Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th December 2014

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 1:21 pm

Tizme1 wrote:
frightful_oik wrote:If Labour are battered in Scotland yet are still in a position to form a coalition, it means they've won in E&W. Incidentally Esther McVey is one of the Tories opposed to hunting.
Well - even a stopped clock etc

Funny that. Compassion for animals, but not for fellow humans.

Tizme1 · Post by **Tizme1** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 1:26 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
Tizme1 wrote:
frightful_oik wrote:If Labour are battered in Scotland yet are still in a position to form a coalition, it means they've won in E&W. Incidentally Esther McVey is one of the Tories opposed to hunting.
Well - even a stopped clock etc
Funny that. Compassion for animals, but not for fellow humans.

Probably class war doncha know. She's a bit of a screecher - wouldn't fit in with the hunting crowd.

Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up btw.

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 1:29 pm

Tizme1 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Afternoon all.
I had an interesting time yesterday evening on Twitter. Was having a lovely discussion with Michael White and Ivan about people not learning from history, when a Kipper stuck his nose in and started on about emigration. I told him he was off topic and to butt out I didn't want to read his rubbish, then I said I'd changed my mind and to carry on, we needed a good laugh, and the more he put his message out there the more it would turn people off.

He didn't like that and tried to best me; said for an old lady I was being very nasty. Once upon a time I wouldn't say boo to goose, but having reached my dotage that's the point. Because I am old I don't suffer fools gladly. After a lot of insults, I told him I could keep it up all night so why didn't he piss off --- and he did. Whippersnapper

I'm not sure what Michael White thought. He'd just said I was far too nice to be a raging lefty.

.
*chuckle*

Excellent Ohso. A friend of mine is very concerned about immigration [ironic given she's Australian]. I have put her off the idea of even considering UKIP by pointing out they are in favour of fracking which she is vehemently opposed to. The subject of the EU and immigration raised its head again last Monday when I was pointing out the fact we have free movement of capital and she is fighting the wrong 'enemy'. I'm just about to send her a link to the article below.............

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... home-sites" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... melessness

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/genera ... 4/111214_3

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 1:39 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Daughter who lives in Florida has just rung. Her husband is away on a trip. She got up to let the dogs out in the morning, and as she passed their office saw alcohol bottles scattered around, a bloke sat in the desk chair with his willy in his hand, snoring his head off and with porn playing on her computer.

She crept out, called the cops five of them arrived and they took him into custody. They woke him up, then pepper sprayed him.

Three dogs that hadn't made a peep and a house full of guns [her husbands a right wing gun nut].

The silly cow had left a window open.

I'm so glad I live in England. It's not good these days, but not that bad.

Wonder if they let him put it away before they pepper sprayed him?

Sorry - ho, ho, ho, indeed.

Sad thing is though Ohso - it is that bad for some here - heard a Radio 4 programme about people addicted to porn and the effect it has on their partners, marriages, families, work etc .... not good, not good at all.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 1:40 pm

Tizme1 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:
Tizme1 wrote: Well - even a stopped clock etc
Funny that. Compassion for animals, but not for fellow humans.
Probably class war doncha know. She's a bit of a screecher - wouldn't fit in with the hunting crowd.

Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up btw.

Screeching would fit in fine ... but glad McVey has at least one redeeming feature. I hope she's going to need them after May 7th.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:04 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Tizme1 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote: Funny that. Compassion for animals, but not for fellow humans.
Probably class war doncha know. She's a bit of a screecher - wouldn't fit in with the hunting crowd.

Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up btw.
Screeching would fit in fine ... but glad McVey has at least one redeeming feature. I hope she's going to need them after May 7th.

Even Hitler was nice to dogs, apparently

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:04 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Daughter who lives in Florida has just rung. Her husband is away on a trip. She got up to let the dogs out in the morning, and as she passed their office saw alcohol bottles scattered around, a bloke sat in the desk chair with his willy in his hand, snoring his head off and with porn playing on her computer.

She crept out, called the cops five of them arrived and they took him into custody. They woke him up, then pepper sprayed him.

Three dogs that hadn't made a peep and a house full of guns [her husbands a right wing gun nut].

The silly cow had left a window open.

I'm so glad I live in England. It's not good these days, but not that bad.
Wonder if they let him put it away before they pepper sprayed him?

Sorry - ho, ho, ho, indeed.

