As much as the detail contained in it is the fact that there are plenty of these profiles being written, and read. He looks set to be a very serious contender and I am not laying him at anything like present prices.
I'm a bit annoyed with myself as I had to reback him after thinking stuff through - best to take medicine whilst it is cheap though.
I have a general policy of laying candidates in races like this below a certain point. I'm breaking that policy in relation to him because I think he will go substantially shorter as he attracts more attention. I'll assess further then.
I don't understand why Kamala Harris is staying so short.
My whole point is that I don't think the public see CHUK as a "stay in EU party", since most polls show they're getting a lot of their support from Leave voters.
It tells you all you need to know about a large number of people who vote Leave. They probably wouldn't even recognise a Theresa May in an identity parade made up of members of the Garrick club.
Thank fuck PB isn't remotely representative of real life. People like you shouldn't exist in real life.
Your post tells more about who you are than me. I guess you are one of the more thuggish Tommy Robinson type Leave voter, ah thought so, and you still believe in it? dear dear. Sorry to spoil your day but Father Christmas isn't....whoops better not say.
The only thing my post tells you is that I don't agree with what you spout on here. You can make up what you like about me. It's the Internet, not real life.
My whole point is that I don't think the public see CHUK as a "stay in EU party", since most polls show they're getting a lot of their support from Leave voters.
A party called Change UK would logically be one that wanted Change rather than the status quo, so it could be fooling people
Mr. Isam, reminds me of Yes, Prime Minister, with the broadcast. If there's no change, high energy yellow wallpaper. If there's change, traditional oak panelling.
Do you know I have never seen an episode of that programme, nor The Thick Of It?
The point re. TIG at the Euro Elections is that they have at their potential disposal the c. 55%-60% of the electorate who currently want to remain in the EU. Labour are playing a dicey game with them at best and the LibDems aren't overly popular.
There are some vociferous campaigners in TIG. Anna Soubry might not be everyone's cup of tea but she's formidable.
I can see them doing very well.
But the thing is that CHUK, to the extent they've cut through to the public at all, do not even seem to be viewed as an anti-Brexit party particularly,
The perception seems to be that they're just an alternative Labour Party without Corbyn as leader. To be fair, there is quite a lot of (superficial) support for that idea, although ironically a lot of that support is from Labour Leave voters - a YouGov Welsh poll last week found the Tiggers getting slightly more support from Leave voters (10%) than from Remain voters (8%): https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/7x606awuh5/Results_WelshBarometer_April2019_w.pdf
Given that Labour now appear well on the way to delivering Remain by indulging in a prolonged can kicking exercise, there is not a lot to chose in terms of Brexit between them and CHUK.
Brexit aside, if you are looking for the former Labour voting working class demographic that is alienated by Corbyn's takeover of the Labour party and will thus support a breakaway party, previous Labour Leave voters are more typical of that than previous Labour Remain voters.
Yup, it's been obvious for ages that the softest part of Labour's vote was the more working-class, elderly, more Brexit-supporting voters (the people who clutch their pearls at Corbyn's "links to the IRA" or not supporting Trident or whatever). For now, a lot of them seem to be finding the Tiggers as an empty vessel to project their ideal Labour Party onto - though whether that survives a campaign where the leading Tigger politicians make clear that they stand for the exact opposite of that is another question.
Since they are disillusioned with Corbyn, you will have to hope that they do not end up falling for the appeal of a shiny new non-robotic Conservative leader later this year.
The most recent YouGov (overall Con 32%, Lab 31%) had both Lab and Con on 31% amongst working class C2DEs. The lack of any significant difference is typical of many polls nowadays. The utter inability of class to predict voting patterns nowadays is no cause for celebration for a party whose historic mission was based on addressing class inequalities and organisation through trade unions. It indicates a very shallow support base that could easily transfer elsewhere if a more attractive offer came along.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the turnout was a very low 24% because people don't like having to vote twice in such a short time. If that happens again it'll probably benefit the parties with the most determined voters, which generally aren't centrist parties.
In the context of a Euro election Brexit has changed entirely the meaning of centrist
The spectrum is LibDem - TIG - Labour - Tory - Brexit - UKIP
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the turnout was a very low 24% because people don't like having to vote twice in such a short time. If that happens again it'll probably benefit the parties with the most determined voters, which generally aren't centrist parties.
In the context of a Euro election Brexit has changed entirely the meaning of centrist
The spectrum is LibDem - TIG - Labour - Tory - Brexit - UKIP
So Corbyn's Labour is now Centrist?
They're certainly in the centre on the Brexit issue. On most issues, no.
