Thursday 23rd April 2015

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 6:42 am

Good Thursday, all

The Guardian appears to have come out somewhat in favour of Labour. I quote the final paragraph (one whole sentence) of a long critique of the Conservative-led Coalition of the past five years:

Labour’s prospectus can fairly be criticised as hazy by contrast. But haze is surely preferable to this rigid and unbalanced roll-back-the-state dogma.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... iety-state

Swarthlander · Post by **Swarthlander** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 7:37 am

Good morning.

Happy St George's Day - Ingulund!

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 7:58 am

Ah, then it's Shakespeare's Birthday - and, of course, Moulid al Scob...

55DegreesNorth · Post by **55DegreesNorth** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:03 am

LadyCentauria wrote:Good Thursday, all

The Guardian appears to have come out somewhat in favour of Labour. I quote the final paragraph (one whole sentence) of a long critique of the Conservative-led Coalition of the past five years:

Labour’s prospectus can fairly be criticised as hazy by contrast. But haze is surely preferable to this rigid and unbalanced roll-back-the-state dogma.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... iety-state

It's worth going BTL for two reasons: Joseph90 posts are chilling, and the increasingly ridiculous NickyB gets a good scudding (I think it's operator has changed).

Oh, and good morning. It's a stoater up here, so I'm off to the coast.

Lonewolfie · Post by **Lonewolfie** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:11 am

Moraftingtinoon all...

Hoping to be back later (to try and improve on my average score of 1 comment every blue moon) but wanted to drop this in...

I don’t want to be beastly about Grant Shapps, but it’s almost inconceivable that so slight a man would have been Chairman of the Tory Party in a previous age. To be fair to him, he does have some experience of business, though seemingly of a rather bizarre sort. But he is a political bantamweight, utterly incapable of lifting the party faithful or connecting with the wider electorate.

He manages to get in a (childishly rude, IMHO) dig at Mr Ed and Chukka Ummuna, but mostly he seems unimpressed by the whole Westmonster cabal....

Yesterday Mr Cameron and Boris Johnson were engaged in a competitive game of finger printing in Tory blue for the benefit of the TV cameras. A welcome respite from the grind of electioneering? Or a pointless piece of childishness perfectly in keeping with a pretty infantile election? The truth is that a somewhat immature and increasingly detached political class has gained control of the political process, often aided and abetted by a compliant media, particularly on our screens. Age, wisdom, experience and knowledge of the world — attributes which politicians sought in the past — are now regarded by our rulers as defects.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic ... scuit.html

Detached political class aided by a compliant media? Careful now - that way lies conspiracy theories about 'Successor Generations' and the like

...and an image I was reminded of when reading about the top bestest-evahh Tories of all (for one is PM and the other Mayor of London) being befuddled by a childs' jigsaw...

: camboj230.jpg (11.33 KiB) Viewed 11339 times

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:33 am

Morning all.

Referring back to last posts of yesterday. I wonder if the Lib Dems have been allowed to discuss and make contingency plans for how they will manage any post election negotiations with other parties should Clegg be ousted from his Sheffield Hallam seat? Do you think they will have allowed that possibility to enter into their planning ....?

I see Clegg's fortunes as very instrumental in how an uncertain outcome may play out. I would feel a lot more secure if he lost his seat.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:39 am

norman smith ‏@BBCNormanS 13m13 minutes ago
"I'm confident its going well" - George Osborne on Tory elex campaign @BBCr4today

Humphreys gave him a little cuddly lion maul over their relentlessly negative campaign. Osborne had his blinkers on and continued to issue denial speak. He is the Brian of spokespeople. He probably want to be the boring economy one. He sticks to the monotone line, the repeat messages - all the charisma of a parking ticket machine.

Lonewolfie · Post by **Lonewolfie** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:41 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning all.

Referring back to last posts of yesterday. I wonder if the Lib Dems have been allowed to discuss and make contingency plans for how they will manage any post election negotiations with other parties should Clegg be ousted from his Sheffield Hallam seat? Do you think they will have allowed that possibility to enter into their planning ....?

I see Clegg's fortunes as very instrumental in how an uncertain outcome may play out. I would feel a lot more secure if he lost his seat.

