Wednesday 20th May 2015
Posted: Wed 20 May, 2015 7:13 am
Morning all.
norman smith @BBCNormanS 2m2 minutes agoMichaelWhite @MichaelWhite 3m3 minutes ago
Nigel Farage on R4's Today. Fluent as ever, but he seems to be in denial. "Ukip ran the most positive election campaign" he says. United too
Unfortunately I think Ashcroft is very right.Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft 11h11 hours ago
Neither write off @UKIP nor @Nigel_Farage . Like them or not they will regroup and survive. They came 2nd in 120 seats.
Steve Hilton’s privileged view of our chumocracy must not be dismissed
Owen Jones
The left should embrace all allies – even architects of austerity – in the fight to expose our cliquey elites
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... left-elite" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“The corporate bosses, the MPs, the journalists … all go to the same dinner parties and social events; all live near one another; all send their children to the same schools,” cries comrade Hilton. He has a point. The talented former Telegraph deputy editor Benedict Brogan – sadly now purged – told me of journalists (whose theoretical job is to challenge those with political power) dinner-partying, drinking and going on holiday with MPs – or even becoming godparents to their children.
But it’s not simply about social connections and piss-ups. “They flit and float between Westminster, Whitehall and the City; regardless of who’s in office, the same people are in power,” reports the revolutionary Jacobin Hilton. In other words, the powerful are bound together by a revolving door. Boris Johnson is now mayor of London, a Tory MP with a cabinet post, and, as a Telegraph columnist, the recipient of a six-figure salary (which he once described as “chickenfeed”) from the undoubtedly grateful Barclay Brothers. David Cameron, Boris Johnson, George Osborne: all recruited their spinners from that supposed hotbed of pinko leftiness the BBC. Major accountancy firms complicit in tax avoidance help draw up tax laws, then help their clients get around the laws they themselves have written: “cases of poacher turned gamekeeper, turned poacher again”, as the House of Commons public accounts committee puts it.
Jonathan Reynolds MP retweeted
Jonathan Simons @PXEducation May 15
I never knew this - how Apprenticeship numbers don't refer to number of people undertaking one (@NickLinford) http://feweek.co.uk/2015/05/15/enter-ap ... tre-stage/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
... The Conservatives have chosen to use apprenticeship starts as their target, which is a figure published in official Statistical First Releases. This means within the FE sector it is already well understood and credible as a measure. However, how many listening to the Prime Minister would realise this 3m is neither the number of people, nor does it mean they passed the apprenticeship?
Firstly, many of the 3m starting an advanced apprenticeship are being counted for the second time, having already achieved an intermediate apprenticeship.
In fact, apprentices joining the accountancy profession often enters at level two and progresses to level three and then continues on to level four. They would be counted three times towards the 3m target.
Hard as it may be to believe, the number of individuals participating in apprenticeships has never been published, and efforts by FE Week to find out the number through a freedom of information request have been rebuffed.
Surely it would be better to count people benefiting — let’s call them ‘apprenticeship entrants’ — to avoid this double or triple counting. This would also save me shouting “wrong!” every time a politician refers to the number of ‘people’ doing an apprenticeship...
Trust in pollsters falls, according to new poll
http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/trust-i ... -1-3777757
I reckon Skinner deserves a bench named after him in the HoC - not just a reserved seat.Denis Skinner @BolsoverBeast · 3m 3 minutes ago
The essential kit required if Cameron plans to detoxify the Tory party.
I suspect they'll be plenty of volunteers .
Good morning.A charity for people in North Yorkshire who suffered sexual abuse as children is to close in two weeks.
Healing Our Past Experiences (HOPE) reported financial problems in January but now has no funds to operate.
Founder Pauline Carruthers applied for money from the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust at the start of the year but said she heard nothing back.
HOPE has "drastically reduced" its services and number of staff in the last 18 months.