To be fair to Vince (of whose leadership I am a critic), this was behind his package of constitutional changes to create a supporters network, allow non members to stand as candidates, allow supporters a say in candidate selection, and enable the prospect of a non-MP party leader. All intended to create flexible structures that could be used to embrace whatever wider movement or defections might arise. Since TIG was formed he has also tried to engage with them positively, without much of a response.
The constitutional changes got mauled at the LibDem Spring Conference, members identifying that they were being of stripped of being the primary decision makers. Conference agreed to create a supporters network but with none of the proposed powers.
Snip
Thanks for this. As a casual and not currently aligned keyboard warrior, the sort who rightly get a bit of stick off the leafletteer class, it's good to have a proper perspective.
It says a lot that I'd totally forgotten Vince's reforms! What I would say is that they seem geared more to sucking non aligneds such as the Tiggers into the LD bucket as per the SPD. Less obvious to me from how you describe them how they could have been used to ally with the well established Green and Nations contingents.
It just needs a bit of lateral thinking as to how enabling people to register as 'supporters', allowing supporters to choose candidates and to allow non-party members to be selected might be used.
Unfortunately for Vince, LibDem members aren't stupid.
Yes, I think we are on pretty much exactly the same page there. The means of doing the cooperation needs to sit external from the LD party, but it doesn't mean the LDs can't be prime movers in setting up and curating that cooperation.
It does however need TIG to take off for that to happen, with the LibDems prepared to take more of a back seat. If TIG catches voters' imagination it could be game on, depending critically on whether a cross-party deal ideally rowing in PC and the Greens too (Scotland is slightly awkward but the SNP is pro-reform; just let them win). If TIG flops, it'll be back to politics as usual, since I don't see a scenario where the LibDems alone could get sufficient traction to defeat FPTnP.
The failure of TIG to contest the Local Elections on 2nd May denies them a positive launching pad for any EU elections held on 23rd May. If any party gains momentum from this year's Locals , it is likely to be the LDs , Greens - and possibly Labour.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the turnout was a very low 24% because people don't like having to vote twice in such a short time. If that happens again it'll probably benefit the parties with the most determined voters, which generally aren't centrist parties.
In the context of a Euro election Brexit has changed entirely the meaning of centrist
The spectrum is LibDem - TIG - Labour - Tory - Brexit - UKIP
The point re. TIG at the Euro Elections is that they have at their potential disposal the c. 55%-60% of the electorate who currently want to remain in the EU. Labour are playing a dicey game with them at best and the LibDems aren't overly popular.
There are some vociferous campaigners in TIG. Anna Soubry might not be everyone's cup of tea but she's formidable.
I can see them doing very well.
But the thing is that CHUK, to the extent they've cut through to the public at all, do not even seem to be viewed as an anti-Brexit party particularly,
de, if you are looking for the former Labour voting working class demographic that is alienated by Corbyn's takeover of the Labour party and will thus support a breakaway party, previous Labour Leave voters are more typical of that than previous Labour Remain voters.
m to be finding the Tiggers as an empty vessel to project their ideal Labour Party onto - though whether that survives a campaign where the leading Tigger politicians make clear that they stand for the exact opposite of that is another question.
Since they are disillusioned with Corbyn, you will have to hope that they do not end up falling for the appeal of a shiny new non-robotic Conservative leader later this year.
The most recent YouGov (overall Con 32%, Lab 31%) had both Lab and Con on 31% amongst working class C2DEs. The lack of any significant difference is typical of many polls nowadays. The utter inability of class to predict voting patterns nowadays is no cause for celebration for a party whose historic mission was based on addressing class inequalities and organisation through trade unions. It indicates a very shallow support base that could easily transfer elsewhere if a more attractive offer came along.
Ive heard long standing labour councillor comments canvassing in a ward theyve held since 1979, in the council estates hes never seen it so bad and with the boundaries changes to slightly disadvantages to current boundaries, expects to lose. Labour have never had such a bad response on the council estates. (northern leave voting town with an older population)
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the turnout was a very low 24% because people don't like having to vote twice in such a short time. If that happens again it'll probably benefit the parties with the most determined voters, which generally aren't centrist parties.
There is an element of truth in that , but it is likely that this year many Leave voters will be inclined to boycott the elections so depressing turnout. The MEP Roger Helm has already advocated this.
Spoiling your ballot paper doesn't depress turnout.
Was that what he suggested?
Isn't he the "write Brexit in big letters" guy?
Justin is wrong anyway. If you look at Helmer's tweet it referred to spoiling ballots in the Local Elections not the Euros.
The point re. TIG at the Euro Elections is that they have at their potential disposal the c. 55%-60% of the electorate who currently want to remain in the EU. Labour are playing a dicey game with them at best and the LibDems aren't overly popular.
