Wednesday 18th February 2015

Post by **refitman** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 7:17 am

Morning all. Labour lead at 1 point on Yougov:

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 17th February -

Con 33%, (+1)
Lab 34%, (+2)
LD 6%, (nc)
UKIP 15%, (-1)
GRN 7%; (-1)

APP -20 (+1)

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 7:27 am

refitman wrote:Morning all. Labour lead at 1 point on Yougov:

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 17th February -

Con 33%, (+1)
Lab 34%, (+2)
LD 6%, (nc)
UKIP 15%, (-1)
GRN 7%; (-1)

APP -20 (+1)

Still not as high as I'd like. Conservatives and Labour core vote must be around 30%?

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 7:57 am

StephenDolan wrote:
refitman wrote:Morning all. Labour lead at 1 point on Yougov:

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 17th February -

Con 33%, (+1)
Lab 34%, (+2)
LD 6%, (nc)
UKIP 15%, (-1)
GRN 7%; (-1)

APP -20 (+1)
Still not as high as I'd like. Conservatives and Labour core vote must be around 30%?

If the banks are able to sway the press and the press narrative so simply then do you really expect polls to be anywhere near accurate?

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 8:24 am

Morning!

I missed this one yesterday. Apologies if it has already been "done"

Risky business, reading your speech from a script. The danger lies in slipping into autopilot. A moment’s lapse in concentration is all it takes for misfortune to strike.
It happened to David Cameron today, as he delivered his big speech about benefits. He’d just reached the part about his admiration for “Britain’s amazing carers”.
These are “the people who are up early and up late,” read out the Prime Minister smoothly. “Giving their loved ones medication. Washing them. Cooking them.”

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

Toby Latimer · Post by **Toby Latimer** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 8:35 am

: ScreenShot00227.jpg (37.99 KiB) Viewed 14004 times

: ScreenShot00228.jpg (39.24 KiB) Viewed 14004 times

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:05 am

CJA's adaptation
If the country votes as today's TNS 7% LAB lead poll Ed Miliband would have overall majority however our Scottish friends vote.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:07 am

Good-morning, comrades.
It's a beautiful day.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:18 am

From the OpenDemocracy link Robert posted in his comment up the thread, the author indicates it's the Guardian's unique business structure allowing the news outlet greater independence from other forces threatening the integrity of the information published.

The sole shareholder in Guardian Media Group, the Trust was created in 1936 to safeguard the journalistic freedom and liberal values of the Guardian. In 2008 it became a limited company, with the same protections for the Guardian enshrined in its constitution. Its core purpose is to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity.

Rather than benefiting shareholders or a proprietor, GMG’s profits are reinvested to sustain journalism that is free from commercial or political interference, and to uphold a set of values laid down by CP Scott, the great Manchester Guardian editor.

The remit of the Trust’s charitable arm, the Guardian Foundation, reflects the Trust’s aims of promoting press freedom and meeting its responsibilities to the community.

http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/the-scott-trust/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:22 am

Morning all...breaking news.

HSBC: Swiss bank searched as officials launch money-laundering inquiry

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/fe ... ng-inquiry

Prosecutors in Geneva have announced a money-laundering investigation into the Swiss private banking subsidiary of HSBC.

Officials searched the bank’s premises in the Swiss capital on Wednesday.

The investigation was launched in the wake of revelations that the bank turned a blind eye to illegal activities of arms dealers and traders in blood diamond traders while helping wealthy individuals evade taxes.

In a statement, Geneva prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into suspected aggravated money laundering against the subsidiary and against persons unknown.

Prosecutors said the investigation stemmed from “the recent published revelations” about the private bank.

This story ain't goin' away anytime soon no matter how much the Tories want it to...or the Telegraph for that matter.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:27 am

PMQs today

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:30 am

citizenJA wrote:PMQs today

Not today - Parliament is in recess and it's half term...as I noticed from the number of kids at the pool yesterday afternoon. (I did know already)

Post by **refitman** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:31 am

RobertSnozers wrote:Is FTN still looking for tweeters?

Hi Robert. The more help, the merrier. I have PM'd you the twitter details.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:36 am

Yanis Varoufakis
Current Finance Minister of Greece
January 2015 general election, elected to the Greek parliament, representing SYRIZA
Wednesday 18 February 2015

He writes:

In 2008, capitalism had its second global spasm. The financial crisis set off a chain reaction that pushed Europe into a downward spiral that continues to this day. Europe’s present situation is not merely a threat for workers, for the dispossessed, for the bankers, for social classes or, indeed, nations. No, Europe’s current posture poses a threat to civilisation as we know it.