I got an email from LabourList yesterday linking to their survey on who we prefer in the leadership race. That's one I'm definitely not filling in ... the last thing we need are poll results based on a self selecting minority responding very early on in the contest - potentially before all the candidates are declared.Joint editorial: LabourList remains committed to impartiality and fairness
http://labourlist.org/2015/05/joint-edi ... -fairness/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
... Although Mark has left LabourList to work for one of the leadership candidate’s campaigns, we want to stress our commitment to covering the race with the impartiality and fairness readers have come to expect. It is important that LabourList remains independent during internal Labour elections and debates, in order to better represent the wide range of opinions of our readers, contributors and, yes, our editorial staff too. We remain Labour: nothing more, and nothing less.
Oh I filled it in, put Ed's name in as my preferred choice of leader.rebeccariots2 wrote:I got an email from LabourList yesterday linking to their survey on who we prefer in the leadership race. That's one I'm definitely not filling in ... the last thing we need are poll results based on a self selecting minority responding very early on in the contest - potentially before all the candidates are declared.Joint editorial: LabourList remains committed to impartiality and fairness
http://labourlist.org/2015/05/joint-edi ... -fairness/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
... Although Mark has left LabourList to work for one of the leadership candidate’s campaigns, we want to stress our commitment to covering the race with the impartiality and fairness readers have come to expect. It is important that LabourList remains independent during internal Labour elections and debates, in order to better represent the wide range of opinions of our readers, contributors and, yes, our editorial staff too. We remain Labour: nothing more, and nothing less.
Yes. The Mirror poll is a bit of fun and gives a good idea of how well recognised the names of potential leaders are, but no one is going to take it seriously or try to use it to influence opinion. As you say, until we see actual proposals, it's hard to make a genuine choice, based on facts rather than assumptions. Polls being published now disparaging or talking up any of the candidates would be rather unhelpful at this stage.rebeccariots2 wrote:I got an email from LabourList yesterday linking to their survey on who we prefer in the leadership race. That's one I'm definitely not filling in ... the last thing we need are poll results based on a self selecting minority responding very early on in the contest - potentially before all the candidates are declared.Joint editorial: LabourList remains committed to impartiality and fairness
http://labourlist.org/2015/05/joint-edi ... -fairness/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
... Although Mark has left LabourList to work for one of the leadership candidate’s campaigns, we want to stress our commitment to covering the race with the impartiality and fairness readers have come to expect. It is important that LabourList remains independent during internal Labour elections and debates, in order to better represent the wide range of opinions of our readers, contributors and, yes, our editorial staff too. We remain Labour: nothing more, and nothing less.
That account isn't actually done by the MP for Bolsover. Just in case people here don't already knowrebeccariots2 wrote:I reckon Skinner deserves a bench named after him in the HoC - not just a reserved seat.Denis Skinner @BolsoverBeast · 3m 3 minutes ago
The essential kit required if Cameron plans to detoxify the Tory party.
I suspect they'll be plenty of volunteers .
There are about a hundred places to start as an apprentice farrier, every year. The full course takes just over four years and it's a Level 3 Diploma on block release, to one of three colleges in the UK, from an Approved Training Farrier (ATF.) That prepares the apprentices to take the diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, at which point they finally become qualified farriers. To get onto the Level 3 course, people already need to hold a Level 2 in forgework/blacksmithing. Now, that means that each person could (according to the way the government count the figures) count as two, or possibly three, 'apprenticeship starts.'ephemerid wrote:Apprenticeships - it's very difficult to find out how many there are and what sort of people take them up.
Morrisons and B&Q between them have had more than 50,000 people over 50 doing them in the past 5 years; Morrisons alone had 43,000 in total across all age groups in 2013. These are low and intermediate level apprenticeships in things like customer care.
If you sign up for one, you do 30 hours a week of on-the-job training (ie.work) and 5 hours of education/learning/training in-house or in college.
For this, you get apprentice rates (£2.73 P/H), which work out at about £10 to £15 more a week than JSA.
As long as you stay on this, you are not unemployed in the figures, and your "wages" are not benefits and not subject to sanctions.
There have been anecdotes of older people doing this to keep busy and get some money coming in when their JSA runs out at 26 weeks.
I cannot find out anywhere how many people are doing longer-term "proper" apprenticeships in things like construction or engineering; there are many providers, from big corporations like Carillion to city councils. Plus, obviously, big retail, home/social care providers, etc.
