UK Politics Hamsterwheel

[Tom Joad]

Well, it had to happen. Alison if you're content then we promise to play nicely.

[Tom Joad]

So are the foxes voting for Mr Corbyn?

[om15]

Only if they have paid their three quid.
I can understand the popularity of Corbyn in a way, why would a socialist supporter want a luke warm look alike tory party, at least he holds the old fashioned labour principles and this is what a labour supporter would want to see.
I heard the financial advisor to Corbyn on the radio this morning, put on a good front, but complete nonsense of course.

[Tom Joad]

Only if they have paid their three quid.
I can understand the popularity of Corbyn in a way, why would a socialist supporter want a luke warm look alike tory party, at least he holds the old fashioned labour principles and this is what a labour supporter would want to see.

I tend to agree om, it's just a correction in the pendulum swing. There will be a certain demographic within Labour, from within both members and supporters, to whom Corbyn's overtly socialist message will appear fresh and hence appealing. Whatever happens to Labour, I do hope they get their act sorted out and bring some stability to their party.

[om15]

Whilst we wonder at the Corbyn debate and watch the labour leadership candidates displaying anything but leadership, a new question is raised for us to consider,



Do we feel that labour candidates have more impressive breasts than the other parties? and also do we consider the size and exposure of these assets to be more or less significant than the state of the economy?

[Tom Joad]

Pertinent questions indeed om, I think we should just be grateful that in these quasi austerity riven days, at least some assets are receiving investment.

[500N]

General Sir David Richards and the head of MI6 certainly gave Cameron a lashing in the
new biography by Sir Anthony Seldon.

Said to be too interested in pursuing a ‘Notting Hill liberal agenda’

Interesting that Obama didn't come out of it looking that good either.

OK, I understand not everything might be true but when you add this up and similar comments
that have been published, it gives a pretty good picture IMHO.

[om15]

Labour have a problem to sort out, they might not be able to do it.
Mrs Thatcher realised that the hard left needed sorting out and did so, Kinnock and Blair knew that they had to keep a lid on Militant and their fellow travellers, remember in the 1970's trade union leaders were funded and were members of the communist party.
There is no one in the labour party who seems to have the ability to take Corbyn on, therefore the class war will come out into the open with a vengeance once he is elected.

The austerity measures are not over yet by any means, as demonstrated this week the markets are very fragile, there will be more to come, together with the internal division with the SNP over Europe, the next few years will be difficult.
I am rather unsure as to whether Dave will be able to deal with it. lets hope he is refreshed after his long holiday, he certainly has a challenge or two to come back to.

The reduction in police numbers and the running down of the Army may be regretted if we have a return to the 1970's and 1980's.

[Tom Joad]

So they now appear to have their knickers in a twist about the wording of the EU in/out referendum question.

Original wording "Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?"

Proposed Amended Version "Should the UK remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"

Does this level of agonising over the question - one perceived engendering a Yes vote the otehr considered neutral - really make any difference?

[Sisemen]

"Do we feel that labour candidates have more impressive breasts than the other parties"

Well they certainly appear to be the biggest tits.

[OFSO]

"Should the UK remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"

Well, the answer to that is obvious: NO andYES. Or alternativelyYES and NO. YES and YES or NO and NO are contra indicated. Any electronics engineer used to gates could work it out with a pencil.

[om15]

Tom, I think that the huge fear is that this may follow the pattern of the big referendum last year, where 45% were left feeling aggrieved at the outcome.
Up until recently most of the people that I spoke to felt that despite the problems it would be better to remain a member of the EU, and that the out campaign was run by eccentric kippers, this was the way that I felt anyway.
Now I am not so sure that there will be an overwhelming vote to remain in, the European economy, migration/immigration, increasingly over riding laws in the EU affecting our lives, all this will be very eloquently debated by leading figures that are not the kippers followers. Cameron will be under pressure from some pretty hefty players in the House, could be very interesting.

[Tom Joad]

om15, the debate/arguing/claims/lies leading up to the vote will certainly guarantee for an interesting if not frustrating time - last year's big referendum certainly points to that. The Scottish referendum question was equally scrutinised before being approved to ensure that it favoured neither position; although I'm not that convinced by the psyco-bable behind such considerations. Our referendum certainly polarised voters - that was its nature, kinda obvious, you either vote yes or know and the same will happen with the EU vote. Not sure that the question in the Scottish referendum left anybody aggrieved (from the 45% or 55% cadre), that was more to do with the nature of what was at stake - these are the big political issues of our time (once in a generation and all that ) and will rightly raise passions. Neither side will give up after the vote goes against them; if you are truly passionate and believe in a cause you continue with the fight - does life not teach us that? At the moment I think the greater weight of opinion is to remain. However, we are in a period of incredible flux (financial/social), particularly with the present migration issue which yet again highlights the little control we have over our borders. But hey, you know me, I do not like unions, especially where they override the sovereignty of a people; I think I will be a No. We can still work effectively and productively with Europe without the level of political integration we presently suffer/enjoy.

Interestingly I note that Farage has declared that UKiP will not share the No platform with the other No campaign. Not entirely sure what to make of that yet. I am worried though that UKiP will play a nasty campaign, It is still a political party that I fear. Interesting times ahead.

[500N]

What is it with the "fish woman" and the SNP. Talk about moving goal posts.

She lost the referendum, won more powers, now she says she will derail the Scotland bill giving Scotland more power
without a suitable cash payment.

Yet all the things the SNP seem to complain about, health, education etc, the SNP / Scotland has total control of.

Sounds to me like she is realising it is all turning to crap because they can't manage things and they severely
underestimated the costs of running it themselves.

[Tom Joad]

On the contrary 500N, it's typical guerrilla warfare, harry the enemy. We are in it for the long game

[om15]

Sounds to me like she is realising it is all turning to crap because they can't manage things and they severely
underestimated the costs of running it themselves

That about sums it up, whatever lash up and overspending arises, Sturgeon will shriek and blame Westminster/England and her dead thick followers will bay in unison. The best thing Cameron can do is pull the subs out and spend the £500M developing Milford Haven, it is interesting to see how every facet of the SNP's responsibilities such as Police, education and tax raising is turning to worms.

[Tom Joad]

The best thing Cameron can do is pull the subs out and spend the £500M developing Milford Haven, it is interesting to see how every facet of the SNP's responsibilities such as Police, education and tax raising is turning to worms.

Agree re the subs om15 that would be a good outcome. Can you cite anything to support your statement regarding Police, education and tax raising? As far as education is concerned, whenever has the Education system in Scotland or England not had it's problems? It is a perennial political football. As an insider, the main problem facing Scottish Education at the moment (implementation of CfE) could be said to fall more rightly at the doorstep of the SAQ. For the Police, Mr House was always considered a controversial appointment, I do not see him being missed.

[om15]

The Scottish Retail Consortium have realised the full horror of Sturgeons intentions, applying sound common sense and stating the obvious they are completely at odds with the SNP's wild and irresponsible economic policy.

This is interesting factual reading http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... peech.html

[Tom Joad]

Different interpretations are available of course om15 - usually informed by your place on the political spectrum - the Telegraph's is well known. Take Jim McColl's recent investments - he seems pretty confident. Remember as well how wrong the CBI got it as well during the referendum - every picture tells a story as Rod Stewart would say. But at the end of the day don't worry, Scotland will either one day leave the UK or it won't - the world will still turn.

[Tom Joad]

Re post #17 SAQ should read SQA. Is there a limit to the number of edits one can make?