I see that Hungary whose population apparently is dropping by 32,000 a year is offering mothers freedom from income tax for life if they have 4+ children a year. Sigh!
We have to look at a different solution to the problems caused by changes in demography other than exponential reproduction which is/will cause far more serious problems to the planet.
4+ children A YEAR???? You'd want more than tax free living!
They are forgetting the first rule of project management:
It takes a woman nine months to have a baby. It cannot be done in one month with nine women.
Sceptics like you would be sidelined or laid off because you are clearly not a team player.
On the economic figures, obviously these aren't very encouraging GDP figures. But note (a) they're just one quarter and (b) they might well be revised.
The longer term decline in business investment is worrying.
Of course. Why would you invest if you don’t know the basis on which the economy is going to be trading in 2 months time?
(the UK trade deficit has widened horribly over the last six months).
Stockpiling for No Deal?
I doubt it - UK industrial production would be increasing if that was the case.
The trade deficit is increasing because we're buying ever more imported consumer tat.
I'm sure someone will look at the data in detail to give a more precise answer.
Not sure it follows that increased stockpiles of raw materials/components leads to increased production. Just taking steps to ensure it doesn't have future decreases.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
It sounded like he was proposing pimping our armed forces out as mercs. Could be a good money spinner!
There's a bit of a drought in the ex special forces merc market as most of them now seem to be going onto crappy reality shows. The one I caught a glimpse of last night seemed to have more emoting, tears and snotters than Call the Midwife.
On the economic figures, obviously these aren't very encouraging GDP figures. But note (a) they're just one quarter and (b) they might well be revised.
The longer term decline in business investment is worrying.
Of course. Why would you invest if you don’t know the basis on which the economy is going to be trading in 2 months time?
Exactly. They are surpringly good figures against benchmark of most uncertainty faced since war time
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
It sounded like he was proposing pimping our armed forces out as mercs. Could be a good money spinner!
There's a bit of a drought in the ex special forces merc market as most of them now seem to be going onto crappy reality shows. The one I caught a glimpse of last night seemed to have more emoting, tears and snotters than Call the Midwife.
Thy guy called Ant Middleton on that show has an advert for a series of lectures he's giving around the country. It's the crappiest, most laughable advert out there - a real mantage. At first I thought it was a parody.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
There are thousands of those flats, and they’re springing up right next to every railway station along most main lines out of London, clearly aimed at commuters who want an expensive shoebox to live in, if they can walk to the train in the morning.
The macro data released this morning are really dire. Yes, the monthly GDP data are noisy and prone to revision (in truth this is the case for all official UK data, with the exception of the inflation data which are noisy but are never revised) - but still, - 0.4% is a terrible number, sufficiently bad to be most likely more than just noise. The economy has grown just 0.1% in the last 5 months. Industrial production is down almost 1% on a year ago. Construction down over 2%. On the expenditure side, business investment is tanking, and is clearly signalling recession. Only consumption and government spending propped up growth in Q4. Taken alongside the slumping PMIs, I think the chances of a GDP contraction in Q1 look more than 50:50. And of course, all this is before Brexit even happens. Time to link pensions to GDP? It shouldn't just be working age people who take the hit from this fiasco - especially as we didn't vote for it, of course.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
And of course, all this is before Brexit even happens.
Or the uncertainty is because Brexit hasn't yet happened. That uncertainty should go away in coming weeks. (Although the certainty it will be replaced by may have its fair share of continuing uncertainties....)
I see that Hungary whose population apparently is dropping by 32,000 a year is offering mothers freedom from income tax for life if they have 4+ children a year. Sigh!
We have to look at a different solution to the problems caused by changes in demography other than exponential reproduction which is/will cause far more serious problems to the planet.
4+ children A YEAR???? You'd want more than tax free living!
They are forgetting the first rule of project management:
It takes a woman nine months to have a baby. It cannot be done in one month with nine women.
Sceptics like you would be sidelined or laid off because you are clearly not a team player.
I'm not going to live down the 'a year' bit am I ?
I see that Hungary whose population apparently is dropping by 32,000 a year is offering mothers freedom from income tax for life if they have 4+ children a year. Sigh!
