politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The latest state of play in the battle to become LAB leader
politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The latest state of play in the battle to become LAB leader
Guido tally of MP declarations for LAB leadership now has Yvette ahead of Burnham
http://t.co/YUOSqBh0ux pic.twitter.com/hUbOBrfDHv
Comments
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The Cooper price is bizarre.
Mind you I said the same about the Lab majority price a few months ago.0 -
Betfair odds:
Burnham 2.12
Kendall 2.7
Cooper 7.2
Creagh 48
Matched: £333,861
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/#/politics/market/1.1039468860 -
Cooper vs Kendall in London, bit more Burnam outside the Smoke.TheScreamingEagles said:The Cooper price is bizarre.
Mind you I said the same about the Lab majority price a few months ago.0 -
fpt
Been away for 24 hrs so not read the comments, but looking back at the polls, what is remarkable is that Messina knew the polls were rubbish, Labour thought the Tories were screwed by the ground game (see IOS) but then we now know Labour were hiding the truth from their own supporters, whilst it would be fair to say that some .... cough cough) who had no access to polling data, knew deep down that something was very wrong.
How the hell did Labour and the Tories know what was what but the polling companies were reporting something completely different???0 -
Mitcham and Morden: Jowell/Lammy0
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Presumably the seemingly bizarre price on Cooper is based on her expected appeal to the wider membership once the 30 barrier has been crossed?0
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Will be interested to see how the BBC can possibly justify this:
https://twitter.com/andrewpolitics/status/604029382915723264
"The other side of the story". The BBC trying to imply Douglas Carswell was "asking for it". He was clearly shaken up from the experience so to include him in the tweet is quite thoughtless.0 -
What's that, a 1.9% return on the top three? Not too bad, even if it does take till the autumn.AndyJS said:Betfair odds:
Burnham 2.12
Kendall 2.7
Cooper 7.2
Creagh 48
Matched: £333,861
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/#/politics/market/1.1039468860 -
You're overthinking this. THere's no such implication, least of all Andrew Sinclair!MP_SE said:Will be interested to see how the BBC can possibly justify this:
https://twitter.com/andrewpolitics/status/604029382915723264
"The other side of the story". The BBC trying to imply Douglas Carswell was "asking for it". He was clearly shaken up from the experience so to include him in the tweet is quite thoughtless.0 -
Yeah you're right. I am most probably overthinking this. It is not like they have given a platform to lowlifes such as Dan Glass. O wait... they have.TheWhiteRabbit said:
You're overthinking this. THere's no such implication, least of all Andrew Sinclair!MP_SE said:Will be interested to see how the BBC can possibly justify this:
https://twitter.com/andrewpolitics/status/604029382915723264
"The other side of the story". The BBC trying to imply Douglas Carswell was "asking for it". He was clearly shaken up from the experience so to include him in the tweet is quite thoughtless.
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Anyone watching The Game?
Wasn't sure what to make of it at first but quite enjoying it now.0 -
Romford #1: Jowell
Old Bexley and Sidcup #2: Khan
Jowell 32
Khan 22
Lammy 8
Abbott 4
Thomas 1
Wolmar 2
Almost halfway stage.
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Ruth Davidson on QT shortly. And some others ;-)0
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Those clever people at SkyBet haven't twigged their price for Khan as candidate is the same as their price for Khan as winner of the mayoralty...0
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That's why I am not touching this market with a barge poll despite Cooper's price looking wronger than a wrong thing.TheScreamingEagles said:The Cooper price is bizarre.
Mind you I said the same about the Lab majority price a few months ago.0 -
I hope she ends up as First Minister of Scotland eventually.foxinsoxuk said:Ruth Davidson on QT shortly. And some others ;-)
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Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
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I've just changed my iPlayer settings to the Eastern region and I'm getting London news...MP_SE said:Will be interested to see how the BBC can possibly justify this:
https://twitter.com/andrewpolitics/status/604029382915723264
"The other side of the story". The BBC trying to imply Douglas Carswell was "asking for it". He was clearly shaken up from the experience so to include him in the tweet is quite thoughtless.0 -
Shush!TheWhiteRabbit said:Those clever people at SkyBet haven't twigged their price for Khan as candidate is the same as their price for Khan as winner of the mayoralty...
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I'm backing Yvette Cooper just now. That price really should close at some point, at which point I can review my options. It's the sort of bet I want to be making, even if it doesn't work out on this occasion.Alistair said:
That's why I am not touching this market with a barge poll despite Cooper's price looking wronger than a wrong thing.TheScreamingEagles said:The Cooper price is bizarre.
Mind you I said the same about the Lab majority price a few months ago.0 -
FPT re: union 'reforms'. I wonder if they might backfire in another, somewhat unexpected way. The fact is that the unions are largely emasculated as a political threat. There really is very little strike activity compared to the past, however much the tories try to conjure up images of the 70s. And when there are strikes they are often poorly supported. They are easily characterised from the low turnouts in ballots as not carrying the support of their members. And yet... could the new threshold rules potentially turn them into a serious political threat? There is an assumption that it will make strikes harder. But what if the response to the high thresholds is to actually increase member participation in ballots? What if strikes begin to happen with clearly demonstrated ballot box support? With higher effectiveness because members are more likely to strike when they have actually voted for it? Suddenly an easy tory bogeyman becomes a genuine political threat.0
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Wes for Liz!