Sad thing is though Ohso - it is that bad for some here - heard a Radio 4 programme about people addicted to porn and the effect it has on their partners, marriages, families, work etc .... not good, not good at all.

It isn't the first time he's broken into a house and he's known in the area.

Daughter says she's pretty sure they sprayed his willy too. She said he made a lot of noise.

Now she has to clean up the study. Rubber gloves and disinfectant time...

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:08 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Daughter who lives in Florida has just rung. Her husband is away on a trip. She got up to let the dogs out in the morning, and as she passed their office saw alcohol bottles scattered around, a bloke sat in the desk chair with his willy in his hand, snoring his head off and with porn playing on her computer.

She crept out, called the cops five of them arrived and they took him into custody. They woke him up, then pepper sprayed him.

Three dogs that hadn't made a peep and a house full of guns [her husbands a right wing gun nut].

The silly cow had left a window open.

I'm so glad I live in England. It's not good these days, but not that bad.
Wonder if they let him put it away before they pepper sprayed him?

Sorry - ho, ho, ho, indeed.

Sad thing is though Ohso - it is that bad for some here - heard a Radio 4 programme about people addicted to porn and the effect it has on their partners, marriages, families, work etc .... not good, not good at all.
It isn't the first time he's broken into a house and he's known in the area.

Daughter says she's pretty sure they sprayed his willy too. She said he made a lot of noise.

Now she has to clean up the study. Rubber gloves and disinfectant time...

Yuk!

I don't envy her. The main thing though is that she is okay and unharmed.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:09 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Daughter who lives in Florida has just rung. Her husband is away on a trip. She got up to let the dogs out in the morning, and as she passed their office saw alcohol bottles scattered around, a bloke sat in the desk chair with his willy in his hand, snoring his head off and with porn playing on her computer.

She crept out, called the cops five of them arrived and they took him into custody. They woke him up, then pepper sprayed him.

Three dogs that hadn't made a peep and a house full of guns [her husbands a right wing gun nut].

The silly cow had left a window open.

I'm so glad I live in England. It's not good these days, but not that bad.
Wonder if they let him put it away before they pepper sprayed him?

Sorry - ho, ho, ho, indeed.

Sad thing is though Ohso - it is that bad for some here - heard a Radio 4 programme about people addicted to porn and the effect it has on their partners, marriages, families, work etc .... not good, not good at all.
It isn't the first time he's broken into a house and he's known in the area.

Daughter says she's pretty sure they sprayed his willy too. She said he made a lot of noise.

Now she has to clean up the study. Rubber gloves and disinfectant time...

A noise like he might have been enjoying it, in a Max Mosley (or Gideon Osborne) sort of way

?

Tizme1 · Post by **Tizme1** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:23 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Tizme1 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote: Funny that. Compassion for animals, but not for fellow humans.
Probably class war doncha know. She's a bit of a screecher - wouldn't fit in with the hunting crowd.

Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up btw.
Screeching would fit in fine ... but glad McVey has at least one redeeming feature. I hope she's going to need them after May 7th.

Surely 'braying' is more appropriate than screeching? McVey is one of those that I'm most hoping to see the back of in May.

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 2:25 pm

I notice Dan is on-line. The roads okay? Hopefully you had a stress free trip (assuming trip has already taken place).

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 3:19 pm

Thank you Tom Pride.

Did you know that 80% of rural Britain is AGAINST fox hunting?
http://tompride.wordpress.com/
We’re constantly told the debate about hunting is a matter of rural opinion vs urban opinion.

Well not according to this opinion poll by IPSOS MORI.

According to their survey, exactly the same percentage of rural inhabitants – 80% – are against fox hunting as urban inhabitants – also 80%.

And even more surprisingly, slightly more people who live in the country (89% and 94%) are against hare coursing and badger baiting than townies (87% and 92%)...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 3:57 pm

The latest election seat by seat predictions from Iain Dale:

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 7: BERKSHIRE
http://iaindale.com/posts/2014/12/26/ge ... -berkshire

He's predicting Conservative holds in all their current seats - and Labour hold in Slough. I'd like him to be proved wrong in Reading West.

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 8: KENT (PART 1)
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2014/12/2 ... um=twitter

He has Conservatives hanging on the lot ... including Tracey Crouch in Chatham & Aylesford

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 9: KENT (PART 2)
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2014/12/2 ... um=twitter

He's saying Ukip - i.e. Farage - will win South Thanet.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:10 pm

Based on local election results, Labour are far from out of it in both Reading seats.

