Friday 24th April

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:46 pm

Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:48 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.

I need a translation of that.

pk1 · Post by **pk1** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:51 pm

Willow904 wrote:
Spacedone wrote:Anyone hear the Newsbeat interview with Miliband? Hard to tell how it went from Twitter.

Further investigation of Twitter makes it sound like the host did a Kay Burley.
I saw the one with Cameron (and have posted a link previously) and although I haven't see the one with Ed I'd be surprised if Chris Smith was any tougher on him than he was on Cameron. I don't think anyone has spoken to Cameron in such an un-deferential manner in a very, very long time. So no, not a Kay Burley, nothing like.

I've got as far as the 2nd question which was can we trust you when you shafted your brother (I paraphrase)

Smith managed to twist it into an attack (by him) on the NHS in Wales & how awful it is under the Labour administration !

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:54 pm

NeilMckt ‏@neilmckt 31 mins31 minutes ago

Trying not to get excited about this ENGLAND ONLY data Ipsos-MORI

LAB 37
CON 35
UKIP 11
LD 8

6.7% CON to LAB if true massive for Labour

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:57 pm

PorFavor wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens
Artists, business leaders and scientists endorse Caroline Lucas’s re-election to Brighton Pavilion but refrain from backing her party nationally
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... reen-party" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Natalie Bennett will be thrilled. I feel a bit sorry for for her (genuinely).

(Can't get along with those em things - I tried.)

I think you should try for longer than 0.4567 minutes.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 7:59 pm

ephemerid wrote:
LadyCentauria wrote:Kingston-upon-Thames is amongst a pilot programme by UK charities (here, the Trussell Trust) in conjunction with nPower which uses money left in gas/electricity accounts (or as credit on pay-as-you-go meters,) where a tenant or resident has moved away and cannot be traced to be refunded, to help those who are 'self-disconnecting' due to poverty.

Poverty-stricken families who face the dilemma of whether to heat their homes or go hungry will be given free fuel vouchers under a new pilot scheme so they can afford to meet soaring energy bills in a climate of ongoing austerity.

The scheme, which will be offered to all referred individuals, will be initially tested in 21 locations across Gloucester, Kingston-upon-Thames and County Durham. If considered successful, nPower will extend the initiative with the objective of assisting as many as 13,000 British households over the first 12 months.
The vouchers will be offered in accordance with the Trussell Trust’s protocols, with struggling households being entitled to a total of three per year.
http://rt.com/uk/252745-fuel-poverty-fo ... mpaign=RSS

I suppose I should applaud this. But I can't. On the same basis I am not cheered by the proliferation of food banks.

Npower is as likely to cut off these people's fuel supply as any other provider. It has an appalling customer service record.

The money is from other customers who seemingly don't want it back - not from Npower itself.

Npower is owned by the German giant RWE. It's operating profit this year was £163 Million.

Forgive me, LadyC - despite the fact that some people may be helped by this, I am not happy that such a scheme should exist.

I'm with you both, Ephe and Ohso. This should not be necessary and nPower are far from paragons of virtue – I think, in this case they are acting as the 'broker' of the scheme on behalf of all the gas/electricity providers who hold unclaimed funds. It is 'a response' of sorts to the problem so far being solved by giving people 'kettle boxes' or 'cold boxes' of food by the TT when the recipients cannot afford to put money in the meter to heat their home or even their food.

But it sickens me that people are prevented from even getting a hardship payment until they've been without Social Security for two weeks. It angers me that a new claimant of UC is expected to wait six or seven weeks for their first month's money. And it appals me that people's Social Security is randomly 'not-switched-through' and that people are sanctioned for a host of incredibly petty reasons. We're at the stage of people being denied SS for the equivalent of 'wearing a loud shirt in a built-up area' – although, in that sketch, at least the Desk Sergeant refused to permit the (spells it carefully) Constable to charge his victim. I'm ashamed that people are left unable to buy sufficient food, to cook, heat, or light, their homes, to adequately clothe themselves (even from bloody charity shops!), or to do any of the things (even in a frugal manner) that should be the hallmark of one of the wealthiest countries in the world; and even more ashamed that this is done to people intentionally, at the behest and connivance of a so-called civilised government. And that this 'charity' should be necessary for working people, on top... Words fail...

