But the centrism as defined by the political elites isn't the same as the general public's centre (which is further 'left' or 'right' depending on what you are looking at, eg immigration or rail nationalisation). This tension is ok when everyone feels like they are getting better off, but when they don't the cracks start to appear and the Westminster elite consensus starts to fail.
As to the general public's centre. You are right, the less well the public does, the more extreme some demands can become but as we saw (IMO) at the last election, generally the public is a sensible bunch.
Of course it's always much easier to blame an unseen "elite" or even a murky international conspiracy, not that I am saying you are doing that; I'm sure nothing could be further from your thoughts.
What we saw at the election was a historically low share of the vote for Westminster elite parties and insurgents making major ground.
PoliticsHome also understands that a special panel set up by Labour's ruling NEC to oversee exclusions is not meeting this week.
The revelation is the latest blow for Labour's trouble-hit leadership campaign and comes just over an hour before polls close.
It was also claimed last night that hundreds of non-Labour supporters will still have a say on who wins the contest, despite the party's attempts to weed them out.
Michael Dugher, who is Andy Burnham's campaign manager, said there was "no way" the party's verification process had caught everyone trying to disrupt the contest.
I wonder whether a Corbyn victory will mobilize street protests as the socialist victory did in France. It's always easier to take to the streets when there is a mainstream political party onside. But I'm not sure he's a firebrand in the Benn mould and anyway maybe too old
Isn't he a firebrand? He's certainly spoken at rallies which have later ended up in violence. Note: I am not saying that he incited the violence. But some of his supporters might well do what you suggest. He certainly seems very much more of a firebrand and in the Tony Benn mould than not. Isn't that what makes him attractive to some, after all?
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
Comrade, given your testimony you are required to produce a minimum of four children.
She has an idea in her head that they should all go to Eton.
I'm trying to dissuade her of the necessity and expense of this. We couldn't afford to send half of one child there. But she is used to a system where academic scholarships allow the cleverest to go to any school in the private or state sector that the parent chooses.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
If you want the best for bright, poor children; Grammar Schools If you want the best for unskilled british workers; leave the EU and have a points based immigration system
Rebuild National Insurance as a proper, contributory system. You pay in, you can get something out. There's lots of interesting talk about this on centre-left. For example, in some countries if you paid a decent whack into the system and you are made unemployed you can get a decent % of your salary for the first few months while you look for a similar level of job, rather than being paid a basic job seekers and told to take the first shelf stacking vacancy.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
In general I think that Eastern European migrants are very often far from left-wing, for obvious reasons, so long as the Tories don't actively try to alienate them.
But does she support the Bulgarian cricket team?
She is an unusual Bulgarian: (1) she is blond and blond Bulgarians are as rare as hen's teeth (b) she is a fervent Bulgarian monarchist, and they are in something of a minority there.
She isn't very sport obsessed but, if there is a sport she loves, it's tennis.
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
In general I think that Eastern European migrants are very often far from left-wing, for obvious reasons, so long as the Tories don't actively try to alienate them.
But does she support the Bulgarian cricket team?
She is an unusual Bulgarian: (1) she is blond and blond Bulgarians are as rare as hen's teeth (b) she is a fervent Bulgarian monarchist, and they are in something of a minority there.
She isn't very sport obsessed but, if there is a sport she loves, it's tennis.
But the centrism as defined by the political elites isn't the same as the general public's centre (which is further 'left' or 'right' depending on what you are looking at, eg immigration or rail nationalisation). This tension is ok when everyone feels like they are getting better off, but when they don't the cracks start to appear and the Westminster elite consensus starts to fail.
As to the general public's centre. You are right, the less well the public does, the more extreme some demands can become but as we saw (IMO) at the last election, generally the public is a sensible bunch.
Of course it's always much easier to blame an unseen "elite" or even a murky international conspiracy, not that I am saying you are doing that; I'm sure nothing could be further from your thoughts.
What we saw at the election was a historically low share of the vote for Westminster elite parties and insurgents making major ground.
10% at the margin. Fair enough. It's hardly mainstream.
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
In general I think that Eastern European migrants are very often far from left-wing, for obvious reasons, so long as the Tories don't actively try to alienate them.
But does she support the Bulgarian cricket team?
She is an unusual Bulgarian: (1) she is blond and blond Bulgarians are as rare as hen's teeth (b) she is a fervent Bulgarian monarchist, and they are in something of a minority there.
She isn't very sport obsessed but, if there is a sport she loves, it's tennis.
Wouldn't surprise me if Bulgaria are better than us at tennis if one looks at the rankings.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
If you want the best for bright, poor children; Grammar Schools If you want the best for unskilled british workers; leave the EU and have a points based immigration system
Rebuild National Insurance as a proper, contributory system. You pay in, you can get something out. There's lots of interesting talk about this on centre-left. For example, in some countries if you paid a decent whack into the system and you are made unemployed you can get a decent % of your salary for the first few months while you look for a similar level of job, rather than being paid a basic job seekers and told to take the first shelf stacking vacancy.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
What form would this engineering take?
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
Comrade, given your testimony you are required to produce a minimum of four children.
She has an idea in her head that they should all go to Eton.
I'm trying to dissuade her of the necessity and expense of this. We couldn't afford to send half of one child there. But she is used to a system where academic scholarships allow the cleverest to go to any school in the private or state sector that the parent chooses.
If you get the choice, I would send the top half of the child.
PoliticsHome also understands that a special panel set up by Labour's ruling NEC to oversee exclusions is not meeting this week.
The revelation is the latest blow for Labour's trouble-hit leadership campaign and comes just over an hour before polls close.
It was also claimed last night that hundreds of non-Labour supporters will still have a say on who wins the contest, despite the party's attempts to weed them out.
Michael Dugher, who is Andy Burnham's campaign manager, said there was "no way" the party's verification process had caught everyone trying to disrupt the contest.
Mr. Royale, sounds like you're batting above your average. Well done, old bean.
I'm beginning to wonder if Osborne isn't some sort of dark sorcerer. The events from the election result onwards have been such I'm surprised Cameron hasn't laughed himself to death.