Apprenticeships are supported by the Skills Funding Agency which gets funding from the European Union.
If we "negotiate" new terms of membership of the EU or if we leave the EU, what happens to that, I wonder?
I never underestimate dangerous, right-wing, fanatical political parties with an alarming amount of air-time.rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.
Woken up to Farage on Radio 4. We just haven't seen or heard enough of him recently ...norman smith @BBCNormanS 2m2 minutes agoMichaelWhite @MichaelWhite 3m3 minutes ago
Nigel Farage on R4's Today. Fluent as ever, but he seems to be in denial. "Ukip ran the most positive election campaign" he says. United too
The public agreed with me over my criticism of immigrants coming to UK with HIV - @nigelfarage @BBCr4today
Julia Goldsworthy @jgoldsworthy 7m7 minutes ago
Why does Farage think EU ref will be next May? Electoral Commission says shouldn't be on same day as other elections @BBCr4todayUnfortunately I think Ashcroft is very right.Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft 11h11 hours ago
Neither write off @UKIP nor @Nigel_Farage . Like them or not they will regroup and survive. They came 2nd in 120 seats.
Rainsbrook G4S youth prison slammed by Ofsted report as children suffer 'racist', 'degrading' abuse from guards high on drugs
Ofsted said the full details of a number of incidents involving children were so serious that they were being withheld to protect their confidentiality. Its report gave Rainsbrook the lowest rating of “inadequate”.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 63121.html
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blo ... itics-live" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;He said Labour was in trouble partly as a result of a “profound cultural collapse” that has affected the UK. Citing Stoke-on-Trent, where he is an MP, he said:
I can see that these foundational institutions - which for so long have provided British social democracy with its cultural anchors - are barely a presence in the vast majority of my constituents lives anymore.
The chapels are empty.
The working mens’ clubs have closed.
Trade union membership is down - close to non-existent in the private sector.
And despite some encouraging recent signs, deindustrialisation, driven by global competition, has laid waste to most of our manufacturing economy.
This withering of our Labour roots is striking in two important and connected ways.
Both of which were captured by the election result.
First, the erosion of the sentimental and electoral loyalty to our party in white working class communities.
And second the weakening of class-based forms of identity when compared to local or national pride.
Kevin Schofield @schofieldkevin 1h1 hour ago
Douglas Carswell in Portcullis House with Neil and Christine Hamilton. No doubt discussing how Ukip is 100% united.
Faisal Islam @faisalislam 8h8 hours ago
"Government elected in May 2015 holds lowest share of vote in both Wales (27.2%) and Scotland (14.9%) since 1945" http://researchbriefings.files.parliame ... P-7186.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
Good point. I think his analysis re the loss of the 'working class' vote in some areas was useful too. But - whilst I liked the bits of his speech that I heard re the cultural and voting pattern shifts ... I couldn't help thinking that he will come across as quite academic and cerebral to some people - rather like Ed Miliband did. Now I didn't find that off putting about Ed ... I liked those characteristics ... but others won't - and they won't find it engaging unfortunately. However - I do hope Tristram Hunt gets used rather better than he has been at education by a new leader. They could really put his skills and qualities to use in formulating overall strategy and vision.AnatolyKasparov wrote:Hunt is good at analysis, rather less so at possible solutions.
Scotland may have to leave the EU even if it votes to stay in, David Cameron confirms
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 62563.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scotland may have to leave the European Union even if it votes to stay in the bloc, David Cameron has confirmed.
The Prime Minister indicated to the Daily Express newspaper that the constituent countries of the United Kingdom would not have to agree before an EU exit went ahead.
“We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,” he told the newspaper.
“They didn’t give Orkney and Shetland an opt-out, or the Borders an opt out [during the Scottish independence referendum] so this is a UK pledge, it will be delivered for the UK.”
Mr Cameron’s assertion is a rejection of calls from Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, says she wants a “lock” to be put on Britain’s EU exit...
I don't like the rest of it, either...This will include extending the use of police-led prosecutions to cut the time the police spend waiting for the Crown Prosecution Service, overhauling the police complaints and disciplinary systems and making changes to the oversight of pre-charge bail.