There are some vociferous campaigners in TIG. Anna Soubry might not be everyone's cup of tea but she's formidable.
I can see them doing very well.
But the thing is that CHUK, to the extent they've cut through to the public at all, do not even seem to be viewed as an anti-Brexit party particularly,
The perception seems to be that they're just an alternative Labour Party without Corbyn as leader. To be fair, there is quite a lot of (superficial) support for that idea, although ironically a lot of that support is from Labour Leave voters - a YouGov Welsh poll last week found the Tiggers getting slightly more support from Leave voters (10%) than from Remain voters (8%): https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/7x606awuh5/Results_WelshBarometer_April2019_w.pdf
Yougov's latest Euro elections poll has Leavers going Brexit Party 21%, Tories 14%, UKIP 12%, Labour 5%.
Remainers go 'Stay in EU Party' ie CUK 18%, Labour 16%, LD 11%, Tories 9%
The point re. TIG at the Euro Elections is that they have at their potential disposal the c. 55%-60% of the electorate who currently want to remain in the EU. Labour are playing a dicey game with them at best and the LibDems aren't overly popular.
There are some vociferous campaigners in TIG. Anna Soubry might not be everyone's cup of tea but she's formidable.
I can see them doing very well.
But the thing is that CHUK, to the extent they've cut through to the public at all, do not even seem to be viewed as an anti-Brexit party particularly,
de, if you are looking for the former Labour voting working class demographic that is alienated by Corbyn's takeover of the Labour party and will thus support a breakaway party, previous Labour Leave voters are more typical of that than previous Labour Remain voters.
m to be finding the Tiggers as an empty vessel to project their ideal Labour Party onto - though whether that survives a campaign where the leading Tigger politicians make clear that they stand for the exact opposite of that is another question.
Since they are disillusioned with Corbyn, you will have to hope that they do not end up falling for the appeal of a shiny new non-robotic Conservative leader later this year.
The most recent YouGov (overall Con 32%, Lab 31%) had both Lab and Con on 31% amongst working class C2DEs. The lack of any significant difference is typical of many polls nowadays. The utter inability of class to predict voting patterns nowadays is no cause for celebration for a party whose historic mission was based on addressing class inequalities and organisation through trade unions. It indicates a very shallow support base that could easily transfer elsewhere if a more attractive offer came along.
Ive heard long standing labour councillor comments canvassing in a ward theyve held since 1979, in the council estates hes never seen it so bad and with the boundaries changes to slightly disadvantages to current boundaries, expects to lose. Labour have never had such a bad response on the council estates. (northern leave voting town with an older population)
Much of that response could reflect a general disillusionment with the competence of the political establishment as a whole - rather than strong Leave or Remain views per se.
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
When precisely is this session of Parliament due to end?
Here is what the Parliament website says:
"This is a two year session. It started with the State Opening on 21 June 2017 and will run until the summer of 2019."
If the next State Opening was in late June 2019 there would only be about three weeks before Summer recess - so seems it wouldn't be a big thing to delay State Opening until October.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the
There is an element of truth in that , but it is likely that this year many Leave voters will be inclined to boycott the elections so depressing turnout. The MEP Roger Helm has already advocated this.
Spoiling your ballot paper doesn't depress turnout.
Was that what he suggested?
Isn't he the "write Brexit in big letters" guy?
Justin is wrong anyway. If you look at Helmer's tweet it referred to spoiling ballots in the Local Elections not the Euros.
I take the point - when Helmer made his comments there was far less expectation of UK participation in the EU elections.
To be fair to Vince (of whose leadership I am a critic), this was behind his package of constitutional changes to create a supporters network, allow non members to stand as candidates, allow supporters a say in constitutional changes got mauled at the LibDem Spring Conference, members identifying that they were being of stripped of being the primary decision makers. Conference agreed to create a supporters network but with none of the proposed powers.
Snip
Thanks for this. As a casual and not currently aligned keyboard warrior, the sort who rightly get a bit of stick off the leafletteer class, it's good to have a proper perspective.
It says a lot that I'd totally forgotten Vince's reforms! What I would say is that they seem geared more to sucking non aligneds such as the Tiggers into the LD bucket as per the SPD. Less obvious to me from how you describe them how they could have been used to ally with the well established Green and Nations contingents.
It just needs a bit of lateral thinking as to how enabling people to register as 'supporters', allowing supporters to choose candidates and to allow non-party members to be selected might be used.
Unfortunately for Vince, LibDem members aren't stupid.
Yes, I think we are on pretty much exactly the same page there. The means of doing the cooperation needs to sit external from the LD party, but it doesn't mean the LDs can't be prime movers in setting up and curating that cooperation.