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:02 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
MICHAEL ASHCROFT
The Tories are turning off undecided voters
Some voters who prefer Cameron to Miliband but Labour to the Tories are starting to make their minds up – in favour of Labour
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/com ... 02890.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 2h2 hours ago
Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.

How are there people who prefer Cameron to Miliband? Am not renowned for being socially skilled, so please tell me. Am I missing something?

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:09 pm

diGriz wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.
I need a translation of that.

Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:14 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
MICHAEL ASHCROFT
The Tories are turning off undecided voters
Some voters who prefer Cameron to Miliband but Labour to the Tories are starting to make their minds up – in favour of Labour
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/com ... 02890.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 2h2 hours ago
Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.
How are there people who prefer Cameron to Miliband? Am not renowned for being socially skilled, so please tell me. Am I missing something?

Yes - it's a vital attachment known as the pleb adaptor - makes you receptive to synthetic blandishments, open to bribes based on greed and one upmanship, and totally in thrall to dog whistles (you will automatically fall in with the 'us' dogs not the 'them' dogs). C

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:14 pm

LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.
I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"

Does it mean something along the lines of:
I'm not as young as used to be but I fit in contributing very significant a) research and b) curation to this site in between baking an astounding array of cakes and pastries, keeping an eye on my extended family, contributing to the local community, trying to stay sane while talking to idiots, AND refraining from beating Mr Cynical about the head.

?

Edited to recognise I completely misread this (see below).

rearofthestore · Post by **rearofthestore** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:14 pm

ohsocynical wrote:NeilMckt ‏@neilmckt 31 mins31 minutes ago

Trying not to get excited about this ENGLAND ONLY data Ipsos-MORI

LAB 37
CON 35
UKIP 11
LD 8

6.7% CON to LAB if true massive for Labour

Hi OhSo
Saw this too but can't find any backup data elsewhere even on the ipsos-mori website. Hope its true though.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:16 pm

LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.
I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"

Or possibly "Buggrit, however hard I try I can't skew the weighting any more"?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:18 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote: I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"
Or possibly "Buggrit, however hard I try I can't skew the weighting any more"?

god. my communication skills are so poor I confused Ohso with Ashcroft.

Ohso - I don't know how to apologise.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:20 pm

MY NERVES ARE IN SHREDS

A vermouth, I think.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:23 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:MY NERVES ARE IN SHREDS

A vermouth, I think.

Have a couple of these

, one or two of these,

, and a liberal dash of

with your vermouth xxx

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:23 pm

William Hague could crush a man's skull between his legs, David Cameron says

If ever there was a headline that was a hostage to fortune ......

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

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:24 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote: I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"
Does it mean something along the lines of:
I'm not as young as used to be but I fit in contributing very significant a) research and b) curation to this site in between baking an astounding array of cakes and pastries, keeping an eye on my extended family, contributing to the local community, trying to stay sane while talking to idiots, AND refraining from beating Mr Cynical about the head.

?

Edited to recognise I completely misread this (see below).

Damn. You've got me down to a T.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:24 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:MY NERVES ARE IN SHREDS

A vermouth, I think.

Brilliant!

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:24 pm

LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 3 hrs3 hours ago

Apologies to all but haven't been able on my time zone and schedule to finish my latest marginal seats research. Will be issued Sat at 9am.
I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"

I'm too cynical (plus I don't speak tweet) I read it as 'it's too accurate, wait till I get back to tweak it in the 'right' direction'.

But it did read as gibberish.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:24 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
William Hague could crush a man's skull between his legs, David Cameron says
If ever there was a headline that was a hostage to fortune ......

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

good god.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:26 pm

pk1 wrote:
Willow904 wrote:
Spacedone wrote:Anyone hear the Newsbeat interview with Miliband? Hard to tell how it went from Twitter.

