Weds 31st December 2014 & Thurs 1st January 2015 - NEW YEAR

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 1:49 pm

Ed Miliband's New Year's message for 2015 is a brief reminder we don't have to let private monopolies continue their asset striping of the people & country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30639727" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 1:58 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:
Tonibel wrote:My New Years resolution was to sign up here properly, after two years of lurking, so I just want to say hello to all and to thank you for helping to keep me sane. (And special thanks to TGS for reminding me to reread the Hogfather, only about the fourth reading for me.)
I am another of the Bolshevik socialist republic of Wales contingent. I was rather upset to see on your terms and conditions that abusive posts are not allowed. Can't I be slightly abusive about my MP, the oleaginous fox hunter Simon Hart?
Here's hoping for 2015
Welcome Tonibel great to see you joining in

Happy New Year all!
Let the

Begin
Here's to a Labour Landslide!

(Ernst, if you're around are you going to see Ed on Monday?)

Welcome to Tonibel - abuse of other posters is bad form, abuse of sitting Tory MPs isn't a problem! Hi AAW, nah, highly unlikely unless someone can look after the WeeBundle, but we'll see.

A happy 2015 to everyone - including our lurkers! May the Tories and FibDems get what they so richly deserve, may Ed saunter into No. 10 as PM and may City win the Prem about the same time...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 2:09 pm

Afternoon all.

Very big welcome to @Tonibel. Please feel free to tell us what you think of Simon Hart - yes, he is disgustingly oily. I have just come back from his territory.

We started off 2015 as we mean to go on .... by turning up to protest against fox hunting at the first showcase meet of the Carmarthen Hunt. There we were assembled with our banners on the steps of the Guildhall in the main square. It's done me the power of good to have a good shout for an hour or so - and make sure the hunt's send off was a very noisy and far from one sided event. The hunt - such as it now is - had to assemble directly in front of us so we will be in every publicity shot and were right behind the hunt master and his main hench people. Their numbers are now so small ... I counted perhaps 12 adults on horses ... they can only put on any kind of 'show' by bringing along the pony club - toddlers on ponies - who outnumbered the adults. Pretty telling.

I was shouting SHAME and BOO at the top of my voice along with the others. The lady next to me - delightful person I hadn't met before who I think introduced herself as a teacher - was much more inventive. This refrain is a new one to me but got me giggling - especially when it's shouted very loudly right behind the hunt master and co...

These horses have two arseholes - one below the tail and another one on their back.

So we have people on horseback who have already stopped at 2 pubs - now quaffing their third large glass of wine each. The inevitable happens ... they are lurching around trying to keep control of the horse and themselves and glasses get smashed on the ground. This happened last year as well apparently. The RSPCA inspector was in there like a shot - demanding they take the hounds back, keep the horses away and get the glass cleared up. Pathetically none of them would ... the police - yes, that's right the police swept up the smashed glass for them. They eventually lurched off ... apparently having had several units of alcohol doesn't prevent you from being in charge of a large animal in a public place .... leaving behind mounds of shit, glass all around the war memorial and the image of very thin hounds desperate for some food and affection.

So feel free to say what you think @Tonibel ... and next year you might join us!

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 2:09 pm

ErnstRemarx wrote:Abuse of other posters is bad form, abuse of sitting Tory MPs isn't a problem!

In that case then here's a tweet that caught my eye

Given that David Cameron's policies are taking us back to 1815 it is a bit rich of him to say 'Supporting Labour would take the country backwards'

: david-cameron-he-s-a-twat-13972f.jpg (35.58 KiB) Viewed 11632 times

Tizme1 · Post by **Tizme1** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 2:17 pm

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to Tonibel.

My divorce took over two years during which time Bonkers ex was still living here. I won't go into all the misery that caused. On New Years Day 2004 a friend 'phoned to wish me happy new year and pointed out that would be the year I'd finally get my divorce. I was doubtful [it had already been almost two years at that point]. She was adamant and said that as most of the procedure had been gone through, even if every solicitor in Watford was struck off, it would still have to go through that year. She was right though it still took until August.

Why am I burbling on about that? Well I feel the same sense of 'this is the year'. I've just messaged the same friend to wish her happy new year and to point out, at last, it's here. The year we can get rid of the bastards! Make it so people!