I would think something's in place.....after all, the Greens, SNP, Plaid and UKIP are likely to have party leaders who have not been elected to Westmonster as well....and the SNP are actually going to be running the country!

Post by **refitman** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:44 am

rebeccariots2 wrote:
norman smith ‏@BBCNormanS 13m13 minutes ago
"I'm confident its going well" - George Osborne on Tory elex campaign @BBCr4today
Humphreys gave him a little cuddly lion maul over their relentlessly negative campaign. Osborne had his blinkers on and continued to issue denial speak. He is the Brian of spokespeople. He probably want to be the boring economy one. He sticks to the monotone line, the repeat messages - all the charisma of a parking ticket machine.

Considering the Humphreys opened the interview by talking about the IFS reporting, it would have been nice if he had asked some questions about Tory tax/spend plans.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:50 am

Lonewolfie wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning all.

Referring back to last posts of yesterday. I wonder if the Lib Dems have been allowed to discuss and make contingency plans for how they will manage any post election negotiations with other parties should Clegg be ousted from his Sheffield Hallam seat? Do you think they will have allowed that possibility to enter into their planning ....?

I see Clegg's fortunes as very instrumental in how an uncertain outcome may play out. I would feel a lot more secure if he lost his seat.
I would think something's in place.....after all, the Greens, SNP, Plaid and UKIP are likely to have party leaders who have not been elected to Westmonster as well....and the SNP are actually going to be running the country!

Ah yes - but this is the Lib Dems we are speaking about here. They (or those of them that hold any sway) still seem to be utterly in thrall to Clegg despite his lack of standing with much of the party and the country - and poor outcomes for the Lib Dems as a result of their role in the coalition. The Greens, SNP, Plaid and Ukip are no doubt factoring in the likelihood or certainty of party leaders that won't be elected - the Lib Dems may still be on the happy, don't tell me anything bad, bus.

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 8:52 am

refitman wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
norman smith ‏@BBCNormanS 13m13 minutes ago
"I'm confident its going well" - George Osborne on Tory elex campaign @BBCr4today
Humphreys gave him a little cuddly lion maul over their relentlessly negative campaign. Osborne had his blinkers on and continued to issue denial speak. He is the Brian of spokespeople. He probably want to be the boring economy one. He sticks to the monotone line, the repeat messages - all the charisma of a parking ticket machine.
Considering the Humphreys opened the interview by talking about the IFS reporting, it would have been nice if he had asked some questions about Tory tax/spend plans.

Yes, but it was a Tory PPB. Wasn't it?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 9:00 am

Tory candidate for Solihull under fire over book on tax avoidance
Julian Knight, fighting to take key target seat from Lib Dems, insists his book ‘sets out ways hardworking parents can pass on the graft of a lifetime’ to their children
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... -avoidance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another of Knight’s books, The British Citizenship test for Dummies, promises to provide “all the official material required to ace the latest government test”. In the introduction he writes: “Becoming a British citizen means enjoying full voting rights and access to all sorts of benefits.” Knight’s book includes sections called “Getting your hands on a British passport” and “Reaping the rewards of citizenship”.

He sounds like the perfect business partner for Shapps / Fox / Green.

minch · Post by **minch** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 9:07 am

I'm not sure this has been posted
http://blog.lboro.ac.uk/general-electio ... -report-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Interesting figures showing how 'fair' the broadcasters are.

tinybgoat · Post by **tinybgoat** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 9:10 am

LadyCentauria wrote:Ah, then it's Shakespeare's Birthday - and, of course, Moulid al Scob...

Hah!
Much googling later, find it's a reference to
"Alexandria Quartet" by Lawrence Durrell
(and not Scooby doo

)

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 9:49 am

Morning All

May I recommend Martin Rowson's Twitter this morning

https://twitter.com/MartinRowson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 10:00 am

Morning all.

For pk1 and anyone else who may be interested - I have written to Ernst with some details of my ideas for ESA/WCA which he is free to pass on to Rachel Reeves.
I've also expressed an interest in being part of any future consultation - as a claimant, a health and social care professional, and an ex-DEA, I think I've got a bit of clout.

I'm going to get in touch with people I know in the Spartacus network, and see what they are thinking/doing on this consultation idea. They have some excellent ideas on how to reform social security, and their research has given them the evidence to support those ideas.