Tom Watson interview: "There'll be no room for messing around"
The front-runner for Labour's deputy leadership discusses immigration, defence spending and making peace with press.
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... ing-around" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
With Andy Burnham the early frontrunner for the post, and Watson the favourite to win the deputy role, Labour could soon have an all-male team at the top. What does he say to those, such as the acting leader Harriet Harman, who argue that gender balance is essential? “Well, I think they’ve got plenty of options from what I see,” he replies. “If you want an all-women team you can go for it. I can’t change my gender but people have got a choice.” Referring to past occupants of the post, he tells me that he aims to combine “the calmness of Margaret Beckett” with “the energy of John Prescott”.
ohsocynical wrote:Even if you don't Tweet, most of us will have heard Hopkins nasty outbursts about boat people, and that Mensch has been bullying the seventeen year old who got Milifandom off the ground...
I read recently Hopkins said she had an illness which made her have outbursts...And now Mensch is excusing herself.
Andrew Spooner @andrewspoooner 6m6 minutes ago
Are we watching someone having some kind of breakdown? "Louise Mensch: My mind is messed up after taking hard drugs"
He's not standing.LadyCentauria wrote: Good speech from Neil Findlay MSP (Labour) in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on The Future of Scotland's Economy, which is on BBC Parliament at the moment. You'll remember he was one of the contenders for the leadership of Scottish Labour, last year. Whether or not he'll stand again, I don't know but I rather hope he does. I'll try to remember to to link to it once they publish the transcript, later.
In a statement today he said: “The last week has been a traumatic time for everyone in the Scottish Labour Party. We now need to get on with the urgent task of rebuilding our organisation, the morale of party members and the policies we need to restore the faith of the voters in the run up to the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
“I hope to play my full part in that process but I also want to make it crystal clear that I will not be a candidate in the election for the position of Scottish Labour leader.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/neil-findl ... -1-3775382
What's that about - should we be alarmed, or very alarmed?norman smith @BBCNormanS 34s35 seconds ago
Govt scraps @GrahamAllenMP political and constitutional reform select committee
I'm impressed by how much Parliament TV Lady C can bear to watch through though. I generally find these debates and question sessions very difficult to stomach for more than 10 mins or so.Eric_WLothian wrote:He's not standing.LadyCentauria wrote: Good speech from Neil Findlay MSP (Labour) in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on The Future of Scotland's Economy, which is on BBC Parliament at the moment. You'll remember he was one of the contenders for the leadership of Scottish Labour, last year. Whether or not he'll stand again, I don't know but I rather hope he does. I'll try to remember to to link to it once they publish the transcript, later.In a statement today he said: “The last week has been a traumatic time for everyone in the Scottish Labour Party. We now need to get on with the urgent task of rebuilding our organisation, the morale of party members and the policies we need to restore the faith of the voters in the run up to the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
“I hope to play my full part in that process but I also want to make it crystal clear that I will not be a candidate in the election for the position of Scottish Labour leader.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/neil-findl ... -1-3775382
He's right. This was raked over time and time again during the referendum. Scotland can't leave (or stay in) the EU, simply because it isn't a member. (Neither can England, Wales or Northern Ireland, for the same reason). All the EU treaties are signed on behalf of the UK, so it's the UK that can stay or leave.rebeccariots2 wrote:Scotland may have to leave the EU even if it votes to stay in, David Cameron confirms
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 62563.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scotland may have to leave the European Union even if it votes to stay in the bloc, David Cameron has confirmed.
The Prime Minister indicated to the Daily Express newspaper that the constituent countries of the United Kingdom would not have to agree before an EU exit went ahead.
“We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,” he told the newspaper.
“They didn’t give Orkney and Shetland an opt-out, or the Borders an opt out [during the Scottish independence referendum] so this is a UK pledge, it will be delivered for the UK.”
Mr Cameron’s assertion is a rejection of calls from Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, says she wants a “lock” to be put on Britain’s EU exit...