(according to the map!)0 -
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/05/george-galloway-could-be-londons-nicola-sturgeon/
Great click bait headline or greatest click bait headline?0 -
The Lab Maj price was too long. So (even more) was the Con Maj price.TheScreamingEagles said:The Cooper price is bizarre.
Mind you I said the same about the Lab majority price a few months ago.
Or, to put it another way, the markets were over-confident that they had it right, and were underestimating the uncertainty. At least in the case of the GE there was polling evidence to support the market view. There's no such evidence (apart from one voodoo LabourList poll) in the Lab leader market.0 -
FPT:
I was sceptical, but it's actually a lot of fun. I like the gimmick where the lead picks up on personality traits of the 'victim of the week' (due to eating their brains) and so gets some versatile acting in, and some funny moments.Dair said:
Should ratings only work based on the absolute attraction of the female star, then iZombie would be the highest rated show on TV (and even without that it deserves to be).MTimT said:@ Dair "Somehow it has been one of the hit shows of this season."
Accreditable entirely to Ms McPhee, methinks. However, she is insufficient to prevent me from changing the channel in super quick time.
Awkward. That's one of my favourite TV shows. I still get angry that it was renewed for its final season, then the writer's strike happened, and it was cancelled.Plato said:I have a bit of masochistic tendency with crap TV and after enduring all of Bloodline on Netflix [that made drying paint look action packed], I'm now trying The 4400.
Golly what a ridiculous show. The acting/script just gets more dire and painfully cliched as it goes on. The plot is visible from space. How it managed to get to four seasons is beyond me. And it was nominated for a handful of Primetime Emmys. WTF?Tim_B said:
All in good fun I assure you, I like crime procedurals, and you do have to accept certain things to get through them. It's just at some point, however many years in, certain patterns become so repeated my suspension of disbelief falls and I cannot watch it. How soon it happens depends on how good the show is and how ridiculous the show is.Flightpathl said:If the police were clever in TV serials they would be over in the first 5 minutes. So stop complaining, it's the viewer, you, they are keeping entertained.
That show 'Lie to Me' I just couldn't take seriously - it's all about a behavioural expert being able to pick up on verbal and visual cues that people cannot control to spot when they are lying...except it's a tv show, so obviously people can fake those cues (they zoom in on them and stuff), so mentally i cannot accept it.
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Cooper's timing it right, not causing a fuss or annoying anyone, has the experience factor. Always thought she was more impressive the Mr Cooper.0
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I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.0
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Quite few old stalwarts of the procedural genre are on the way out or are already gone, the people demand a replacement. In keeping with a lot of shows beginning caricatured, rather than building to it, that seems prevalent the last few years, Scorpion is fitting that bill at present.MTimT said:@ Dair "Somehow it has been one of the hit shows of this season."
Accreditable entirely to Ms McPhee, methinks.
Is her defection to the SNP imminent?AndyJS said:
I hope she ends up as First Minister of Scotland eventually.foxinsoxuk said:Ruth Davidson on QT shortly. And some others ;-)
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I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant, and you might not be one of the lucky ones anyway?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
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I guess we'll find out how many of the LD MPs were true believers. I wonder if it's about 25-30% like the LD vote turned out to be.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant, and you might not be one of the lucky ones anyway?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
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Driving dangerously has never been taken seriously by the judicial system.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-329194600 -
That is my take also.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
2020 is shaping up to be a critically important election in the south west. Three different progressive parties will all be jockeying to become front runner on the left side of local politics. The Lib Dems have the history in the area but look shot. Labour have the national profile but locally have been disorganised for years. The Greens are the new kids on the block and have enthusiasm, a growing vote share but no track record.
UKIP's performance is an essential component also. If the None Of The Above vote deserts them, the Lib Dems and the Greens in particular will be hoping to profit. Equally, if UKIP prosper, the resolution of the battle on the left may be left in doubt for another five years.
I have no idea which of the three is likely to prevail. In the absence of incumbency to help them in sufficient seats, it's hard to see the Lib Dems pulling it off. Anyway, the Conservatives can reasonably hope that 2020 will deliver almost all of the seats in the south west to them again.0 -
Indeed, but that's more than driving dangerously.OblitusSumMe said:
Driving dangerously has never been taken seriously by the judicial system.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-329194600 -
The starting point for even the highest level of culpability is 8 years.Richard_Nabavi said:
Indeed, but that's more than driving dangerously.OblitusSumMe said:
Driving dangerously has never been taken seriously by the judicial system.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/death_by_dangerous_driving/
But if you mean why the guidelines are what they are... I'd agree it is rather low.0 -
But if you compare it to a murder there is a lack of intent to kill. I also suspect that it's not punished so severely because the dangerous driver is also putting their own life at risk.Richard_Nabavi said:
Indeed, but that's more than driving dangerously.OblitusSumMe said:
Driving dangerously has never been taken seriously by the judicial system.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
I'm sure someone else will understand the differences more than I, but naively I would have thought a conviction of manslaughter would be appropriate in a case like this, and I think manslaughter generally carries longer sentences than causing death by dangerous driving.0 -
I think that most of the 2015 LibDem losses will become safe Conservative or Labour seats. They were painstakingly won in by-elections or as part of the 1997 Tory collapse, and held by incumbency, personal votes and a hell of a lot of local street-by-street work. Even so the LibDem majorities were gradually being eroded. Now that the thread has been broken, I can't see them tying it back together any more than the Three Norns could do.antifrank said:I have no idea which of the three is likely to prevail. In the absence of incumbency to help them in sufficient seats, it's hard to see the Lib Dems pulling it off. Anyway, the Conservatives can reasonably hope that 2020 will deliver almost all of the seats in the south west to them again.