I expect Farage to win in S Thanet, despite that recent Ashcroft poll there.

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:19 pm

Whenever Thanet is mentioned I am magically transported back to 1977 and the lyrics to Ian Dury's ditty . It quite suits Farridge.

I'd rendezvous with Janet
Quite near the Isle of Thanet
She looked more like a gannet
She wasn't half a prannet

Her mother tried to ban it
Her father helped me plan it
And when I captured Janet
She bruised her pomegranate

So you ask Joyce and Vicki
If I ever shaped up tricky
I'm not a blooming thicky
I'm Billericay Dickie and I'm doing very well

[youtube]8gyhFa22G6U[/youtube]

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:42 pm

Toby Latimer wrote:Whenever Thanet is mentioned I am magically transported back to 1977 and the lyrics to Ian Dury's ditty . It quite suits Farridge.
I'd rendezvous with Janet
Quite near the Isle of Thanet
She looked more like a gannet
She wasn't half a prannet

Her mother tried to ban it
Her father helped me plan it
And when I captured Janet
She bruised her pomegranate

So you ask Joyce and Vicki
If I ever shaped up tricky
I'm not a blooming thicky
I'm Billericay Dickie and I'm doing very well

[youtube]8gyhFa22G6U[/youtube]

Snap - so am I Toby. We must be of a similar age. Thanet is forever an automatic Ian Dury prompt ...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:44 pm

Julie Bailey is being given another airing in a Radio 4 special - i.e. reruns of old broadcast stuff - on the Womens Hour power list of 2014 on now.

I could do without her output on a day when I already feel less than cheery.

Post by **refitman** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:57 pm

Thanks for all the weather warnings. Have made it home (north of Sheffield) with just a bit of sliding. Now to get the house warm.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:59 pm

refitman wrote:Thanks for all the weather warnings. Have made it home (north of Sheffield) with just a bit of sliding. Now to get the house warm.

Good to hear. Hope you've got something to warm the inner person as well.

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 4:59 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Julie Bailey is being given another airing in a Radio 4 special - i.e. reruns of old broadcast stuff - on the Womens Hour power list of 2014 on now.

I could do without her output on a day when I already feel less than cheery.

Julie Bailey

Here Rebecca

How This Club Giving Young People Confidence Reminds Me What Christmas Is Really About

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rachel- ... iving-back

The project gave presents to around 300 kids last year and also offers Christmas food hampers to families who are struggling to put food on their table, while also giving gifts to elderly residents spending Christmas alone.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/12 ... iving-back

Our young people.

Millions Of Youths Have Taken Part In Campaigning And Volunteering In 2014

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11 ... iving-back

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 5:01 pm

refitman wrote:Thanks for all the weather warnings. Have made it home (north of Sheffield) with just a bit of sliding. Now to get the house warm.

Great to hear.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 5:01 pm

Mary Creagh MP ‏@marycreagh_mp 7m7 minutes ago
Took friends 5 hours to travel Wakefield/ Finsbury Park today. Total shambles from Network Rail. Where r Govt ministers? Foxhunting no doubt

Jane Smith ‏@oldlefty47 6m6 minutes ago
@marycreagh_mp That was yesterday, today they fly off to sunnier climes.

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 5:04 pm

Bye all.

@ Rebecca - hope things are sunnier for you tomorrow.

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 5:07 pm

yahyah wrote:This is what passes for political satire these days ?

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/d ... t-45429952" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Couldn't do much of that, I'm afraid, life's just too precious! I'm at a loss as to why it has been published at all. It's like posh trolling.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:14 pm

seeingclearly wrote:
yahyah wrote:This is what passes for political satire these days ?

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/d ... t-45429952" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Couldn't do much of that, I'm afraid, life's just too precious! I'm at a loss as to why it has been published at all. It's like posh trolling.

Whilst I'm not going to defend this piece of garbage at all, I think a certain degree of perspective is called for. This is one of a series of six pieces appearing in the Saturday Magazine as part of an End-of-Year special, each of which take incidents from 2014 and produce short fictional accounts of what clearly didn't happen in real life. It's not a one-off directed at Ed Milliband in isolation, and we don't do ourselves any proper service if we kick off at it as something specifically targeted.

