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Wait - you are above the PM pork book ?SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
How do we know it wasn't written by S. K. Tremayne?SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)
Well done Sean.SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
I haven't seen a nice thing said about her as a result of this. Even Hacked Off complained about her! And Moonbat.
The combination of revenge hatchet job and unsubstantiated lurid claims hand waved away as *just a line* aren't cutting any ice. She's been all over the media trying to limit the damage to her career and just making it worse it appears.
Oh dear, Oakshit's fretting over her now tarnished journalistic career. Shame.watford30 said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
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Oh dear, Oakshit's fretting over her now tarnished journalistic career. Shame.watford30 said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
I doubt it would prove terminal in the long run, although it might constrict certain opportunities in the short term, but what on earth did she think the reaction was going to be in accusing a sitting PM of putting his penis in a dead pig's head when he was younger? I cannot regard any surprise, irritation or regret at it getting attention over the rest of the work as genuine.0 -
Congrats.SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
Congratulations. Not many people can lay claim to that distinctionSeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
Well quite. Student hi-jinx anecdote or lurid claim intended to sell books.
Hmm, rubs chin...
I doubt it would prove terminal in the long run, although it might constrict certain opportunities in the short term, but what on earth did she think the reaction was going to be in accusing a sitting PM of putting his penis in a dead pig's head when he was younger? I cannot regard any surprise, irritation or regret at it getting attention over the rest of the work as genuine.kle4 said:
Oh dear, Oakshit's fretting over her now tarnished journalistic career. Shame.watford30 said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
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She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
She must have got a fair whack to take this "assignment".
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She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
The publisher is Iain Dale.0 -
You mean Sukdev Kaur Tremayne, the famous Punjabi writer with a Cornish husband?Sunil_Prasannan said:
How do we know it wasn't written by S. K. Tremayne?SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)0 -
Yebbut if Sean T wrote it, it would be (clears throat):SandyRentool said:
You mean Sukdev Kaur Tremayne, the famous Punjabi writer with a Cornish husband?Sunil_Prasannan said:
How do we know it wasn't written by S. K. Tremayne?SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.kle4 said:
You once stated, I believe, that you were the 3rd best selling living cornish thriller writer - is that in need of an update, perhaps?SeanT said:
Ta. Yes, I added that bit. Gives it that poignant hint of verisimilitude, I hope.Tissue_Price said:
I saw a bit of blurb concluding "S.K. Tremayne has two daughters". Nicely done.SeanT said:ON topic, just heard a fairly convincing rumour that THE ICE TWINS, by cryptic Cornish authoress S K Tremayne, is...
Number One on the UK bestseller list. Number ONE.
*swoons Byronically*
I still can't quite believe I am Number One, and I won't until I see it in writing. But the rumour is strong.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)
"The Ice Twins" by Tom Knox.
Correct?0 -
Congratulations!SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)
I got to about No. 300 once, I think, briefly. I am in awe.0 -
Well that's Iain Dale's head on the block, as well. What were they thinking? All very strange.SeanT said:
The publisher is Iain Dale.surbiton said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Is Cameron going to sue?0 -
IIRC Ashcroft also owns part of Iain's publishing firm BiteBack. Self indemnifying?
Well that's Iain Dale's head on the block, as well. What were they thinking? All very strange.SeanT said:
The publisher is Iain Dale.surbiton said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
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Oh dear, Oakshit's fretting over her now tarnished journalistic career. Shame.watford30 said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's still worth inviting to connect on LinkedIn though.
*innocent face*0 -
Brave Sir LA will be front and centre to front the defence !*TGOHF said:
Oh dear, Oakshit's fretting over her now tarnished journalistic career. Shame.watford30 said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
* from his twitter account.
I see he's playing the "it's all for the military charities" line at the moment.0 -
Well that's Iain Dale's head on the block, as well. What were they thinking? All very strange.SeanT said:
The publisher is Iain Dale.surbiton said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
I thought Lord A owns BiteBack, and Ian Dale is CEO. Choices may be limited!0 -
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.0 -
Porkergate?Sunil_Prasannan said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
Porkergate by Jokeshott0 -
@iainmartin1: The inconvenient truth about Jeremy Corbyn and the IRA. (Brilliant by @steve4good) http://t.co/TcvumvZFbo0
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I hope the good lord continues to fund all manner of political polling - decent, trustworthy or not, it fills up necessary thread space!0
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Porkergate by JokeshottMattW said:
Porkergate?Sunil_Prasannan said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
Pokeshott0 -
I've driven diesels for the last 8 years - very economical, superb drives no problems. VW's f***-up is less about diesel than fraudulent cheating.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
But yep, it's a cluster**** of epic proportions. I do drive a diesel, but it's a Nissan, and knowing now about Diesel engines over the last few years it'll be my last one.0 -
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing Opinion Polls. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! You know, I just... *do* things."kle4 said:I hope the good lord continues to fund all manner of political polling - decent, trustworthy or not, it fills up necessary thread space!