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 2:26 pm

A twitter follow - 2 16 year olds started a political (based) blog
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 3:30 pm

You were only concerned about winning, not about reshaping society. So who are you to say Ed Miliband is too leftwing?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... d-miliband

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 3:30 pm

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 19: DEVON
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... s-19-devon

He has Labour gain in Plymouth Sutton & Devonport.

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 20: CORNWALL
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... um=twitter

He has St Ives going to the Conservatives - loss for Lib Dems / Andrew George. Shame if so as Andrew George is one of the OK Lib Dems re animal welfare.

daydreamer · Post by **daydreamer** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 3:32 pm

Chair of Social Integration Commission says Government has ignored impact of education policies, and calls for schools to monitor how well children from different backgrounds and ethnicities are mixing

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa ... 52374.html

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:05 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Afternoon all.

Very big welcome to @Tonibel. Please feel free to tell us what you think of Simon Hart - yes, he is disgustingly oily. I have just come back from his territory.

We started off 2015 as we mean to go on .... by turning up to protest against fox hunting at the first showcase meet of the Carmarthen Hunt. There we were assembled with our banners on the steps of the Guildhall in the main square. It's done me the power of good to have a good shout for an hour or so - and make sure the hunt's send off was a very noisy and far from one sided event. The hunt - such as it now is - had to assemble directly in front of us so we will be in every publicity shot and were right behind the hunt master and his main hench people. Their numbers are now so small ... I counted perhaps 12 adults on horses ... they can only put on any kind of 'show' by bringing along the pony club - toddlers on ponies - who outnumbered the adults. Pretty telling.

I was shouting SHAME and BOO at the top of my voice along with the others. The lady next to me - delightful person I hadn't met before who I think introduced herself as a teacher - was much more inventive. This refrain is a new one to me but got me giggling - especially when it's shouted very loudly right behind the hunt master and co...
These horses have two arseholes - one below the tail and another one on their back.
So we have people on horseback who have already stopped at 2 pubs - now quaffing their third large glass of wine each. The inevitable happens ... they are lurching around trying to keep control of the horse and themselves and glasses get smashed on the ground. This happened last year as well apparently. The RSPCA inspector was in there like a shot - demanding they take the hounds back, keep the horses away and get the glass cleared up. Pathetically none of them would ... the police - yes, that's right the police swept up the smashed glass for them. They eventually lurched off ... apparently having had several units of alcohol doesn't prevent you from being in charge of a large animal in a public place .... leaving behind mounds of shit, glass all around the war memorial and the image of very thin hounds desperate for some food and affection.

So feel free to say what you think @Tonibel ... and next year you might join us!

It is an offence to be drunk in charge of a horse (well, any large animal) but the parameters are not clearly defined in the way they are for vehicles. A guy got fined £185 for it a few years ago:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... horse.html
My Maman once had a rather eccentric elderly lady up in front of her Bench for being drunk in charge of a fox in a perambulater. She was bound over to keep the peace... She'd taken in the fox as an injured cub and it was deeply attached to her, slept on her bed and everything!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:15 pm

There are several very satisfying elements to this ... satisfying all round really.

: Last Poll of 2014.jpg (33.09 KiB) Viewed 11538 times

Karl Turner MP ‏@KarlTurnerMP 4m4 minutes ago
The last poll for #2014.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:26 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:A twitter follow - 2 16 year olds started a political (based) blog
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Hello and welcome to Whippersnapper, a news and political comment blog run by and run for young people. Apathetic no more!"

They are up to 67 followers, would love to see them up to 100 if anyone feel like following them

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:28 pm

I am not a fan of hunters, but I know people who do hunt and believe me they wouldn't behave like those twats at Carmarthen. The horse world is not uniform and even amongst the hunting fraternity you will find decent people, who act responsibly. However a combination of very wealthy people and horses seems to bring out the tossers.

As for being drunk in charge of a horse, that I think depends on the horse. I reckon I could drink five pints, get on my horse and it would take me home (as long as I am happy to sleep in its stable). Being sober the horse would avoid traffic and pedestrians. I wouldn't do this because I wouldn't want to risk injuring the horse. I know other horses where doing that would get you killed as it bolted for a laugh and dumped you off into the road.

Hunting is for nutters, they charge over fields and jump over hedges (with little idea what is on the other side). Anybody doing that after more than a pint to steady the nerves is headed for intensive care, if they are lucky.