We do not set ourselves up as objective objectors to the right's lies and misleadings if we go around doing exactly the same thing they do.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:17 pm

mbc1955 wrote:
seeingclearly wrote:
yahyah wrote:This is what passes for political satire these days ?

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/d ... t-45429952" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Couldn't do much of that, I'm afraid, life's just too precious! I'm at a loss as to why it has been published at all. It's like posh trolling.
Whilst I'm not going to defend this piece of garbage at all, I think a certain degree of perspective is called for. This is one of a series of six pieces appearing in the Saturday Magazine as part of an End-of-Year special, each of which take incidents from 2014 and produce short fictional accounts of what clearly didn't happen in real life. It's not a one-off directed at Ed Milliband in isolation, and we don't do ourselves any proper service if we kick off at it as something specifically targeted.

We do not set ourselves up as objective objectors to the right's lies and misleadings if we go around doing exactly the same thing they do.

Fair enough, but it is still poor writing from someone supposed to be a professional.
It isn't funny, it isn't insightful, it isn't good satire, it isn't good fiction.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:31 pm

yahyah wrote:
mbc1955 wrote:
seeingclearly wrote: Couldn't do much of that, I'm afraid, life's just too precious! I'm at a loss as to why it has been published at all. It's like posh trolling.
Whilst I'm not going to defend this piece of garbage at all, I think a certain degree of perspective is called for. This is one of a series of six pieces appearing in the Saturday Magazine as part of an End-of-Year special, each of which take incidents from 2014 and produce short fictional accounts of what clearly didn't happen in real life. It's not a one-off directed at Ed Milliband in isolation, and we don't do ourselves any proper service if we kick off at it as something specifically targeted.

We do not set ourselves up as objective objectors to the right's lies and misleadings if we go around doing exactly the same thing they do.
Fair enough, but it is still poor writing from someone supposed to be a professional.
It isn't funny, it isn't insightful, it isn't good satire, it isn't good fiction.

Well, it's in the Guardian's Saturday Magazine. You know, the one that re-designed itself to drop Lucy Mangan and replace her with Sophie Heawood. That replaced Jess Cartner-Morley's professionally produced, studio-based fashion photos with pseudo-selfies indoors in which you can barely make out what she's wearing. That still employs Tim Dowling.

You were expecting...?

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:37 pm

Everyone OK? Been out to see some of MsRemarx' relatives today - not an interesting day, but at least I was well fed. No point stressing about the 'disaster for Miliband' stuff about Labour in Scotland; Labour won in 97 (and subsequent elections) without the need for a Scottish majority, and of course it's in the Graun's interests to slag off Labour so as to avoid talking about the electoral apocalypse just about to engulf their little yellow chums. Funny how they tend not to print any articles on that subject, not least from the Scottish angle. Perhaps that might be seen as being insufficiently supportive for Cleggy?

Forget it. England is where Labour needs to do well. Here in Bury North, I'm told that recent polling gives us a 9% lead, and 13% in Bury South. It's seats like Bury North that Labour must capture to form government, and it's looking like they will. Concentrate on the national intention and English seats, since that's where the battle will be won or lost. And If Labour do badly in Scotland, I'll be happy to allow Scotland an independence referendum every fortnight until they get the 'yes' that many apparently want, in the face of all logic and economic reason. After which, once that bed has been made, the people of Scotland will have the rest of time to rue their choices.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:38 pm

mbc1955 wrote:
yahyah wrote:
mbc1955 wrote: Whilst I'm not going to defend this piece of garbage at all, I think a certain degree of perspective is called for. This is one of a series of six pieces appearing in the Saturday Magazine as part of an End-of-Year special, each of which take incidents from 2014 and produce short fictional accounts of what clearly didn't happen in real life. It's not a one-off directed at Ed Milliband in isolation, and we don't do ourselves any proper service if we kick off at it as something specifically targeted.

We do not set ourselves up as objective objectors to the right's lies and misleadings if we go around doing exactly the same thing they do.
Fair enough, but it is still poor writing from someone supposed to be a professional.
It isn't funny, it isn't insightful, it isn't good satire, it isn't good fiction.
Well, it's in the Guardian's Saturday Magazine. You know, the one that re-designed itself to drop Lucy Mangan and replace her with Sophie Heawood. That replaced Jess Cartner-Morley's professionally produced, studio-based fashion photos with pseudo-selfies indoors in which you can barely make out what she's wearing. That still employs Tim Dowling.