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No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.
Wasn’t she mixed up with Vicky Pryce and Constance Briscoe?0 -
Maybe you've spent the last 8 years pumping noxious fumes into the atmosphere to the detriment of all our healths?felix said:
I've driven diesels for the last 8 years - very economical, superb drives no problems. VW's f***-up is less about diesel than fraudulent cheating.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
But yep, it's a cluster**** of epic proportions. I do drive a diesel, but it's a Nissan, and knowing now about Diesel engines over the last few years it'll be my last one.
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Congratulations to those Americans who think privatised medicine is good for them.Dair said:
Drug patents last for 20 years.JosiasJessop said:
How can a 62 year old drug still have rights to sell other than (potentially) branding?0 -
Yup - she's got a knack for landing her clients in jail and/or destroying their reputations.
Wasn’t she mixed up with Vicky Pryce and Constance Briscoe?OldKingCole said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.
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Of course not. What can he possibly gain from having an allegation about necrophiliac oral pig-rape paraded through the courts? Even if he wins the country would giggle, very loudly, and not in a good way.SeanT said:
Is Cameron going to sue?Luckyguy1983 said:
Well that's Iain Dale's head on the block, as well. What were they thinking? All very strange.SeanT said:
The publisher is Iain Dale.surbiton said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
The damage to the writer and publisher will be done to their reputations, over time. Unless they can now find some evidence.
But since Cameron isn't suing, I see little reason for evidence to be revealed. If it exists, it should be kept in reserve for such an eventuality.0 -
No, that's just Dave whenever he gives a speechRobD said:
Maybe you've spent the last 8 years pumping noxious fumes into the atmosphere to the detriment of all our healths?felix said:
I've driven diesels for the last 8 years - very economical, superb drives no problems. VW's f***-up is less about diesel than fraudulent cheating.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
But yep, it's a cluster**** of epic proportions. I do drive a diesel, but it's a Nissan, and knowing now about Diesel engines over the last few years it'll be my last one. 0 -
They are restricted to four FOBTs per shop. That's why the bookies need to open so many shops.peter_from_putney said:
Yes - they're a licence to print money, so much so that the major bookies are rushing to open more and more high street shops to accommmodate these machines, even in locations where they are already well represented.currystar said:I am convinced that british bookmakers will be outed in a similar way at some point regarding FOBTs
At the very least and as a first step, the government should more severely restrict the number of machines allowed in each shop.0 -
The Mail ran it as a serialisation, not a direct report. I do not believe Dacre would have run an original news piece about the Prime Minister raping a dead pig's head, without some corroboration.SeanT said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: that said, it's an interesting question as to whether this is cock-up or conspiracy by the Mail. Did they just presume Oakeshott had some evidence to go with this wild allegation, or did they gamble that either the PM wouldn't sue, or if he did sue he'd sue Oakeshott and Dale?
I completely agree with you about Oakeshott ruining her reputation. But people seem awfully keen to upgrade the allegation from "put his genitals in a pigs head for a joke" to "had sexual intercourse with a pigs head".0 -
Just thinking - if this pig's head lark is the standard hazing ritual for entry to this funny Oxford club, presumably all of the other prominent individuals who were members have performed the same act?
Time for a new wikipedia page: People known to have stuck their chap in a dead animal's mouth.0 -
I completely agree with you about Oakeshott ruining her reputation. But people seem awfully keen to upgrade the allegation from "put his genitals in a pigs head for a joke" to "had sexual intercourse with a pigs head".JEO said:
The Mail ran it as a serialisation, not a direct report. I do not believe Dacre would have run an original news piece about the Prime Minister raping a dead pig's head, without some corroboration.SeanT said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: that said, it's an interesting question as to whether this is cock-up or conspiracy by the Mail. Did they just presume Oakeshott had some evidence to go with this wild allegation, or did they gamble that either the PM wouldn't sue, or if he did sue he'd sue Oakeshott and Dale?