I am concerned that the usual charities will be consulted in the usual way. The difficulty I have with this is that some of those groups are not particularly good on illness, and are very focused on disability and help to work.
This is not what other groups like Macmillan or some of the mental health charities focus on - they are interested in getting the right benefits to the right people without unnecessary delays and harmful assessments etc.
I suspect that this is why certain groups get consulted while others don't - the emphasis is (as I have droned on about many times, sorry) on "disabled people" and their employment.

I am hoping that this help from Ernst will bear fruit - attempts to put my ideas forward elsewhere, including the site Labour set up because they claimed they wanted contributions, have not even been acknowledged, let alone responded to. Which is not good, IMHO.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 10:22 am

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Morning All

May I recommend Martin Rowson's Twitter this morning

https://twitter.com/MartinRowson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It is amazing how easy it is to find an appropriate Shakespeare quote. I always put up a picture with a matching quote for #ShakespeareSunday, somehow very cathartic.

@LadyC, not sure I'm convinced that the G is coming out in favour of Labour, Sparrow's blog still reads like a Coalition PPB. Mind you, not as bad as the Telegraph, where Glenda's little boy seems to have given up on his "Who won today" blog, presumably from sheer embarrassment.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 10:27 am

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Morning All

May I recommend Martin Rowson's Twitter this morning

https://twitter.com/MartinRowson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It is amazing how easy it is to find an appropriate Shakespeare quote. I always put up a picture with a matching quote for #ShakespeareSunday, somehow very cathartic.

@LadyC, not sure I'm convinced that the G is coming out in favour of Labour, Sparrow's blog still reads like a Coalition PPB. Mind you, not as bad as the Telegraph, where Glenda's little boy seems to have given up on his "Who won today" blog, presumably from sheer embarrassment.

More a case of the Guardian coming out against the Tories but not actually for anyone, I think. Fence sitting, like their beloved Libdems, who often pretend to be independent when things aren't going too well for the party, because they know they're crap but can't bear to admit another party could actually be better.

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 10:53 am

Word from Europe is that Cameron has been having extreme communication difficulties with understanding the viewpoint of our allies and is increasingly being given the cold shoulder. It was suggested he call on the diplomatic and linguistics skills of Nick Clegg or Paddy Ashdown but declined because they'd been especially horrid to his good friend, Michael Green.

Little Willie Hague was also asked but excused himself because of a prior engagement; he was especially looking forward to his jollies with Angelina. It is believed that David has now turned to his pal, Nigel, who has had many years of experience addressing the European Parliament.

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 10:59 am

Willow904 wrote: More a case of the Guardian coming out against the Tories but not actually for anyone, I think. Fence sitting, like their beloved Libdems, who often pretend to be independent when things aren't going too well for the party, because they know they're crap but can't bear to admit another party could actually be better.

I think that's right, this is Saturday's editorial, which lays into the Coalition in no uncertain terms but fails to draw the logical conclusion.

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

The coalition’s economic record has been as abysmal as its self-presentation has been triumphant. Even as Mr Osborne has missed forecasts and blown targets, he has presented himself as the man with the long-term economic plan.

The choice in this election is not a perfect one but it is nonetheless stark: on one side is a Conservative philosophy that views the state as “crowding out” the private sector and therefore sees the role of government largely as getting out of the way. This argument drove Mr Osborne’s extreme austerity of 2010-12 – and it failed. On the other is a view advanced by Mr Miliband that the state can and should shape markets to encourage businesses that give as well as take – treating their workers better and resisting every jump to the next low-tax zone. True, a lot of this is not fully worked out. The same could be said about Labour’s ambiguous fiscal policy, which leaves Mr Miliband so much wiggle room that he could either be the anti-austerity prime minister or end up cutting £18bn from government budgets in the next three years. Much about Britain’s economy needs changing, not just its current fiscal management. The party that deserves to win in May is surely the one that shows most willingness to make those changes.

It confirmed that my usual policy of not reading the editorials is the right one. Waste of paper and ink.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:09 am

Goodmorfternoon.