It does however need TIG to take off for that to happen, with the LibDems prepared to take more of a back seat. If TIG catches voters' imagination it could be game on, depending critically on whether a cross-party deal ideally rowing in PC and the Greens too (Scotland is slightly awkward but the SNP is pro-reform; just let them win). If TIG flops, it'll be back to politics as usual, since I don't see a scenario where the LibDems alone could get sufficient traction to defeat FPTnP.
The failure of TIG to contest the Local Elections on 2nd May denies them a positive launching pad for any EU elections held on 23rd May. If any party gains momentum from this year's Locals , it is likely to be the LDs , Greens - and possibly Labour.
Although I think David Owen had a point on TWIW a few weeks back in arguing that local elections are a distraction. Being a councillor is an end in itself, after all (and a lot of work), and getting from there to national success is a long and winding road. Owen argued that TIG needed to be a campaign movement for political change, focused entirely on the next GE.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
The last time a Euro election was held a few weeks after the local elections, in 1999, the turnout was a very low 24% because people don't like having to vote twice in such a short time. If that happens again it'll probably benefit the parties with the most determined voters, which generally aren't centrist parties.
In the context of a Euro election Brexit has changed entirely the meaning of centrist
The spectrum is LibDem - TIG - Labour - Tory - Brexit - UKIP
So Corbyn's Labour is now Centrist?
In a Euro election, yes. He probably leans Brexit but was willing to campaign for Remain, just as May did. In this sense they are in the same box. Neither of them is that bothered.
The tension in politics at the moment is that we have both new and old spectrums pulling at the same time. Clearly in a broader sense he is still extreme.
To be fair to Vince (of whose leadership I am a critic), this was behind his package of constitutional changes to create a supporters network, allow non members to stand as candidates, allow supporters a say in constitutional changes got mauled at the LibDem Spring Conference, members identifying that they were being of stripped of being the primary decision makers. Conference agreed to create a supporters network but with none of the proposed powers.
Snip
Thanks for this. As a casual and not currently aligned keyboard warrior, the sort who rightly get a bit of stick off the leafletteer class, it's good to have a proper perspective.
It says a lot that I'd totally forgotten Vince's reforms! What I would say is that they seem geared more to sucking non aligneds such as the Tiggers into the LD bucket as per the SPD. Less obvious to me from how you describe them how they could have been used to ally with the well established Green and Nations contingents.
It just needs a bit of lateral thinking as to how enabling people to register as 'supporters', allowing supporters to choose candidates and to allow non-party members to be selected might be used.
Unfortunately for Vince, LibDem members aren't stupid.
Yes, I think we are on pretty much exactly the same page there. The means of doing the cooperation needs to sit external from the LD party, but it doesn't mean the LDs can't be prime movers in setting up and curating that cooperation.
.
The failure of TIG to contest the Local Elections on 2nd May denies them a positive launching pad for any EU elections held on 23rd May. If any party gains momentum from this year's Locals , it is likely to be the LDs , Greens - and possibly Labour.
Although I think David Owen had a point on TWIW a few weeks back in arguing that local elections are a distraction. Being a councillor is an end in itself, after all (and a lot of work), and getting from there to national success is a long and winding road. Owen argued that TIG needed to be a campaign movement for political change, focused entirely on the next GE.
I heard him say that too , but cannot agree. Small parties thrive on the oxygen generated from electoral success achieved at by elections , but they are nowadays far less frequent. Any other opportunities need to be seized.
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
Notice, answer came there none.
Indeed so, and also that it came from the source of her wafer-thin majority.
I think the DUP are about to pull the plug, we could be looking at an election before the summer. They have decided that the deal is not acceptable to them, the EU have decided it’s not up for negotiation and the PM intends to try and keep it alive after it’s been voted down three times.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
The point re. TIG at the Euro Elections is that they have at their potential disposal the c. 55%-60% of the electorate who currently want to remain in the EU. Labour are playing a dicey game with them at best and the LibDems aren't overly popular.
There are some vociferous campaigners in TIG. Anna Soubry might not be everyone's cup of tea but she's formidable.
I can see them doing very well.
But the thing is that CHUK, to the extent they've cut through to the public at all, do not even seem to be viewed as an anti-Brexit party particularly,
de, if you are looking for the former Labour voting working class demographic that is alienated by Corbyn's takeover of the Labour party and will thus support a breakaway party, previous Labour Leave voters are more typical of that than previous Labour Remain voters.
m to be finding the Tiggers as an empty vessel to project their ideal Labour Party onto - though whether that survives a campaign where the leading Tigger politicians make clear that they stand for the exact opposite of that is another question.