Non-Corbynite left of centre policies suggestions:-
1. How about placing restrictions on the purchase of properties by non-EU citizens? Much like in Switzerland. The flow of hot money into the UK property market is not good for people here - other than those already owning it. We should be aiming for something closer to zero inflation in house prices not 6% p.a. Houses should be for living in not for speculation.
2. Make it easier to renew inner-city properties by lifting or reducing VAT?
3. Encourage the building of good quality long term mansion flats for rental managed by pension companies and others so that we get a sensible rental market in this country e.g. for older people wishing to downsize into easier properties.
I agree with some of the other posters below that housing is a key issue for any government.
Edited :I see that these have to be non-Tory policies. Oh well.
As Mr Farage and I attended the same educational establishment, albeit a few years apart, I can only assume he received the same invaluable lessons on history and irony as I did.
I've not heard Nigel enunciate this argument but I suspect we draw very different conclusions as to what it means for the future of Britain, the future of the EU and the future of Britain within the EU.
It's possible to recognise the failings of the EU (as I'm sure even David Cameron does) without concluding the only recourse is to head for the exit (as I'm sure even David Cameron doesn't).
Strange sight on my facebook of a polish friend sharing lots of Britain First anti muslim videos
I suspect the second generation of Eastern European immigrants will start identifying with British nationality and be very right wing.
My wife is Bulgarian and we are thinking of starting a family soon. She is pro-business, monarchist, pro-academic selection, pro-tradition and otherwise very centrist.
I will do my best.
Comrade, given your testimony you are required to produce a minimum of four children.
She has an idea in her head that they should all go to Eton.
I'm trying to dissuade her of the necessity and expense of this. We couldn't afford to send half of one child there. But she is used to a system where academic scholarships allow the cleverest to go to any school in the private or state sector that the parent chooses.
If you get the choice, I would send the top half of the child.
Mr. Royale, sounds like you're batting above your average. Well done, old bean.
I'm beginning to wonder if Osborne isn't some sort of dark sorcerer. The events from the election result onwards have been such I'm surprised Cameron hasn't laughed himself to death.
I'm beginning to wonder if Osborne isn't some sort of dark sorcerer.
Just my Genie. Having used up my three wishes (Tory majority, LibDem obliteration, Ed Balls defeated) he seems to be delivering me a multitude of extra wishes, gratis....
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
If you want the best for bright, poor children; Grammar Schools If you want the best for unskilled british workers; leave the EU and have a points based immigration system
Rebuild National Insurance as a proper, contributory system. You pay in, you can get something out. There's lots of interesting talk about this on centre-left. For example, in some countries if you paid a decent whack into the system and you are made unemployed you can get a decent % of your salary for the first few months while you look for a similar level of job, rather than being paid a basic job seekers and told to take the first shelf stacking vacancy.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
What form would this engineering take?
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
How about capital gains tax on the sale of property? I can't imagine the Tories doing that.
BTW Will Hutton is a fool who managed to drive into bankruptcy the one organisation he has ever run so I wouldn't take his advice on anything frankly.
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
There was an interesting news item on R5L this morning which, for once, shed a bit of light on this issue rather than simply emoting about it.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
There was an interesting news item on R5L this morning which, for once, shed a bit of light on this issue rather than simply emoting about it.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
Sometimes I do wonder whether sexual frustration isn't at the bottom of lot of the things going wrong in the Middle East.
Terror arrests jump to record 299 in a year as police combat growing threat of Islamic State - and the number of women suspects has TREBLED in just five years
British authorities have arrested 299 terror suspects in year ending March It is a 31% increase on the previous year and highest since records began The Home Office has also warned of increase in British nationals arrested Arrests of female terrorist suspects has trebled in past five years
Officials say there has been a 'marked increase' in the number of those arrested who consider themselves to be of British or British dual nationality.
In 2014/15, they accounted for more than three-quarters of those detained for terrorism-related offences,
The data also showed that a record 35 females were arrested on suspicion of terror offences after the number more than trebled in five years. The increase in women being arrested was driven by a surge between October and March.
Eight of those arrested were under 18.
Senior officers have recently warned of a step change in the terrorism landscape, with women and children increasingly at risk of radicalisation.
Terror arrests jump to record 299 in a year as police combat growing threat of Islamic State - and the number of women suspects has TREBLED in just five years
British authorities have arrested 299 terror suspects in year ending March It is a 31% increase on the previous year and highest since records began The Home Office has also warned of increase in British nationals arrested Arrests of female terrorist suspects has trebled in past five years
Officials say there has been a 'marked increase' in the number of those arrested who consider themselves to be of British or British dual nationality.
In 2014/15, they accounted for more than three-quarters of those detained for terrorism-related offences,
The data also showed that a record 35 females were arrested on suspicion of terror offences after the number more than trebled in five years. The increase in women being arrested was driven by a surge between October and March.
Eight of those arrested were under 18.
Senior officers have recently warned of a step change in the terrorism landscape, with women and children increasingly at risk of radicalisation.
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
There was an interesting news item on R5L this morning which, for once, shed a bit of light on this issue rather than simply emoting about it.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
And they're off to Sweden...
"The total Muslim population in Sweden is estimated at 4.4% (2013 figures). Out of that 4.4% and in deducting the women and children, we can roughly guesstimate that around 2% are male. The foreign rape figures at 77.6% Muslim has been anonymously confirmed by Swedish polish in a phone conversation. The actual figure could be higher. These percentages do not include Muslims with Swedish citizenship contained within rapes in the figures categorized under “Swedish nationals”."
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
If you want the best for bright, poor children; Grammar Schools If you want the best for unskilled british workers; leave the EU and have a points based immigration system
Rebuild National Insurance as a proper, contributory system. You pay in, you can get something out. There's lots of interesting talk about this on centre-left. For example, in some countries if you paid a decent whack into the system and you are made unemployed you can get a decent % of your salary for the first few months while you look for a similar level of job, rather than being paid a basic job seekers and told to take the first shelf stacking vacancy.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
What form would this engineering take?
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
Current Tory thinking seems to be to merge NI with Tax - removing any concept of contribution as far as I can see.