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:36 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:A twitter follow - 2 16 year olds started a political (based) blog
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is fabulous - the blog's well worth a look.

Also on Twitter today - lots of photos from Portugal.

Their binmen are on strike, so the good people of Portugal are bagging up their rubbish and depositing on the doorsteps of banks.

Splendid stuff.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:36 pm

TechnicalEphemera wrote:I am not a fan of hunters, but I know people who do hunt and believe me they wouldn't behave like those twats at Carmarthen. The horse world is not uniform and even amongst the hunting fraternity you will find decent people, who act responsibly. However a combination of very wealthy people and horses seems to bring out the tossers.

As for being drunk in charge of a horse, that I think depends on the horse. I reckon I could drink five pints, get on my horse and it would take me home (as long as I am happy to sleep in its stable). Being sober the horse would avoid traffic and pedestrians. I wouldn't do this because I wouldn't want to risk injuring the horse. I know other horses where doing that would get you killed as it bolted for a laugh and dumped you off into the road.

Hunting is for nutters, they charge over fields and jump over hedges (with little idea what is on the other side). Anybody doing that after more than a pint to steady the nerves is headed for intensive care, if they are lucky.

I can and do believe you TE.

Carmarthen Hunt is pretty notorious. It recently split - with one faction going off and setting themselves up as a strictly within the law, not using terriers, marathon runners laying a trail without fox urine ... because their new hunt master said he was so fed up with the amount of illegal activity going on in the old bunch. If that's what they are saying about their own former hunt pals .... well

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:40 pm

Were they ever prosecuted over this Rebecca ?
Can't see that they were.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -road.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:48 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:There are several very satisfying elements to this ... satisfying all round really.
Last Poll of 2014.jpg

Karl Turner MP ‏@KarlTurnerMP 4m4 minutes ago
The last poll for #2014.

It isn't actually, its the TNS/BMRB poll which was widely quoted before Christmas. No harm in repeating it, though

(especially the LibDem score

)

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 4:52 pm

Bless him, i hope i still have half of his facilities & as much nous if i ever get close to his age ..

: ScreenShot00190.jpg (133.77 KiB) Viewed 11475 times

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 5:01 pm

Toby Latimer wrote:Bless him, i hope i still have half of his facilities & as much nous if i ever get close to his age ..
ScreenShot00190.jpg

Did someone tell him he won an FTN Groan Award?

It was my plan to join Twitter this year but it won't happen until I can either repair or replace my poor old drownded iBook and I can cope with multi-tasking again.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 5:10 pm

By the way if anybody has an interest in flying and didn't notice the video in my rant about the ignorance of Simon Calder

http://flythenest.org/viewtopic.php?p=22608#p22608

I recommend you invest some time and watch it (because I am sure AA will remove it). Brilliant presentation, and an excellent example of how to conduct honest performance analysis on your peers. Nearly 20 years old now, so Calder has had time to notice, and I rather expect a few lives have been saved.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 5:23 pm

Cybernatters on good form on CiF.

Wilfully misunderstanding the term "credible" applied to Jim Murphy.

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 5:45 pm

Hi all, just watched the City vs Sunderland game - what a treat for New Year's Day. More than I can say for the weather, which is quite unspeakable. MsRemarx is getting stuck into the final episode of The Pallisers and WB is watching something horribly Disney.

All is well with the world, until I watch the news, I imagine.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:04 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:Cybernatters on good form on CiF.

Wilfully misunderstanding the term "credible" applied to Jim Murphy.

Sir Joshua's doing a good job there

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:05 pm

yahyah wrote:Were they ever prosecuted over this Rebecca ?
Can't see that they were.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -road.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't believe they were. I will check and make sure though. Ooooh the stories I might tell ... but can't.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:12 pm

yahyah wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:Cybernatters on good form on CiF.

Wilfully misunderstanding the term "credible" applied to Jim Murphy.

Sir Joshua's doing a good job there

Cheers.

Trying to get across an argument about devolution put to me by New Puritan on Mailwatch. Osborne has been warm about it, even within England, instead of talking up the obvious "English votes" position. If you've got eg the NorthWest cutting tax to attract businesses, then other regions will have to consider it.

A dreamworld for Osborne. Scotland could be a nice test bed for it.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:18 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 19: DEVON
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... s-19-devon
He has Labour gain in Plymouth Sutton & Devonport.

