more these days. Are they going to start putting up their own candidates? Could they turn into a sort of lefty UKIP?
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You think they could all sit in the same room long enough to agree on a common electoral platform without accusing each other of trying to control the overall group?taffys said:
The phrase 'peoples Assembly' is cropping up more and more these days. Are they going to start putting up their own candidates? Could they turn into a sort of lefty UKIP?
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The Peoples assembly should combine with Republicans and Common Purpose
Common Republican Assembly of People and Purpose
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CRAPP?TGOHF said:The Peoples assembly should combine with Republicans and Common Purpose
Common Republican Assembly of People and Purpose
Surely people might mistake them for Ed Miliband?0 -
Only after they'd called him David first.TheScreamingEagles said:
CRAPP?TGOHF said:The Peoples assembly should combine with Republicans and Common Purpose
Common Republican Assembly of People and Purpose
Surely people might mistake them for Ed Miliband?0 -
"Julie Bailey, founder of the Cure the NHS campaign group which exposed failures at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust has ceased trading at her business in Stafford and will leave the town.
“I am having to leave my home, my livelihood and my friends because a few misinformed local political activists have fuelled a hate campaign based on proven lies. The final straw for me was the desecration of my mum’s grave.”
http://www.hsj.co.uk/5060185.article0 -
On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.0
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What kind of moustache?edmundintokyo said:On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.
I'd vote for him if he had a handlebar 'tasche.0 -
"THE majority of Scottish businesses do not know enough about the prospect of independence to take a view on the subject, according to a comprehensive study of firms ahead of next year’s referendum.
The poll of more than 800 companies across the country by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce found that, in six out of ten cases, business representatives did not know enough details of the consequences of a Yes vote to decide whether or not they were in favour of the nation becoming independent.
Their concerns focus on issues such as taxation policy, whether Scotland would keep the pound and the country’s status as a member of the European Union.
SNP ministers have sought to demonstrate certainty around the prospect by declaring they are “crystal clear” in supporting the retention of the pound.
They also insist the question of EU membership would be resolved before the country became independent in 2016, if it votes Yes next year.
However, both cases have been challenged.
Chancellor George Osborne has declared it “unlikely” that the rest of the UK would want to share a currency, while the European Commission has stated that new states would be required to apply for membership to the EU, prompting questions over what terms an independent Scotland would negotiate."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-independence-business-greater-clarity-call-1-29746860 -
He'd look like Freddie Mercury in a Bert wig.edmundintokyo said:On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.
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If Ed Miliband got himself one of those toothbrush moustaches and combed his hair differently, he'd save the producers of those godawful Downfall spoofs a lot of time and effort.0
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As a lefty LoTo he should have a Lenin style one with beard - after he becomes PM he can let it grow into a full Stalin.TheScreamingEagles said:
What kind of moustache?edmundintokyo said:On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.
I'd vote for him if he had a handlebar 'tasche.
His father would be proud.
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Got a bit bored of Mr Hodges column but he is still capable of the odd witticism:CarlottaVance said:Dan Hodges:
"Let the mad Left have a General Strike. It'll keep them happy and the rest of us will get a nice long weekend."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100223340/let-the-mad-left-have-a-general-strike-itll-keep-them-happy-and-the-rest-of-us-will-get-a-nice-long-weekend/
"In fact, it became such a ritual it was a bit like attending a meeting of General Strikers Anonymous. “Hi, I’m Mark Serwotka, and I’m a striker. I haven’t had a General Strike since 1926.” “Hi, Mark.”
Excellent.0 -
The first few Downfall spoofs were great.antifrank said:If Ed Miliband got himself one of those toothbrush moustaches and combed his hair differently, he'd save the producers of those godawful Downfall spoofs a lot of time and effort.