If my prognosis is correct, and we are not facing just another cyclical slump soon to be overcome, the question that arises for radicals is this: should we welcome this crisis of European capitalism as an opportunity to replace it with a better system? Or should we be so worried about it as to embark upon a campaign for stabilising European capitalism?

To me, the answer is clear. Europe’s crisis is far less likely to give birth to a better alternative to capitalism than it is to unleash dangerously regressive forces that have the capacity to cause a humanitarian bloodbath, while extinguishing the hope for any progressive moves for generations to come.

For this view I have been accused, by well-meaning radical voices, of being “defeatist” and of trying to save an indefensible European socioeconomic system. This criticism, I confess, hurts. And it hurts because it contains more than a kernel of truth.

I share the view that this European Union is typified by a large democratic deficit that, in combination with the denial of the faulty architecture of its monetary union, has put Europe’s peoples on a path to permanent recession. And I also bow to the criticism that I have campaigned on an agenda founded on the assumption that the left was, and remains, squarely defeated. I confess I would much rather be promoting a radical agenda, the raison d’être of which is to replace European capitalism with a different system.

Yet my aim here is instead to offer a window into my view of a repugnant European capitalism whose implosion, despite its many ills, should be avoided at all costs. It is a confession intended to convince radicals that we have a contradictory mission: to arrest the freefall of European capitalism in order to buy the time we need to formulate its alternative.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/fe ... ic-marxist" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:41 am

RogerOThornhill wrote:
citizenJA wrote:PMQs today
Not today - Parliament is in recess and it's half term...as I noticed from the number of kids at the pool yesterday afternoon. (I did know already)

Thank you, Roger, it's a full-time job keeping tabs on our representatives & current affairs. I'll get back to colour coding my UK Parliament e-mail updates.

edited for spelling/grammar mistake

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:54 am

RobertSnozers wrote:Is FTN still looking for tweeters?

Yes! I'll DM you Robert

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 9:58 am

Oh as usual Refitman beat me to it

Thanks Robert.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:02 am

RobertSnozers wrote:Is FTN still looking for tweeters?

Paul said he'd be a bit tied up with work so would be glad of any help. I'll speak for him and say the more the merrier.

Edited to add...Damn, late again

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:19 am

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 9 mins9 minutes ago
In polls since Monday UKIP have ranged from 3 times the LDs share, TNS, to 1% behind, ICM #pollercoaster

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:33 am

Val Foster retweeted
Are We All Asleep ? ‏@demindblower 2 hrs2 hours ago

Nigel Farage to join Sarah Palin for Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peopl ... 50606.html …

This a snort tea through your nose when you read it Tweet.

I doubt a lot of Kippers have even heard of Palin. If they have they must be looking at Farage with skepticism. It definitely makes him a tea partier and she's the stupidest of them all.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:33 am

Morning.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015 ... alid-flats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why are vulnerable people in Britain being ‘supported’ to live in squalid flats

“I have never seen such filthy, disgusting, unhygienic conditions in my entire life,”

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:34 am

Ian Dunt ‏@IanDunt 18m18 minutes ago
The Tory party has given up on aspirational voters. It is pursuing a purely negative election campaign http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/02 ... ynton-cros" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Good piece.

TechnicalEphemera · Post by **TechnicalEphemera** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:34 am

ohsocynical wrote:Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 9 mins9 minutes ago
In polls since Monday UKIP have ranged from 3 times the LDs share, TNS, to 1% behind, ICM #pollercoaster

UKIP surge.....

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:43 am

HindleA wrote:Morning.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015 ... alid-flats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why are vulnerable people in Britain being ‘supported’ to live in squalid flats

“I have never seen such filthy, disgusting, unhygienic conditions in my entire life,”

Contracting out and deregulation - again.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:49 am

Kate Devlin ‏@_katedevlin 5m5 minutes ago
Vince Cable: Lib Dems could enter a coalition with Labour and the SNP http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/po ... .118662887" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

What joyous news.

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:51 am

Very pithy:

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-c1 ... ORoIi40-g0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ErnstRemarx · Post by **ErnstRemarx** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:55 am

Michael Meacher on the numbers, as usual...