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I'm piling in on Cooper. I've rarely lost money trusting Henry's instincts.0
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I wonder if the Greens might seize the opportunity caused by the Lib Dems' collapse and move a bit more to the centre economically. There's surely still a sizeable middle-class vote, especially in the south-west, who have distaste for the Tories and want to feel morally righteous about voting for a "progressive" party, but who snobbishly turn their nose up at a "working-class" party like Labour (to the extent it's still perceived as such).antifrank said:
That is my take also.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
2020 is shaping up to be a critically important election in the south west. Three different progressive parties will all be jockeying to become front runner on the left side of local politics. The Lib Dems have the history in the area but look shot. Labour have the national profile but locally have been disorganised for years. The Greens are the new kids on the block and have enthusiasm, a growing vote share but no track record.
UKIP's performance is an essential component also. If the None Of The Above vote deserts them, the Lib Dems and the Greens in particular will be hoping to profit. Equally, if UKIP prosper, the resolution of the battle on the left may be left in doubt for another five years.
I have no idea which of the three is likely to prevail. In the absence of incumbency to help them in sufficient seats, it's hard to see the Lib Dems pulling it off. Anyway, the Conservatives can reasonably hope that 2020 will deliver almost all of the seats in the south west to them again.0 -
I don't think Greens think like that.Danny565 said:
I wonder if the Greens might seize the opportunity caused by the Lib Dems' collapse and move a bit more to the centre economically. There's surely still a sizeable middle-class vote, especially in the south-west, who have distaste for the Tories and want to feel morally righteous about voting for a "progressive" party, but who snobbishly turn their nose up at a "working-class" party like Labour (to the extent it's still perceived as such).antifrank said:
That is my take also.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
2020 is shaping up to be a critically important election in the south west. Three different progressive parties will all be jockeying to become front runner on the left side of local politics. The Lib Dems have the history in the area but look shot. Labour have the national profile but locally have been disorganised for years. The Greens are the new kids on the block and have enthusiasm, a growing vote share but no track record.
UKIP's performance is an essential component also. If the None Of The Above vote deserts them, the Lib Dems and the Greens in particular will be hoping to profit. Equally, if UKIP prosper, the resolution of the battle on the left may be left in doubt for another five years.
I have no idea which of the three is likely to prevail. In the absence of incumbency to help them in sufficient seats, it's hard to see the Lib Dems pulling it off. Anyway, the Conservatives can reasonably hope that 2020 will deliver almost all of the seats in the south west to them again.
There are plenty of working class people in the West Country. A Kendallite party would win votes there, not at all sure that Burnham or Cooper would.0 -
The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (the most serious offence to which he pleaded guilty) is fourteen years imprisonment (see the table in Part I of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988). The offender pleaded guilty, entitling him to a discount of a third depending on when he chose to plead guilty. All the offences to which he pleaded guilty arose out of the same incident, so there is no room for consecutive sentencing. It does seem very difficult, however, to justify a sentence of less than ten years' imprisonment for this offence. It may be that the Attorney General applies to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) for leave to refers this sentence to that court under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, s. 36.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
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I've never really noticed a snobbish distaste against voting Labour in my area of the SW - indeed, the areas which do vote LD tend to be the more working class ones - just that it's not something people did in this area if they weren't Tories, at least not anymore. I think a credible Labour leader could shore Labour up as the natural second place (depending on what happens to the UKIP vote) and then the LDs truly are dead.Danny565 said:
I wonder if the Greens might seize the opportunity caused by the Lib Dems' collapse and move a bit more to the centre economically. There's surely still a sizeable middle-class vote, especially in the south-west, who have distaste for the Tories and want to feel morally righteous about voting for a "progressive" party, but who snobbishly turn their nose up at a "working-class" party like Labour (to the extent it's still perceived as such).antifrank said:
ain.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
Although I'm not sure how that helps Labour any in the short or medium term at least. They only hold a few seats now, and won't even be in contention for most of the rest in the SW, and without any recent history in the area either, so what good does replacing the LDs as second place do them, other than the general help of cementing the end of the LDs as a force forever (rather than say 10-20 years) and so reducing the LD impact in more Lab friendly areas in a very loose sense by limiting their national impact?
If the LDs can manage to revive they definitely won't be siding with the Tories, and even now they seem to have the better chance down here (unlike most of England outside the cities, they actually held on to second in a fair few SW seats, even if they did drop to 3rd and 4th in plenty even down here), so it might be better for Lab if the LDs did recover in this region, as I cannot see them breaking through in any meaningful way.0 -
My biggest green too right now, others have her even bigger backed.Lucian_Fletcher said:I'm piling in on Cooper. I've rarely lost money trusting Henry's instincts.
