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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » EdM’s Labour is attracting far fewer Lib Dem converts for t

SystemSystem Posts: 11,017
edited May 2014 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » EdM’s Labour is attracting far fewer Lib Dem converts for the May 22nd Euros than for the general election

The above chart is based on the last three Euro2014 polls where there were Westminster numbers as well. The figures shown are proportions of 2010 LDs saying they’ll vote LAB in the general election and those who’ll support the party in the May 22nd Euros.

Read the full story here


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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    Interesting.
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    taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    Are we suggesting that labour could come third in Newark and third in the euros??

    Wonder what the odds are there...
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    With that PPB and the rumours of the Clegg decapitation strategy, am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?

    Never hate your enemies, it clouds your judgement.
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407
    taffys said:

    Are we suggesting that labour could come third in Newark and third in the euros??

    Wonder what the odds are there...

    I'd be surprised if Lab came third in the euros. I wouldn't stop laughing for a week, but I'd be surprised.
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    BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Indeed. It's largely an anti-Tory vote Mike, that of the fabled Red Liberals. Not in every case, but mostly. Should mean better numbers for the a Yellows at least on 22 May.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,599
    "Hate Lib Dems - love Lib Dem voters"
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    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    One is spoilt for choice on Guardian headlines.

    I liked this one, from today:

    http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/09/is-the-pdf-hurting-democracy
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378

    "Hate Lib Dems - love Lib Dem voters"

    Hate the sin, not the sinner?
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    BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    @Hurst

    Very good point about the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement. As I say, I think it's a shame they have fallen out if favour. I am also a decent shoe polisher. Here's a question I was once posed by someone who knows about these things. Have you ever seen a woman polish her shoes?
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    NextNext Posts: 826
    Another way of reading the charts is to say that if asked about an election sometime in the future voters say they will vote Labour.

    But when faced with the reality of voting now, they're not so sure.
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    Bond_James_BondBond_James_Bond Posts: 1,939
    edited May 2014
    FPT

    Richard_Tyndall said:
    » show previous quotes
    I expect a very large swingback from UKIP to the Tories in 2015. I may not agree with the Tory meme about letting in Labour but it would be daft not to believe that many will. Whether it will be enough to save the Tories is another matter but those from UKIP pretending it will not happen and that those supporters are lost to the Tories for good are not being realistic.


    Richard

    Do you fancy my bet of the other day, of (say) £10 a point either side of 10% for UKIP in 2015?

    I.e. if they score less than 7% of the poll you owe me £30. If they score over 16% I owe you £60.

    Just looking for a bit of fun really - maybe it's £5 per point away from 8%, for example, rather than my 10 and 10.

    Or anyone else fancy some of that?
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407
    BobaFett said:

    @Hurst

    Very good point about the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement. As I say, I think it's a shame they have fallen out if favour. I am also a decent shoe polisher. Here's a question I was once posed by someone who knows about these things. Have you ever seen a woman polish her shoes?

    The tongue in cheek response is they usually have too many to need to bother...
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    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    BobaFett said:

    Here's a question I was once posed by someone who knows about these things. Have you ever seen a woman polish her shoes?

    Of course not, have you seen how many pairs of shoes they have? They must just buy another pair instead of cleaning them.
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    BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Next said:

    Another way of reading the charts is to say that if asked about an election sometime in the future voters say they will vote Labour.

    But when faced with the reality of voting now, they're not so sure.

    A great argument, were it not for the fact that pollsters ask: were there a general election tomorrow.... !!
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    Bond_James_BondBond_James_Bond Posts: 1,939
    BobaFett said:

    @Hurst

    Very good point about the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement. As I say, I think it's a shame they have fallen out if favour. I am also a decent shoe polisher. Here's a question I was once posed by someone who knows about these things. Have you ever seen a woman polish her shoes?