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-fa ... ORoKi40-g0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 10:59 am

Government is refusing to launch enquiry into HSBC. Stands in stark contrast to their five enquiries into the problems at Coop Bank, where they saw political advantage.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:02 am

Karl Turner MP retweeted
Oliver Kirk ‏@Kirkabout 11m11 minutes ago
In the aftermath of the High Court JR decision, all legal aid lawyers are being urged to Vote Labour at #GE2015

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:12 am

That latest poll is an outlier, but no more so than the most recent ICM (and arguably less) Average the two, and you probably aren't that far out tbh.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:13 am

"New figures this morning show Universal Credit roll out has slowed. 31,030 now claiming - Ministers said there'd be a million by last April."

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:14 am

Karl Turner MP retweeted
Sam Parham ‏@sam_parham 27m27 minutes ago
Essential Tony Cross of @TheCriminalBar pulls out of Grayling's Global Law Summit to protest against dual contracts & attacks on legal aid

Karl Turner MP retweeted
The CBA ‏@TheCriminalBar 48m48 minutes ago
@CrimeSolicitors and @lccsa to apply to full court for permission to appeal JR. We wish them luck and stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:15 am

How Tories could remain the largest party (part two): vote green, get blue
A strong performance by the Greens in May would be disproportionately detrimental to Labour’s electoral chances. Even on just 5% of the vote, the Green party could make a difference in several closely contested seats.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/dat ... n-get-blue

Two years ago, the Labour party was polling on 43% and held a double-digit lead over the Conservatives. More than one in three Liberal Democrats had switched to Labour. On just under 2%, the Green party was not on anyone’s mind.

Ed Miliband’s party has since dropped 10 points in the polls while support for the Green party has increased more than threefold to 7%. The share of 2010 Lib Dem voters supporting the Green party has risen to 16% and 3.5% of those who remember voting Labour at the last election now say they will vote Green.

A 7% share might not sound like much, but it could spell terrible news for Labour – and could be David Cameron’s best hope of remaining the tenant of 10 Downing Street after the 7 May poll.

Haven't read fully yet.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:17 am

Well, it is still far from clear the Greens will be fighting every seat for a start. And polls have also showed many of their supporters are receptive to a "tactical vote" message.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:20 am

Useful list of seats where the Green vote share may be pivotal to outcome.

The list of seats of most affected by a Green surge
1. Seats where Tories are marginally behind or tied
Brecon & Radnorshire (Lib Dems lead in current polls)
Brighton Kemptown (Lab leads)
City of Chester (Lab)
Halesowen & Rowley Regis (Lab)
Hove (Lab)
Morecambe & Lunesdale (Lab)
North Cornwall (LibDem)
Pudsey (Lab-Con tie)
South Swindon (Lab-Con tie)
Southampton Itchen (Lab)
St Ives (LibDem)
Torbay (LibDem)
Wirral West (Lab)
Worcester (Lab)

2. Labour v Lib Dem contests
Cambridge
Sheffield Hallam
Hornsey & Wood Green

3. A possible second Green seat
Norwich South (Lab v Green)

4. The three-way race
Watford (Con v Lab v Lib Dem)

5. Outside chance of being influenced by a Green surge

Ealing Central & Acton (Lab lead Con by <10 points)
Hazel Grove (Lib Dem lead Con by <10)
Kingston & Surbiton (Lib Dem lead Con by <10)
North Devon (Con fractionally ahead of Lib Dem)
St Austell & Newquay (Con fractionally ahead of Lib Dem and Ukip)
Plymouth Sutton & Devonport (Lab lead Con by <10)

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:22 am

No mention of Bristol W, then - now considered by some informed observers to have overtaken Norwich S as their best prospect of a second Green seat.

That omission doesn't make me so confident about the rest of their "analysis".

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:31 am

AnatolyKasparov wrote:No mention of Bristol W, then - now considered by some informed observers to have overtaken Norwich S as their best prospect of a second Green seat.

That omission doesn't make me so confident about the rest of their "analysis".

I wonder when it was actually written and researched. Sometimes they hang on to pieces for a bit before publishing. I obviously don't know the political landscape as well as you but I'm also a bit surprised at some of the seats they include - and some they haven't.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:32 am

This is dirty with a capitol D. We knew it was going to be a bad campaign but this crosses a line, if any truth in it.

Are executives at the Telegraph sitting on emails that may help the police inquiry into child abuse?

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(from smog on AS blog)

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:33 am

Sky News Newsdesk ‏@SkyNewsBreak 19m19 minutes ago
Sky Sources say the #Treasury is to cap cash bonuses at #Lloyds and #RBS at £2,000 for 2014

Eh? So what's the non cash limit going to be - 1 billion? Or is this just a cap for the lesser orders of bank employees?

