FlyTheNest

PorFavor wrote:

Lib Dem president

Sal Brinton has just finished delivering her main speech to the conference as party president. In it, she said that Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election as Labour leader could help the Lib Dems gain voters and members.

Should Jeremy Corbyn be re-elected, I know that a number of Labour supporters and members will be feeling very lost.

Befriend them. (Politics Live, Guardian)

Time to go into hiding, I feel.

SpinningHugo wrote:7 out of 10 Labour constituencies voted Leave

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Would have been a different story if Labour still held Scotland. but it doesn't.

A big divide between urban metropolitan seats in London, and the north. Which reflects the split I was talking about above within the Labour coalition.

JonnyT1234 wrote:You'll have to excuse me. I don't read the majority of your posts so did not see the context.

[Reply to Hugo, obviously]

Douglas Carswell, UKIP’s only MP, has been telling scientists on Twitter what causes tides.

He was arguing with Paul Nightingale, a professor of strategy at Sussex University’s Science Policy Research Unit, who was drawing an analogy to say why trade with EU countries is more important for Britain than larger, but more distant, countries like China.

Carswell thinks it’s the sun, and he’s really pretty convinced about it.

It’s fair to say that most scientists are unconvinced by his unorthodox position.

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

SpinningHugo wrote:7 out of 10 Labour constituencies voted Leave

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Would have been a different story if Labour still held Scotland. but it doesn't.

A big divide between urban metropolitan seats in London, and the north. Which reflects the split I was talking about above within the Labour coalition.

Most of them were relatively close (ie not that far out of line with the national result)

The idea that "Labour's heartlands" *all* voted to leave en masse was an instant HOT TAKE from the MSM that, as so often, grossly simplifies a more complex reality.

(my own area voted 62% for Brexit, just to put that on the record)

UK press coverage of the EU Referendum

"Of the 2378 articles analysed which were focused on the referendum 41% were pro leave as against 27% pro-remain.
Press coverage focused heavily on politicians and campaign spokespeople with relatively little few analysts/experts,
academics and foreign politicians cited, and with more attention to personalities and the contest than the issues.
The press reflected the generally negative tone of the campaign, but the Remain camp’s future focussed
messages were the most negative, particularly on the economy, compared to the Leave camp’s more
positive tone about a UK outside the EU."

http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac. ... referendum

yahyah wrote:Looks as if a lot of members may be taking the 'a plague on both your houses' approach if Brind is right - see his last paragraph.
Why else would voting turnout of members be so much less than last year, if 68% quoted is close to the final % ?

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index. ... e-numbers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tinybgoat wrote:

yahyah wrote:Looks as if a lot of members may be taking the 'a plague on both your houses' approach if Brind is right - see his last paragraph.
Why else would voting turnout of members be so much less than last year, if 68% quoted is close to the final % ?

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index. ... e-numbers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can think of 2 possible reasons,
i) Manipulation, (though realistically, I presume the figures exclude those disqualified from voting, due to having exhibited current or past behaviour, interpretable as resulting in a likelihood to tick the wrong box)
i) Murray Mints: Some of us just like to take our time

Rafael Behr Verified account
‏@rafaelbehr

Early days, but seems Corbyn ops getting more slick. Lab maybe on course to regain Miliband-level professionalism + shallow unity by 2020.

Tony Blair to close most of his commercial ventures

Tony Blair has said he is winding up most of his commercial ventures to focus on not-for-profit work.

The ex-Labour prime minister is closing his lobbying and consultancy business, Tony Blair Associates, and associated companies Windrush and Firerush.

In an email to staff, he said while he would retain a small number of commercial contracts, 80% of his time would be spent on not-for-profit work.

He has been criticised for the amount of profit the ventures have generated. (BBC News website)

JonnyT1234 wrote:The leadership contest is a choice between two wrong answers to the wrong question at the wrong time. How is even possible to get enthusiastic?

RogerOThornhill wrote:Interesting.

Rafael Behr Verified account
‏@rafaelbehr

Early days, but seems Corbyn ops getting more slick. Lab maybe on course to regain Miliband-level professionalism + shallow unity by 2020.

Maybe once the inevitable happens on Saturday, MPs will realise he ain't goin' nowhere at least for a while and start to act like an opposition (to be fair a few are doing that already).

citizenJA wrote:

JonnyT1234 wrote:The leadership contest is a choice between two wrong answers to the wrong question at the wrong time. How is even possible to get enthusiastic?

I usually like voting.

SpinningHugo wrote:I think this gives a flavour of why there will not be any normalisation under Corbyn

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/lon ... 49201.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He earns £130,000 a year

HindleA wrote:http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2016/02/24/hil ... -problems/



These “middle-class problems” are so minor & entitled that they’re hilarious

Party members will have to explicitly promise “to act within the spirit and rules of the Labour party in my conduct both on and offline, with members and non-members”.

The statement they will have to sign adds: “I stand against all forms of abuse. I understand that if found to be in breach of the Labour party policy on online and offline abuse, I will be subject to the rules and procedures of the Labour party.”

Punishments could include being suspended from the party or eventually being expelled.

The pledge will be linked to a social media code of conduct, drawn up by the party, which warns that “harassment, intimidation, hateful language and bullying” will not be tolerated. It also lists discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

AngryAsWell wrote:Another burst in with a funny

#AskCarswell Ukip’s Douglas Carswell Gets Trolled Over Science Gaffe
‘How do Sardines get in the tin if the key is on the outside?’

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/u ... e52a12a1c0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;