We have to look at a different solution to the problems caused by changes in demography other than exponential reproduction which is/will cause far more serious problems to the planet.
4+ children A YEAR???? You'd want more than tax free living!
They are forgetting the first rule of project management:
It takes a woman nine months to have a baby. It cannot be done in one month with nine women.
Sceptics like you would be sidelined or laid off because you are clearly not a team player.
I'm not going to live down the 'a year' bit am I ?
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
It sounded like he was proposing pimping our armed forces out as mercs. Could be a good money spinner!
There's a bit of a drought in the ex special forces merc market as most of them now seem to be going onto crappy reality shows. The one I caught a glimpse of last night seemed to have more emoting, tears and snotters than Call the Midwife.
Thy guy called Ant Middleton on that show has an advert for a series of lectures he's giving around the country. It's the crappiest, most laughable advert out there - a real mantage. At first I thought it was a parody.
Not that I'd say that to his face ...
Oh, he's that bloke is he? Out of the many Brexits available, I find the motivational bullshit one is one of the most pernicious.
A ‘no deal’ for our country would actually be a blessing in disguise. It would force us into hardship and suffering which would unite & bring us together, bringing back British values of loyalty and a sense of community! Extreme change is needed! #nodeal #suffertogether https://t.co/4zVqegaWNi — Anthony Middleton (@antmiddleton) December 14, 2018
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
Incidentally, my contact in the Democratic Party (very well connected) thinks neither Sanders nor Biden will run. Also the Hillary machine is not going to transfer across to any particular candidate.
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
Thanks, probably the most interesting thing about Figure 5 is that South West England has slipped behind East of England and further behind South East England. I guess it shows how much of the growth in the areas around London is driven by London itself. I wouldn't touch the flats that are going up in Woking, for example, as their value is predicated on London being unaffordable.
To an extent.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
I see that Hungary whose population apparently is dropping by 32,000 a year is offering mothers freedom from income tax for life if they have 4+ children a year. Sigh!
We have to look at a different solution to the problems caused by changes in demography other than exponential reproduction which is/will cause far more serious problems to the planet.
4+ children A YEAR???? You'd want more than tax free living!
They are forgetting the first rule of project management:
It takes a woman nine months to have a baby. It cannot be done in one month with nine women.
Sceptics like you would be sidelined or laid off because you are clearly not a team player.
I'm not going to live down the 'a year' bit am I ?
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
Incidentally, my contact in the Democratic Party (very well connected) thinks neither Sanders nor Biden will run. Also the Hillary machine is not going to transfer across to any particular candidate.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
Incidentally, my contact in the Democratic Party (very well connected) thinks neither Sanders nor Biden will run. Also the Hillary machine is not going to transfer across to any particular candidate.
Hilary can run again then....
Something tells me she’s seriously considering it.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Print another 40 membership cards for that new party, Westminster branch.....
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
Miss Cyclefree, to refer again to the I, Claudius episode I was just watching, your question reminds me of Antonia's* contempt for men unwilling to stand up to Caligula when he proclaims himself a god.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Corbyn is dancing around to wind down the clock to No Deal chaos.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Corbyn is dancing around to wind down the clock to No Deal chaos.
Trotsky would be proud.
Well he would be if he hadn't had an ice pick through his head on the orders of Seumas Milne's hero.
They can rise up and vote for TMay's deal (perhaps tweaked by Brussels: I think that is now what will most likely happen).
Ah, I see. That would be courageous. I mean, it's one thing to take a stand against the leadership and hope support from your own faction will see you through, but taking a stand to vote for something your own faction hates...
So man-child Gavin Williamson is playing the tough guy because he wants to be Tory leader. Anyone who thinks the Chinese will regard sending the UK’s only aircraft carrier to the Pacific as a show of strength knows absolutely nothing about the Chinese. They will consider it a pointless provocation from an ex-imperial power that used to dictate to China but never will again. And they will take it out on British businesses.
How on esrth have we ended up with a cabinet containing the likes of Williamson, Grayling, Fox, Leadsom, etc? The Tories have absolutely nothing to offer this country. My God, we’re in the do-do.