Since they are disillusioned with Corbyn, you will have to hope that they do not end up falling for the appeal of a shiny new non-robotic Conservative leader later this year.
The most recent YouGov (overall Con 32%, Lab 31%) had both Lab and Con on 31% amongst working class C2DEs. The lack of any significant difference is typical of many polls nowadays. The utter inability of class to predict voting patterns nowadays is no cause for celebration for a party whose historic mission was based on addressing class inequalities and organisation through trade unions. It indicates a very shallow support base that could easily transfer elsewhere if a more attractive offer came along.
Ive heard long standing labour councillor comments canvassing in a ward theyve held since 1979, in the council estates hes never seen it so bad and with the boundaries changes to slightly disadvantages to current boundaries, expects to lose. Labour have never had such a bad response on the council estates. (northern leave voting town with an older population)
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
Notice, answer came there none.
Indeed so, and also that it came from the source of her wafer-thin majority.
I think the DUP are about to pull the plug, we could be looking at an election before the summer. They have decided that the deal is not acceptable to them, the EU have decided it’s not up for negotiation and the PM intends to try and keep it alive after it’s been voted down three times.
I doubt if a new election would be to their benefit.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
By all accounts he already has.
But I think the real irony is that Assange, as a fairly minor figure, is probably only being sought now because of the amount of embarrassment and frustration he has caused since his arrest.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
I thought we believed in leniency in this country?
Thanks for this. As a casual and not currently aligned keyboard warrior, the sort who rightly ally forgotten Vince's reforms! What I would say is that they seem geared more to sucking non aligneds such as the Tiggers into the LD bucket as per the SPD. Less obvious to me from how you describe them how they could have been used to ally with the well established Green and Nations contingents.
It just needs a bit of lateral thinking as to how enabling people to register as 'supporters', allowing supporters to choose candidates and to allow non-party members to be selected might be used.
Unfortunately for Vince, LibDem members aren't stupid.
Yes, I think we are on pretty much exactly the same page there. The means of doing the cooperation needs to sit external from the LD party, but it doesn't mean the LDs can't be prime movers in setting up and curating that cooperation.
.
The failure of TIG to contest the Local Elections on 2nd May denies them a positive launching pad for any EU elections held on 23rd May. If any party gains momentum from this year's Locals , it is likely to be the LDs , Greens - and possibly Labour.
Although I think David Owen had a point on TWIW a few weeks back in arguing that local elections are a distraction. Being a councillor is an end in itself, after all (and a lot of work), and getting from there to national success is a long and winding road. Owen argued that TIG needed to be a campaign movement for political change, focused entirely on the next GE.
I heard him say that too , but cannot agree. Small parties thrive on the oxygen generated from electoral success achieved at by elections , but they are nowadays far less frequent. Any other opportunities need to be seized.
Yes but electoral success as a third party comes hard, even in local elections. I devoted pretty much five years of my life to win my ward from what had been three apparently safe Tory councillors. I did a long stint including a heroic defence in 2014, but have now moved on; there are no LibDems on my old council at all today.
Even if TIG had the wherewithal to fight lots of local elections right now (which it doesn't), the reality is that probably no-one would stand a chance of being elected, even if they polled relatively well.
The mistake the early SDP made was to assume that if they were polling 'well' (say 15-20%) this means they must win some seats somewhere. Sadly our crooked system doesn't work like that.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
I thought we believed in leniency in this country?
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
I thought we believed in leniency in this country?
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
Notice, answer came there none.
Indeed so, and also that it came from the source of her wafer-thin majority.
I think the DUP are about to pull the plug, we could be looking at an election before the summer. They have decided that the deal is not acceptable to them, the EU have decided it’s not up for negotiation and the PM intends to try and keep it alive after it’s been voted down three times.
Yet May is going to try and manourve Parliament into choosing a permanent CU - which meets the DUP's main concern. Why wouldn't they stick around to enjoy three more years as kingmakers?
Really interesting question to the PM by Nigel Dodds, and referenced on TPT, regarding the Parliamentary session.
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
Notice, answer came there none.
Indeed so, and also that it came from the source of her wafer-thin majority.
I think the DUP are about to pull the plug, we could be looking at an election before the summer. They have decided that the deal is not acceptable to them, the EU have decided it’s not up for negotiation and the PM intends to try and keep it alive after it’s been voted down three times.
I doubt if a new election would be to their benefit.
They’re in a difficult situation, in that they can’t support the government on the detail of their major (only!) policy, yet quite like the power they have as kingmakers, but not enough to get the Stormont Assembly back up even when there’s a billion extra in the kitty.
Mrs May screwed up big time by not involving the DUP in the latter stages of the WA negotiations. Maybe they’ll vote against in a VoNC to see the back of her, then back another Conservative as a temporary leader?