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
Well, you might struggle to find centre-left ideas that the Tories couldn't ever consider adopting. The Tories are nothing if not an adaptable party. I'm hopeful they'll come round to a Land Value Tax at some point.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
In my opinion the centre left should be focussed on inequality, particularly of the intergenerational kind, and ensuring that society treats the least able and most disadvantaged well and in a civilised way.
This means, above all, a focus on the failure of our education systems for those not in the top 30% of ability. Blair was spot on about this but shied away from taking on the vested interests in education until it was too late and did too little.
It means addressing both the quantity and the quality of our housing stock. Far too many of our citizens live in absolute squalor.
It means doing what can be done to protect the dignity of those at work from the consequences of international competition and the casualisation of work.
It means having a welfare system that is affordable but is also not riddled with the gross inequities of the current sanctions system, a completely un-British invitation to little Hitlers everywhere.
It means pushing society into recognising the importance of menial work, particularly care related work, which we do not value sufficiently and ensuring that those who do that work have an acceptable level of living.
It means recognising, quoting that well known socialist Osborne, that those with the broadest shoulders need to carry the heaviest weight and not being frightened to argue the case for higher taxes on the better off when required.
I am sure it could mean a lot more but ultimately it means focussing on the real needs and aspirations of those who do not win in our society.
Many on the centre right, like me, would agree with almost all of this but inevitably perhaps it is not our priority and we are more focussed on an economy that works for the mean (I mean average, honest) and from time to time society needs to rebalance in the way I have described or the inequities become unconscionable. For that a Labour party willing to live in the real world has much to offer.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
If you want the best for bright, poor children; Grammar Schools If you want the best for unskilled british workers; leave the EU and have a points based immigration system
Rebuild National Insurance as a proper, contributory system. You pay in, you can get something out. There's lots of interesting talk about this on centre-left. For example, in some countries if you paid a decent whack into the system and you are made unemployed you can get a decent % of your salary for the first few months while you look for a similar level of job, rather than being paid a basic job seekers and told to take the first shelf stacking vacancy.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
What form would this engineering take?
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
How about capital gains tax on the sale of property? I can't imagine the Tories doing that.
BTW Will Hutton is a fool who managed to drive into bankruptcy the one organisation he has ever run so I wouldn't take his advice on anything frankly.
Presume you mean CGT on residential property (as in the home you have lived in)? There is already CGT on property you didn't live in e.g. buy to let
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
There was an interesting news item on R5L this morning which, for once, shed a bit of light on this issue rather than simply emoting about it.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
And they're off to Sweden...
"The total Muslim population in Sweden is estimated at 4.4% (2013 figures). Out of that 4.4% and in deducting the women and children, we can roughly guesstimate that around 2% are male. The foreign rape figures at 77.6% Muslim has been anonymously confirmed by Swedish polish in a phone conversation. The actual figure could be higher. These percentages do not include Muslims with Swedish citizenship contained within rapes in the figures categorized under “Swedish nationals”."
Lucy Jones...Do they have any idea what those "Blonde Ladies" cost
Not quite sure what you mean? There certainly seem to be some among the "refugees" heading into Northern Europe who have, shall we say, a sense of "entitlement".
Tories still can’t quite believe it’ll be Corbyn. But think Burnham damaged goods. Told ‘PM worries about Yvette more than any of the others
Some of us have been making this case all along. Pity Yvette wasn't on board until late-August, really.
Theresa May is one of the most highly rated Tory ministers despite numerous mess ups as Home Secretary, so Cooper can't be that formidable an opponent.
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
And they're off to Sweden...
"The total Muslim population in Sweden is estimated at 4.4% (2013 figures). Out of that 4.4% and in deducting the women and children, we can roughly guesstimate that around 2% are male. The foreign rape figures at 77.6% Muslim has been anonymously confirmed by Swedish polish in a phone conversation. The actual figure could be higher. These percentages do not include Muslims with Swedish citizenship contained within rapes in the figures categorized under “Swedish nationals”."
Yep, The "welcomed by blonde women " bit makes me uneasy. I have two blonde daughters.
When I started work at the LIFFE market in 1994, a female colleague returned from holiday in Egypt and said the men out there were trying to buy her in exchange for camels because she had blonde hair... We laughed about it, but It doesn't seem as funny now that attitude is common in Northern Europe.
In a couple of hundred years time, people will be looking at the historical immigration policies of 20th and 21st century Europe and thinking "why on earth did they do that to themselves?"
Our best hope lies with the ex communist countries of Europe that have none of our establishments colonial guilt. The truth can be spoken there without fear
I think this must be a tease to get money off euphoric Corbyn supporters in the wake of his victory on Saturday. The odds should be something like 500/1.
Mr. Isam, someone I know was offered three camels for his blonde wife when they went on holiday in Egypt a few years ago.
If that's the best hope, I'm not confident. The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands, with the French the bully's best friend.
An intriguing, but very theoretical, possibility would be the UK leaving, and Eastern Europe deciding it prefers a trade agreement with the UK to German hegemony.
I think this must be a tease to get money off euphoric Corbyn supporters in the wake of his victory on Saturday. The odds should be something like 500/1.
Mr. Isam, someone I know was offered three camels for his blonde wife when they went on holiday in Egypt a few years ago.
If that's the best hope, I'm not confident. The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands, with the French the bully's best friend.
An intriguing, but very theoretical, possibility would be the UK leaving, and Eastern Europe deciding it prefers a trade agreement with the UK to German hegemony.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
In my opinion the centre left should be focussed on inequality, particularly of the intergenerational kind, and ensuring that society treats the least able and most disadvantaged well and in a civilised way.
This means, above all, a focus on the failure of our education systems for those not in the top 30% of ability. Blair was spot on about this but shied away from taking on the vested interests in education until it was too late and did too little.
It means addressing both the quantity and the quality of our housing stock. Far too many of our citizens live in absolute squalor.
It means doing what can be done to protect the dignity of those at work from the consequences of international competition and the casualisation of work.
It means having a welfare system that is affordable but is also not riddled with the gross inequities of the current sanctions system, a completely un-British invitation to little Hitlers everywhere.
It means pushing society into recognising the importance of menial work, particularly care related work, which we do not value sufficiently and ensuring that those who do that work have an acceptable level of living.