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Why was he jailed? He's an Pakistani Male from Rochdale, he should be freed immediately! #racistRichard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
If you don't agree you're racist.0 -
http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-should-liberal-democrats-accept-defeat-and-join-the-two-main-parties-46144.html
'Liz Kendall is a leader that I and many Liberal Democrats could support' - Opinion piece from a Lib Dem voter.0 -
The Spectator. The great bastion of Toryism are letting Damian McBride do an OpEd. Shows how scared the Westminster Bubble is of the SNP. Go get em Niki.Alistair said:http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/05/george-galloway-could-be-londons-nicola-sturgeon/
Great click bait headline or greatest click bait headline?0 -
Sanity reigns - the United States Soccer Federation head honcho just announced he will vote for Prince Ali and not Blatter0
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I think iZombie is the most fun I've had on a TV show since Reign. And that's while really enjoying Arrow and Flash. iZombie really does kill it for a TV show. The writing is immaculate.kle4 said:I was sceptical, but it's actually a lot of fun. I like the gimmick where the lead picks up on personality traits of the 'victim of the week' (due to eating their brains) and so gets some versatile acting in, and some funny moments.
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Though the author does not want to switch power.williamglenn said:http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-should-liberal-democrats-accept-defeat-and-join-the-two-main-parties-46144.html
'Liz Kendall is a leader that I and many Liberal Democrats could support' - Opinion piece from a Lib Dem voter.
Liz Kendall's mum was an LD Councillor. I suspect that on many policies Liz is closer to the LDs than she is to Unite. Liz is too ambitious to be a LibDem, which is surely part of how she came to bd Labour.
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From the guy who did Veronica Mars I believe? I loved that show too, for similar reasons that you mention.Dair said:
I think iZombie is the most fun I've had on a TV show since Reign. And that's while really enjoying Arrow and Flash. iZombie really does kill it for a TV show. The writing is immaculate.kle4 said:I was sceptical, but it's actually a lot of fun. I like the gimmick where the lead picks up on personality traits of the 'victim of the week' (due to eating their brains) and so gets some versatile acting in, and some funny moments.
Good night all.
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I've been waiting to watch Veronica Mars for years and have it on tap downloaded. Still not got there. I suspect from iZombie I might enjoy it.kle4 said:
From the guy who did Veronica Mars I believe? I loved that show too, for similar reasons that you mention.Dair said:
I think iZombie is the most fun I've had on a TV show since Reign. And that's while really enjoying Arrow and Flash. iZombie really does kill it for a TV show. The writing is immaculate.kle4 said:I was sceptical, but it's actually a lot of fun. I like the gimmick where the lead picks up on personality traits of the 'victim of the week' (due to eating their brains) and so gets some versatile acting in, and some funny moments.
Good night all.0 -
Should not the experience factor be her problem?kle4 said:Cooper's timing it right, not causing a fuss or annoying anyone, has the experience factor. Always thought she was more impressive the Mr Cooper.
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FIFA - the Canadian federation will also vote for Prince Ali. Numbers apparently still favor Blatter.0
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Portillo's verdict was that the only candidate the Tories feared was Chuka Umunna.0
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEryAoLfnAATim_B said:Sanity reigns - the United States Soccer Federation head honcho just announced he will vote for Prince Ali and not Blatter
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Before Labour selects a leader it has to decide what it's strategy should be.
They lost the election because the young were too bored to vote and the old too scared of the SNP into voting Tory in droves.
Labour needs a leader that knows how to get rid of the SNP or at least ban the SNP from coalitions or propping governments for ransom.
If the SNP is removed as a threat either electorally or by law then the old will not be so scared into voting Tory the next time.
Basically the SNP is a type of militant tendency that needs to be confronted and thrown out.0 -
The problem is that the Cleggite types do not think that mid-teens is irrelevant. Holding on to the balance is what they dream of. So Tory 310 would suit them fine or whatever it would be in a 600 member parliament.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant, and you might not be one of the lucky ones anyway?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
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Just count the member countries on each block, the western block is solidly anti-Blatter, the rest are pro-Blatter because of all the perks that Blatter gives them.Tim_B said:FIFA - the Canadian federation will also vote for Prince Ali. Numbers apparently still favor Blatter.
I think the score so far is Ali 40-60, Blatter 150-170.
The African associations are solidly pro-Blatter and they have 56 out of the 209 associations in FIFA.
Goodnight.0 -
The woman who came up with HIPS.... really impressive policy-making there. That is not the sort of experience I look for.Flightpathl said:
Should not the experience factor be her problem?kle4 said:Cooper's timing it right, not causing a fuss or annoying anyone, has the experience factor. Always thought she was more impressive the Mr Cooper.
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I wonder whether the US will indict Blatter before or after the election? I have a feeling it is only a matter of time.Speedy said:
Just count the member countries on each block, the western block is solidly anti-Blatter, the rest are pro-Blatter because of all the perks that Blatter gives them.Tim_B said:FIFA - the Canadian federation will also vote for Prince Ali. Numbers apparently still favor Blatter.
I think the score so far is Ali 40-60, Blatter 150-170.
The African associations are solidly pro-Blatter and they have 56 out of the 209 associations in FIFA.
Goodnight.0 -
I'm sure that Blatter, like Putin, makes sure that nothing corrupt happens in his own name or his own accounts. It will be interesting to see if they do indict him.oxfordsimon said:
I wonder whether the US will indict Blatter before or after the election? I have a feeling it is only a matter of time.Speedy said:
Just count the member countries on each block, the western block is solidly anti-Blatter, the rest are pro-Blatter because of all the perks that Blatter gives them.Tim_B said:FIFA - the Canadian federation will also vote for Prince Ali. Numbers apparently still favor Blatter.