Well I suppose anyone confronted by a knife-wielding thug tonight can draw comfort from the fact that Assange has been nailed.
Well, we no longer have to waste police time pursuing a fugitive who is clearly either deranged or so dishonest that he is more or less divorced from reality anyway.
To be blunt, his best course of action is probably to claim insanity, in which case it's unlikely he would be extradited even to Sweden.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
I'd probably forecast UKIP and the Brexit Party to get around 30-33% in total, but how it would split between them is difficult to predict.
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
I'd probably forecast UKIP and the Brexit Party to get around 30-33% in total, but how it would split between them is difficult to predict.
That's certainly possible if the Tory vote share falls below 15%.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
I thought we believed in leniency in this country?
Do we?
Sounds an unEnglish sort of concept to me. I like the person who said that "a man knew where he stood under Common Law, and it was generally at the foot of the gallows."
I'm not surprised that the polls are moving into a volatile phase. If an election occurs while the Tories are in maximum disarray or they choose a numbskull or ideologue for the next leader I can just about see Corbyn getting over the line. However a big negative vote against Corbyn is guaranteed almost irrespective of the Tories. He will now be seen as a potential PM so there will be no low-risk protest vote or vote to reduce the Tory majority and he will get more scrutiny in the media during the campaign. Furthermore, in the privacy of the polling booth how many left-leaning middle class voters will actually risk their financial well-being? Paying some extra tax is one thing but the prospect of a severe hit or total wipe out is another.
People keep making these links between Labour and Trump...
I wonder what the nature of that link might be? Couldn't be Putin could it. Surely not.
Let's not Russian to judgement. It might just be because senior figures in each organisation are appointed in the basis of who they're willing to have sex with.
Assange is an utter fool. The Americans made no effort to get him until 2017. Even if he'd been charged, tried and found guilty in Sweden, the odds are he would have been safe back in Australia by then thus requiring the consent of the UK and Swedish foreign ministries for onward extradition - which means the Americans would likely not have bothered.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
Heart of stone etc. Hopefully the judge throws the book at him for breaching bail for seven years.
I thought we believed in leniency in this country?
Even if we do he breached his bail in an incredibly egregious fashion. It would not seem unreasonable that he receive a sentence on the harsher end of what is permissible. Any hardships he has faced have been of his own making.
Coalition ahead on the primary vote though and Morrison still ahead as preferred PM.
It is possible to win most seats under AV in Australia if you only trail 49% to 51% as the Coalition did under Howard in 1998 and Labour under Hawke in 1990 so still all to play for
Erm ... assuming TIG / Change UK are able to stand then their absence from this poll, and the resultant figures here, make it worthless.
Con / Lab will tank in the European elections and the fight will become TIG-LibDems vs Brexit parties
Rather a lot of wishful thinking there. TIG have yet to be granted status as a political party by the Electoral Commission. They will have little entitlement to campaign coverage by the broadcasters and have already been largely forgotten by the electorate at large. Unlike the SDP in 1981 , there is little sense that they are breaking through.
I think the idea that they have 'largely been forgotten by the electorate at large' is rather cavalier.
TIG have a huge opportunity at the European Elections and the considerable potential traction of being a genuine party for change, thus tapping in to a zeitgeist.
If they are passed by the Electoral Commission, which I expect, then they might well win the overall ballot. It's certainly worth a bet.
I think the Euro elections are their best chance to make a difference.
Right now I'd expect overall results to be something like:-
Labour 22%, Conservative 20% Brexit 14% UKIP 12% Change 10% Lib Dem 10% Green 6%.
I'd probably forecast UKIP and the Brexit Party to get around 30-33% in total, but how it would split between them is difficult to predict.
I very much doubt if that would now be granted ahead of the American request. All other considerations aside, the time frames for investigating it are very tight if as expected he gets 12 months in prison here.
Depressingly inevitable rush to the 'out of context' defence.
Eaton's defence is he edited one of the contentious remarks "for reasons of space".
I doubt he'll be getting many more interviews.....
My favourite example of that was a book by a man called David Fitzgerald, who wrote a book he thought proved Jesus didn't exist. When it was pointed out to him that he made many assertions but offered no actual evidence in support of any of them, he said he had included lots of evidence in the first draft but it made the book too long so he removed it.
I'm not surprised that the polls are moving into a volatile phase. If an election occurs while the Tories are in maximum disarray or they choose a numbskull or ideologue for the next leader I can just about see Corbyn getting over the line. However a big negative vote against Corbyn is guaranteed almost irrespective of the Tories. He will now be seen as a potential PM so there will be no low-risk protest vote or vote to reduce the Tory majority and he will get more scrutiny in the media during the campaign. Furthermore, in the privacy of the polling booth how many left-leaning middle class voters will actually risk their financial well-being? Paying some extra tax is one thing but the prospect of a severe hit or total wipe out is another.