My fave, the Glasgow East one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n19-iAuLwQo0 -
The Telegraph - with a flattering (quite old) photo of Tom Hanks, and a less flattering photo of Osborne:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10140786/George-Osborne-or-Tom-Hanks-Voters-confuse-senior-politicians-with-celebrities.html
More recent Hanks: http://topnews.in/files/Tom-Hanks101.jpg0 -
How can you confuse Hanks with Osborne? I mean, who on earth are these people that were interviewed for the poll?CarlottaVance said:The Telegraph - with a flattering (quite old) photo of Tom Hanks, and a less flattering photo of Osborne:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10140786/George-Osborne-or-Tom-Hanks-Voters-confuse-senior-politicians-with-celebrities.html
More recent Hanks: http://topnews.in/files/Tom-Hanks101.jpg0 -
Precisely. Forrest Gump was more successful than Osborne ever was ;-)Sunil_Prasannan said:
How can you confuse Hanks with Osborne? I mean, who on earth are these people that were interviewed for the poll?CarlottaVance said:The Telegraph - with a flattering (quite old) photo of Tom Hanks, and a less flattering photo of Osborne:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10140786/George-Osborne-or-Tom-Hanks-Voters-confuse-senior-politicians-with-celebrities.html
More recent Hanks: http://topnews.in/files/Tom-Hanks101.jpg0 -
It only really works with Brown - both Blair & Cameron are of too sunny a disposition - and fun tho it is to poke fun at Salmond, it doesn't ring 'true' like Brown:TheScreamingEagles said:
The first few Downfall spoofs were great.antifrank said:If Ed Miliband got himself one of those toothbrush moustaches and combed his hair differently, he'd save the producers of those godawful Downfall spoofs a lot of time and effort.
My fave, the Glasgow East one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va6r5Ez-VF8
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A piece that will be of no interest to 95% of PB Tories since nowhere does it say Ed is crap. Interesting nonetheless.
'Ed Miliband Adviser Stewart Wood On Austerity, Europe And Nigel Farage
Does the peer personally support an in/out EU referendum? In theory? There’s a very long pause. “I don’t think you can have a view on that without the date, actually.” He pauses again. The division bell sounds. He continues: “We are already committed to having a referendum if there is a treaty change. But I think, given the state of economic certainty in this country but also in the Eurozone, the right thing to do is to wait till the election [to make a decision].”
But it is conceivable that Labour could offer a referendum, right? “It’s conceivable because we are going to make up our minds before the next election when we have a manifesto to put to the British people.”'
http://tinyurl.com/pukuyj30 -
Surprised OGH isn't pointing out his winning tweet on this bet - 3/1
http://www.cityam.com/blog/ladbrokes-pay-out-3-1-over-anas-sarwars-jeffrey-osborne-jibe0 -
He already hasScrapheap_as_was said:Surprised OGH isn't pointing out his winning tweet on this bet - 3/1
http://www.cityam.com/blog/ladbrokes-pay-out-3-1-over-anas-sarwars-jeffrey-osborne-jibe
Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB 35m
On behalf of punters who took the Ladbrokes 3/1 that Osbo would be called Jeffrey in the Commons I thank LAB's Anas Sarwar0 -
Lord Wood is a thoughtful chap.Theuniondivvie said:A piece that will be of no interest to 95% of PB Tories since nowhere does it say Ed is crap. Interesting nonetheless.
'Ed Miliband Adviser Stewart Wood On Austerity, Europe And Nigel Farage
Does the peer personally support an in/out EU referendum? In theory? There’s a very long pause. “I don’t think you can have a view on that without the date, actually.” He pauses again. The division bell sounds. He continues: “We are already committed to having a referendum if there is a treaty change. But I think, given the state of economic certainty in this country but also in the Eurozone, the right thing to do is to wait till the election [to make a decision].”
But it is conceivable that Labour could offer a referendum, right? “It’s conceivable because we are going to make up our minds before the next election when we have a manifesto to put to the British people.”'
http://tinyurl.com/pukuyj3
Ed Miliband is always of interest to us Tories.
We're more than likely to have Ed as PM when you've become Independent.
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I stand corrected!
Mike Smithson@MSmithsonPB35m
On behalf of punters who took the Ladbrokes 3/1 that Osbo would be called Jeffrey in the Commons I thank LAB's Anas Sarwar0 -
Part of Ed's problem is that he does not really have a face that looks threatening, or even intimidating. I've just been through Google Images and cannot find any where I can imagine, with a little snarl, he would look in any way hawkish, yet alone dangerous.Alanbrooke said:
He'd look like Freddie Mercury in a Bert wig.edmundintokyo said:On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.
I can imagine Gordon Brown as the head of a Glaswegian mafia family, kneecapping potential rivals in ice-cream wars; he can have that look. Indeed, being in charge of the Labour party is probably a bit like being the head of a Glaswegian mafia family...
Like this one, where I could just imagine him saying: "I will crush you..."