I think the score so far is Ali 40-60, Blatter 150-170.
The African associations are solidly pro-Blatter and they have 56 out of the 209 associations in FIFA.
Goodnight.0 -
I'm sure he has been careful - but people are going to cut deals in return for information. Blatter is almost certain to win - but I am equally certain that someone will squeal with enough to get him indicted.williamglenn said:
I'm sure that Blatter, like Putin, makes sure that nothing corrupt happens in his own name or his own accounts. It will be interesting to see if they do indict him.oxfordsimon said:
I wonder whether the US will indict Blatter before or after the election? I have a feeling it is only a matter of time.Speedy said:
Just count the member countries on each block, the western block is solidly anti-Blatter, the rest are pro-Blatter because of all the perks that Blatter gives them.Tim_B said:FIFA - the Canadian federation will also vote for Prince Ali. Numbers apparently still favor Blatter.
I think the score so far is Ali 40-60, Blatter 150-170.
The African associations are solidly pro-Blatter and they have 56 out of the 209 associations in FIFA.
Goodnight.
At the end of the day, the money flowing into FIFA from sponsorship deals can very quickly be diverted into a replacement body set up by those who wish to promote football rather than their own interests. When key footballing nations walk away from Blatter and his cronies and set up New FIFA, will the money follow the key European and South American countries? Of course it will.
Blatter's days are numbered. It will be a matter of whether he spends some of those days awaiting trial...0 -
http://m.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32921315
It's almost as if they haven't had any SNP members before.... oh wait. Idiots.0 -
Betfair has a stack of cash queued for Liz Kendall, which may stop her price drifting too far. No doubt this is from genuine punters.0
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EuroRef:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/11636916/France-accuses-David-Cameron-of-trying-to-dismantle-European-Union.htmlIt follows reports that France and Germany have agreed a pact which will enable closer integration in Europe without treaty change, in a significant blow to Mr Cameron's plans.
Clearly some new usage of the word "fair" to which I hadn't previously been exposed.
It has also emerged that Mr Cameron will be able to use the full weight of the the government to support his campaign for Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
During the run up to the referendum on Scottish independence, the government was banned from publishing material that argued "for or against any outcome".
The EU referendum bill, however, makes clear that restrictions on publishing "promotional material" will not apply in the run up to the historic vote.0 -
The main reason the older voter avoids Labour is not because of the SNP -as ever it was the economy stupid. EdMs lack of credibility here was the key factor.Speedy said:Before Labour selects a leader it has to decide what it's strategy should be.
They lost the election because the young were too bored to vote and the old too scared of the SNP into voting Tory in droves.
Labour needs a leader that knows how to get rid of the SNP or at least ban the SNP from coalitions or propping governments for ransom.
If the SNP is removed as a threat either electorally or by law then the old will not be so scared into voting Tory the next time.
Basically the SNP is a type of militant tendency that needs to be confronted and thrown out.0 -
How did he get a hire car without a driving licence? On the other hand it was stated he was driving without insurance, is that possible in a hire car? I know you can adjust waivers to the minimum but there is always an element of insurance in the deal. More to the story I think.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
Meanwhile I still think he should have got life. When people do that I see the car as a weapon, death is very likely and the weapon is no different to a gun or a knife. Sadly this scumbag with good behaviour could be out and carrying on with his life just in time to vote in person at the local polling station in the EU referendum.0 -
On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?0 -
Pigs will be flying before that is ever likely to be even a very remote possibilityAndyJS said:
I hope she ends up as First Minister of Scotland eventually.foxinsoxuk said:Ruth Davidson on QT shortly. And some others ;-)
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Get this nutjob a strait jacket and get him where he belongs , seriously needs help.felix said:
The main reason the older voter avoids Labour is not because of the SNP -as ever it was the economy stupid. EdMs lack of credibility here was the key factor.Speedy said:Before Labour selects a leader it has to decide what it's strategy should be.
They lost the election because the young were too bored to vote and the old too scared of the SNP into voting Tory in droves.
Labour needs a leader that knows how to get rid of the SNP or at least ban the SNP from coalitions or propping governments for ransom.
If the SNP is removed as a threat either electorally or by law then the old will not be so scared into voting Tory the next time.
Basically the SNP is a type of militant tendency that needs to be confronted and thrown out.0 -
I was of course pointing at the original post , not Felix's intelligent response.malcolmg said:
Get this nutjob a strait jacket and get him where he belongs , seriously needs help.felix said:
The main reason the older voter avoids Labour is not because of the SNP -as ever it was the economy stupid. EdMs lack of credibility here was the key factor.Speedy said:Before Labour selects a leader it has to decide what it's strategy should be.
They lost the election because the young were too bored to vote and the old too scared of the SNP into voting Tory in droves.
Labour needs a leader that knows how to get rid of the SNP or at least ban the SNP from coalitions or propping governments for ransom.
If the SNP is removed as a threat either electorally or by law then the old will not be so scared into voting Tory the next time.