But isn't Sturgeon / SNP / Scottish Govt's position that they don't want to UK to be allowed to leave the EU unless a majority in Scotland and the other home nations have voted for that ... that's not quite the same is it? Anyway - Cameron isn't giving the SNP what they want. Will be interesting to see how this develops.Eric_WLothian wrote:He's right. This was raked over time and time again during the referendum. Scotland can't leave (or stay in) the EU, simply because it isn't a member. (Neither can England, Wales or Northern Ireland, for the same reason). All the EU treaties are signed on behalf of the UK, so it's the UK that can stay or leave.rebeccariots2 wrote:Scotland may have to leave the EU even if it votes to stay in, David Cameron confirms
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 62563.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scotland may have to leave the European Union even if it votes to stay in the bloc, David Cameron has confirmed.
The Prime Minister indicated to the Daily Express newspaper that the constituent countries of the United Kingdom would not have to agree before an EU exit went ahead.
“We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,” he told the newspaper.
“They didn’t give Orkney and Shetland an opt-out, or the Borders an opt out [during the Scottish independence referendum] so this is a UK pledge, it will be delivered for the UK.”
Mr Cameron’s assertion is a rejection of calls from Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, says she wants a “lock” to be put on Britain’s EU exit...
Yes - I think that's what she wants (she has a limited understanding of democracy and/or doesn't understand that Scotland is part of the UK). I think the technical term is 'tail wagging the dog'.rebeccariots2 wrote:But isn't Sturgeon / SNP / Scottish Govt's position that they don't want to UK to be allowed to leave the EU unless a majority in Scotland and the other home nations have voted for that ... that's not quite the same is it? Anyway - Cameron isn't giving the SNP what they want. Will be interesting to see how this develops.Eric_WLothian wrote:He's right. This was raked over time and time again during the referendum. Scotland can't leave (or stay in) the EU, simply because it isn't a member. (Neither can England, Wales or Northern Ireland, for the same reason). All the EU treaties are signed on behalf of the UK, so it's the UK that can stay or leave.rebeccariots2 wrote:
Awful story - as so many are. Glad it was resolved without this person actually losing their life.DWP Forced To Apologise After Terminally Ill Benefit Claimant Tried To Take His Own Life
http://www.welfareweekly.com/dwp-forced ... -own-life/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I hadn't seen that. Pity he wo'n't run but I hope there's a strong field and that there'll be a good place for him in the new leader's team.Eric_WLothian wrote:He's not standing.LadyCentauria wrote: Good speech from Neil Findlay MSP (Labour) in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on The Future of Scotland's Economy, which is on BBC Parliament at the moment. You'll remember he was one of the contenders for the leadership of Scottish Labour, last year. Whether or not he'll stand again, I don't know but I rather hope he does. I'll try to remember to to link to it once they publish the transcript, later.In a statement today he said: “The last week has been a traumatic time for everyone in the Scottish Labour Party. We now need to get on with the urgent task of rebuilding our organisation, the morale of party members and the policies we need to restore the faith of the voters in the run up to the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
“I hope to play my full part in that process but I also want to make it crystal clear that I will not be a candidate in the election for the position of Scottish Labour leader.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/neil-findl ... -1-3775382
Yes campaigner who daubed saltire at Wallace Monument to pay £8000
http://news.stv.tv/stirling-central/132 ... o-pay-800/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It really depends on what the debate is and I tend to listen rather than watch, treating it more like radio whilst reading, surfing, and doing other stuff about the house. Probably why I'm often at a loss as to who was speaking as so often, when I glance over at the screen, the lower-third has swapped from the person's name/title to what the debate is called. I flit between various radio and tv stations/programmes, too, unless I'm out in the garden. Just generally like the sound of voices around me whereas I find music too distracting and engrossing to allow me to put any of my concentration onto anything else, unless it's playing/singing along or twiddling the knobs on the deskrebeccariots2 wrote:I'm impressed by how much Parliament TV Lady C can bear to watch through though. I generally find these debates and question sessions very difficult to stomach for more than 10 mins or so.Eric_WLothian wrote:He's not standing.LadyCentauria wrote: Good speech from Neil Findlay MSP (Labour) in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on The Future of Scotland's Economy, which is on BBC Parliament at the moment. You'll remember he was one of the contenders for the leadership of Scottish Labour, last year. Whether or not he'll stand again, I don't know but I rather hope he does. I'll try to remember to to link to it once they publish the transcript, later.In a statement today he said: “The last week has been a traumatic time for everyone in the Scottish Labour Party. We now need to get on with the urgent task of rebuilding our organisation, the morale of party members and the policies we need to restore the faith of the voters in the run up to the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