This truly is the worst administration since the early 1800s, when the Cabinet was decided by whether you were someone’s uncle, and if you went to the right drinking club.
A Ministry of all the Shits.
Whatever administration happens to be in power it will never be short of commentators who say, “this is the worst administration since De Montfort”, or similar, as the objective is to generate a call to action for its removal and replacement.
It’s just about the most cliched thing in politics there is.
Though very accurate in this instance
I don’t think so. This administration has successfully dealt with one of the biggest fiscal crises the UK state has ever faced, and created the lowest unemployment in over 40 years. The education reforms have been a success, the pension reforms popular, and we’ve turned the corner on new housing builds. We are even now in a position to invest significantly more resources in the NHS.
I consider it a success.
Blimey. That’s a full on start to Monday morning. This administration is a basket case. The previous administration was somewhat better with the Lib Dem (we underestimated their influence at the time), but pure Tory government is a textbook example in how not to do it and a reminder on why they have only won a single majority in 27 years.
Which specific Lib Dems and Lib Dem policies do you think were responiblre for fixing the country's finances?
The country’s finances are not fixed. The Tories lost our AAA rating and are yet to recover it.
That’s a bit weak. They had the biggest hospital pas of the last 50 years from Labour.
It’s astonishing our credit rating didn’t fall further.
We lost it years after the crisis hit, in 2014 IIRC.
Incidentally, my contact in the Democratic Party (very well connected) thinks neither Sanders nor Biden will run. Also the Hillary machine is not going to transfer across to any particular candidate.
Hilary can run again then....
Something tells me she’s seriously considering it.
Biden is by no means certain to run - but far more likely to do so than Clinton might be were he not to do so.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Corbyn is dancing around to wind down the clock to No Deal chaos.
Trotsky would be proud.
Brexit is a more classically Stalinist construction. Socialism in one country, etc.
So man-child Gavin Williamson is playing the tough guy because he wants to be Tory leader. Anyone who thinks the Chinese will regard sending the UK’s only aircraft carrier to the Pacific as a show of strength knows absolutely nothing about the Chinese. They will consider it a pointless provocation from an ex-imperial power that used to dictate to China but never will again. And they will take it out on British businesses.
How on esrth have we ended up with a cabinet containing the likes of Williamson, Grayling, Fox, Leadsom, etc? The Tories have absolutely nothing to offer this country. My God, we’re in the do-do.
This truly is the worst administration since the early 1800s, when the Cabinet was decided by whether you were someone’s uncle, and if you went to the right drinking club.
A Ministry of all the Shits.
Whatever administration happens to be in power it will never be short of commentators who say, “this is the worst administration since De Montfort”, or similar, as the objective is to generate a call to action for its removal and replacement.
It’s just about the most cliched thing in politics there is.
Though very accurate in this instance
I consider it a success.
Blimey. That’s a full on start to Monday morning. This administration is a basket case. The previous administration was somewhat better with the Lib Dem (we underestimated their influence at the time), but pure Tory government is a textbook example in how not to do it and a reminder on why they have only won a single majority in 27 years.
Which specific Lib Dems and Lib Dem policies do you think were responiblre for fixing the country's finances?
The country’s finances are not fixed. The Tories lost our AAA rating and are yet to recover it.
That’s a bit weak. They had the biggest hospital pas of the last 50 years from Labour.
It’s astonishing our credit rating didn’t fall further.
We lost it years after the crisis hit, in 2014 IIRC.
And ?
There is a curious assumption that economic effects are somehow felt immediately, and have no consequences beyond the end of one administration and the beginning of another.
And more curious yet that credit ratings are predictive rather than reactive.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
Is that not like saying the CEO of BMW is a showroom salesman?
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
He and Grayling are unworthy of high office
Indeed, though a large amount of the opposition front bench make them look reasonably well qualified
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
TMay will not go for that deal unless the revolt on the anti-no deal side of her party becomes bigger than the pro-no deal side of her party.