It means recognising, quoting that well known socialist Osborne, that those with the broadest shoulders need to carry the heaviest weight and not being frightened to argue the case for higher taxes on the better off when required.
I am sure it could mean a lot more but ultimately it means focussing on the real needs and aspirations of those who do not win in our society.
Many on the centre right, like me, would agree with almost all of this but inevitably perhaps it is not our priority and we are more focussed on an economy that works for the mean (I mean average, honest) and from time to time society needs to rebalance in the way I have described or the inequities become unconscionable. For that a Labour party willing to live in the real world has much to offer.
Good piece. DavidL is the sort of open-minded Tory voter who I can really imagine voting Labour if we got a coherent package on these lines together, and he's not alone.
I wonder if Syrian passports are the best investment in the world.
Buy one for £400. Go to Germany. Get right to stay there, with benefits. Worst case scenario, you can stay there permanently. Best case, you get an EU passport and can go wherever you like.
Merkel's migration policy is the most stupid decision since Varro looked at Paullus and said "We outnumber them two to one. We're sure to win!"
If this isn't evidence of economic migration rather than refugee migration, I don't know what is frankly.
Indeed. They've passed through 5 or 6 countries where they're not being bombed or shot at. Clearly not refugees.
It's understandable what they're doing. If you've made the effort to get to western Europe from Syria or Afghanistan, it makes sense to go the whole hog and attempt to end up in the country with the most generous benefits, most welcoming government, and with the fastest route to an EU passport. Why settle for second-best?
There was an interesting news item on R5L this morning which, for once, shed a bit of light on this issue rather than simply emoting about it.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
And they're off to Sweden...
"The total Muslim population in Sweden is estimated at 4.4% (2013 figures). Out of that 4.4% and in deducting the women and children, we can roughly guesstimate that around 2% are male. The foreign rape figures at 77.6% Muslim has been anonymously confirmed by Swedish polish in a phone conversation. The actual figure could be higher. These percentages do not include Muslims with Swedish citizenship contained within rapes in the figures categorized under “Swedish nationals”."
Good piece. DavidL is the sort of open-minded Tory voter who I can really imagine voting Labour if we got a coherent package on these lines together, and he's not alone.
I'm sure I won't be the only one wondering why, in that case, you are supporting a leadership candidate who will make DavidL and all other sensible people run a million miles away from Labour.
Good piece. DavidL is the sort of open-minded Tory voter who I can really imagine voting Labour if we got a coherent package on these lines together, and he's not alone.
I'm sure I won't be the only one wondering why, in that case, you are supporting a leadership candidate who will make DavidL and all other sensible people run a million miles away from Labour.
I wonder if Syrian passports are the best investment in the world.
Buy one for £400. Go to Germany. Get right to stay there, with benefits. Worst case scenario, you can stay there permanently. Best case, you get an EU passport and can go wherever you like.
Merkel's migration policy is the most stupid decision since Varro looked at Paullus and said "We outnumber them two to one. We're sure to win!"
And of course, there's no functioning Syrian government with time to do checks on passports, so the place you're seeking asylum from can't confirm or deny fake passports.
JEO.. I don't think we can compare the impressionable kids in Rotherham and elsewhere to the hard nosed professionals that will be swarming towards the swarms right now..
How bloody typical. If there are vulnerable people that need to be helped then they must be put in wealthy, low immigration areas where the new people can be expected to integrate. Putting a whole load of Muslim refugees in with an already large Muslim population that has struggled to integrate is pure stupidity.
A big issue here are arranged marriages and resultant dowries, which institutionalises the concept that a woman has a price with which she can be purchased.
Once that attitude predominates within a culture, women have a monetary value. It's particularly terrible where the complementary concept of a 'dower' is non-existent or weak.
Sadly, this concept is very wide spread - from India through Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
Anyone want to take up my FPT request for distinctive non-Corbyn centre-left policies? Please!
In my opinion the centre left should be focussed on inequality, particularly of the intergenerational kind, and ensuring that society treats the least able and most disadvantaged well and in a civilised way.
This means, above all, a focus on the failure of our education systems for those not in the top 30% of ability. Blair was spot on about this but shied away from taking on the vested interests in education until it was too late and did too little.
It means addressing both the quantity and the quality of our housing stock. Far too many of our citizens live in absolute squalor.
It means doing what can be done to protect the dignity of those at work from the consequences of international competition and the casualisation of work.
It means having a welfare system that is affordable but is also not riddled with the gross inequities of the current sanctions system, a completely un-British invitation to little Hitlers everywhere.
It means pushing society into recognising the importance of menial work, particularly care related work, which we do not value sufficiently and ensuring that those who do that work have an acceptable level of living.
It means recognising, quoting that well known socialist Osborne, that those with the broadest shoulders need to carry the heaviest weight and not being frightened to argue the case for higher taxes on the better off when required.
I am sure it could mean a lot more but ultimately it means focussing on the real needs and aspirations of those who do not win in our society.
Many on the centre right, like me, would agree with almost all of this but inevitably perhaps it is not our priority and we are more focussed on an economy that works for the mean (I mean average, honest) and from time to time society needs to rebalance in the way I have described or the inequities become unconscionable. For that a Labour party willing to live in the real world has much to offer.
Good piece. DavidL is the sort of open-minded Tory voter who I can really imagine voting Labour if we got a coherent package on these lines together, and he's not alone.
It's as though the establishment in this country desire civil strife. @JEO says it, large scale immigration has done its damage to poor areas. Let the wealthy, who ( & this is the crucial point) can move away if they dislike it, suffer it now
I wonder if Syrian passports are the best investment in the world.
Buy one for £400. Go to Germany. Get right to stay there, with benefits. Worst case scenario, you can stay there permanently. Best case, you get an EU passport and can go wherever you like.
Merkel's migration policy is the most stupid decision since Varro looked at Paullus and said "We outnumber them two to one. We're sure to win!"
I see that Varro, who came up through the ranks, is still getting scapegoated for the Romans' defeat at Cannae.