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 20: CORNWALL
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... um=twitter
He has St Ives going to the Conservatives - loss for Lib Dems / Andrew George. Shame if so as Andrew George is one of the OK Lib Dems re animal welfare.

Agree with him on all of those.

Funny old world where Glos is much better off than Cornwall, but could have half its MPs being non-Con, with LAB competitive in a fourth seat. Whereas Cornwall will probably have all 6 MPs Con.

Shows the importance of decent-sized towns to Labour (the Stroud seat excepted).

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:23 pm

Jeepers...Kippers will try and squirm out of anything but seem to ignore the fact that their previous posts are further up the page.

2) Ashley Mote sat as an independent after being thrown out of UKIP. He was no longer an MEP when charged.

so...

Oh dear...
The UK Independence Party has withdrawn the whip from one of its new MEPs after it emerged he faces trial on allegations of housing benefit fraud.
A UKIP spokesman said Ashley Mote had failed to tell party managers of the impending court case.

and back he comes...

so no reflection on UKIP who expelled him OVER A DECADE AGO before he was formally charged.

Apparently now you can be facing a court case without being charged. #UKIPfacts

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:37 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:Jeepers...Kippers will try and squirm out of anything but seem to ignore the fact that their previous posts are further up the page.

2) Ashley Mote sat as an independent after being thrown out of UKIP. He was no longer an MEP when charged.
so...

Oh dear...
The UK Independence Party has withdrawn the whip from one of its new MEPs after it emerged he faces trial on allegations of housing benefit fraud.
A UKIP spokesman said Ashley Mote had failed to tell party managers of the impending court case.
and back he comes...

so no reflection on UKIP who expelled him OVER A DECADE AGO before he was formally charged.

Apparently now you can be facing a court case without being charged. #UKIPfacts

If you look at the wikipedia page about him .... it's got him and his Ukip connection / affiliation during said time periods very clearly set out. Whoever is trying to pretend he wasn't a Ukip supporter / representative when committing these offences and/or being charged with them is daft beyond belief. Blimey, they do attract some truly outstanding representatives, don't they just.

From the wikipedia entry:

An outspoken critic of fraud in the European Institutions, he himself was convicted of benefit fraud in 2007 for which he served a nine-month prison sentence and was described by the trial judge as "a truly dishonest man". The scandal ignited a debate as to how an MEP could receive a prison sentence, yet keep his seat in the European Parliament; there are currently moves afoot to review the legislation.

(my bold)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Mote

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:38 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:A twitter follow - 2 16 year olds started a political (based) blog
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Hello and welcome to Whippersnapper, a news and political comment blog run by and run for young people. Apathetic no more!"

They are up to 67 followers, would love to see them up to 100 if anyone feel like following them

Loving the Gideon pic they use

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:46 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 19: DEVON
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... s-19-devon
He has Labour gain in Plymouth Sutton & Devonport.

GENERAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS 20: CORNWALL
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/2015/01/0 ... um=twitter
He has St Ives going to the Conservatives - loss for Lib Dems / Andrew George. Shame if so as Andrew George is one of the OK Lib Dems re animal welfare.
Agree with him on all of those.

Funny old world where Glos is much better off than Cornwall, but could have half its MPs being non-Con, with LAB competitive in a fourth seat. Whereas Cornwall will probably have all 6 MPs Con.

Shows the importance of decent-sized towns to Labour (the Stroud seat excepted).

His predictions appear to have completely skirted round Somerset. I thought it might come next after Wiltshire and Glos. I agree about Cornwall. It seems wrong, somehow, a blue washout. I wonder if the Libdem vote will rally, at the end of the day? Mind you, they lost their MEP for the South-West, which was a bit of a shock, so maybe not!

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:46 pm

I've tweeted Harry to thank him and sent him a link to here.

Also - Thomas Piketty has declined the Legion D'Honneur on the grounds governments don't decide what's honourable.

Perhaps Lady?dame Woolf might give some thought to the example he has set........

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 6:56 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote: If you look at the wikipedia page about him .... it's got him and his Ukip connection / affiliation during said time periods very clearly set out. Whoever is trying to pretend he wasn't a Ukip supporter / representative when committing these offences and/or being charged with them is daft beyond belief. Blimey, they do attract some truly outstanding representatives, don't they just.