It sounds funnier is all. I accept there was no suggestion of amorous intent in the alleged act.
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Moving on from the pig incident...thought this piece shared by NumberCruncherPolitics was very good:
http://publicpolicypast.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/corbynmania-early-evidence.html
Can't say I disagree.
(By the way, will be picking up my copy of Ice Twins for some holiday reading. Congrats)0 -
It sounds funnier is all. I accept there was no suggestion of amorous intent in the alleged act.kle4 said:
I completely agree with you about Oakeshott ruining her reputation. But people seem awfully keen to upgrade the allegation from "put his genitals in a pigs head for a joke" to "had sexual intercourse with a pigs head".JEO said:
The Mail ran it as a serialisation, not a direct report. I do not believe Dacre would have run an original news piece about the Prime Minister raping a dead pig's head, without some corroboration.SeanT said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: that said, it's an interesting question as to whether this is cock-up or conspiracy by the Mail. Did they just presume Oakeshott had some evidence to go with this wild allegation, or did they gamble that either the PM wouldn't sue, or if he did sue he'd sue Oakeshott and Dale?
Wasn't it being funny the utterly lame reason Oakeshott gave for including it in the book in the first place?0 -
"Most epidemics are the result of a contagious disease. ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – is not contagious, and it may not even be a genuine malady, but it has acquired the characteristics of an epidemic. New data has revealed that UK prescriptions for Ritalin and other similar ADHD medications have more than doubled in the last decade, from 359,100 in 2004 to 922,200 last year. In America, the disorder is now the second most frequent long-term diagnosis made in children, narrowly trailing asthma. It generates pharmaceutical sales worth $9bn (£5.7bn) per year. Yet clinical proof of ADHD as a genuine illness has never been found."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/thousands-of-children-are-being-medicated-for-adhd--when-the-condition-may-not-even-exist-10509842.html0 -
Wasn’t there someone in either myth or history, association with whom was generally ruinous? Not Cassandra, since Oakeshott appears to prophesy success!
Incidentally, I think the question about “others” is a good one. , Every Freemason, for example, has followed a prescribed path, and all these ‘secret societies” don’t change their initiation processes.0 -
Wasn't it being funny the utterly lame reason Oakeshott gave for including it in the book in the first place?RobD said:
It sounds funnier is all. I accept there was no suggestion of amorous intent in the alleged act.kle4 said:
I completely agree with you about Oakeshott ruining her reputation. But people seem awfully keen to upgrade the allegation from "put his genitals in a pigs head for a joke" to "had sexual intercourse with a pigs head".JEO said:
The Mail ran it as a serialisation, not a direct report. I do not believe Dacre would have run an original news piece about the Prime Minister raping a dead pig's head, without some corroboration.SeanT said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: that said, it's an interesting question as to whether this is cock-up or conspiracy by the Mail. Did they just presume Oakeshott had some evidence to go with this wild allegation, or did they gamble that either the PM wouldn't sue, or if he did sue he'd sue Oakeshott and Dale?
Yes - it's a poor reason to include such an allegation in a book (particularly if you are going to whinge about people ignoring everything else in it as a result), but I think in terms of discussing it afterwards it holds up better, as reasons go.0 -
Gordon Brown?OldKingCole said:Wasn’t there someone in either myth or history, association with whom was generally ruinous?
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Dacre and Rothermere will likely end up with some mud splatter on them too. I wonder if HMG's decisions regarding the tax status of non-dom's influenced the latters views with regard to serialising the story in his tabloid?0
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... and in run down areas where the high street is dying, there are a lot of empty shops & a lot of bored poor peopleDecrepitJohnL said:
They are restricted to four FOBTs per shop. That's why the bookies need to open so many shops.peter_from_putney said:
Yes - they're a licence to print money, so much so that the major bookies are rushing to open more and more high street shops to accommmodate these machines, even in locations where they are already well represented.currystar said:I am convinced that british bookmakers will be outed in a similar way at some point regarding FOBTs
At the very least and as a first step, the government should more severely restrict the number of machines allowed in each shop.0 -
ST..Congratulations..I bought Twins..it is there waiting to be devoured ..just as soon as I plough through a g%dawful script...looking forward o it..0
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It says it all when an awarding winning journalist trashes her reputation over unsubstantiated allegations and the media goes into a frenzy when all the while Europe is in a crisis of unbelievable proportions over the refugees/migrants and Europe, and in particular Germany's, car industry could be bankrupted by these claims over gas emissions and the US talking of class actions. This could be the car industry's 'Lehman Brothers'. Germany heading for a big fall maybe !!!!0
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Gordon Brown had the reputation, but really it applies more to Tony Blair, everything that man touched turned to shit or ruined the person behind him.OldKingCole said:Wasn’t there someone in either myth or history, association with whom was generally ruinous?