But his time at Holyrood was dogged by controversy. He was at the centre of the infamous “porky pie-gate” row when he turned up late for a question time session in Parliament and claimed to have been “unavoidably detained” at a book awards ceremony. But he had been spotted eating a meal in the nearby canteen and was forced to apologise for misleading Parliament.
I agree with the comment that Frank McAvennie would be a better choice.
How bloody typical. If there are vulnerable people that need to be helped then they must be put in wealthy, low immigration areas where the new people can be expected to integrate. Putting a whole load of Muslim refugees in with an already large Muslim population that has struggled to integrate is pure stupidity.
But the centrism as defined by the political elites isn't the same as the general public's centre (which is further 'left' or 'right' depending on what you are looking at, eg immigration or rail nationalisation). This tension is ok when everyone feels like they are getting better off, but when they don't the cracks start to appear and the Westminster elite consensus starts to fail.
I don't hold truck with the "Westminster Elite" argument. Becoming an MP requires arguably the least formal set of qualifications in the country. No one starts out as a member of the "Westminster Elite". Some may be better off, some less well off - all are driven to try to gain power to bring about their preferred vision of society.
You could do it, so could I.
Does power, once gained, then corrupt? Perhaps. Certainly there are temptations along the line but mostly, the vision that got each MP elected in the first place (which is a hugely competitive and demanding process for 90% of candidates btw in case you think that anyone can waltz in there) is the vision they bring to the HoC.
As to the general public's centre. You are right, the less well the public does, the more extreme some demands can become but as we saw (IMO) at the last election, generally the public is a sensible bunch.
Of course it's always much easier to blame an unseen "elite" or even a murky international conspiracy, not that I am saying you are doing that; I'm sure nothing could be further from your thoughts.
Interesting discussion. FWIW my perspective of MPs is similar, with the qualification that once you're in, the vision is qualified by two things: (a) the belief that if promoted you could influence outcomes more, and you need to be careful what you say with that in mind and (b) the realisation that if you lose you will have no influence at all. The combination of these factors erodes (without eliminating) the vision and you struggle with your self-image of a realistic idealist. In the process, you seem to your supporters to have been sucked into the system and the Westminster bubble. It is not, in general, that you have been corrupted, but that you are acutely aware of the constraints.
Jeremy's appeal outside the bubble is partly that he has always completely shrugged off (a) and has never had to worry about (b).
How bloody typical. If there are vulnerable people that need to be helped then they must be put in wealthy, low immigration areas where the new people can be expected to integrate. Putting a whole load of Muslim refugees in with an already large Muslim population that has struggled to integrate is pure stupidity.
I agree and it's only natural for the Syrian refugees want to live near each other so I can see Bradford have a Syrian population increase.
Question,are the local Bradford Pakistanis the same branch of the Muslim faith as the new Syrian refugees ?
Random potentially radical centre-left thoughts/potential areas of policy. No research, no kicking round for 2 years by clever people, just ideas I have in my head that are probably pretty variable in quality:
(1) Properly and quickly develop the Labour offer for joint health and social care, defining the partnership between carers and public sector. Make damn sure the Labour centre battles its hardest where the keys to devolved mayoralties with real powers are at stake and quietly and quickly implement big stuff while Corbyn blusters.
(2) Welfare is ripe for revolution rather than crackdown. My personal mad thought is for less means testing but a sliding NI scale up to ca 30-40%, with a large 'no claims bonus' element to this 'insurance'. So, choose to claim (decent) flat-rate benefits for 3 months, pay higher tax for a couple of years - your choice. Apply this (albeit in different variants) to states pensions, student maintenance, prisoners. Make sure the tapering is spot on so that this effects tax rises that can be sold as toughness on welfare. Elements of UC cover the same territory, but time will be up on that by next parliament and there will be decent freedom to build in whichever direction.
(3) Cloak the still piecemeal devolution that will be around in 2020, with strong, bottom-up democratic right for geographical areas of the UK to self-associate and take on whichever of a number of devolution options they want (or not) up to independence. Ensure enough limitations on the options, sizes and frequency of voting available to prevent neverendum, the fear of a Sharia state or of destabilising Northern Ireland by this.
(4) Trial small areas of project based public spending to be run by public vote in a crowdfunding fashion. e.g. You could nominate the destiny of £10 from a pot of DfID money as a click through option when you fill in your car renewal online.
(5) A very open mixed economy of investment, avoiding some of the PPI difficulties. So you might build a Severn lagoon with private money, but tell EDF to hop it, we'll build nuclear power stations with public money. Also be fully prepared to build public and sell off, run private where that fits the bill. Same any which way spirit to house building.
(6) Political correctness only where it furthers the real cause of human dignity as something on which to challenge the Labour base. It is actually this rather than leftyism that is the real comfort blanket Labour never let go of from the 1980s.
Last week I was talking to a member of the shadow cabinet about Jeremy Corbyn’s impending victory as Labour leader. ‘Forget about coups and resistance movements. There’s only one person who can save the party now — and that’s Tom Watson.’ It’s a common theme: those who had just recently denounced Watson as a fat thug now see him as the party’s only hope of salvation.
On Saturday, half an hour before Corbyn’s almost certain coronation, Watson will be unveiled as his party’s new deputy leader. He will appear a rather unlikely saviour. His dark suits and heavy jowls give him the appearance less of a political healer than of a low-rent 1970s mafia grunt. There was a time when that was an image Watson would have cultivated — first as a fixer for the right-wing AEEU union, then as a hit man for Gordon Brown. But he is older and more sensible now.
I don't think there is a very strong correlation between Corbyn and Khan, but probably it's a personal opinion as I think Jowell will be a good mayor while Khan won't, but I still prefer Corbyn over the other 3 for the leadership.
Meanwhile in a test case between betting odds and polling in a new telephone poll Trump has risen yet another 8 points to a new record high, now 41% of republican voters think he will be the nominee, in comparison 41% of republican voters thought Romney would be the nominee in December of 2011.
Marco Rubio is at 3%, his odds at the Betfair Exchange are the same as the guy who polls 32%, reminds me a lot of the Liz Kendall situation were no one would vote for her but she was the betting favourite early on regardless.
Mr. Isam, someone I know was offered three camels for his blonde wife when they went on holiday in Egypt a few years ago.