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/article6784444.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/Gordon+Brown
But Ed just doesn't seem to have a *steely* look; indeed, he can look rather wimpish. This was the best I could find of Ed: http://www.leftfootforward.org/images/2013/06/Ed-Miliband-face.png
Cameron doesn't really have it either, although I can imagine him as the head of a corporate supergiant asset-stripping the world: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/David_Cameron_at_the_37th_G8_Summit_in_Deauville_104.jpg
As for Clegg...
God knows what effect, if any, this has on the electorate.
(Edit: typos)0 -
It's the problem of metrosexual party leaders none of them look particularly fit for the job. And yet the happiest smiliest of the bunch TB wasn't afraid of a bit of carpet bombing when it suited.JosiasJessop said:
Part of Ed's problem is that he does not really have a face that looks threatening, or even intimidating. I've just been through Google Images and cannot find any where I can imagine, with a little snarl, he would look in any way hawkish, yet alone dangerous.Alanbrooke said:
He'd look like Freddie Mercury in a Bert wig.edmundintokyo said:On topic, I was watching Ed Miliband on the youtube today and I thought he'd look better with a moustache. Nobody would mistake him for David Miliband or Bert from Sesame Street if he had a moustache.
I can imagine Gordon Brown as the head of a Glaswegian mafia family, kneecapping potential rivals in ice-cream wars; he can have that look. Indeed, being in charge of the Labour party is probably a bit like being the head of a Glaswegian mafia family...
Like this one, where I could just imagine him saying: "I will crush you..."
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/article6784444.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/Gordon+Brown
But Ed just doesn't seem to have a *steely* look; indeed, he can look rather wimpish. This was the best I could find of Ed: http://www.leftfootforward.org/images/2013/06/Ed-Miliband-face.png
Cameron doesn't really have it either, although I can imagine him as the head of a corporate supergiant asset-stripping the world: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/David_Cameron_at_the_37th_G8_Summit_in_Deauville_104.jpg
As for Cleg...
God knows what effect, if any, this has on the electorate.0 -
And yet the happiest smiliest of the bunch TB wasn't afraid of a bit of carpet bombing when it suited.
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.0 -
The similarity is just uncanny isn't it? http://www.sesamestreet.org/muppets/bert0
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I make this the best five-poll average lead over Labour (-7.2) from YouGov the Tories have had since April 2012.0
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It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
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Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.0 -
You'd think there must be some recordings involving calls to government figures as well? I wonder if there are and they're going to drip-feed it.Neil said:More unbelievable tape recordings for those who enjoyed yesterday's installment from Anglo Irish Bank's executives:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0625/458631-anglo-tapes/0 -
The appropriate term if that was what happened would be "dim-witted moronic gullible cretinous idiocy", but in reality I doubt that's how it went down.TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.0 -
a) you have all the information and intelligence, therefore on a matter of such importance we have no other intelligence to disagree so we vote for.edmundintokyo said:
The appropriate term if that was what happened would be "dim-witted moronic gullible cretinous idiocy", but in reality I doubt that's how it went down.TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.
b) you have all the information and intelligence but we don't believe you so we vote against.
Of the two responses, only one is possible. And it's not the latter. No matter what you "knew" then or "know" now.0 -
If (a) then can you explain why Douglas Hurd, David Howell, Douglas Hogg and the various other Tory backbenchers/Lords who had previously served in the FCO opposed the war?TOPPING said:
a) you have all the information and intelligence, therefore on a matter of such importance we have no other intelligence to disagree so we vote for.edmundintokyo said:
The appropriate term if that was what happened would be "dim-witted moronic gullible cretinous idiocy", but in reality I doubt that's how it went down.TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.
b) you have all the information and intelligence but we don't believe you so we vote against.
Of the two responses, only one is possible. And it's not the latter. No matter what you "knew" then or "know" now.0 -
So how come the LibDems and many Labour people (and even a few Tories) voted against War?TOPPING said:
a) you have all the information and intelligence, therefore on a matter of such importance we have no other intelligence to disagree so we vote for.edmundintokyo said:
The appropriate term if that was what happened would be "dim-witted moronic gullible cretinous idiocy", but in reality I doubt that's how it went down.TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.
b) you have all the information and intelligence but we don't believe you so we vote against.