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@stephenkb: This is the THIRD interview since Saturday 12 Sadiq Khan has given distancing himself from Jeremy Corbyn: http://t.co/HozNQsSXRz0
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Oh get over yourself - for one thing I live in Spain and for another I don't care.RobD said:
Maybe you've spent the last 8 years pumping noxious fumes into the atmosphere to the detriment of all our healths?felix said:
I've driven diesels for the last 8 years - very economical, superb drives no problems. VW's f***-up is less about diesel than fraudulent cheating.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
But yep, it's a cluster**** of epic proportions. I do drive a diesel, but it's a Nissan, and knowing now about Diesel engines over the last few years it'll be my last one.
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I miss his weekly focus groups. They were hysterical. I was responsible for two of the questions the Lord Ashcroft posed.kle4 said:I hope the good lord continues to fund all manner of political polling - decent, trustworthy or not, it fills up necessary thread space!
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No, long before them. And it wouldn;t have applied to Blair if he hadn’t fallen under Bush’s spell.Alanbrooke said:
Gordon Brown had the reputation, but really it applies more to Tony Blair, everything that man touched turned to shit or ruined the person behind him.OldKingCole said:Wasn’t there someone in either myth or history, association with whom was generally ruinous?
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Ah, I was only joking (darn the lack of a sarcasm emote)felix said:
Oh get over yourself - for one thing I live in Spain and for another I don't care.RobD said:
Maybe you've spent the last 8 years pumping noxious fumes into the atmosphere to the detriment of all our healths?felix said:
I've driven diesels for the last 8 years - very economical, superb drives no problems. VW's f***-up is less about diesel than fraudulent cheating.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
But yep, it's a cluster**** of epic proportions. I do drive a diesel, but it's a Nissan, and knowing now about Diesel engines over the last few years it'll be my last one.0 -
Congratulations SeanT.
Next question. When's the film coming out ?0 -
What's most odd about this Isabel Oakeshott positioning is how she's suddenly now downplaying it "It's just one page in the book", "It's hardly Watergate". She clearly cut corners on what she thought was a minor detail, and didn't have the basic journalistic foresight to realise that an allegation of the Prime Minister putting his manhood in a dead animal would be the story.0
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Incidentally, Piggate has coincided with Freshers Week at most universities. For all we know, right now as we speak......0
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Wasn’t she mixed up with Vicky Pryce and Constance Briscoe?OldKingCole said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.
Nick Cohen tore her a new one over that too - pleasing as it was to see Huhne go down the Sunday Times behaved appallingly towards Pryce.
Oakeshott does not understand that the moral obligations between a journalist and his or her sources flow in one direction only. They are putting their life and liberty in your hands not vice versa. They are free to deny the truth of the stories you print, if that what it takes to keep them in a job or out of prison. They can speak to other journalists; they can do whatever they want. You are in their debt. They are not in yours.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/nick-cohen/2013/03/the-sunday-times-jails-its-source/0 -
Much more interesting to compile a list of Dave's "contemporaries" who are "distinguished MPs" to find out who told the story, true or not. I would guess that Dave had not given him a senior position in this or last government unless it was a major betrayal.SandyRentool said:Just thinking - if this pig's head lark is the standard hazing ritual for entry to this funny Oxford club, presumably all of the other prominent individuals who were members have performed the same act?
Time for a new wikipedia page: People known to have stuck their chap in a dead animal's mouth.
I wonder what the punishment is for those who betray the club's members - though Dave "was not a member". Suggest spend a week naked in an actual pig sty with a couple of randy boars.