If that's the best hope, I'm not confident. The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands, with the French the bully's best friend.
An intriguing, but very theoretical, possibility would be the UK leaving, and Eastern Europe deciding it prefers a trade agreement with the UK to German hegemony.
The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands because they have the deepest pockets and the largest population. As long as decision-making is essentially decided on a national level, that will remain because others will look to it for leadership.
The only realistic alternative, however, is to shift the power away from the national governments - to the Commission and the Parliament - which implies coming close to a full federation, with a central authority with direct powers over borders and taxation.
How bloody typical. If there are vulnerable people that need to be helped then they must be put in wealthy, low immigration areas where the new people can be expected to integrate. Putting a whole load of Muslim refugees in with an already large Muslim population that has struggled to integrate is pure stupidity.
I agree and it's only natural for the Syrian refugees want to live near each other so I can see Bradford have a Syrian population increase.
Question,are the local Bradford Pakistanis the same branch of the Muslim faith as the new Syrian refugees ?
They are both Sunni Muslims, yes. The will likely follow different schools of Islamic jurisprudence within that, but that's more about giving them different interpretations rather than feeling like they're different "branches".
A big issue here are arranged marriages and resultant dowries, which institutionalises the concept that a woman has a price with which she can be purchased.
Once that attitude predominates within a culture, women have a monetary value. It's particularly terrible where the complementary concept of a 'dower' is non-existent or weak.
Sadly, this concept is very wide spread - from India through Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
Women as chattels to be bought and sold is the sort of cultural practice to be eradicated, but at least the Egyptian camel sellers are paying. In the Indian dowry system the family provides the dowry to the groom in effect giving the woman a negative financial value.
Some amusing post-vote comments from candidates, not least Wolmar admitting he can't ride a bike! Also what I assume is a voodoo (self-selection) poll by the Metro on the deputy leadership. (There's one coming up from Labour List too.)
It's as though the establishment in this country desire civil strife. @JEO says it, large scale immigration has done its damage to poor areas. Let the wealthy, who ( & this is the crucial point) can move away if they dislike it, suffer it now
Tell me about it,I had the police at the weekend on a newly arrived drunk Roma family about the noise in the early hours of the morning and threats to me and a death threat to my cancer recovering mother.
A big issue here are arranged marriages and resultant dowries, which institutionalises the concept that a woman has a price with which she can be purchased.
Once that attitude predominates within a culture, women have a monetary value. It's particularly terrible where the complementary concept of a 'dower' is non-existent or weak.
Sadly, this concept is very wide spread - from India through Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
Women as chattels to be bought and sold is the sort of cultural practice to be eradicated, but at least the Egyptian camel sellers are paying. In the Indian dowry system the family provides the dowry to the groom in effect giving the woman a negative financial value.
Of course, many in this country believe that all cultures are equal. A culture that treats women as equal to men isn't "better" than one which assigns women a monetary value, just "different".
How bloody typical. If there are vulnerable people that need to be helped then they must be put in wealthy, low immigration areas where the new people can be expected to integrate. Putting a whole load of Muslim refugees in with an already large Muslim population that has struggled to integrate is pure stupidity.
I agree and it's only natural for the Syrian refugees want to live near each other so I can see Bradford have a Syrian population increase.
Question,are the local Bradford Pakistanis the same branch of the Muslim faith as the new Syrian refugees ?
They are both Sunni Muslims, yes. The will likely follow different schools of Islamic jurisprudence within that, but that's more about giving them different interpretations rather than feeling like they're different "branches".
Tories still can’t quite believe it’ll be Corbyn. But think Burnham damaged goods. Told ‘PM worries about Yvette more than any of the others
Some of us have been making this case all along. Pity Yvette wasn't on board until late-August, really.
Theresa May is one of the most highly rated Tory ministers despite numerous mess ups as Home Secretary, so Cooper can't be that formidable an opponent.
Cameron nis probably right that Cooper is the more believable as a LOTO or PM, but that is not saying much. The point about Cooper and her being Mrs Balls is that both Mr Balls and Mr Watson are cronies of Mr Brown and that combination probably would have the best hope of kowtowing the parliamentary party and seeing off the Corbynite plotters. I am desperate for a Burnham win - you would think all the real Corbynites would put him second preference. However anyone but Corbyn should make all Mr Palmer's excuses for supporting him a hoot to read.
I've just started reading a book called Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, I've a feeling it was mentioned on here. Only part way through but it talks of the negative influence of muslims entering Western Countries. I've been reading this site for a good while, there is no doubt that the views on immigration per se are hardening and in general I'd say there's a pretty measured bunch on here.
I spend a lot of my time among non intellectual (that's condescending) non political types. most of them casually use language that the media would recoil from. Ordinary people, whatever that definition may be, are sick to the back teeth of immigration in general, they have little interest in whether they are asylum seekers, economic migrants, illegal immigrants, non EU citizens etc. They have no idea what Schengen is or who Juncker is, they just sense that what is happening across Europe they don't want to see here.
Mr. Isam, someone I know was offered three camels for his blonde wife when they went on holiday in Egypt a few years ago.
If that's the best hope, I'm not confident. The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands, with the French the bully's best friend.
An intriguing, but very theoretical, possibility would be the UK leaving, and Eastern Europe deciding it prefers a trade agreement with the UK to German hegemony.
The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands because they have the deepest pockets and the largest population. As long as decision-making is essentially decided on a national level, that will remain because others will look to it for leadership.
The only realistic alternative, however, is to shift the power away from the national governments - to the Commission and the Parliament - which implies coming close to a full federation, with a central authority with direct powers over borders and taxation.
Power also rests in German hands not just because of size, but because, for historical reasons, France and Germany have a commitment to agreeing a joint position before EU summits. A Franco-German joint position is almost impossible for other nations to overcome.
A big issue here are arranged marriages and resultant dowries, which institutionalises the concept that a woman has a price with which she can be purchased.
Once that attitude predominates within a culture, women have a monetary value. It's particularly terrible where the complementary concept of a 'dower' is non-existent or weak.