From the wikipedia entry:
An outspoken critic of fraud in the European Institutions, he himself was convicted of benefit fraud in 2007 for which he served a nine-month prison sentence and was described by the trial judge as "a truly dishonest man". The scandal ignited a debate as to how an MEP could receive a prison sentence, yet keep his seat in the European Parliament; there are currently moves afoot to review the legislation.
(my bold)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Mote

His latest go at it...

Yes, he was under investigaton and facing trial but had yet to be charged. Just like I said.

Let's hope UKIP's legal team are better than him...

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:06 pm

Willow904 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
His predictions appear to have completely skirted round Somerset. I thought it might come next after Wiltshire and Glos. I agree about Cornwall. It seems wrong, somehow, a blue washout. I wonder if the Libdem vote will rally, at the end of the day? Mind you, they lost their MEP for the South-West, which was a bit of a shock, so maybe not!

I expect Somerset is next.

Shame the best Liberal Democrat, Andrew George, is so vulnerable. Wondered if he might defect to Labour.

A clean sweep for the Tories in Kent is pretty jarring too. East Sussex can't be much worse off, but Dale predicts only 3 Con out of 8.

Gillingham and Rainham must be up there with Gloucester for voting against its own interests.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:27 pm

Somerset is next. Somerset is here.

Iain Dale @IainDale · 1m 1 minute ago
New Blog by me: General Election Predictions 21: Somerset: This is the twenty-first in a series of blogposts (... http://bit.ly/1tulzoW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Editing to add: He's predicting a Lib Dem blood bath - all except for Laws .... gnash, grrrh, double grrrh

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:29 pm

Tubby Isaacs wrote:
Willow904 wrote:
Tubby Isaacs wrote:
His predictions appear to have completely skirted round Somerset. I thought it might come next after Wiltshire and Glos. I agree about Cornwall. It seems wrong, somehow, a blue washout. I wonder if the Libdem vote will rally, at the end of the day? Mind you, they lost their MEP for the South-West, which was a bit of a shock, so maybe not!
I expect Somerset is next.

Shame the best Liberal Democrat, Andrew George, is so vulnerable. Wondered if he might defect to Labour.

A clean sweep for the Tories in Kent is pretty jarring too. East Sussex can't be much worse off, but Dale predicts only 3 Con out of 8.

Gillingham and Rainham must be up there with Gloucester for voting against its own interests.

I think Andrew George might hang on. That Tory vote isn't going up and maybe his record on the NHS will work for him.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:34 pm

I'm just imagining a rump Lib Dem party after a blood bath 2015 election ... of all the wrong Lib Dems ... Laws, Clegg ...

Sounds like that Morecambe and Wise attempt with Andre Previn and the orchestra ... all the right notes in the wrong order. But far less funny ... and I'm not sure there are even any right notes, let alone all.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:39 pm

Well, I never.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... d-miliband" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even in 2015, the Guardian can still print something we can all agree with.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:42 pm

: HarrysLastStand_TwitterBritOfTheYear.jpg (60.86 KiB) Viewed 11339 times

Debbie Abrahams retweeted
stephen jones ‏@bassmadman 3h3 hours ago
#TwitterBritOfTheYear @Harryslaststand for telling us what it could be like with five more years #ConDemNation

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:47 pm

Mike Smithson
‏@MSmithsonPB
New post. Why the Tories could need to be 10% ahead in England and Wales just to stand still http://bit.ly/1rFgu1A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 7:55 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
ephemerid wrote:I've tweeted Harry to thank him and sent him a link to here.

Also - Thomas Piketty has declined the Legion D'Honneur on the grounds governments don't decide what's honourable.

Perhaps Lady?dame Woolf might give some thought to the example he has set........
Lady Butler Sloss uwittingly summed it up for me when she asserted that Fiona Woolf deserved the Damehood because she'd been Lord Mayor of London, and implied that this sort of thing was what the honour system was for. Sorry, but shouldn't being Lord Mayor should be honour enough? And Woolf has already been given a CBE. It all smacks of Buggins' Turn. When I think of all the people I know who've done so much for their communities or for charity, completely unsung, and yet the people I do know with honours who seem to have received them for doing their jobs. And rather senior and wel paid jobs at that.