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:34 am

refitman wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote:Is FTN still looking for tweeters?
Hi Robert. The more help, the merrier. I have PM'd you the twitter details.

A thought - when a twitter account is operated by more than one person, the one sending the particular tweet puts their initials at the end so readers know who sent it.

Is it worth doing the same for the FTN a/c ?

This might make it better for those of us wanting to share tweets of a particular theme ie to Paul re Cure, Tubby re education & so on. Does this make sense or have I left you all scratching your head wondering what the bloody hell I'm on about ?

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:35 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Kate Devlin ‏@_katedevlin 5m5 minutes ago
Vince Cable: Lib Dems could enter a coalition with Labour and the SNP http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/po ... .118662887" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
What joyous news.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:39 am

AngryAsWell wrote:This is dirty with a capitol D. We knew it was going to be a bad campaign but this crosses a line, if any truth in it.

Are executives at the Telegraph sitting on emails that may help the police inquiry into child abuse?

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(from smog on AS blog)

You're right with your assessment AAW. I really hope Tom Watson doesn't give up with getting to the bottom of this.

Every day there seem to be more and more potential reasons why the media might be desperate that Labour don't get in to government.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:42 am

tom_watson ‏@tom_watson 10m10 minutes ago
Relieved to see that even @DPJHodges thinks the Telegraph should publish the emails that @mattholehouse told @ChrisBryantMP about.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:44 am

RobertSnozers wrote:Predictably useless response from the BBC to my complaint re Nick Robinson's 'Milly Dowler Moment' comments:

Thank you for contacting us. We raised your concerns with the relevant editorial staff at BBC News.

For your interest the background was that Nick Robinson first reported on Radio 4’s “Six O’Clock News” and on his blog on Wednesday 11th February that:

“The Labour leader's aides say that he sees this as another Milly Dowler moment - the moment when he spoke out against phone hacking and took on Rupert Murdoch.
They see this row as an opportunity to be seen standing up to the rich and powerful and to be seen to be, in their political strategists favourite phrase, ”on your side"
On the BBC News at Ten on Thursday 12th February he also said:

“Ed Miliband has seized on this week's revelations about tax avoidance to represent himself as being on your side and prepared to stand up to the rich and to the powerful. His aides say it's just like the moment he chose to challenge Rupert Murdoch in the aftermath of another revelation - the revelation that the murdered teenager Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked.”
An important part of the job of the BBC’s Political Editor is to analyse and explain the thinking of party leaders and their strategists. Nick was explaining why Ed Miliband had used strong language in Prime Ministers Questions to attack Tory donors who, it was claimed, had avoided tax. Such reporting can itself become the subject of debate and discussion particularly in the run-up to an election.
At no stage did Nick directly quote anyone using the phrase “Milly Dowler moment”. In any case he would not, of course, reveal his source or sources.

However, a Labour spokesman, quoted in The Times newspaper, did admit to comparing the party’s battle with Lord Fink with the way in which the involvement of the schoolgirl “crystallised” public concern over phone hacking. He was quoted as telling the paper that the comparison between this week’s story on tax avoidance and the story of the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone was made "not a comparison of scale, not a comparison of substance, but a comparison of how certain stories help crystallise in people’s minds what they already know to be true.

“People knew that there was something wrong with the way sections of the press were operating for a long time, but the revelation that Milly Dowler’s phone had been hacked crystallised that. In a smaller way — in a very different kind of story, in a very different context — the tax avoidance story has crystallised something that people have known for a long time. There is something very wrong with the way the tax avoidance industry works."

It may be worth noting that it is others – not Nick or the BBC more widely – who have sought to create controversy around this.

Word for word the same as I got.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:45 am

Ian Dunt retweeted
philippa budgen @PhilippaBudgen · 33m 33 minutes ago
@Iandunt Bad news 4 #legalaid 2day. Legal challenge of disastrous new 4 on-call contracts in police stations + mags cts dismissed.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:50 am

Dear Mr Dolan

Thank you for contacting us. We raised your concerns with the relevant editorial staff at BBC News.

For your interest the background was that Nick Robinson first reported on Radio 4’s “Six O’Clock News” and on his blog on Wednesday 11th February that:

“The Labour leader's aides say that he sees this as another Milly Dowler moment - the moment when he spoke out against phone hacking and took on Rupert Murdoch.