Basically the SNP is a type of militant tendency that needs to be confronted and thrown out.0 -
Its a fun graphic but the only relevance of MP endorsements is to get to the green. After that the votes of MPs are no more valuable than anyone else with £3 to burn. I think we should be wary of using MP support for some kind of proxy for support in the party. That is not necessarily the case at all.
Friends in the Labour party I have spoken to are still largely in a state of shock from the catastrophe in Scotland and the GE generally. Even those active in the party admit they know very little about either Liz Kendall or Mary Creagh. Burnham is generally thought to be a bit dull and Cooper lacking in personality. None of those I have spoken to think any of the choices is going to help them much north of the border.
Liz Kendall is generating some good publicity and favourable comment but her main attraction is undoubtedly that she is something fresh and new. Whether that will be enough to overcome name recognition issues is harder to say. Given the nature of the electorate I think this is a very hard one to call and I would respect Henry's comments about Cooper's organisation.0 -
I wondered that about the hire car. I think any insurance would have been voided by his lack of a licence.Moses_ said:
How did he get a hire car without a driving licence? On the other hand it was stated he was driving without insurance, is that possible in a hire car? I know you can adjust waivers to the minimum but there is always an element of insurance in the deal. More to the story I think.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
Meanwhile I still think he should have got life. When people do that I see the car as a weapon, death is very likely and the weapon is no different to a gun or a knife. Sadly this scumbag with good behaviour could be out and carrying on with his life just in time to vote in person at the local polling station in the EU referendum.
Agree that the sentence is too lenient, but it's consistent with sentencing for fatal driving offences in general. There have been some cases recently involving cyclists.0 -
Lol - many thanksmalcolmg said:
I was of course pointing at the original post , not Felix's intelligent response.malcolmg said:
Get this nutjob a strait jacket and get him where he belongs , seriously needs help.felix said:
The main reason the older voter avoids Labour is not because of the SNP -as ever it was the economy stupid. EdMs lack of credibility here was the key factor.Speedy said:Before Labour selects a leader it has to decide what it's strategy should be.
They lost the election because the young were too bored to vote and the old too scared of the SNP into voting Tory in droves.
Labour needs a leader that knows how to get rid of the SNP or at least ban the SNP from coalitions or propping governments for ransom.
If the SNP is removed as a threat either electorally or by law then the old will not be so scared into voting Tory the next time.
Basically the SNP is a type of militant tendency that needs to be confronted and thrown out.
0 -
I’ve just hired a car, consequent upon a delay in reparing mine. I wasn’t asked to actually produce a driving licence; I was asked if I could produce one if asked. However, I was in the service department of a dealership where I’ve been a regular customer for over 10 years. I hadn’t just walked in off the street.Moses_ said:
How did he get a hire car without a driving licence? On the other hand it was stated he was driving without insurance, is that possible in a hire car? I know you can adjust waivers to the minimum but there is always an element of insurance in the deal. More to the story I think.Richard_Nabavi said:Can anyone explain why this guy got only 6 years?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32919460
Meanwhile I still think he should have got life. When people do that I see the car as a weapon, death is very likely and the weapon is no different to a gun or a knife. Sadly this scumbag with good behaviour could be out and carrying on with his life just in time to vote in person at the local polling station in the EU referendum.
I do though, agree with Mr OblitusSumMe; driving offences resulting in fatalities seem to attract disproportionatly low sentences0 -
The past results of ex LD MPs standing again in the seat that they lost are not good. Newbury and Guildford for example.surbiton said:
The problem is that the Cleggite types do not think that mid-teens is irrelevant. Holding on to the balance is what they dream of. So Tory 310 would suit them fine or whatever it would be in a 600 member parliament.Richard_Nabavi said:
I'd have thought most, perhaps nearly all, of them will eventually drift away. Five years is a long time, and the prospect of going back to the good old days is a distant one. Why put your life on hold on the off-chance that the LibDems can inch back from 8 seats into (if they are lucky) the mid-teens, at which level they'll still be irrelevant, and you might not be one of the lucky ones anyway?antifrank said:I've been trying to keep track of what the defeated Lib Dem incumbents have decided about their political futures since 7 May. It seems a central element to the chances of a Lib Dem recovery in 2020, given the extent to which the Lib Dems stress the virtues of the individual candidate. There are relatively few who have so far made it clear that they would like to stand again in 2020. An awful lot are still considering their options, one way or another.
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I agree with Felix. While @DavidL's post is interesting, Scotland is irrelevant in the battle for power at Westminster, and if Labour are blind to that truth by the sheer scale of what happened, they run the real risk of ignoring the key message of the election.
Let's look dispassionately at Scotland. The SNP may, or may not, sustain this level of performance, and they may, or may not, take Scotland independent. However, if they dip from this level - which seems likely, because no political party can sustain such hegemony indefinitely in a democratic system - it is, the way the system is set up, just as likely to benefit the Conservatives as Labour. Let's be generous and assume Labour take 10 seats in Scotland next time. On a uniform swing replicated across Scotland, which as we all know is such a good guide to elections(!) if Labour take 10 the Tories would take around 7 Scottish seats and the Liberal Democrats around 5. So that would leave Labour a whole three to the good ahead of their main rivals.
The next election will be won and lost in England. It will not be in London and the big conurbations, where Labour already have a strong presence and can't increase their number of seats by much more. It will not be in the south, where the Tories have strengthened their grip to an extent undreamed of since 1983. It will be therefore won and lost in the semi-rural Midlands and North, where people who do not have large incomes and have no innate hostility to the NHS but at the same time want to get on in life will be voting on the basis of the party best placed to run the economy - to secure their jobs/businesses.