I don't think that the anti-no deal side are sufficiently organised, numerous or determined to force her hand. They will march off the cliff with her and probably rationalise their inactivity by blaming the EU for not renegotiating with the PM.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
Is that not like saying the CEO of BMW is a showroom salesman?
There is an unhealthy snobbery in the UK against anyone who has ever sold anything for a living. Odd really considering we see ourselves as entrepreneurial.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
But would this group maintain TMay in office. Seems unlikely to me.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
But would this group maintain TMay in office. Seems unlikely to me.
It is fantastic (not in a good way).
I fancy myself a chess player whereas I am really a hit and hope player and if I ever get to a state of mind of thinking five moves in advance I think I've done well (and then my queen gets taken at the next move).
But working out the permutations or possibilities of this is like playing three dimensional chess at the same time as playing in goal for Chelsea vs Man City and going for gold in the 4x 100m relay final as well.
Incidentally, my contact in the Democratic Party (very well connected) thinks neither Sanders nor Biden will run. Also the Hillary machine is not going to transfer across to any particular candidate.
Hilary can run again then....
Something tells me she’s seriously considering it.
Biden is by no means certain to run - but far more likely to do so than Clinton might be were he not to do so.
Personally I’d love to see Biden run, but he’s probably too old. If he does stand, he wins the nomination though. If he doesn’t stand but endorses someone, I’d bet on that candidate winning the nomination too.
The alternatives to May's deal remain impossible. May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
They can rise up and vote for TMay's deal (perhaps tweaked by Brussels: I think that is now what will most likely happen). My estimates for Brexit outcomes today (ignoring an A50 extension which is now inevitable in almost all circumstances) are:
40% TMay's Deal plus tweak 25% 2nd vote 15% No Deal 10% GE 5% Revoke 5% BLACK SWAN ASTEROID
Out of interest, why do you put 2nd referendum above GE?
The alternatives to May's deal remain impossible. May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
No Deal is impossible. And that looks to be all that is on offer as an alternative.
The alternatives to May's deal remain impossible. May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
No Deal is impossible. And that looks to be all that is on offer as an alternative.
No deal is what’s already legislated for, and is what will happen unless something else can be agreed on by everyone in the next six weeks.
Every day that passes makes it a little more likely.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
Is that not like saying the CEO of BMW is a showroom salesman?
There is an unhealthy snobbery in the UK against anyone who has ever sold anything for a living. Odd really considering we see ourselves as entrepreneurial.
Yes. It doesn’t matter how competent or not this individual is in his current role, the implication of the tweet is that people such as fireplace salesmen are unworthy of progression to high office. Quite an elitist position to take.
The alternatives to May's deal remain impossible. May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
No Deal is impossible. And that looks to be all that is on offer as an alternative.
Improbable but it is all too possible. And people acting like it is impossible is making it more probable sadly.
Like WWI it seems to be not desired by anyone really but the alternatives and compromise may not be desired enough to prevent it.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
He and Grayling are unworthy of high office
It's strange though, I'm sure I remember all the pb level heads assuring us that there was nothing wrong with the Seaborne Freight contract.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
How can the Starmerites tolerate this? It is blisteringly obvious the Labour leadership is lying, they will never allow a 2nd vote: they want Hard Brexit, under TMay.
At some point the majority of Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn must rise up. Surely?
Sure, but rise up and do what? They can't rise up and get rid of Corbyn, they've tried that already and they know where it ends. They also can't get parliament to vote through a second referendum, because even if they had the whole Labour party they wouldn't have the votes without a decent chunk of Tory defectors, and there aren't enough Tory defectors.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
They can rise up and vote for TMay's deal (perhaps tweaked by Brussels: I think that is now what will most likely happen). My estimates for Brexit outcomes today (ignoring an A50 extension which is now inevitable in almost all circumstances) are:
40% TMay's Deal plus tweak 25% 2nd vote 15% No Deal 10% GE 5% Revoke 5% BLACK SWAN ASTEROID
Out of interest, why do you put 2nd referendum above GE?
Because I do not believe the Tory party would allow TMay to risk a Corbyn government. They would rather risk a 2nd vote than that, plus there may just be a majority in the Common (if the alternative is No Deal) for a new vote. There will very likely never be a majority for a GE.