They see this row as an opportunity to be seen standing up to the rich and powerful and to be seen to be, in their political strategists favourite phrase, ”on your side"

On the BBC News at Ten on Thursday 12th February he also said:

“Ed Miliband has seized on this week's revelations about tax avoidance to represent himself as being on your side and prepared to stand up to the rich and to the powerful. His aides say it's just like the moment he chose to challenge Rupert Murdoch in the aftermath of another revelation - the revelation that the murdered teenager Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked.”

An important part of the job of the BBC’s Political Editor is to analyse and explain the thinking of party leaders and their strategists. Nick was explaining why Ed Miliband had used strong language in Prime Ministers Questions to attack Tory donors who, it was claimed, had avoided tax. Such reporting can itself become the subject of debate and discussion particularly in the run-up to an election.

At no stage did Nick directly quote anyone using the phrase “Milly Dowler moment”. In any case he would not, of course, reveal his source or sources.

However, a Labour spokesman, quoted in The Times newspaper, did admit to comparing the party’s battle with Lord Fink with the way in which the involvement of the schoolgirl “crystallised” public concern over phone hacking. He was quoted as telling the paper that the comparison between this week’s story on tax avoidance and the story of the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone was made "not a comparison of scale, not a comparison of substance, but a comparison of how certain stories help crystallise in people’s minds what they already know to be true.

“People knew that there was something wrong with the way sections of the press were operating for a long time, but the revelation that Milly Dowler’s phone had been hacked crystallised that. In a smaller way — in a very different kind of story, in a very different context — the tax avoidance story has crystallised something that people have known for a long time. There is something very wrong with the way the tax avoidance industry works."

It may be worth noting that it is others – not Nick or the BBC more widely – who have sought to create controversy around this.

Thanks again for contacting us.

Kind Regards

BBC Complaints

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:51 am

pk1 wrote:
refitman wrote:
RobertSnozers wrote:Is FTN still looking for tweeters?
Hi Robert. The more help, the merrier. I have PM'd you the twitter details.
A thought - when a twitter account is operated by more than one person, the one sending the particular tweet puts their initials at the end so readers know who sent it.

Is it worth doing the same for the FTN a/c ?

This might make it better for those of us wanting to share tweets of a particular theme ie to Paul re Cure, Tubby re education & so on. Does this make sense or have I left you all scratching your head wondering what the bloody hell I'm on about ?

Yes. It makes sense. All I have to do now is remember.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 11:53 am

Labour pledges to tackle animal cruelty, including foxhunting
Maria Eagle promises to keep ban on hunting foxes with dogs, tackle abuse in circuses, puppy farms and shooting estates and end badger culls
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... l-election

Defending the hunting act against the threat of repeal by Tories was top of the list of six animal welfare pledges launched by Eagle in a document entitled Labour Protecting Animals at a London wildlife centre.

She said Labour was committed in the next parliament to banning wild animals in circuses, ending the “ineffective and inhumane” programme of badger culls, reviewing regulations on dog and cat breeding and sales, reducing animal cruelty on shooting estates and leading the fight against global animal cruelty.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “Our Labour values tell us that we have a moral duty to treat the animals we share our planet with in a humane and compassionate way.

“No other major political party has such a proven track record of decisive action for animals at home, on farms and in the wild.

“This is a legacy that we are proud of – one which we believe shows that Labour is the only party to trust on animal welfare.”
Eagle added: “The last Labour government achieved much to end the cruel and unnecessary suffering of animals: the banning of hunting with dogs, securing an end to cosmetic testing on animals, banning fur farming and introducing the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

“The next Labour government will continue to lead the way on animal welfare, starting with six key commitments that build on our previous achievements at home and abroad.”

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 12:03 pm

Kevin Maguire @Kevin_Maguire · 4h 4 hours ago
Ben Elton on tax, social mobility, voting and why he's giving Labour 10k http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... -i-5181259" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

It's a good read. Yes, it is (and I never found Elton very funny). Can hardly be described as tribal either.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 12:05 pm

Sadiq Khan MP ‏@SadiqKhan 4m4 minutes ago
Disappointed at today’s High Court decision on #legalaid but if you want to ditch the 2-tier contract, vote @UKLabour http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/jan ... sadiq-khan" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Wed 18 Feb, 2015 12:08 pm

RobertSnozers wrote: I thought it might be a 'form' response as I didn't mention the six o'clock news, I referred to the Today programme.

I shan't let this be the end of it

I didn't mention either of those. I wrote specifically about his blog & twitter comments.

I've never done a follow up complaint so if you'd like to share the bare bones of yours, I'm sure there are some here (cough) who might like to (cough) amend it to suit their initial complaint.......#prettyplease

Mwah mwah mwah, grovel grovel.....