Labour Press Team
✔
@labourpress

Bad start to the day for Osborne as the boss at the firm he is visiting says his EU policy is dangerous.
7:54 AM - 23 Apr 2015 (Guardian, Election Blog)

No wonder George Osborne has eschewed his usual "high-viz" jacket. I'm not sure that leaving off the hard-hat was such a good idea, though.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:13 am

I can't see an outright endorsement of Labour under Rusbridger - would involve eating too many words.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:28 am

Whoops!!

http://labourlist.org/2015/04/snp-candi ... -to-nazis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:31 am

Mind you, LabourList also has a god-awful piece berating Ed for not acceding to the SNP's every demand

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:33 am

gilsey wrote:
Willow904 wrote: More a case of the Guardian coming out against the Tories but not actually for anyone, I think. Fence sitting, like their beloved Libdems, who often pretend to be independent when things aren't going too well for the party, because they know they're crap but can't bear to admit another party could actually be better.
I think that's right, this is Saturday's editorial, which lays into the Coalition in no uncertain terms but fails to draw the logical conclusion.

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

The coalition’s economic record has been as abysmal as its self-presentation has been triumphant. Even as Mr Osborne has missed forecasts and blown targets, he has presented himself as the man with the long-term economic plan.

The choice in this election is not a perfect one but it is nonetheless stark: on one side is a Conservative philosophy that views the state as “crowding out” the private sector and therefore sees the role of government largely as getting out of the way. This argument drove Mr Osborne’s extreme austerity of 2010-12 – and it failed. On the other is a view advanced by Mr Miliband that the state can and should shape markets to encourage businesses that give as well as take – treating their workers better and resisting every jump to the next low-tax zone. True, a lot of this is not fully worked out. The same could be said about Labour’s ambiguous fiscal policy, which leaves Mr Miliband so much wiggle room that he could either be the anti-austerity prime minister or end up cutting £18bn from government budgets in the next three years. Much about Britain’s economy needs changing, not just its current fiscal management. The party that deserves to win in May is surely the one that shows most willingness to make those changes.
It confirmed that my usual policy of not reading the editorials is the right one. Waste of paper and ink.

The final Guardian paragraph regarding Labour fiscal policy reads like a not too bright concern troll effort.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:33 am

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Mind you, LabourList also has a god-awful piece berating Ed for not acceding to the SNP's every demand

So what's new.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:41 am

Verdict expected in Tower Hamlets electoral fraud case

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/liv ... 1b98b64b00" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was buried in the live blog time stamped about four hours ago.
No verdict has been reached at the time of my posting.

mikems · Post by **mikems** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:44 am

Comments at LabourList are still infested with trolls. So is the Labour party facebook page - it is full of fascists and racists 'having their say' on Labour's pages and being left unmoderated out of undue respect for the 'rights' of people who would destroy democracy if they got the chance.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:45 am

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Whoops!!

http://labourlist.org/2015/04/snp-candi ... -to-nazis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He also seems to think you need a Scottish accent to be a Scot:

Neil Hay‏@NeilHaySNP
@AamerAnwar @E_ham01 @STVGlasgow very aware of that but my non Scots wife also commented on the disproportionate number of non Scots accents

What an inward-looking parochial bunch they are!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:47 am

"I’m sorry that the blog went quiet for a while. We had major problems with the website. But we seem to be back to normal again" now.

Andrew Sparrow - a few minutes ago

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/liv ... 16b5ee40ba" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm unable to find the comments under the blog or some articles. The Sparrow blog, for example, doesn't even give a total of comments. Are comments suspended intentionally? Does anyone know?

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:48 am

If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504

Mark Reckless ‏@MarkReckless 5m5 minutes ago
@stellacreasy We look forward to your visit but you can still tweet and if RT is not deleted by noon I intend to report to police @IainDale

And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:50 am

citizenJA wrote:
"I’m sorry that the blog went quiet for a while. We had major problems with the website. But we seem to be back to normal again" now.

Andrew Sparrow - a few minutes ago

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/liv ... 16b5ee40ba" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm unable to find the comments under the blog or some articles. The Sparrow blog, for example, doesn't even give a total of comments. Are comments suspended intentionally? Does anyone know?