Further investigation of Twitter makes it sound like the host did a Kay Burley.
I saw the one with Cameron (and have posted a link previously) and although I haven't see the one with Ed I'd be surprised if Chris Smith was any tougher on him than he was on Cameron. I don't think anyone has spoken to Cameron in such an un-deferential manner in a very, very long time. So no, not a Kay Burley, nothing like.
I've got as far as the 2nd question which was can we trust you when you shafted your brother (I paraphrase)

Smith managed to twist it into an attack (by him) on the NHS in Wales & how awful it is under the Labour administration !

I've just managed to listen to a bit of it and you're right, it was all pretty hostile. No one was happy with the answer they got, but then they weren't very happy with any of Cameron's answers either. To be frank, it all sounded a bit tired and flat because they were mostly well worn media obsessions, things we've heard put to Miliband over and over again, particularly the brother question. Apparently the brother thing meant the questioner couldn't trust Miliband. "How can I trust you" he says, clearly prepared to continue to distrust him regardless of whatever Ed answered. Some of it seemed a bit pointless as a result. Oh and Ed was a lot calmer than Cameron, who got a bit tetchy, which made his interview a bit livelier.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:26 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
William Hague could crush a man's skull between his legs, David Cameron says
If ever there was a headline that was a hostage to fortune ......

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

Something stronger than a vermouth required for that image I think.

diGriz · Post by **diGriz** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:29 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
tinyclanger2 wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote: If ever there was a headline that was a hostage to fortune ......

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
good god.
Something stronger than a vermouth required for that image I think.

Bleach?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:34 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
tinyclanger2 wrote:
TheGrimSqueaker wrote: If ever there was a headline that was a hostage to fortune ......

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
good god.
Something stronger than a vermouth required for that image I think.

And there's me without a drop in the house!

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:39 pm

Ohso, I love your new signature!

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:44 pm

Never gone along with this Hague nonsense of being an elder statesman type politician, right wingers talking him up.

Don't forget this is the man who when faced with certain allegations, probably gossip being a better word disclosed private information regarding his wife's inability to have children, if he had any integrity he would have told the press to keep my wife out of it.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:53 pm

Goodnight, everyone.

And thanks so much for the William Hague image. What with that and the Lincoln by-pass worry, I'll have a rough night.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:54 pm

diGriz wrote:
LadyCentauria wrote:
diGriz wrote: I need a translation of that.
Suggested translations: "Sorry, I'm overseas and have been too busy with other things to finish... etc.," or, "Bugger, I overslept. Should get the latest lot of marginals done by morning. Oops!"
I'm too cynical (plus I don't speak tweet) I read it as 'it's too accurate, wait till I get back to tweak it in the 'right' direction'.

But it did read as gibberish.

Andrew Brooks ‏@taxbod 27 mins27 minutes ago

Lord Ashcroft. Happy to involve himself in the Uk election. Just not so happy to pay UK tax.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:55 pm

Dan Hodges Verified account
‏@DPJHodges
Just read latest @May2015NS analysis. Says if Ed gets a big enough swing he'll win enough Tory marginals to get to 323. I agree.

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

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:55 pm

Night PF

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:56 pm

Goodnight, PF

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:57 pm

Peter Hitchens twitter is worth a read if you are in need of a laugh..

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 8:59 pm

Mike Wood rightly informs the twitter thread "anyone gets a 'big enough swing' they'll get to 323"

Post by **letsskiptotheleft** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:04 pm

I don't think Ashcroft would have written that Indy piece if the figures tomorrow weren't half decent for Labour..

Fingers crossed eh..

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:12 pm

Night PF. Night all.