“I hope to play my full part in that process but I also want to make it crystal clear that I will not be a candidate in the election for the position of Scottish Labour leader.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/neil-findl ... -1-3775382
Adam Boulton retweeted
AmnestyInternational @amnesty 2m2 minutes ago
BREAKING: #Nebraska Legislature just voted to abolish the #deathpenalty! #NErepeal http://owl.li/Nc1by" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
James Forsyth @JGForsyth 12m12 minutes ago
Germans propose linking the British renegotiation to Eurozone reform http://bit.ly/1Foay0b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Nevertheless they have much more widespread support than UKIP and BNP put together had five years ago, and I've seen a fair few people admit to having voted that way, some of them in a misguided belief that 'they aren't really right wing, they are more left than the left.' Yes, my jaw dropped too. But in the lull after the election their activists were still active, and still are, trying to actively recruit people. So there's an agenda there, though I do wonder whether the chance to open the party up failed because the bunch they've got at the top are likely to be media fails, and would fail to bring the votes Farage does, or be able to domnate debates the way he can. Of courśe there's always the chance he's been told to rein things in, though it's unlikely.RobertSnozers wrote:citizenJA wrote:I never underestimate dangerous, right-wing, fanatical political parties with an alarming amount of air-time.rebeccariots2 wrote:Morning.
Woken up to Farage on Radio 4. We just haven't seen or heard enough of him recently ...norman smith @BBCNormanS 2m2 minutes ago
The public agreed with me over my criticism of immigrants coming to UK with HIV - @nigelfarage @BBCr4today
Julia Goldsworthy @jgoldsworthy 7m7 minutes ago
Why does Farage think EU ref will be next May? Electoral Commission says shouldn't be on same day as other elections @BBCr4today Unfortunately I think Ashcroft is very right.
However, I'd find better information behind the refrigerator than from Ashcroft's twitter feed noise.
Ashcroft: 'They came 2nd in 120 seats.'
Only 12 out of 650 seats did UKIP come within a couple of thousand votes of the winner.
UKIP received votes in the thousands in most of the 650 constituencies & that's alarming.
UKIP votes increased; not enough to displace thousands of voters choosing another party.
Tories telling scary stories.
Ashcroft's all frantic because within five years all those loyal Tory voters will have passed away & then what are Tories going to do? My advice to Ashcroft is for the Tory party to merge with UKIP now & save billions on PR.
http://election.pressassociation.com/Re ... php#header" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm somewhat confused about Ukip. It's true that they have a great deal of support, and that probably won't be changing any time soon. Yet they had a chance to break away from essentially being The Nigel Farage Show and his backing dancers, and blew it. Whatever you think about Natalie Bennett (I neither like nor rate her), Caroline Lucas stepping down as leader definitely had the effect of moving the Greens away from being a one-man band. I find it hard to see how Ukip will now escape from 'Ukip=Farage and Farage=Ukip', and that has to hurt their long term prospects.
So, Grexit, Brexit, um, Scexit? Those for Scottish independence = 'Skeksies' and those for EU exit = ur-RUK? Dunno who the Gelflings are – probably those of us who'd like to see a better solution than exits-all-round! Apologies to the late lamented Jim Henson, et al...RobertSnozers wrote:Yet another factor pushing Scotland towards the exit (of the UK). If Sturgeon is seen to be throwing her weight around, it will probably help push the UK towards the exit of the EU. Exits all round.rebeccariots2 wrote:But isn't Sturgeon / SNP / Scottish Govt's position that they don't want to UK to be allowed to leave the EU unless a majority in Scotland and the other home nations have voted for that ... that's not quite the same is it? Anyway - Cameron isn't giving the SNP what they want. Will be interesting to see how this develops.Eric_WLothian wrote: He's right. This was raked over time and time again during the referendum. Scotland can't leave (or stay in) the EU, simply because it isn't a member. (Neither can England, Wales or Northern Ireland, for the same reason). All the EU treaties are signed on behalf of the UK, so it's the UK that can stay or leave.