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@SkyNewsBreak: EU ministers have voted by majority to approve migrant quotas - Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania & Slovakia voted against; Finland abstained0
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I have recently changed from a large diesel 4X4 to a PHEV, Plugin Hybrid Electric vehicle. Zero road tax,no congestion charge,£5K grant from Gov to buy it. The Gov paid for 2X£1000 charging points to be fitted, and extremely low BIK if you use it on business, fantastic torque and extremely quiet, free recharge at motorway services, and preferential parking,whats not to like.
On emissions when you take it for an MOT they do not do an emission test, even though it has a 2 litre petrol engine.
OK just to balance out me being a goody goody, I still keep my 4.6 litre V8 fire breathing monster, which gives me about 15 mpg when I enjoy myself.0 -
And will there be a cameo for the author?TheScreamingEagles said:Congratulations SeanT.
Next question. When's the film coming out ?0 -
By all accounts, I'm a jolly nice chap and all round good egg.Slackbladder said:
Sorry Bob, it's a proven fact that 99.99% of Audi drivers are ar*eholes, maybe you're the one which isn'tBob__Sykes said:The VW story is going from a "whoops" story at the weekend to main headline scandal.
It could be "an Enron" as brand reputation goes. And I'm an Audi driver of many years' standing, so not particularly happy at the possible ramifications, financial or otherwise, for the VW-Audi Group.
Of course, being the petrolhead I am, I'd never buy a diesel, so I take some comfort from that.
However, I do drive like an a***hole. I now know why.... :-)0 -
Drugs lose their patents and become generics: manufactured by anyone. Price drops, hardly anyone uses the drug, so makers pull out until there is only one left.Dair said:
Drug patents last for 20 years.JosiasJessop said:
How can a 62 year old drug still have rights to sell other than (potentially) branding?
At this point, our cartoon villain buys up the sole maker, and hikes the price of the the drug by 5,000 per cent. He has a monopoly so patients (or their insurance companies) have to pay it.
Now, you say, remembering the E part of your Oxford PPE course, surely more manufacturers will enter the market and the price will drop back. Trouble is, it takes time for a new maker to get FDA approval, set up supply chains and manufacturing facilities, and against that there is the obvious threat that our cartoon villain monopolist can immediately drop to, say, 1,000 per cent of the original price to wipe out the new entrant.0 -
Nick Cohen tore her a new one over that too - pleasing as it was to see Huhne go down the Sunday Times behaved appallingly towards Pryce.Tissue_Price said:
Wasn’t she mixed up with Vicky Pryce and Constance Briscoe?OldKingCole said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.
Oakeshott does not understand that the moral obligations between a journalist and his or her sources flow in one direction only. They are putting their life and liberty in your hands not vice versa. They are free to deny the truth of the stories you print, if that what it takes to keep them in a job or out of prison. They can speak to other journalists; they can do whatever they want. You are in their debt. They are not in yours.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/nick-cohen/2013/03/the-sunday-times-jails-its-source/
The moral of both stories is, don't talk to Isabel Oakeshit.
Oh, and Pryce deserved to go to prison regardless of how she was treated.0 -
Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven wrong? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)0
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Maybe Merkel won't be needing all those Syrians to work in the German car industry .......SeanT said:
Jesus. Basically the entire German car industry.MaxPB said:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11881954/Volkswagen-emissions-scandal-Which-other-cars-fail-to-meet-pollution-safety-limits.html
Names VW, Audi, BMW, Opel and Citroen as major culprits. 4 Germans and a French.
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I can absolutely believe they would lie about it, secure that they could always deny saying it, or that they once made an off colour joke but said nothing about photos or anything like that. I'm inclined to think it could be true only by those who defended it as no big deal if it was, because I'm apparently prudish about these things.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven lying? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
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What did the Tories vote?Scott_P said:@SkyNewsBreak: EU ministers have voted by majority to approve migrant quotas - Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania & Slovakia voted against; Finland abstained
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How can you prove him wrong though. Much more difficult to prove a negative. And besides, the intent may have been to fling mud at Cameron, and that succeeded spectacularly.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven wrong? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
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Indeed - sounds a bit familiar
That was then. To read Oakeshott’s bluster today you would think that Pryce had stabbed her in the back rather than the other way round. Oakeshott describes how Pryce had had the impertinence to talk to the Mail on Sunday as well as the Sunday Times. ‘She had double-crossed me,’ wails the poor victimised thing. ‘While I was busy protecting her identity, she had been busy revealing all to a rival newspaper…This was an extraordinary betrayal and deeply underhand after everything we had been through together. Our relationship had been based on trust. I had kept my side of the bargain; she had broken hers.’