But I'd be interested in other PBers' opinions? What's your list of outcomes and percentages? Anyone?
Perhaps indeed this could make a thread, TSE and OGH? Where we all have a vote and see the PB consensus?
The alternatives to May's deal remain impossible. May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
No Deal is impossible. And that looks to be all that is on offer as an alternative.
No deal is what’s already legislated for, and is what will happen unless something else can be agreed on by everyone in the next six weeks.
Every day that passes makes it a little more likely.
But can you see TMay allowing us over the cliff edge on March 30th? No. If we're in the last week of March and her Deal has not passed (I think it will by that stage), then she will ask for (and get) a significant extension to A50, requesting a 2nd vote or a new GE. I reckon she'd go for 2nd vote. The third alternative is that she would let parliament decide by elimination what Brexit we have (which again requires an extension).
I think it is unlikely but possible. One should not use the word impossible when one really means unlikely they are different things.
There is also an unlikely but possible chance that one country vetoes our extension request if made.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
TMay will not go for that deal unless the revolt on the anti-no deal side of her party becomes bigger than the pro-no deal side of her party.
I don't think that the anti-no deal side are sufficiently organised, numerous or determined to force her hand. They will march off the cliff with her and probably rationalise their inactivity by blaming the EU for not renegotiating with the PM.
I agree, they can't force her hand.
But I think when it comes to the crunch the anti-no-deal side of her party will be substantially bigger than the pro-no-deal side of her party, at least in private. I'm not sure what everyone will be saying in public.
Is deriding his previous job really that clever? We are constantly told that not enough MPs have had real life experience outside of Uni and Parliament, yet here it is made to be a massive hindrance.
And from Wiki his past career sounds quite impressive:
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10] Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13] He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
I suspect that if he'd ridden above his humble beginnings of peddling tat to arseholes to become a competent, or even not mental, SecDef he wouldn't be so derided.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
He and Grayling are unworthy of high office
It's strange though, I'm sure I remember all the pb level heads assuring us that there was nothing wrong with the Seaborne Freight contract.
Yes, there was plenty of hand waving by the self-proclaimed experts in business negotiations. What larks!
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
TMay will not go for that deal unless the revolt on the anti-no deal side of her party becomes bigger than the pro-no deal side of her party.
I don't think that the anti-no deal side are sufficiently organised, numerous or determined to force her hand. They will march off the cliff with her and probably rationalise their inactivity by blaming the EU for not renegotiating with the PM.
I agree, they can't force her hand.
But I think when it comes to the crunch the anti-no-deal side of her party will be substantially bigger than the pro-no-deal side of her party, at least in private. I'm not sure what everyone will be saying in public.
The Tory remainers are a bunch of weak, pathetic streaks of watery piss. They will do NOTHING to stop the Good Ship May as it trundles full steam over the Withdrawal Cascades into No Deal Cataract.
Comments
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/housepriceindex/november2018#strongest-annual-growth-in-the-west-midlands-weakest-in-london
In much of the country houses are cheaper in real terms than before the last recession.
https://twitter.com/meremortenlund/status/1094898472556396544
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/amy-klobuchar-2020-democratic-nomination-kickoff/
Possible VP pick ?
Alternatively could respect first vote with threshold in second vote, remain would need 2/3 of votes or else original leave results stands.
Thresholds fair enough for major change, innit?
Not even ISIS got battle tractors
Seems the most likely bet.
But as someone under the age of say, 35, there's just so much of the south west you wouldn't much want to be.
Sure, London, and a few other urban centres are the crown, but the South and East has a few other jewels.
Not that I'd say that to his face ...
Oxford
Dover
Southampton
Portsmouth
Brighton
Milton Keynes
Are doing better independently than:
Bristol
Bath
Swindon
Bournemouth
Exeter
Plymouth
Quite possible, though I gather Bristol is a happening place.
Is that a Christmas effect? Or something more?
I thought we were supposed to be seeing warehouses full due to stockpiling for Brexit?
It’s like saying the patient is on life support but let’s just switch the machine off !