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:14 pm

Just came across this again on Twitter

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:22 pm

cutchswife ‏@cutchswife 2 hrs2 hours ago

UN says Katie Hopkins' migrant 'cockroaches' column is like pro-genocide propaganda

http://ind.pn/1d9a8RQ

I'd say many of the insults and rhetoric that's been aimed at the disabled, unemployed and those less well, has been pretty near the knuckle too.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:26 pm

PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Just came across this again on Twitter

One of my favourite cartoons! Thanks for the replay

Goodnight PF, umm, TGS, umm, anyone else who's signing out or signed out already

Spacedone · Post by **Spacedone** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:27 pm

Ah bless. Clegg's still trying to act like he's going to be the kingmaker.

Vote Oliver Coppard.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:30 pm

Michael Taylor ‏@MarpleLeaf · 1 hr1 hour ago  Marple, England
We are literally overwhelmed with offers of help, new members joining, requests for garden posts, donations and volunteers. Humbling.
Heartening

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:32 pm

genocide
noun geno·cide \ˈje-nə-ˌsīd\

The deliberate killing of people who belong to a particular racial, political, or cultural group

I'd also say the Tories are getting pretty close to this definition

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:41 pm

LabourList ‏@LabourList 31 mins31 minutes ago

Labour take 12 point lead in the capital, including huge lead with women voters http://ow.ly/M4sCi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lab 44% (-1) , Con 32% (-2), UKIP 10% (+2), Lib Dem 8% (NC), Greens 5% (+1)

When broken down in terms of gender, women are far more likely to vote Labour than they are Conservative:
Female Male
Con 28 35
Lab 47 41
Lib Dem 8 8
Ukip 12 8
Green 4 6
Among ABC1s (those on higher incomes) and C2DEs (those on lower incomes) Labour fare well at 45% and 41% respectively, while the Conservatives are on 33% and 30% respectively. That surprisingly high lead for Labour among wealthier voters could lead to some unexpected results on May 7th.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:50 pm

Evening all.

I've been lurking at the library all day.

I noticed Hague whining about the mess that Labour left the FCO in back in 2010...including his favourite:

The last Labour government closed more than 13 embassies, withdrew from Latin America and closed the Foreign Office library.

Except that it was clearly in such a mess that no-one knew what was in it which is why D.Miliband had it transferred to Kings College London. This says it all:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/library/collection ... s/fco.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To date the Foyle Special Collections Library has catalogued around 25,000 items from the FCO Historical Collection, over 30% of the collection; the remainder of the collection, however, is currently uncatalogued.

Now call me Mr Picky but a library really isn't much use unless you know what's in it.

From the dates it looks as though Miliband had it moved when he got into the FCO back in 2007.

Has there ever been a government of such utter lying shits? that's a purely rhetorical question...

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 9:54 pm

BTW I notice the lead story on the BBC website is still the

Miliband attacks 'UK failure' on Libya

Cameron's EVEL is relegated to 4th

Can they see the writing on the wall?

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 10:27 pm

I've just watched the Cameron John Snow interview. Couldn't drag my eyes away from the width of Dave's parting...

rearofthestore · Post by **rearofthestore** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 10:31 pm

For info

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 12s12 seconds ago
Tonight’s YouGov poll for the Sun sees LAB retain its 2% lead

Mike Smithson ‏@MSmithsonPB 22s22 seconds ago
Tonight’s YouGov figures
CON 33%, LAB 35%, LD 8%, UKIP 13%, GRN 6%

Edit to add figures

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 10:32 pm

Goodnight, comrades.
love
cJA

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 10:36 pm

Election 2015: Labour casts doubt over whether it would honour Greater Manchester's NHS devolution deal
Asked whether he would stop the plan, Andy Burnham said he had ‘real misgivings’ about the NHS devolution deal in Greater Manchester, adding that it had been ‘drawn up on the back of an envelope’

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ar_twitter

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 10:55 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
Election 2015: Labour casts doubt over whether it would honour Greater Manchester's NHS devolution deal
Asked whether he would stop the plan, Andy Burnham said he had ‘real misgivings’ about the NHS devolution deal in Greater Manchester, adding that it had been ‘drawn up on the back of an envelope’

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ar_twitter

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 24 Apr, 2015 11:07 pm

Bedtime!!!