It would be worth it for the expression on JRMs face
Depressingly inevitable rush to the 'out of context' defence.
Eaton's defence is he edited one of the contentious remarks "for reasons of space".
I doubt he'll be getting many more interviews.....
In Scruton's whiny response he says:
'It is sad for Hungary that the two have fallen out, and that the old spectre of anti-Semitism has been reborn from their clash. Given their two aggressive personalities, however, it is hardly surprising.'
Is he suggesting Soros bears some responsibilty for the resurgence of antisemitism in Hungary?
I'm not surprised that the polls are moving into a volatile phase. If an election occurs while the Tories are in maximum disarray or they choose a numbskull or ideologue for the next leader I can just about see Corbyn getting over the line. However a big negative vote against Corbyn is guaranteed almost irrespective of the Tories. He will now be seen as a potential PM so there will be no low-risk protest vote or vote to reduce the Tory majority and he will get more scrutiny in the media during the campaign. Furthermore, in the privacy of the polling booth how many left-leaning middle class voters will actually risk their financial well-being? Paying some extra tax is one thing but the prospect of a severe hit or total wipe out is another.
It would be worth it for the expression on JRMs face
His CA deselecting Rees-Mogg for destroying the chances of leaving the EU would be worth it for the expression on JRM's face (among many, many other things).
Electing an apologist for Holocaust deniers as PM would not.
I'm not surprised that the polls are moving into a volatile phase. If an election occurs while the Tories are in maximum disarray or they choose a numbskull or ideologue for the next leader I can just about see Corbyn getting over the line. However a big negative vote against Corbyn is guaranteed almost irrespective of the Tories. He will now be seen as a potential PM so there will be no low-risk protest vote or vote to reduce the Tory majority and he will get more scrutiny in the media during the campaign. Furthermore, in the privacy of the polling booth how many left-leaning middle class voters will actually risk their financial well-being? Paying some extra tax is one thing but the prospect of a severe hit or total wipe out is another.
It would be worth it for the expression on JRMs face
His CA deselecting Rees-Mogg for destroying the chances of leaving the EU would be worth it for the expression on JRM's face (among many, many other things).
Electing an apologist for Holocaust deniers as PM would not.
PM Corbyn is still likely to be the better of the two options.
I'm not surprised that the polls are moving into a volatile phase. If an election occurs while the Tories are in maximum disarray or they choose a numbskull or ideologue for the next leader I can just about see Corbyn getting over the line. However a big negative vote against Corbyn is guaranteed almost irrespective of the Tories. He will now be seen as a potential PM so there will be no low-risk protest vote or vote to reduce the Tory majority and he will get more scrutiny in the media during the campaign. Furthermore, in the privacy of the polling booth how many left-leaning middle class voters will actually risk their financial well-being? Paying some extra tax is one thing but the prospect of a severe hit or total wipe out is another.
It would be worth it for the expression on JRMs face
His CA deselecting Rees-Mogg for destroying the chances of leaving the EU would be worth it for the expression on JRM's face (among many, many other things).
Electing an apologist for Holocaust deniers as PM would not.
PM Corbyn is still likely to be the better of the two options.
No he isn't - and that is the key reason why the Tories remain competitive when on performance alone right now they should be slugging it out with Plaid Cymru for seventh place.
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
Coalition ahead on the primary vote though and Morrison still ahead as preferred PM.
It is possible to win most seats under AV in Australia if you only trail 49% to 51% as the Coalition did under Howard in 1998 and Labour under Hawke in 1990 so still all to play for
That's right, Antony Green's swingometer on ABC News says the Coalition could stay in power with a Labor 2PP voted of 50.6% on uniform swing.
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He is the sort of sane leader that we need. Not autocratic or bombastic and willing to find a way through the maze. The EU27 are fortunate indeed.
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He can't remain - it's a fixed 30-month term which can be renewed only once, and his second term expires 30th Nov.
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He is the sort of sane leader that we need. Not autocratic or bombastic and willing to find a way through the maze. The EU27 are fortunate indeed.
True and you know he’s a huge Anglophile or should I say Britofile! Lol
I think if the UK decided to stay Tusk would burst into tears of happiness .
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He is the sort of sane leader that we need. Not autocratic or bombastic and willing to find a way through the maze. The EU27 are fortunate indeed.
If only the President of the Commission wasn't somebody who makes May look like a heavyweight.