Snap. I think Honours should only be awarded to those who are doing wonderful things more or less without pecuniary award ... if you're already earning top dollar for something, you're not going above and beyond what should be expected of you to perform exceptionally well in that field.

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:18 pm

RobertSnozers wrote:
ephemerid wrote:I've tweeted Harry to thank him and sent him a link to here.

Also - Thomas Piketty has declined the Legion D'Honneur on the grounds governments don't decide what's honourable.

Perhaps Lady?dame Woolf might give some thought to the example he has set........
Lady Butler Sloss uwittingly summed it up for me when she asserted that Fiona Woolf deserved the Damehood because she'd been Lord Mayor of London, and implied that this sort of thing was what the honour system was for. Sorry, but shouldn't being Lord Mayor should be honour enough? And Woolf has already been given a CBE. It all smacks of Buggins' Turn. When I think of all the people I know who've done so much for their communities or for charity, completely unsung, and yet the people I do know with honours who seem to have received them for doing their jobs. And rather senior and wel paid jobs at that.

Think her logic is OK with peerages, because peers sit in the legislature.

But with knighthoods, that doesn't apply.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:21 pm

mbc1955 wrote:Well, I never.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... d-miliband" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even in 2015, the Guardian can still print something we can all agree with.

Maybe
But quote's like this
"....crunching my way up gravel drives past BMWs in Enfield the day Stephen Twigg ousted Michael Portillo – oh, how we cheered later that morning. But in hindsight the wrong people were voting Labour. The tent was too big and you spent the next 10 years trying to keep the wrong people in it: the very rich, for example. What meaningful project includes everyone?

I find very offensive. What right has he to dictate the size of a purse that belongs to "the right kind of person" to vote Labour? Is JK Rowling part of "the wrong" people? Am I a "wrong" person because I'm not "poor" enough - who sets the standard of "poor"?
Being rich or well off does not mean you have lost a social conscience, or didn't have one in the first place.
As for "What meaningful project includes everyone?" What an ignorant thing to say! and I'd throw it right back at him with : What meaningful project does NOT include everyone? How can it be meaningful if people (rich or poor) are not on board rooting for it, but are left out on the side-lines?
I found it a sort of inverse - and divisive - snobbery (me? I'm more left than you are, me, I am) rather than helpful, and decidedly unhelpful for those fighting in marginal, but above average affluent seats, perhaps where Labour won in 1997 and are hoping to take the seat back.
I'm no apologist for Blair (who I voted for) but take an honest look back at what was achieved, from Sure Start, minimum wage, Northern Ireland a goodly way resolved, banned fox hunting, brought over 1 million social homes up to standard, to free eye tests for over 60's (to name a very few) from the low base they inherited in 1997 (buckets catching leaks in my daughters Victorian school building) and to be fair its nowhere near as dire as people seem to believe.

http://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... we-forget/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tubby Isaacs · Post by **Tubby Isaacs** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:31 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Somerset is next. Somerset is here.

Iain Dale @IainDale · 1m 1 minute ago
New Blog by me: General Election Predictions 21: Somerset: This is the twenty-first in a series of blogposts (... http://bit.ly/1tulzoW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Editing to add: He's predicting a Lib Dem blood bath - all except for Laws .... gnash, grrrh, double grrrh

Probably right though.

Interesting to see Avon is next. Must be South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:34 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:
mbc1955 wrote:Well, I never.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... d-miliband" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even in 2015, the Guardian can still print something we can all agree with.
Maybe
But quote's like this
"....crunching my way up gravel drives past BMWs in Enfield the day Stephen Twigg ousted Michael Portillo – oh, how we cheered later that morning. But in hindsight the wrong people were voting Labour. The tent was too big and you spent the next 10 years trying to keep the wrong people in it: the very rich, for example. What meaningful project includes everyone?