I read a great article about pharmacies refusing to sell the drugs used, and hoped that was a sign. I too would dearly love to see this practice end, but I also want more for the U.S., I want an end to their barbaric prison practices too. But this is great. I wonder if other states will follow soon.RobertSnozers wrote:Wow. At this rate the US might be a civilised country in my lifetime. Just need the rest of the states to abandon barbarism, end Apartheid, and for the Union to adopt free and fair elections and they'll be there.rebeccariots2 wrote:Bit of good news.Adam Boulton retweeted
AmnestyInternational @amnesty 2m2 minutes ago
BREAKING: #Nebraska Legislature just voted to abolish the #deathpenalty! #NErepeal http://owl.li/Nc1by" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Oh FFS. What now? Can't we have a couple of weeks of relative quiet on the muck digging and spreading front? (If that's what it is ... and I fear it is from the tone of that tweet.)Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 6m6 minutes ago
A far from ideal start to Sadiq Khan's London mayoral bid. Story follows soon on @SunNation.
I'm very concerned about Ukip. Their vote was well up across Wales. We have Assembly elections here next year. We have PR.seeingclearly wrote:Nevertheless they have much more widespread support than UKIP and BNP put together had five years ago, and I've seen a fair few people admit to having voted that way, some of them in a misguided belief that 'they aren't really right wing, they are more left than the left.' Yes, my jaw dropped too. But in the lull after the election their activists were still active, and still are, trying to actively recruit people. So there's an agenda there, though I do wonder whether the chance to open the party up failed because the bunch they've got at the top are likely to be media fails, and would fail to bring the votes Farage does, or be able to domnate debates the way he can. Of courśe there's always the chance he's been told to rein things in, though it's unlikely.RobertSnozers wrote:citizenJA wrote: I never underestimate dangerous, right-wing, fanatical political parties with an alarming amount of air-time.
However, I'd find better information behind the refrigerator than from Ashcroft's twitter feed noise.
Ashcroft: 'They came 2nd in 120 seats.'
Only 12 out of 650 seats did UKIP come within a couple of thousand votes of the winner.
UKIP received votes in the thousands in most of the 650 constituencies & that's alarming.
UKIP votes increased; not enough to displace thousands of voters choosing another party.
Tories telling scary stories.
Ashcroft's all frantic because within five years all those loyal Tory voters will have passed away & then what are Tories going to do? My advice to Ashcroft is for the Tory party to merge with UKIP now & save billions on PR.
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I'm somewhat confused about Ukip. It's true that they have a great deal of support, and that probably won't be changing any time soon. Yet they had a chance to break away from essentially being The Nigel Farage Show and his backing dancers, and blew it. Whatever you think about Natalie Bennett (I neither like nor rate her), Caroline Lucas stepping down as leader definitely had the effect of moving the Greens away from being a one-man band. I find it hard to see how Ukip will now escape from 'Ukip=Farage and Farage=Ukip', and that has to hurt their long term prospects.
Yeah. Am sick of it too. Unfortunately this is why the Tories win generation after generation. The cynical use of a note that was clearly a joke for five years indicates that there is nowhere too low for them to stoop. I can't help thinking that the only antidote will be a constant barrage of stories about the Tories stealing the country's assets and tracking exactly where the benefits go.rebeccariots2 wrote:Oh FFS. What now? Can't we have a couple of weeks of relative quiet on the muck digging and spreading front? (If that's what it is ... and I fear it is from the tone of that tweet.)Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 6m6 minutes ago
A far from ideal start to Sadiq Khan's London mayoral bid. Story follows soon on @SunNation.
Cathy Newman @cathynewman 2m2 minutes ago
Clear to me after interviewing @DouglasCarswell just now that #UKIP intends to position itself as main opponent of Labour rather than Tories