On that subject, do we have a list of Spitzenkandidaten yet? Or will that only be confirmed when the stitch up, er, appointment is made?
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He can't remain - it's a fixed 30-month term which can be renewed only once, and his second term expires 30th Nov.
Oh no I’ll really miss him . The Brexit soap opera won’t be quite the same without him .
I really hope Donald Tusk remains President of the EU Council after November .
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
He is the sort of sane leader that we need. Not autocratic or bombastic and willing to find a way through the maze. The EU27 are fortunate indeed.
True and you know he’s a huge Anglophile or should I say Britofile! Lol
I think if the UK decided to stay Tusk would burst into tears of happiness .
Tusk spoke virtually no English when appointed in 2015, yet now is more articulate in English than many of our own. Impressive indeed.
Comments
I don't understand why Kamala Harris is staying so short.
Do you know I have never seen an episode of that programme, nor The Thick Of It?
The most recent YouGov (overall Con 32%, Lab 31%) had both Lab and Con on 31% amongst working class C2DEs. The lack of any significant difference is typical of many polls nowadays.
The utter inability of class to predict voting patterns nowadays is no cause for celebration for a party whose historic mission was based on addressing class inequalities and organisation through trade unions. It indicates a very shallow support base that could easily transfer elsewhere if a more attractive offer came along.
(northern leave voting town with an older population)
If there’s going to be six months of Brexit limbo, there’s pretty much going to have to be a Queen’s Speech - given that the last was two years ago following the June 2017 election.
You were a bit of fun
While you lasted.
But not all that much actually.
Hope tomorrow’s practice sessions go better than they did a couple of years ago.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39526963
Here is what the Parliament website says:
"This is a two year session. It started with the State Opening on 21 June 2017 and will run until the summer of 2019."
If the next State Opening was in late June 2019 there would only be about three weeks before Summer recess - so seems it wouldn't be a big thing to delay State Opening until October.
Red Bull were tasty in China last year, although Verstappen's contact with Vettel was less than glorious.
The tension in politics at the moment is that we have both new and old spectrums pulling at the same time. Clearly in a broader sense he is still extreme.
I think the DUP are about to pull the plug, we could be looking at an election before the summer. They have decided that the deal is not acceptable to them, the EU have decided it’s not up for negotiation and the PM intends to try and keep it alive after it’s been voted down three times.
Now, he's going to do jail time here and then be sent to the States.
He's an utter fool.
And he's still not as bad as Diane Abbott.
But I think the real irony is that Assange, as a fairly minor figure, is probably only being sought now because of the amount of embarrassment and frustration he has caused since his arrest.
Positively karmic.
Even if TIG had the wherewithal to fight lots of local elections right now (which it doesn't), the reality is that probably no-one would stand a chance of being elected, even if they polled relatively well.
The mistake the early SDP made was to assume that if they were polling 'well' (say 15-20%) this means they must win some seats somewhere. Sadly our crooked system doesn't work like that.
Mrs May screwed up big time by not involving the DUP in the latter stages of the WA negotiations. Maybe they’ll vote against in a VoNC to see the back of her, then back another Conservative as a temporary leader?
To be blunt, his best course of action is probably to claim insanity, in which case it's unlikely he would be extradited even to Sweden.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/11/sudan-army-ousts-bashir-after-30-years-in-power
If anyone doubts that, look at Egypt in the years after the fall of Mubarak under similar circumstances.
Labor 52.6%
Coalition 47.4%
https://www.pollbludger.net
We need to get them onto PB where doing so causes less harm. And at least permits diversions on F1, cricket, trains and rocket tests.
https://www.wired.com/story/julian-assange-robert-stone-ecuadorian-embassy-filth/
If it's just about anywhere, it's fortunate. If it's on pizza, somebody's being malevolent.
It is possible to win most seats under AV in Australia if you only trail 49% to 51% as the Coalition did under Howard in 1998 and Labour under Hawke in 1990 so still all to play for
https://twitter.com/TomTugendhat/status/1116367195397861377
I doubt he'll be getting many more interviews.....
https://youtu.be/42oucm_lj50
'It is sad for Hungary that the two have fallen out, and that the old spectre of anti-Semitism has been reborn from their clash. Given their two aggressive personalities, however, it is hardly surprising.'
Is he suggesting Soros bears some responsibilty for the resurgence of antisemitism in Hungary?
Electing an apologist for Holocaust deniers as PM would not.
He’s fast turning into my favourite EU politician . A wonderful man who passionately believes in the EU and who still hopes against hope that the UK might change its mind .
I think if the UK decided to stay Tusk would burst into tears of happiness .
On that subject, do we have a list of Spitzenkandidaten yet? Or will that only be confirmed when the stitch up, er, appointment is made?