I find very offensive. What right has he to dictate the size of a purse that belongs to "the right kind of person" to vote Labour? Is JK Rowling part of "the wrong" people? Am I a "wrong" person because I'm not "poor" enough - who sets the standard of "poor"?
Being rich or well off does not mean you have lost a social conscience, or didn't have one in the first place.
As for "What meaningful project includes everyone?" What an ignorant thing to say! and I'd throw it right back at him with : What meaningful project does NOT include everyone? How can it be meaningful if people (rich or poor) are not on board rooting for it, but are left out on the side-lines?
I found it a sort of inverse - and divisive - snobbery (me? I'm more left than you are, me, I am) rather than helpful, and decidedly unhelpful for those fighting in marginal, but above average affluent seats, perhaps where Labour won in 1997 and are hoping to take the seat back.
I'm no apologist for Blair (who I voted for) but take an honest look back at what was achieved, from Sure Start, minimum wage, Northern Ireland a goodly way resolved, banned fox hunting, brought over 1 million social homes up to standard, to free eye tests for over 60's (to name a very few) from the low base they inherited in 1997 (buckets catching leaks in my daughters Victorian school building) and to be fair its nowhere near as dire as people seem to believe.

http://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... we-forget/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I had a problem with this

Dear Tony Blair, maybe it’s your fault if the electorate hasn’t shifted to the left

The ways we're influenced politically, socially, economically are myriad. I understand the reason advertising is so lucrative - we're influenced by our environment & people pay a lot of money to sway public opinion. That being said, I'm unconvinced the electorate is or isn't left because of Tony Blair. I don't believe the title of the article. Strawman title. I'd have to agree the electorate isn't left. I'm not convinced the electorate isn't left. Don't hesitate to give me your thoughts, everyone.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:39 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:Somerset is next. Somerset is here.

Iain Dale @IainDale · 1m 1 minute ago
New Blog by me: General Election Predictions 21: Somerset: This is the twenty-first in a series of blogposts (... http://bit.ly/1tulzoW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Editing to add: He's predicting a Lib Dem blood bath - all except for Laws .... gnash, grrrh, double grrrh

Cheers. Much as expected. The Libdems have several MPs standing down in the area. I'm sure the Tories will be scenting blood.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 8:57 pm

George Osborne is at the margins – Labour is the centre ground
It is Osborne who faces a credibility problem. His increasingly extreme approach goes far beyond the necessary task of deficit reduction
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... rne-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is it just me or is Osborne looking a tad weirder with every photo at the moment?

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 9:04 pm

'Osborne and David Cameron say the election will be about economic competence. But there is nothing competent about borrowing over £200bn more than planned because of your failure to deliver a recovery that is felt by all working people and not just a few at the top.

It is Osborne who now faces a credibility problem. His original strategy – to balance the books by this year and go into the election having delivered tax cuts – lies in tatters. Instead he has gambled on people supporting a dramatic shrinking of the state and a £7bn promise of unfunded tax cuts which could be paid for only by another VAT rise or even deeper cuts to public services – or both. ' Ed Balls

Russbridger on holiday still?

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 9:10 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:Is it just me or is Osborne looking a tad weirder with every photo at the moment?

Bog standard news management, every bit as much as their approach to Miliband; with Ed they dig through their stock photos for weird/undignified (and usually plump for the bacon sandwich), with George they are now trotting out the pictures that make him look as though he is on the Colombian marching powder. I'm no fan of Osborne, and will admit to having the Paralympics clip bookmarked (never gets old that one), but I'm getting really hacked off with the unsubtle and patronising approach the MSM are using to feed us our daily politics; thank goodness for FTN and Twitter, two sources that are proving to be much more reliable.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 9:28 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
AngryAsWell wrote:Is it just me or is Osborne looking a tad weirder with every photo at the moment?
Bog standard news management, every bit as much as their approach to Miliband; with Ed they dig through their stock photos for weird/undignified (and usually plump for the bacon sandwich), with George they are now trotting out the pictures that make him look as though he is on the Colombian marching powder. I'm no fan of Osborne, and will admit to having the Paralympics clip bookmarked (never gets old that one), but I'm getting really hacked off with the unsubtle and patronising approach the MSM are using to feed us our daily politics; thank goodness for FTN and Twitter, two sources that are proving to be much more reliable.

Yes but well, all that to one side for a sec, he IS looking weirder -

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... f-comments" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Look at the eyes look at the eyes....)

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 01 Jan, 2015 9:54 pm

AngryAsWell wrote:George Osborne is at the margins – Labour is the centre ground
It is Osborne who faces a credibility problem. His increasingly extreme approach goes far beyond the necessary task of deficit reduction
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... rne-labour" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is it just me or is Osborne looking a tad weirder with every photo at the moment?

It's an utter troll-fest over there BTL - do they get a tweet saying "Come on - it's Ed Balls...charge!"