Yeah, they've a few "PC gone mad" issues with ATL content and now comments currently suspended.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 11:58 am

Eric_WLothian wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Whoops!!

http://labourlist.org/2015/04/snp-candi ... -to-nazis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
He also seems to think you need a Scottish accent to be a Scot:

Neil Hay‏@NeilHaySNP
@AamerAnwar @E_ham01 @STVGlasgow very aware of that but my non Scots wife also commented on the disproportionate number of non Scots accents
What an inward-looking parochial bunch they are!

We gotta have Scottish accents to be friends? I'm hurt. He is joking, right? He's light-heartedly making fun? Please tell me it's a joke because I'm reading it over & it may not be. I want better sentiments expressed in tweets & other communications from public service candidates or elected people.

I've read the article.
It's not a joke.
Furthermore, he's communicated worse in his communications.
Mr. Hay, please think about your conduct & words, apologise, make appropriate restitution & don't be abusive in conduct or speech in the future.

I remind myself as I write these words to another to be upright in my own conduct & words too.

I don't have a Scottish accent but I like Scottish accents a lot. Obviously, that's another topic of discussion.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:00 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504

Mark Reckless ‏@MarkReckless 5m5 minutes ago
@stellacreasy We look forward to your visit but you can still tweet and if RT is not deleted by noon I intend to report to police @IainDale
And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

I seem to remember the question of making ballot papers public cropped up a few days ago. Surely the principle of the secret ballot is that nobody is entitled to know how you vote. If somebody chooses to forgo that privacy, it's entirely up to them - otherwise answering a broadcaster's question "how will / did you vote?" would be illegal.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:01 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Whoops!!

http://labourlist.org/2015/04/snp-candi ... -to-nazis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
He also seems to think you need a Scottish accent to be a Scot:

Neil Hay‏@NeilHaySNP
@AamerAnwar @E_ham01 @STVGlasgow very aware of that but my non Scots wife also commented on the disproportionate number of non Scots accents
What an inward-looking parochial bunch they are!

Thank goodness they are a minority, albeit a vocal one. All my Scottish friends and relatives * would have nothing but contempt for these fools.

* Does that make me MacRabbit?

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:02 pm

RogerOThornhill wrote:
citizenJA wrote:
"I’m sorry that the blog went quiet for a while. We had major problems with the website. But we seem to be back to normal again" now.

Andrew Sparrow - a few minutes ago

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/liv ... 16b5ee40ba" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm unable to find the comments under the blog or some articles. The Sparrow blog, for example, doesn't even give a total of comments. Are comments suspended intentionally? Does anyone know?
Yeah, they've a few "PC gone mad" issues with ATL content and now comments currently suspended.

On one hand, I understand the Guardian is under no obligation to me or anyone to provide the platform for below the line commentary. On the other, I'm frustrated & angry it's been decided no one may read or post comments below the line at this point in the election campaign.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:03 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504

Mark Reckless ‏@MarkReckless 5m5 minutes ago
@stellacreasy We look forward to your visit but you can still tweet and if RT is not deleted by noon I intend to report to police @IainDale
And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

I seem to remember the question of making ballot papers public cropped up a few days ago. Surely the principle of the secret ballot is that nobody is entitled to know how you vote. If somebody chooses to forgo that privacy, it's entirely up to them - otherwise answering a broadcaster's question "how will / did you vote?" would be illegal.

Yes, and the idea that an MP simply confirming that they are voting for themselves is somehow a crime and needs reporting to the police is pretty absurd.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:03 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504

Mark Reckless ‏@MarkReckless 5m5 minutes ago
@stellacreasy We look forward to your visit but you can still tweet and if RT is not deleted by noon I intend to report to police @IainDale
And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

I seem to remember the question of making ballot papers public cropped up a few days ago. Surely the principle of the secret ballot is that nobody is entitled to know how you vote. If somebody chooses to forgo that privacy, it's entirely up to them - otherwise answering a broadcaster's question "how will / did you vote?" would be illegal.

Stella has screenprinted and posted a copy of the relevant regs and, effectively, told Reckless to do one.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:04 pm

BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking
Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman found guilty of corrupt & illegal practices by judge in London http://bbc.in/1QmZZjX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:04 pm

Eric_WLothian wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504

Mark Reckless ‏@MarkReckless 5m5 minutes ago
@stellacreasy We look forward to your visit but you can still tweet and if RT is not deleted by noon I intend to report to police @IainDale
And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

I seem to remember the question of making ballot papers public cropped up a few days ago. Surely the principle of the secret ballot is that nobody is entitled to know how you vote. If somebody chooses to forgo that privacy, it's entirely up to them - otherwise answering a broadcaster's question "how will / did you vote?" would be illegal.

