Thursday 5th.March 2015.

[StephenDolan]

David Cameron told: stop cowering over election TV debates

http://gu.com/p/46cjt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

' But the broadcasters know any exclusion of the prime minister in the week before the election, even in the context of his refusal to attend, could fall foul of the tight broadcasting rules on impartiality. The value to Miliband of a debate without an opponent is anyway limited. '

Spin and bollocks.

[refitman]

I did raise an eyebrow when he slagged off the broadcasters. Very very badly advised, far better to blame the other parties.

James O'Brien hosting Newsnight interviewing Grant Shapps

The 'safe pair of hands' comes out.

Has Shapps pulled out the plug at his end?

[TechnicalEphemera]

Sun Politics ‏@SunPolitics 3 mins3 minutes ago
YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour ahead by four, their biggest lead since December: CON 31%, LAB 35%, LD 6%, UKIP 15%, GRN 8%

Them polls have "turned", I'm telling ya!

And @adam - what's the betting that's been "clipped" tomorrow?

Red Surge I tell ya.

Since nothing has happened to explain this, I conclude the polls are all bollocks.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The Times and Telegraph don't have Cameron/debates on the front.

The Times has "zealous parking wardens" though.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Graeme ‏@talkstough 2 mins2 minutes ago
Will anyone ask Humza Yousef what the purpose of a Europe minister in the Scottish Government is? Not a devolved issue. #BBCqt

[Eric_WLothian]

Why isn't Murphy hammering them?

There's a chance to ask him:

Put your questions to Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy
As part of BBC Scotland's coverage, Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy will take part in a half-hour webcast in which he will answer your questions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-31694368

[refitman]

Shapps really is rubbish, isn't he.

[RogerOThornhill]

Spot the Tory in the audience with the longtermeconomicplan.

And yes, Toady said that Cameron was right.

But if it was about what the party's plans are for government, then it should take place after the manifestos are published.

[TechnicalEphemera]

Shapps really is rubbish, isn't he.

The gift that keeps on giving.

[danesclose]

Shapps really is rubbish, isn't he.

Pathetic. Squirming like a worm on a hook. And he slipped in "propped up by Sinn Fein" sotto voce.
James O'Brien's scornful thanks at the end was a joy to watch

[Eric_WLothian]

Graeme ‏@talkstough 2 mins2 minutes ago
Will anyone ask Humza Yousef what the purpose of a Europe minister in the Scottish Government is? Not a devolved issue. #BBCqt

Or why there is also a "Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs" (Fiona Hyslop).
The Scottish Office (pre-devolution) was run by the Secretary of State for Scotland and about 4 junior ministers. The devolved parliament has similar responsibilities but 20+ ministers!

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/ ... icers.aspx

[adam]

Sun Politics ‏@SunPolitics 3 mins3 minutes ago
YouGov/Sun poll tonight - Labour ahead by four, their biggest lead since December: CON 31%, LAB 35%, LD 6%, UKIP 15%, GRN 8%

Them polls have "turned", I'm telling ya!

And @adam - what's the betting that's been "clipped" tomorrow?

It's a necessary way of removing statistical noise that would disrupt the one true weighted moving average.

My latest suspicion is that Cameron will bone up like crazy for the debates that he knows full well he will agree to attend at the latest possible moment.

[adam]

Pathetic. Squirming like a worm on a hook. And he slipped in "propped up by Sinn Fein" sotto voce.

The bonus slot on my bullshit bingo lottery ticket is 'The political wing of the IRA' and I feel confident of it coming in at some point during late April.

[citizenJA]

goodnight, everyone
love
JA

[LadyCentauria]

Goodnight sweet JA

[refitman]

goodnight, everyone
love
JA

Night JA.

[refitman]

Could someone please nail Toady's hands to the desk. They're very distracting.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Graeme ‏@talkstough 2 mins2 minutes ago
Will anyone ask Humza Yousef what the purpose of a Europe minister in the Scottish Government is? Not a devolved issue. #BBCqt

Or why there is also a "Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs" (Fiona Hyslop).
The Scottish Office (pre-devolution) was run by the Secretary of State for Scotland and about 4 junior ministers. The devolved parliament has similar responsibilities but 20+ ministers!

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/ ... icers.aspx

20?

Well that's backbench rebellions ruled out then. Cameron would love that.

[LadyCentauria]

Could someone please nail Toady's hands to the desk. They're very distracting.

Nail his tongue to the desk at the same time then we wouldn't have to listen to him, either.

[TechnicalEphemera]

Could someone please nail Toady's hands to the desk. They're very distracting.

Nail his tongue to the desk at the same time then we wouldn't have to listen to him, either.