You were expecting...?

I'll quit moaning

howsillyofme1 · Post by **howsillyofme1** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:43 pm

Hi all

Hoping you have had a good Christmas one and all

Hello from snowy Switzerland - 1st major snow of the year and at last the locals will stop moaning now! Roads will be chaos though cos of all the foreign tourists on summer tyres blocking the roads! I live 45 minutes from the resorts but fortunately live on the plain so things should be a bit easier than in the mountains

Flying back to UK tomorrow night (weather will have calmed by then) and spending a few days in the Forest of Dean - looking forward to it!

See the Tories are still contemptible and have been again amazed by the lack of opinion from MSM on the travel chaos when it was all Labour's fault in previous years - funny that....the weight of Leveson lies heavy on their shoulders me thinks

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 6:53 pm

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:20 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:Everyone OK? Been out to see some of MsRemarx' relatives today - not an interesting day, but at least I was well fed. No point stressing about the 'disaster for Miliband' stuff about Labour in Scotland; Labour won in 97 (and subsequent elections) without the need for a Scottish majority, and of course it's in the Graun's interests to slag off Labour so as to avoid talking about the electoral apocalypse just about to engulf their little yellow chums. Funny how they tend not to print any articles on that subject, not least from the Scottish angle. Perhaps that might be seen as being insufficiently supportive for Cleggy?

Forget it. England is where Labour needs to do well. Here in Bury North, I'm told that recent polling gives us a 9% lead, and 13% in Bury South. It's seats like Bury North that Labour must capture to form government, and it's looking like they will. Concentrate on the national intention and English seats, since that's where the battle will be won or lost. And If Labour do badly in Scotland, I'll be happy to allow Scotland an independence referendum every fortnight until they get the 'yes' that many apparently want, in the face of all logic and economic reason. After which, once that bed has been made, the people of Scotland will have the rest of time to rue their choices.

Consider yourself kissed Ernst.

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:30 pm

Britain's Green Party surge
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/featur ... 36479.html

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:35 pm

I can now announce that I am feeling substantially cheered up by a combination of FTN well wishes, Ernst's typically straightforward fighting talk post and the order I have just placed for lovely optimistic garden things ... These are the first things I will need to get on with sowing and planting in 2015. I realise this will not make sense to the non gardening folk on here ... but choosing and ordering a large batch of shallot sets ... and, even more so, sweet pea seeds ... is a delicious, spirit lifting pursuit for a dark December or January evening. Even if it does involve spending money.

And to make things better - whichever one of the dogs has been farting like a trooper all day - stinking out the kitchen - seems to have stopped. I've got my strong suspicions which one it was ... he's not going to be sitting near me tonight.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:48 pm

Further cheered up by Danny Blanchflower being on a roll with telling DFHodges where to get off .... selection of tweets below:

Danny Blanchflower @D_Blanchflower · 7h 7 hours ago
@dpjhodges The same "I hate EM" for the 123rd time in 2014 boring snoring
get a life mate
http://fw.to/4MwOF1Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Danny Blanchflower retweeted
Roy Allen @Roy_Allen · 7h 7 hours ago
@D_Blanchflower @DPJHodges It's incredible. Never have I seen a commentator's career solely based on bile directed towards one person,

Danny Blanchflower @D_Blanchflower · 6h 6 hours ago
Interestingly @dpjhodges has given up writing his only other column 'Labour is going to lose"all he has left is his other column "I hate EM"

Danny Blanchflower
‏@D_Blanchflower
@dejavousagain @awasku @DPJHodges he is a big partisan twisted cry baby

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:55 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
ErnstRemarx wrote:Everyone OK? Been out to see some of MsRemarx' relatives today - not an interesting day, but at least I was well fed. No point stressing about the 'disaster for Miliband' stuff about Labour in Scotland; Labour won in 97 (and subsequent elections) without the need for a Scottish majority, and of course it's in the Graun's interests to slag off Labour so as to avoid talking about the electoral apocalypse just about to engulf their little yellow chums. Funny how they tend not to print any articles on that subject, not least from the Scottish angle. Perhaps that might be seen as being insufficiently supportive for Cleggy?