Of the two responses, only one is possible. And it's not the latter. No matter what you "knew" then or "know" now.0 -
Oh, I agree it's an all heat and no light subject. However every time the persistent meme is repeated on here that it's entirely a problem for a previous Labour government, the Labour party and Labour supporters, I can't resist a prod. In fact, I consider it an obligation...TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?
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I thought you were SNP, not LabourTheuniondivvie said:
Oh, I agree it's an all heat and no light subject. However every time the persistent meme is repeated on here that it's entirely a problem for a previous Labour government, the Labour party and Labour supporters, I can't resist a prod. In fact, I consider it an obligation...TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we? 0 -
they may have adopted b) and that's fine. But for HMO to oppose plans to go to war when they are being told by HMG that there is a credible threat is not tenable.Charles said:
If (a) then can you explain why Douglas Hurd, David Howell, Douglas Hogg and the various other Tory backbenchers/Lords who had previously served in the FCO opposed the war?TOPPING said:
a) you have all the information and intelligence, therefore on a matter of such importance we have no other intelligence to disagree so we vote for.edmundintokyo said:
The appropriate term if that was what happened would be "dim-witted moronic gullible cretinous idiocy", but in reality I doubt that's how it went down.TOPPING said:
Oh god we're not here again are we?Theuniondivvie said:
It must really please Conservative supporters that their parliamentary party was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and venal.taffys said:
Blair was Dubya's b8tch. Carpet bombing was the least he could do.
It must really please labour supporters and their most successful leader electorally was the craven lackey of a man they consider both evil and stupid.
How well do you think parliament would operate under the Jeremy Paxman "why are these lying b*****ds lying to me" principle? Crazy as it was, the current PM made a statement in the HoC and the Opposition believed him.
Madness, I agree.
b) you have all the information and intelligence but we don't believe you so we vote against.
Of the two responses, only one is possible. And it's not the latter. No matter what you "knew" then or "know" now.
As for @Sunil, they I suspect they are pacifists and good luck to them but being a pacifist requires agreeing (or not agreeing) to specific courses of action in the face of various threats of and actual violence. Or to put it another way, there is little to which such people think violence is an approrpriate response.0 -
Pointing out that the two main governing parties of the UK are duplicitous, war-mongering, craven lickers of US neo-con bottoms is entirely consistent with that.Sunil_Prasannan said:
I thought you were SNP, not Labour
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'Hollywood actor Brian Cox to be voice of Duggy Dug'
Acclaimed Holywood actor, Brian Cox, is to be the voice behind the new cartoon character Duggy Dug it can be revealed.
The Dundee born filmstar, famous for his roles in the Jason Bourne trilogy and Planet of the Apes, will be the voice of Newsnet Scotland's radical new cartoon creation, which is based on a highland terrier.
The project, a collaboration involving a professional artist, animator and filmmaker, will see Duggy explore some of the key issues of the independence debate in a humorous and informative mix that will both entertain and educate.
Duggy Dug, is a scruffy yet likeable old Scotttish terrier whose eyesight isn't the best - but who uses his nose to sniff out fact from fiction as he wanders through some of the more controversial areas of the debate, wisecracking along the way...
Commenting, Brian Cox said: "One of the most effective ways to combat fear is through humour.
"If we can provide a few laughs, at the same time as showing just how ridiculous some of the anti-independence scare stories actually are then it can only help.
"I think Duggy Dug has the potential to inject a bit of fun into the referendum debate, and that's surely good thing."
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/referendum/7639-holywood-actor-brian-cox-to-be-voice-of-duggy-dug0 -
So how come the LibDems and many Labour people (and even a few Tories) voted against War?
Labour trusted their leader less than the tories did?
I wonder what IDS thinks now. Imagine he'd led his troops into the anti-lobby......0 -
The opposition isn't allowed to oppose a war if the government says there's a credible threat? WTF?TOPPING said:they may have adopted b) and that's fine. But for HMO to oppose plans to go to war when they are being told by HMG that there is a credible threat is not tenable.
There may be parliamentary conventions against saying, "Since I don't have cornflakes for brains, I'm not going to take the word of a lying scumbag like the Prime Minister". But they have plenty of other ways of saying it.
The Tory leadership supported the war because they... supported the war.0 -
Duugy Dug :-0
![[Deleted User]](https://wd.vanillicon.com/d2ea526b1b06ed109333f390c7ae956b_100.png)