Sadly, this concept is very wide spread - from India through Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
Women as chattels to be bought and sold is the sort of cultural practice to be eradicated, but at least the Egyptian camel sellers are paying. In the Indian dowry system the family provides the dowry to the groom in effect giving the woman a negative financial value.
The Southern Baptists here teach women in Sunday School, (and although Baptists may miss 'worship service' on a Sunday they will always attend sunday school, where the same class says together), that they should always dress well, don't get overweight, look good, use makeup, and always be attractive and submissive to their husbands.
Comments
If Corbyn wins by a very narrow margin there's going to be trouble I think.
I'm trying to dissuade her of the necessity and expense of this. We couldn't afford to send half of one child there. But she is used to a system where academic scholarships allow the cleverest to go to any school in the private or state sector that the parent chooses.
This reinforces the idea of a contributory insurance system and, crucially, it allows people with skills to look for work that uses those skills (at least in short-term). This is good for the country in general.
Will Hutton is also always a good source of centre-left ideas that are Non-Corbynist. For example, engineer the City so that it is less short-termist. This would increase long term investment in industry and services, without the government having to do it (which would be Corbyn's answer via the printing press).
She isn't very sport obsessed but, if there is a sport she loves, it's tennis.
It's 'Homo zoomer'.
Say Hello to the ancestors.
I'm not saying the national insurance thing is a bad idea, but it's something that surely could completely comfortably exist in a conservative manifesto, I'm looking for things the Tories wouldn't consider doing.
Can you see any result that wouldn't result in trouble?
She ain't no Lady until she's hired or borrowed a funny costume and sworn the Oath of Allegiance.
I'm beginning to wonder if Osborne isn't some sort of dark sorcerer. The events from the election result onwards have been such I'm surprised Cameron hasn't laughed himself to death.
1. How about placing restrictions on the purchase of properties by non-EU citizens? Much like in Switzerland. The flow of hot money into the UK property market is not good for people here - other than those already owning it. We should be aiming for something closer to zero inflation in house prices not 6% p.a. Houses should be for living in not for speculation.
2. Make it easier to renew inner-city properties by lifting or reducing VAT?
3. Encourage the building of good quality long term mansion flats for rental managed by pension companies and others so that we get a sensible rental market in this country e.g. for older people wishing to downsize into easier properties.
I agree with some of the other posters below that housing is a key issue for any government.
Edited :I see that these have to be non-Tory policies. Oh well.
Tories still can’t quite believe it’ll be Corbyn. But think Burnham damaged goods. Told ‘PM worries about Yvette more than any of the others
Some of us have been making this case all along. Pity Yvette wasn't on board until late-August, really.
I've not heard Nigel enunciate this argument but I suspect we draw very different conclusions as to what it means for the future of Britain, the future of the EU and the future of Britain within the EU.
It's possible to recognise the failings of the EU (as I'm sure even David Cameron does) without concluding the only recourse is to head for the exit (as I'm sure even David Cameron doesn't).
How about capital gains tax on the sale of property? I can't imagine the Tories doing that.
BTW Will Hutton is a fool who managed to drive into bankruptcy the one organisation he has ever run so I wouldn't take his advice on anything frankly.
It seems the Syrian government has been issuing passports - lots of them - in a bid to raise revenue. IIRC, they are charging £400 for a new one and £200 for a renewal, making them some of the most expensive passports in the world. The implication seemed to be that only minimal checks are being made about the identity of the passport holder and their right to a passport since it is a revenue-generating scheme.
Once the Syrian passport holder has a passport, they then have the right to go to Turkey. Once there, they are able to attempt a move on to Europe, as we have seen.
The reporter said that most Syrians he had spoken to seemed to think the streets of Northern Europe were paved with gold. All the men were looking forward to being welcomed by "blonde women"... (his words, not mine).
*Tiptoes gently away*
"The total Muslim population in Sweden is estimated at 4.4% (2013 figures). Out of that 4.4% and in deducting the women and children, we can roughly guesstimate that around 2% are male. The foreign rape figures at 77.6% Muslim has been anonymously confirmed by Swedish polish in a phone conversation. The actual figure could be higher. These percentages do not include Muslims with Swedish citizenship contained within rapes in the figures categorized under “Swedish nationals”."
https://muslimstatistics.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/sweden
This means, above all, a focus on the failure of our education systems for those not in the top 30% of ability. Blair was spot on about this but shied away from taking on the vested interests in education until it was too late and did too little.
It means addressing both the quantity and the quality of our housing stock. Far too many of our citizens live in absolute squalor.
It means doing what can be done to protect the dignity of those at work from the consequences of international competition and the casualisation of work.
It means having a welfare system that is affordable but is also not riddled with the gross inequities of the current sanctions system, a completely un-British invitation to little Hitlers everywhere.
It means pushing society into recognising the importance of menial work, particularly care related work, which we do not value sufficiently and ensuring that those who do that work have an acceptable level of living.
It means recognising, quoting that well known socialist Osborne, that those with the broadest shoulders need to carry the heaviest weight and not being frightened to argue the case for higher taxes on the better off when required.
I am sure it could mean a lot more but ultimately it means focussing on the real needs and aspirations of those who do not win in our society.
Many on the centre right, like me, would agree with almost all of this but inevitably perhaps it is not our priority and we are more focussed on an economy that works for the mean (I mean average, honest) and from time to time society needs to rebalance in the way I have described or the inequities become unconscionable. For that a Labour party willing to live in the real world has much to offer.
"Labour Doesn't Get Why The Tories Won"
http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/features-june-2015-nick-cohen-labour-why-the-tories-won
Does foreign rape include Julian Assange?
There certainly seem to be some among the "refugees" heading into Northern Europe who
have, shall we say, a sense of "entitlement".
Just off to toast Corbyn with a pint of Burnham's Old Bitter Loser.
Alae iacta est.
It's Alien Versus Predator: Whoever Wins, We Lose.
In a couple of hundred years time, people will be looking at the historical immigration policies of 20th and 21st century Europe and thinking "why on earth did they do that to themselves?"
Our best hope lies with the ex communist countries of Europe that have none of our establishments colonial guilt. The truth can be spoken there without fear
If that's the best hope, I'm not confident. The power in the EU is concentrated in German hands, with the French the bully's best friend.