Therefore, if Labour have any sense, they will pick somebody who can appeal to that group, who understands it and can talk to them (rather than at them, as Labour have been doing for 10 years).
Small problem - of the four candidates so far declared, not one of them is capable of doing so. Mary Creagh is an idiot. Yvette Cooper is patronising. Andrew Burnham is tainted (and not exactly inspiring even if he wasn't). Liz Kendall would be the closest thing Labour have to such a figure, but I simply don't think she carries the intellectual guns to face whichever leader the Tories select to replace Cameron.
So what's Labour's answer? They already seem to have decided it, unofficially - a caretaker for three years to sort out some of the damage done by Miliband's disorganization and complacency, then find a proper candidate when they know who the next PM will be.
Betting opportunities - Dan Jarvis still looks worth a shot to be Labour leader before the next election. The other to keep an eye on in case Labour go for a Howard-style coronation under this scenario might still be Jon Cruddas.0 -
The first season of Veronica Mars is some of the best television you'll watch, the second season is great, the third season is a bit all over the place.Dair said:
I've been waiting to watch Veronica Mars for years and have it on tap downloaded. Still not got there. I suspect from iZombie I might enjoy it.kle4 said:
From the guy who did Veronica Mars I believe? I loved that show too, for similar reasons that you mention.Dair said:
I think iZombie is the most fun I've had on a TV show since Reign. And that's while really enjoying Arrow and Flash. iZombie really does kill it for a TV show. The writing is immaculate.kle4 said:I was sceptical, but it's actually a lot of fun. I like the gimmick where the lead picks up on personality traits of the 'victim of the week' (due to eating their brains) and so gets some versatile acting in, and some funny moments.
Good night all.0 -
Clearly some new usage of the word "fair" to which I hadn't previously been exposed.Indigo said:It follows reports that France and Germany have agreed a pact which will enable closer integration in Europe without treaty change, in a significant blow to Mr Cameron's plans.
It has also emerged that Mr Cameron will be able to use the full weight of the the government to support his campaign for Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
During the run up to the referendum on Scottish independence, the government was banned from publishing material that argued "for or against any outcome".
The EU referendum bill, however, makes clear that restrictions on publishing "promotional material" will not apply in the run up to the historic vote.
Then why did I get leaflets from the British government explaining why we were better together? Is it because they didn't explicitly say "Vote No"?0 -
If it didn't explicitly say 'vote no', and just confined itself to statistics etc. it could be passed off as an information leaflet and therefore not 'arguing for or against any outcome'.Alistair said:
Then why did I get leaflets from the British government explaining why we were better together? Is it because they didn't explicitly say "Vote No"?
Since the economic arguments were pretty clear-cut anyway, except apparently to Alex Salmond, I think they could probably have got away with that one. The EU campaign would probably be similar in that respect, even without this clause.0 -
Lets have a little laugh this morning:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3101508/It-ll-huge-Donald-Trump-reportedly-set-June-16-presidential-announcement-Trump-Tower-New-York-City.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-vEDQRJRSA
It will never be a good election result, but if the republicans nominate him it will be a historic result.0 -
Then why did I get leaflets from the British government explaining why we were better together? Is it because they didn't explicitly say "Vote No"?Alistair said:
Clearly some new usage of the word "fair" to which I hadn't previously been exposed.Indigo said:It follows reports that France and Germany have agreed a pact which will enable closer integration in Europe without treaty change, in a significant blow to Mr Cameron's plans.
It has also emerged that Mr Cameron will be able to use the full weight of the the government to support his campaign for Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
During the run up to the referendum on Scottish independence, the government was banned from publishing material that argued "for or against any outcome".
The EU referendum bill, however, makes clear that restrictions on publishing "promotional material" will not apply in the run up to the historic vote.
Because they are lying cheating toerags.0 -
With Santorum as his running mate.Speedy said:Lets have a little laugh this morning:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3101508/It-ll-huge-Donald-Trump-reportedly-set-June-16-presidential-announcement-Trump-Tower-New-York-City.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-vEDQRJRSA
It will never be a good election result, but if the republicans nominate him it will be a historic result.0 -
If anyone having thought of Trump as PResident wants another laugh, mixed perhaps with tears, perhaps they should read this as well:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/28/welsh-labour-identity-polls
Given that Leighton Andrews was forced to resign for abuse of power, then had to be brought back because all other senior Labour figures were abusing their power even more (google Alun Davies farm payments to see what I mean) and he is personally responsible for the disastrous collapse of the WElsh HE sector, the fact he is now promoting his model as one for the UK Labour party to follow means we should be very glad that Labour lost!0 -
If so then I would expect the USA to clean up its act. It was the US authorities that exposed the corruption in the Olympics bidding process.FalseFlag said:
I will believe when I see it, the US is up to its neck in the corruption scandal.Tim_B said:Sanity reigns - the United States Soccer Federation head honcho just announced he will vote for Prince Ali and not Blatter
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Winter_Olympic_bid_scandal
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The more comments like that, the better.ydoethur said:On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?0 -
It's a paradox that older voters do not say, "My son votes Labour, my grandson votes Labour so I'll vote Labour".0
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He's in denial. From his point of view, it will set an even more dangerous precedent for the EU if the UK votes to leave because of its obstinacy.ydoethur said:On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?0 -
An unfortunate side effect of the debates is that I can't read an article by a Welshman without imagining it being spoken in Leanne's accent...ydoethur said:If anyone having thought of Trump as PResident wants another laugh, mixed perhaps with tears, perhaps they should read this as well:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/28/welsh-labour-identity-polls
Given that Leighton Andrews was forced to resign for abuse of power, then had to be brought back because all other senior Labour figures were abusing their power even more (google Alun Davies farm payments to see what I mean) and he is personally responsible for the disastrous collapse of the WElsh HE sector, the fact he is now promoting his model as one for the UK Labour party to follow means we should be very glad that Labour lost!0 -
He said that Britain leaving would be bad for both Britain and Germany and may adversely impact on the 400 000 jobs in the UK with German employers. It seems a reasonable view to me:Casino_Royale said:
He's in denial. From his point of view, it will set an even more dangerous precedent for the EU if the UK votes to leave because of its obstinacy.ydoethur said:On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32925350
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Good morning, everyone.