Forget it. England is where Labour needs to do well. Here in Bury North, I'm told that recent polling gives us a 9% lead, and 13% in Bury South. It's seats like Bury North that Labour must capture to form government, and it's looking like they will. Concentrate on the national intention and English seats, since that's where the battle will be won or lost. And If Labour do badly in Scotland, I'll be happy to allow Scotland an independence referendum every fortnight until they get the 'yes' that many apparently want, in the face of all logic and economic reason. After which, once that bed has been made, the people of Scotland will have the rest of time to rue their choices.
Consider yourself kissed Ernst.

You're a sweet bird and no mistake!

ChrisDean · Post by **ChrisDean** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:56 pm

howsillyofme1 wrote:Hi all

Hoping you have had a good Christmas one and all

Hello from snowy Switzerland - 1st major snow of the year and at last the locals will stop moaning now! Roads will be chaos though cos of all the foreign tourists on summer tyres blocking the roads! I live 45 minutes from the resorts but fortunately live on the plain so things should be a bit easier than in the mountains

Flying back to UK tomorrow night (weather will have calmed by then) and spending a few days in the Forest of Dean - looking forward to it!

See the Tories are still contemptible and have been again amazed by the lack of opinion from MSM on the travel chaos when it was all Labour's fault in previous years - funny that....the weight of Leveson lies heavy on their shoulders me thinks

ChrisDean · Post by **ChrisDean** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 7:58 pm

The weather here in the Dean is forecast to be sunny and cold.

Enjoy.

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 8:14 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:I can now announce that I am feeling substantially cheered up by a combination of FTN well wishes, Ernst's typically straightforward fighting talk post and the order I have just placed for lovely optimistic garden things ... These are the first things I will need to get on with sowing and planting in 2015. I realise this will not make sense to the non gardening folk on here ... but choosing and ordering a large batch of shallot sets ... and, even more so, sweet pea seeds ... is a delicious, spirit lifting pursuit for a dark December or January evening. Even if it does involve spending money.

And to make things better - whichever one of the dogs has been farting like a trooper all day - stinking out the kitchen - seems to have stopped. I've got my strong suspicions which one it was ... he's not going to be sitting near me tonight.

I just call stuff as I see it. I don't give a monkey's about what 'London thinks', as that won't be buttering any parsnips up this way. It's in the constituencies that the election will be won or lost, and that's down to activism, and even I would rather have a crap Labour MP than a crap Tory one. It *is* about England and then it's the marginals list, and that's why Cashcroft polls there rather than St Helens or Surrey Central where the result's a foregone conclusion.

So be cheerful. December's crap enough without giving into gloom. I used to be the worst, most short tempered, manically depressed, miserable, jealous and appalling person on the planet (some would say I still am), but it took a long hard look at myself, following surgery for congenital problems to make me realise what a wanker I'd been and how lucky I was that MsRemarx hadn't fucked off some years previously. I vowed that, no matter the provocation, I would never let myself adopt such an attitude ever again, and with the odd slip I suspect I've managed it. Drugs help (joke!), but loving yourself and realising that even if the worst happens, you can handle it, and you really, really would are the answer.

People tell me I'm unflappable and the sort of person they'd turn to in a crisis; they must be clinically insane: I'm the *last* person I'd turn to in a crisis! What I am though, is thoroughly dispassionate when I need to be - if you remember me posting about the adoption day in March 2014, you'll probably get that in spades - and a shit stirring meeja that hates Labour and hates Miliband with an inchoate rage is something that you simply have to accept. They're establishment, all of them, and they're there to protect that establishment's interests: that's why they loved New Labour.

But this Labour, if Miliband gets in and then purges the execrable remnants of "New Labour", might just prove to be the sort of force for good that's been missing in the UK for decades. As the horrors of a newly evangelised right wing Tory party and their sleazy mates in UKIP highlight the disaster that might befall this country, and as the FibDems disappear up their own fundaments, still puzzled as to why people loathe their bones, there's a stirring in the country that the meeja can't get a handle on.

The Greens are undoubtedly on the rise, although are not yet fully formed or appreciated, and certainly linger at the edges of the meeja's radar. But there is actually something in Labour that the meeja is very keen to ignore, and that is what it's likely to do and how that might change the UK. The 'they have no policies' crap is nonsense and you only have to have a look at what has already been proposed to realise that 2015 might be a very big year for the UK.