Nick Cohen tore her a new one over that too - pleasing as it was to see Huhne go down the Sunday Times behaved appallingly towards Pryce.Tissue_Price said:
Wasn’t she mixed up with Vicky Pryce and Constance Briscoe?OldKingCole said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: well done.
Edit: not just this in the papers but also the Sun's Corbyn £45 last week.
Oakeshott does not understand that the moral obligations between a journalist and his or her sources flow in one direction only. They are putting their life and liberty in your hands not vice versa. They are free to deny the truth of the stories you print, if that what it takes to keep them in a job or out of prison. They can speak to other journalists; they can do whatever they want. You are in their debt. They are not in yours.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/nick-cohen/2013/03/the-sunday-times-jails-its-source/
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Can I tell a BMW driver joke before the lagershed?0
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There are several reputable generic manufacturers in India who would, I’m sure be happy to help! Can’t recall how difficult it is to actually make the chemical; too long since I was involved in that sort of thing!DecrepitJohnL said:
Drugs lose their patents and become generics: manufactured by anyone. Price drops, hardly anyone uses the drug, so makers pull out until there is only one left.Dair said:
Drug patents last for 20 years.JosiasJessop said:
How can a 62 year old drug still have rights to sell other than (potentially) branding?
At this point, our cartoon villain buys up the sole maker, and hikes the price of the the drug by 5,000 per cent. He has a monopoly so patients (or their insurance companies) have to pay it.
Now, you say, remembering the E part of your Oxford PPE course, surely more manufacturers will enter the market and the price will drop back. Trouble is, it takes time for a new maker to get FDA approval, set up supply chains and manufacturing facilities, and against that there is the obvious threat that our cartoon villain monopolist can immediately drop to, say, 1,000 per cent of the original price to wipe out the new entrant.0 -
To be fair, most of the fightback also consists of mudflinging and playing the Oakeshott, not the ball.RobD said:
How can yum prove him wrong though. Much more difficult to prove a negative. And besides, the intent may have been to fling mud at Cameron, and that succeeded spectacularly.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven wrong? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
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Don't need to vote - not in SchengenSpeedy said:
What did the Tories vote?Scott_P said:@SkyNewsBreak: EU ministers have voted by majority to approve migrant quotas - Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania & Slovakia voted against; Finland abstained
0 -
What do you think the MP said? Contrary to what lots of people seem to have understood, the book does not claim that the MP, who was the only source of the story, was present at the alleged porky frolic. It's not only an unattributed and uncorroborated source, it's hearsay from an unattributed and uncorroborated source.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven lying? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
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The rumours about McAlpine were circulating in Westminster for many, many years, and were known to journalists. I think you may be underestimating MPs penchant for scurrilous gossip and tittle-tattle. He might not have been expecting the rumours to get into print in quite such a prominent manner.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven lying? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
There's also the option that it is a rather senior Conservative MP who might quite like to put pressure on Cameron to quit this parliament.0 -
I'd guess Ashcroft is the "editor" of the Dave book and that it was his decision as to whether the pig's head should make an appearance. He is a billionaire and can basically do as he wishes as long as it is not criminal.
This is the country that we live in: one where senior government ministers share weekends away with national newspaper editors and senior BBC figures, while immensely rich party donors believe they should be given senior cabinet positions as a result of their donations.0 -
Perhaps the Syrians will decide that they'd prefer to go to somewhere more law-abiding.Cyclefree said:Maybe Merkel won't be needing all those Syrians to work in the German car industry .......
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Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-343280670 -
Re VW - is this the best most inappropriate name?
"A member of VW’s supervisory board, Olaf Lies, who is also economy minister for the state of Lower Saxony..."0 -
Is it the X6 ? You'd need to be a joke driver to own one.TheScreamingEagles said:Can I tell a BMW driver joke before the lagershed?
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And, in this instance, were roundly denied their expectation.SouthamObserver said:I'd guess Ashcroft is the "editor" of the Dave book and that it was his decision as to whether the pig's head should make an appearance. He is a billionaire and can basically do as he wishes as long as it is not criminal.