That Andrew Sinclair tweet is a disgrace. It reminds me of when Sky's Tom Parmenter[sp] 'interviewed' three looters the day after they were robbing shops in London.
And his self-righteous 'it's freedom of speech': freedom of speech doesn't include the right to violently attack someone and then get a lovely interview on the state broadcaster.0 -
Junker is permanently half cooked !0
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It also explains why he works for their equivalent of the CBI rather than actually in business.Casino_Royale said:
He's in denial. From his point of view, it will set an even more dangerous precedent for the EU if the UK votes to leave because of its obstinacy.ydoethur said:On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?
A blanket refusal to negotiate terms with a partner who wants to amend a contractual relationship is a very very high risk strategy.0 -
And he may be right - so why is he saying that Germany should refuse to negotiate to keep Britain in the EU? It's not logical. It's not even sensible. As for the suggestion that asking the people their views is 'astonishing...'foxinsoxuk said:
He said that Britain leaving would be bad for both Britain and Germany and may adversely impact on the 400 000 jobs in the UK with German employers. It seems a reasonable view to me:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-329253500 -
Isn't the caretaker leader set-up a ruse to smooth the path for David Miliband?ydoethur said:So what's Labour's answer? They already seem to have decided it, unofficially - a caretaker for three years to sort out some of the damage done by Miliband's disorganization and complacency, then find a proper candidate when they know who the next PM will be.
Betting opportunities - Dan Jarvis still looks worth a shot to be Labour leader before the next election. The other to keep an eye on in case Labour go for a Howard-style coronation under this scenario might still be Jon Cruddas.
It gives him time to finish his contract in New York, re-enter the Commons without undue haste and perhaps even do a loyal stint in the Shadow Cabinet before being prevailed upon to take over the leadership "for the good of the Party".
Whether it could ever pan out as smoothly as his supporters would hope is open to question, but it's the only reason that makes sense to me for electing an interim leader now, rather than simply choosing their best candidate for 2020 straight away.0 -
He said that any British renegotiation would lead to re-negotiation by other countries too.ydoethur said:
And he may be right - so why is he saying that Germany should refuse to negotiate to keep Britain in the EU? It's not logical. It's not even sensible. As for the suggestion that asking the people their views is 'astonishing...'foxinsoxuk said:
He said that Britain leaving would be bad for both Britain and Germany and may adversely impact on the 400 000 jobs in the UK with German employers. It seems a reasonable view to me:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32925350
By opposing renegotiation, he is arguing that the remainder of the EU can remain on current terms (which are really good for German industry). Britain should be voting on current terms, which is much in agreement with what the BOOers say.
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So clear cut that HMG decided to waste your & my money restating them? How extravagant.ydoethur said:
Since the economic arguments were pretty clear-cut anyway, except apparently to Alex Salmond, I think they could probably have got away with that one.
They must have been disappointed that 45% of voters were also immune to the strength of their overstated arguments.
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I would have thought treating a business partner with that level of disrespect, especially publicly, is not so much 'high risk' as 'stone certainty'. I wouldn't deal with anyone who thought my views and wishes were irrelevant, or who seemed incapable of imagining that I have the right to different views from him.Charles said:
It also explains why he works for their equivalent of the CBI rather than actually in business.Casino_Royale said:
He's in denial. From his point of view, it will set an even more dangerous precedent for the EU if the UK votes to leave because of its obstinacy.ydoethur said:On the subject of the EuroRef as well, I'm flabbergasted by the stupidity of some of the comments in this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32925582
If Volker Trier was in the pay of Nigel Farage, he couldn't have come up with a more useful interview for Better off Out. What sort of idiot says that (1) a foreign country should not listen to its people and (2) that if it asks for something it should be ignored?
A blanket refusal to negotiate terms with a partner who wants to amend a contractual relationship is a very very high risk strategy.
Fortunately, Angela Merkel is not likely to be so foolish as to reject such ideas out of hand. But it does rather sum up the difficulty Britain and the EU have relating to each other - Europe simply doesn't get that by virtue of being an island, we have had a different pattern of development and therefore a different outlook from them. As a result, they seem to often resort to childish abuse more appropriate to a jilted boyfriend than reasoned discussion between equal partners.0