All we have to do is to make the effort and refuse to despair.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 8:27 pm

Got to this via Lib Dem Voice ... blog from an SNP activist who has been refused / barred from becoming one of their PPCs.

Disbarred
by craig on December 27, 2014
Upset and depressed after being barred from the SNP candidates’ register by the hierarchy for “lack of commitment to group discipline”.

I was asked at assessment whether, as part of a Westminster deal with another party, I would agree to vote for the bedroom tax if instructed by the Party. I replied “No.” End of SNP political career. Problem is, I really believed we were building a different kind of politics in Scotland. I also knew that a simple lie would get me in, but I couldn’t bring myself to utter it...
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/

There's quite a lot more on his experience and views on how and why the SNP operates as it does.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 8:43 pm

You may only call stuff as you see it EM, but it's great to read.

After recently going to a talk on the great Bill Shankly I was thinking how many of his quotes (like the one below) are in a similar vein to what Pope Francis has been saying this past year.
"The socialism I believe in is not really politics. It is a way of living. It is humanity. I believe the only way to live and to be truly successful is by collective effort, with everyone working for each other, everyone helping each other, and everyone having a share of the rewards at the end of the day."

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 9:36 pm

Evening all

Britain’s first-time voters: pro-EU, socially liberal – and no fans of Farage

May 2015 election could be decided by 3 million young voters who are optimistic, tolerant and heavily favour Labour

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... age-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 9:46 pm

Roy Bailey retweeted
Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 6 mins6 minutes ago
First-time voters (Guardian/ICM):
LAB: 41%
CON: 26%
GRN: 19%
LD: 6%
UKIP: 3%
SNP: 2%

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 9:57 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 23 mins23 minutes ago
Farage bottom of Opinium approval ratings for 1st time voters

Farage -51%
Clegg -44%
Miliband -18%
Cameron -6%

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 9:59 pm

Davidgeorgeking retweeted
Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 9 mins9 minutes ago
First-time voters (Guardian/Opinium): The Human Rights Act?

Keep it in its current form: 65%
Repeal it: 17%
None of the Above: 18%

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 10:00 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Evening all
Britain’s first-time voters: pro-EU, socially liberal – and no fans of Farage

May 2015 election could be decided by 3 million young voters who are optimistic, tolerant and heavily favour Labour

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... age-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It took precisely 3 minutes for the UKIP troll to post.

FidesEtRatio
27 December 2014 8:59pm

Recommend
25
In actual fact, UKIP are picking up a large proportion of votes from people who have never voted for 20 years and beyond. UKIP is encouraging voter participation and democratic contribution and is to be applauded for that. For what it is worth, many of my young friends and family will be voting UKIP, independent of what polls say about young people.

Do they have supporters sitting around pressing <reload> until a story mentioning UKIP comes up?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 10:00 pm

George Foulkes retweeted
Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 15 mins15 minutes ago
First-time voters (Guardian/Opinium):

LAB: 41%
CON: 26%
GRN: 19%
LD: 6%
UKIP: 3%
SNP: 2%

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 10:11 pm

George Foulkes retweeted
Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 16 mins16 minutes ago
First-time voters (Guardian/Opinium): Would you say our membership of the EU is generally a good or bad thing?

Good: 62%
Bad: 15%

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 10:25 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Evening all
Britain’s first-time voters: pro-EU, socially liberal – and no fans of Farage

May 2015 election could be decided by 3 million young voters who are optimistic, tolerant and heavily favour Labour

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... age-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It took precisely 3 minutes for the UKIP troll to post.

FidesEtRatio
27 December 2014 8:59pm

Recommend
25
In actual fact, UKIP are picking up a large proportion of votes from people who have never voted for 20 years and beyond. UKIP is encouraging voter participation and democratic contribution and is to be applauded for that. For what it is worth, many of my young friends and family will be voting UKIP, independent of what polls say about young people.
Do they have supporters sitting around pressing <reload> until a story mentioning UKIP comes up?

(Bold added above). And as we all know, one's own limited circle of people who think like one is always a much more reliable political bellweather than anything under the sun. So it must be true.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Sat 27 Dec, 2014 10:35 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Roy Bailey retweeted
Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 6 mins6 minutes ago
First-time voters (Guardian/ICM):
LAB: 41%
CON: 26%
GRN: 19%
LD: 6%
UKIP: 3%
SNP: 2%

Individual voter registration and the low young turnout diminish this good news somewhat.