This is the country that we live in: one where senior government ministers share weekends away with national newspaper editors and senior BBC figures, while immensely rich party donors believe they should be given senior cabinet positions as a result of their donations.0 -
Likewise with the M60 round Manchester where probably 15 miles is restricted to 50mph and average speed cameras. It's been a year now since the "smart motorway" works started, yet the work proceeds at snail's pace with only short stretches seeing any noticeable activity, and it all looks very piecemeal with a bit of work here, another bit randomly 5 miles on, and so on. It seems like the most cost effective option was to just impose the restrictions at the outset over the whole stretch and leave in situ until 2017 rather than doing it a bit at a time, minimising inconvenience. Meantime it's gridlock all around for much of the day.Pulpstar said:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34326546
Living off Junction 30, this is very relevant to my interests - there are NEVER workmen along the whole 18 mile stretch, and I have no idea why the whole area has to be 50 mph till God only knows when.
They've now put hearstrings signs up saying "my daddy/mummy works here, slow down in roadworks", but that irritates me even more - there's no sign of any mummies or daddies other than in the small hours, and no sign of road "works" - and I don't need heartfelt pleas to "slow" to 50 when there are big yellow cameras every few hundred yards ensuring my compliance on pain of 3 points and £100 fine!
"Highways England" hasn't a clue. It's a New Labour agency set up to screw over the motorist, and it seems to have got worse not better since Cameron got in.0 -
Or, more accurately, one immensely rich party donor thought he ought to get some kind of position, which he didn't get. Seems to be a problem with his expectations, not a criticism of the country.SouthamObserver said:while immensely rich party donors believe they should be given senior cabinet positions as a result of their donations.
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Handbags!!!!Tissue_Price said:Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-343280670 -
The Mail ran it as a serialisation, not a direct report. I do not believe Dacre would have run an original news piece about the Prime Minister raping a dead pig's head, without some corroboration.SeanT said:
No Fleet Street editor? Have you not read the papers?DecrepitJohnL said:
She's potentially destroyed her own career. If you are going to make an allegation like that against the prime minister, you need sworn testimony, witnesses willing to go on the record, perhaps a few photographs. It's called "standing up a story" and it is basic journalistic practice. If you can't stand up the story then you don't run it. No Fleet Street editor would touch this unless she could provide evidence to go with the allegation.SeanT said:Plato_Says said:Isabel is the story http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4564348.ece
Cameron dead pig claims ‘hardly Watergate’, author protests
She's either witless and greedy or she's been stitched up by an informant who won't now go on the record.
Edit: that said, it's an interesting question as to whether this is cock-up or conspiracy by the Mail. Did they just presume Oakeshott had some evidence to go with this wild allegation, or did they gamble that either the PM wouldn't sue, or if he did sue he'd sue Oakeshott and Dale?
They went with it because (a) it would sell papers and get people talking about the Mail (b) Cameron wasn't going to sue and (c) they covered themselves politically with the "Revenge" headline which immediately called Ashcroft's motives into question.
Ashcroft is finished as a player in the UK. Isabel has finally realised what a Faustian bargain entails (she was advised against taking the deal but £250,000 for 18 months work was too great a lure). Cameron is embarassed but can shrug it off.0 -
The news cycle this week is piggate, refugees/migrants and VW catastrophe. Isnt it the Lib Dems conference this week but I don't see it covered on the media - shame really!!!0
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He is in VW's board and a finance minister. No conflict of interest there.Plato_Says said:Re VW - is this the best most inappropriate name?
"A member of VW’s supervisory board, Olaf Lies, who is also economy minister for the state of Lower Saxony, said there would also be a cost for those found responsible."0 -
Something about owning a BMW was the best form of birth control ever.Alanbrooke said:
Is it the X6 ? You'd need to be a joke driver to own one.TheScreamingEagles said:Can I tell a BMW driver joke before the lagershed?
We pull out no matter what.0 -
For many years there've been strong rumours that the entire music charts are being gamed, especially with the switch to digital downloads. With relatively few sales required to get to Number 1 in the bestseller charts nowadays, might it be possible to game the bookselling charts as well?Carolus_Rex said:
Congratulations!SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)
I got to about No. 300 once, I think, briefly. I am in awe.