A ‘no deal’ for our country would actually be a blessing in disguise. It would force us into hardship and suffering which would unite & bring us together, bringing back British values of loyalty and a sense of community! Extreme change is needed! #nodeal #suffertogether https://t.co/4zVqegaWNi
— Anthony Middleton (@antmiddleton) December 14, 2018
I've always thought it wouldn't be, even though I support it.
Peston: "I am told Starmer is not the happiest member of the frontbench, to put it mildly - according to multiple sources.
He had agreed that the final part of Corbyn’s letter to May would say “if you do not accept this [Brexit offer] there will be a People’s Vote”.
A source tells me “LOTO [the leader of the opposition] agreed to this. But then Keir discovered after the letter had been sent and published that the People’s Vote para had gone”.
Starmer “called LOTO and was told ‘oh we must have forgotten that paragraph’”
"Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004.[9][10]
Williamson had become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm by 2005. It sold ceramic tableware and he later became co-owner. In April 2005, Williamson was quoted in reports on the consumer rush to buy items with the wrong wedding date on for Charles and Camilla's wedding. He told The Telegraph, "We've literally had fights in our own retail shops. On the first day after the announcement I went into our factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and we had people fighting over the last plate that we had on the shop floor. I think everybody has decided that this is going to be their pension."[4][11][12][13]
He has also worked for a Staffordshire pottery firm that made and sold ceramic tableware, of which he became co-owner, and for an architectural design firm until he became an MP in 2010"
Outragous and misplaced snobbery. An MD and co owner of a ceramics company.
Seamus just deleted it.
But it's all Project Fear isn't it? Nothing bad will happen in April.
Might be because of transport funding disparities.
In Northern Powerhouse terms, it makes particular sense to strength the relatively small distance links between Leeds and Manchester.
So, going by past form, the Government may well make the London-Birmingham HS2 link, and then stop.
You can hear the muffled sniggering when they said that from here...
For these questions, the acronym QTWTAIN was invented.
As it is he the perfect archetype of the tory chickenhawk and thus deserves far more opprobrium than can be directed at him than by referring to his wilderness years in the fireplace showroom.
The only route I can see for them is to cut a deal with TMay: Lab-Remain + Tory-Loyalist + LD + SNP would make a majority. But nobody knows if TMay is prepared to deal.
If he had endorsed a second referendum or even remain Brexit would have been very doubtful but Corbyn would be overwhelmed in leave voting areas
*Claudius' mother, and Caligula's grandmother.
Maybe none of this would have happened and we would all be arguing about universal credit all day long.
Corbyn is dancing around to wind down the clock to No Deal chaos.
Trotsky would be proud.
There is a curious assumption that economic effects are somehow felt immediately, and have no consequences beyond the end of one administration and the beginning of another.
And more curious yet that credit ratings are predictive rather than reactive.
May's deal remains improbable.
Improbable > impossible.
I don't think that the anti-no deal side are sufficiently organised, numerous or determined to force her hand. They will march off the cliff with her and probably rationalise their inactivity by blaming the EU for not renegotiating with the PM.
I fancy myself a chess player whereas I am really a hit and hope player and if I ever get to a state of mind of thinking five moves in advance I think I've done well (and then my queen gets taken at the next move).
But working out the permutations or possibilities of this is like playing three dimensional chess at the same time as playing in goal for Chelsea vs Man City and going for gold in the 4x 100m relay final as well.
Though the alternatives are not impossible they too are improbable. Clock running out is improbable but possible. Revoke is improbable but possible. An acceptable compromise being reached is improbable but possible.
Every day that passes makes it a little more likely.
Like WWI it seems to be not desired by anyone really but the alternatives and compromise may not be desired enough to prevent it.
There is also an unlikely but possible chance that one country vetoes our extension request if made.
But I think when it comes to the crunch the anti-no-deal side of her party will be substantially bigger than the pro-no-deal side of her party, at least in private. I'm not sure what everyone will be saying in public.
No deal: 20%
May's deal: 15%
Softer Brexit deal: 30%
No Brexit: 30%
Something else: 5%
General election: 50%
Second referendum: 40%