An intriguing, but very theoretical, possibility would be the UK leaving, and Eastern Europe deciding it prefers a trade agreement with the UK to German hegemony.
Aren't Hills saying they expect to be burnt £600k if he wins?
Speaking of losing, I'm of to play fives the noo...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3225226/Six-members-Asian-child-sex-abuse-gang-jailed-total-82-years-grooming-white-girls-sex-exchange-milkshake-McDonald-s.html
https://twitter.com/britainelects/status/641927914477457409
Buy one for £400. Go to Germany. Get right to stay there, with benefits. Worst case scenario, you can stay there permanently. Best case, you get an EU passport and can go wherever you like.
Merkel's migration policy is the most stupid decision since Varro looked at Paullus and said "We outnumber them two to one. We're sure to win!"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/frank-mcaveety-to-replace-gordon-matheson-as-glasgow-leader-1-3882364
But thanks Nick, all the same.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34208407
McLaren to score in Singapore could be interesting. But we'll see.
Bradford takes half of Syrian refugees re-homed in UK under Government scheme
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/13655917.Bradford_takes_half_of_Syrian_refugees_re_homed_in_UK_under_Government_scheme/
Bradford prepares to accept more Syrian refugees
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/13710848.Bradford_prepares_to_accept_more_Syrian_refugees/
A big issue here are arranged marriages and resultant dowries, which institutionalises the concept that a woman has a price with which she can be purchased.
Once that attitude predominates within a culture, women have a monetary value. It's particularly terrible where the complementary concept of a 'dower' is non-existent or weak.
Sadly, this concept is very wide spread - from India through Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
It's as though the establishment in this country desire civil strife. @JEO says it, large scale immigration has done its damage to poor areas. Let the wealthy, who ( & this is the crucial point) can move away if they dislike it, suffer it now
But his time at Holyrood was dogged by controversy. He was at the centre of the infamous “porky pie-gate” row when he turned up late for a question time session in Parliament and claimed to have been “unavoidably detained” at a book awards ceremony. But he had been spotted eating a meal in the nearby canteen and was forced to apologise for misleading Parliament.
I agree with the comment that Frank McAvennie would be a better choice.
Jeremy's appeal outside the bubble is partly that he has always completely shrugged off (a) and has never had to worry about (b).
Question,are the local Bradford Pakistanis the same branch of the Muslim faith as the new Syrian refugees ?
(1) Properly and quickly develop the Labour offer for joint health and social care, defining the partnership between carers and public sector. Make damn sure the Labour centre battles its hardest where the keys to devolved mayoralties with real powers are at stake and quietly and quickly implement big stuff while Corbyn blusters.
(2) Welfare is ripe for revolution rather than crackdown. My personal mad thought is for less means testing but a sliding NI scale up to ca 30-40%, with a large 'no claims bonus' element to this 'insurance'. So, choose to claim (decent) flat-rate benefits for 3 months, pay higher tax for a couple of years - your choice. Apply this (albeit in different variants) to states pensions, student maintenance, prisoners. Make sure the tapering is spot on so that this effects tax rises that can be sold as toughness on welfare. Elements of UC cover the same territory, but time will be up on that by next parliament and there will be decent freedom to build in whichever direction.
(3) Cloak the still piecemeal devolution that will be around in 2020, with strong, bottom-up democratic right for geographical areas of the UK to self-associate and take on whichever of a number of devolution options they want (or not) up to independence. Ensure enough limitations on the options, sizes and frequency of voting available to prevent neverendum, the fear of a Sharia state or of destabilising Northern Ireland by this.
(4) Trial small areas of project based public spending to be run by public vote in a crowdfunding fashion. e.g. You could nominate the destiny of £10 from a pot of DfID money as a click through option when you fill in your car renewal online.
(5) A very open mixed economy of investment, avoiding some of the PPI difficulties. So you might build a Severn lagoon with private money, but tell EDF to hop it, we'll build nuclear power stations with public money. Also be fully prepared to build public and sell off, run private where that fits the bill. Same any which way spirit to house building.
(6) Political correctness only where it furthers the real cause of human dignity as something on which to challenge the Labour base. It is actually this rather than leftyism that is the real comfort blanket Labour never let go of from the 1980s.
I really hope McLaren are back at the front end of the grid soon. And if it means Red Bull has trouble, all the better. (*)
(*) I'm royally fed up with their constant whinging.
Meanwhile in a test case between betting odds and polling in a new telephone poll Trump has risen yet another 8 points to a new record high, now 41% of republican voters think he will be the nominee, in comparison 41% of republican voters thought Romney would be the nominee in December of 2011.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/poll-donald-trump-ben-carson-2016-gop-field-213487
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2015/images/09/10/rel9a.-.gop.2016.pdf
Marco Rubio is at 3%, his odds at the Betfair Exchange are the same as the guy who polls 32%, reminds me a lot of the Liz Kendall situation were no one would vote for her but she was the betting favourite early on regardless.
The only realistic alternative, however, is to shift the power away from the national governments - to the Commission and the Parliament - which implies coming close to a full federation, with a central authority with direct powers over borders and taxation.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/sep/10/cruddas-says-he-worries-about-labour-under-corbyn-turning-into-trotskyist-tribute-act-politics-live
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1287302/MSP-Frank-McAveety-forced-resign-dark-dusky-woman-comments.html#ixzz3lGjRmGnb
The point about Cooper and her being Mrs Balls is that both Mr Balls and Mr Watson are cronies of Mr Brown and that combination probably would have the best hope of kowtowing the parliamentary party and seeing off the Corbynite plotters.
I am desperate for a Burnham win - you would think all the real Corbynites would put him second preference. However anyone but Corbyn should make all Mr Palmer's excuses for supporting him a hoot to read.
I spend a lot of my time among non intellectual (that's condescending) non political types. most of them casually use language that the media would recoil from. Ordinary people, whatever that definition may be, are sick to the back teeth of immigration in general, they have little interest in whether they are asylum seekers, economic migrants, illegal immigrants, non EU citizens etc. They have no idea what Schengen is or who Juncker is, they just sense that what is happening across Europe they don't want to see here.