(Not that I'm accusing Sean T of this. and congrats to him).0 -
So, let me get this right, did Ashcroft think he was buying a position in Cabinet with his millions?Tissue_Price said:Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-343280670 -
Getting a bit unseemly - reneging on a deal is not generally met with public accusations of penis insertion in dead animals, so it's not quite the same even if it hurt the good lord to be so disappointed at the time.Tissue_Price said:Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34328067
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That's what has been suggested. I read he was offered Lords Whip but he declined the piffling offer, which was far beneath his Lordship.watford30 said:
So, let me get this right, did Ashcroft think he was buying a position in Cabinet with his millions?Tissue_Price said:Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-343280670 -
Good evening, everyone.
FPT: Miss Plato, aye, I remember that. Obama's a weasel.
Congrats to the site's first number one best-selling author 0 -
RobD said:
How can you prove him wrong though. Much more difficult to prove a negative. And besides, the intent may have been to fling mud at Cameron, and that succeeded spectacularly.Danny565 said:Call me biased (perhaps I am), but I'm still inclined to believe the pig story. Would an MP really lie about it if it would've been so easy for him to be proven wrong? (Unless the suggestion is that Ashcroft/Oakeshott are lying about an MP even being the source.)
Given the source is a political person, I found this a plausible article (from an L B Johnson campaign):
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/steerpike/2015/09/has-ashcrofts-unnamed-tory-source-been-reading-hunter-s-thompson/
“Christ, we can’t get a way calling him a pig-f—er,” the campaign manager protested. “Nobody’s going to believe a thing like that.”
“I know,” Johnson replied. “But let’s make the sonofabitch deny it.”’
But who knows. The answer is obviously to get the BBC to have Cameron on 'Would I lie to You?'0 -
I think we can safely assume that Lord A won't be getting a Xmas card from Sam and Dave this year.0
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It happens in the UK as well. Google Pfizer and Flynn if you want. So it's not a factor of privatised medicine.surbiton said:
Congratulations to those Americans who think privatised medicine is good for them.Dair said:
Drug patents last for 20 years.JosiasJessop said:
How can a 62 year old drug still have rights to sell other than (potentially) branding?
I haven't read up on this specific case, but it is a dark underbelly of the industry that these price gougers exist. It's not good for the patients, it's not good for the payors and it's not good for the industry as a whole. R&D is hideously expensive and risky, so you do need high prices on innovative drugs to fund it, but 20 years is quite long enough to generate returns: I'm fine with aggressive generics and fortunately payors are now wise to many of the old tricks (me-toos, reformulations, etc). Those patent extensions (paediatric extension, orphans, spc, data exclusivity) all exist for a reason & are an acceptable trade off.
But gougers should be shot at dawn
(I actually spent much of the morning gossiping with a former members of the senior leadership team at GSK and he pretty much agreed with the above)0 -
It should not even be an issue.JohnO said:
And, in this instance, were roundly denied their expectation.SouthamObserver said:I'd guess Ashcroft is the "editor" of the Dave book and that it was his decision as to whether the pig's head should make an appearance. He is a billionaire and can basically do as he wishes as long as it is not criminal.
This is the country that we live in: one where senior government ministers share weekends away with national newspaper editors and senior BBC figures, while immensely rich party donors believe they should be given senior cabinet positions as a result of their donations.
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I think he's asserting that he had been promised a post and then that was reneged on. He gave the Tory party more than just money when they were in Opposition.watford30 said:
So, let me get this right, did Ashcroft think he was buying a position in Cabinet with his millions?Tissue_Price said:Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft
Good to see PM retains his sense of humour. We must have the same doctor. I had the same in 2010 when the PM reneged http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-343280670 -
I wouldn't know now, I haven't been in the business for a few years. It used to be rumoured that publishers would induce booksellers to take 000s of copies on a sale or return basis to boost the title's profile only to quietly return them a few weeks later when nobody was looking. Harder to do that in the digital age, though.JosiasJessop said:
For many years there've been strong rumours that the entire music charts are being gamed, especially with the switch to digital downloads. With relatively few sales required to get to Number 1 in the bestseller charts nowadays, might it be possible to game the bookselling charts as well?Carolus_Rex said:
Congratulations!SeanT said:
I guess it does. As of this minute I am the bestselling novelist in the country. Heh.
(The Number 1 spot has been confirmed by my publishers)
I got to about No. 300 once, I think, briefly. I am in awe.
(Not that I'm accusing Sean T of this. and congrats to him).
Edit: it occurs to me that this might be particularly relevant if, say, you happened to have a lucrative newspaper serialisation deal. A high ranking would make the title much more attractive to an editor...0