AnatolyKasparov, what's the law regarding this issue, please? Or anyone else?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:05 pm

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 57 secs58 seconds ago
As well as the normal YouGov I'm expecting Survation/Mirror and at least one other national poll today.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:07 pm

ohsocynical wrote:BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking
Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman found guilty of corrupt & illegal practices by judge in London http://bbc.in/1QmZZjX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sorry to read he's guilty of the charges. I'm very sorry.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:09 pm

Comments are back on under the Blog. I suspect it may have been related to the Lutfur Rahman ruling which will have had the trolls throwing down their billy goats and scurrying to their PCs to ~~pollute the thread~~give us the benefit of their considerable wisdom.

Post by **refitman** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:09 pm

citizenJA wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:
citizenJA wrote:I'm unable to find the comments under the blog or some articles. The Sparrow blog, for example, doesn't even give a total of comments. Are comments suspended intentionally? Does anyone know?
Yeah, they've a few "PC gone mad" issues with ATL content and now comments currently suspended.
On one hand, I understand the Guardian is under no obligation to me or anyone to provide the platform for below the line commentary. On the other, I'm frustrated & angry it's been decided no one may read or post comments below the line at this point in the election campaign.

I think they just managed to break the site (again). Comments are back now.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:09 pm

citizenJA wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking
Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman found guilty of corrupt & illegal practices by judge in London http://bbc.in/1QmZZjX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm sorry to read he's guilty of the charges. I'm very sorry.

And unseated as Mayor.

Eric_WLothian · Post by **Eric_WLothian** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:10 pm

citizenJA wrote:
"I’m sorry that the blog went quiet for a while. We had major problems with the website. But we seem to be back to normal again" now.

Andrew Sparrow - a few minutes ago

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/liv ... 16b5ee40ba" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm unable to find the comments under the blog or some articles. The Sparrow blog, for example, doesn't even give a total of comments. Are comments suspended intentionally? Does anyone know?

I have a vague recollection that when the blog has fallen over in the past, the comments weren't restored until somebody contacted him - human error, rather than intentional. (but I could be wrong)!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:13 pm

Richard Mawrey QC ruled on the Rahman case.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:16 pm

refitman wrote:
citizenJA wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote: Yeah, they've a few "PC gone mad" issues with ATL content and now comments currently suspended.
On one hand, I understand the Guardian is under no obligation to me or anyone to provide the platform for below the line commentary. On the other, I'm frustrated & angry it's been decided no one may read or post comments below the line at this point in the election campaign.
I think they just managed to break the site (again). Comments are back now.

I'm grieving over the Rahman case. I feel like all my energy just left me.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:17 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:Comments are back on under the Blog. I suspect it may have been related to the Lutfur Rahman ruling which will have had the trolls throwing down their billy goats and scurrying to their PCs to ~~pollute the thread~~give us the benefit of their considerable wisdom.

Yes. It's clear now why it was done. I'm very sorry. I'm beside myself.

Post by **adam** » Thu 23 Apr, 2015 12:19 pm

citizenJA wrote:
Eric_WLothian wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:If we needed proof that Mark Reckless is a nitpicking pillock, try reading this...Steela Creasy tweeted a pic of her completed postal ballot form.

https://twitter.com/MarkReckless/status ... 0413461504
And notice our favourite DFH getting involved.

I seem to remember the question of making ballot papers public cropped up a few days ago. Surely the principle of the secret ballot is that nobody is entitled to know how you vote. If somebody chooses to forgo that privacy, it's entirely up to them - otherwise answering a broadcaster's question "how will / did you vote?" would be illegal.
AnatolyKasparov, what's the law regarding this issue, please? Or anyone else?

This comes up on the guardian liveblog on every election day when the mods are out in force deleting ~~rockers~~ comments. You are not allowed to publish information about how somebody has voted until polls have closed. I can't find chapter and verse on this but it's there somewhere because I'm sure I've found it before. Whether it follows that you're not allowed to publish how you've voted form the times postal voting opens I don't know but that would make sense.