Don't think the MOD can afford nails, but it would be a great use for Trident.

"It's the only way to be sure...."

Edited to add:

Not even his cockroach DNA can save him now.

[rebeccariots2]

Emily Ashton ‏@elashton 36m36 minutes ago
Shapps: "I notice there's no one from the broadcasters to answer questions like me..." O'Brien: "With respect, you're not." #newsnight

Kate Devlin ‏@_katedevlin 39m39 minutes ago
. @mrjamesob to Grant Shapps on #newsnight "you are not even pretending to answer my question..."

Craig Woodhouse ‏@craigawoodhouse 41m41 minutes ago
Some terrible headlines in #tomorrowspaperstoday for Cameron over debates. Can't help thinking they were avoidable.

Even the Conservative woman on before Shapps thought Cameron had made a big mistake ...

[rebeccariots2]

I could strangle Gisela Stuart for that really stupid remark about the grand coalition of Tory and Labour ... talk about giving the SNP a cheap gift.

[thatchersorphan]

#IDS 'Taking people off benefits is 'compassionate' WTF? seriously? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... onate.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ErnstRemarx]

Michael Nixon ‏@michaelnixon70 4 mins4 minutes ago
YouGov poll of young people for the British Youth Council.
Under 25s shows voting intentions of

LAB 36%,
CON 22%,
GRN 19%
UKIP 12%,
LDEM 5%,

Hmm. The standard YouGov polls of the last few days have shown the Tories leading among younger age groups; this one shows exactly the reverse. I have to say the new weighting methodology for the main poll only looks even more suspect after this.

But who knows. They're only polls. And a big problem is they're being used more to try and shape opinion and make up people's minds rather than to report what people are already thinking...

'Appen (as we say up here).

But it seems to be a pretty dodgy methodology when you can take raw figures showing a Labour lead, and hey presto!, it's Tory lead. Beyond dodgy, in fact. Report the fucking figures.

Met Tom Watson tonight. Really nice geezer, interested in how I won my seat and full of funny stories. great parliamentary knowledge and absolutely no edge to him whatsoever. If I hadn't had a ticket for "United We Stand" - which you must go and see - then I'd have been happy to go for a curry with him. We had a laugh and it felt a bit weird running the board for door knocking and sending Tom Watson, MP, and something of a personal hero off to houses: "Mr and Mrs Carroll, voted Labour last time, might need a postal voting form".

But a bloody good evening.

[Tish]

I'm assuming this article in the Telegraph is mirroring the thinking in No. 10

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

Its a string of bizarre justifications, but the basic gist is that by ducking the debate Cameron will be seen as more Presidential, floating above this raggle taggle bunch of amateurs who dare to challenge him, who left to debate amongst themselves without the star of the show will prove to be of no interest to the general public who will turn off in droves.

This article is so dripping in arrogance and entitlement that at first I thought it might be a parody.

[RogerOThornhill]

I'm assuming this article in the Telegraph is mirroring the thinking in No. 10

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

Its a string of bizarre justifications, but the basic gist is that by ducking the debate Cameron will be seen as more Presidential, floating above this raggle taggle bunch of amateurs who dare to challenge him, who left to debate amongst themselves without the star of the show will prove to be of no interest to the general public who will turn off in droves.

This article is so dripping in arrogance and entitlement that at first I thought it might be a parody.

Yes, how dare anyone think that someone else might be a better PM than our hero?

No wonder it doesn't allow comments!

[ErnstRemarx]

James O'Brien hosting Newsnight interviewing Grant Shapps

The 'safe pair of hands' comes out.

Has Shapps pulled out the plug at his end?

Euw, I initially read that as "out of his end".

[rebeccariots2]

Is this a council result?

Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 35m35 minutes ago
St Pancras & Somers Town (Camden) result:
LAB - 72.8% (+4.7)
CON - 12.0% (+2.0)
GRN - 10.5% (-4.8)
LDEM - 4.7% (-1.9)

Hope it bodes well for Keir Starmer in the general election.

[ErnstRemarx]

Is this a council result?

Britain Elects ‏@britainelects 35m35 minutes ago
St Pancras & Somers Town (Camden) result:
LAB - 72.8% (+4.7)
CON - 12.0% (+2.0)
GRN - 10.5% (-4.8)
LDEM - 4.7% (-1.9)

Hope it bodes well for Keir Starmer in the general election.

I think 'slam dunk' is the phrase.

[thatchersorphan]

DWP have announced that they are to privatise part of the administration of Universal Credit. Missed this when it came out http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for ... nt-booking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Their intention is that the process for booking the appointment for a claimant’s initial work search interview will be handed to the private company Capita.