    They don't, AFAIK. They buy new ones.
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    NextNext Posts: 826
    BobaFett said:

    Next said:

    Another way of reading the charts is to say that if asked about an election sometime in the future voters say they will vote Labour.

    But when faced with the reality of voting now, they're not so sure.

    A great argument, were it not for the fact that pollsters ask: were there a general election tomorrow.... !!
    But people KNOW there isn't a general election tomorrow, no matter what hypothetical is put to them.
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    taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    They must just buy another pair instead of cleaning them.

    Would shoe tax breaks solve dave's 'woman problem?'
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    Re ties.

    If you really want attention at work, wear a bow tie for a day instead of a normal tie.

    The one thing I can't stand is though is the very thin ties, I have dental floss that are thicker.
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,704
    This does make sense. The Lib Dems are the only main real 'party for the EU', and as a USP that will attract a certain number of people... (not many, but a good 10-15% of the population at least).

    Watching the PPB when I've been in the gym, at least the lib dems made a case for EU membership and being part of it, regardless of if you agree with them or not.

    Labour have nothing to say on the EU. They just want to duck and avoid being pinned down on anything, and that will probably continue as long as they can.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    Alot of people are also 10/10 to vote. And then they demonstrably don't.
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    HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    BobaFett said:

    @Hurst

    Very good point about the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement. As I say, I think it's a shame they have fallen out if favour. I am also a decent shoe polisher. Here's a question I was once posed by someone who knows about these things. Have you ever seen a woman polish her shoes?

    A woman polish her shoes? No, I have never seen that (outside the services). I have for the last thirty plus years cleaned Herself's shoes, of course. So maybe, outside of marriage and the military, women just do what Mr. Nabavi suggests and buy a new pair.

    We really could do with Mrs. B.'s expertise on this - she was the shoe queen of PB.Com, but perhaps oneof our other lady contributors would like t chip in.
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    taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    ''They just want to duck and avoid being pinned down on anything, and that will probably continue as long as they can.''

    Is that approach going to bring out their vote at the euros? I have major doubts.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    taffys said:

    ''They just want to duck and avoid being pinned down on anything, and that will probably continue as long as they can.''

    Is that approach going to bring out their vote at the euros? I have major doubts.

    Labour voters only bother at General Elections, and then only if its a sunny day.
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    BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Correct! They don't polish their shoes. I had never thought about it before (even though my wife owns 60+ pairs). I have never seen a woman, ever polish her shoes. I guess they simply buy a new pair...
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    taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    Labour voters only bother at General Elections, and then only if its a sunny day.

    If that is true then third at the euros might be possible. And third in Newark.
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    BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Funnily enough I did clear Mrs Fett's suede boots the other day when she somehow got makeup on them.

    She seemed utterly stunned that they could be cleaned!
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    taffys said:

    Labour voters only bother at General Elections, and then only if its a sunny day.

    If that is true then third at the euros might be possible. And third in Newark.

    I think they'll beat the conservatives in the euros, alot of Cons on holiday to UKIP for those.
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    isamisam Posts: 40,915
    edited May 2014

    With that PPB and the rumours of the Clegg decapitation strategy, am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?

    Never hate your enemies, it clouds your judgement.

    "Hate your enemies, save your friends, find your place, speak the truth"
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    NextNext Posts: 826
    BobaFett said:

    Funnily enough I did clear Mrs Fett's suede boots the other day when she somehow got makeup on them.

    She seemed utterly stunned that they could be cleaned!

    Or stunned she wasn't going to get a new pair.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    isam said:

    With that PPB and the rumours of the Clegg decapitation strategy, am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?

    Never hate your enemies, it clouds your judgement.

    "Hate your enemies, save you friends, find your place, speak the truth"
    Kurt Cobain vs Michael Corleone

    Hmmmm
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407

    Re ties.

    If you really want attention at work, wear a bow tie for a day instead of a normal tie.

    The one thing I can't stand is though is the very thin ties, I have dental floss that are thicker.

    Oh the tie preference of twinks and twats.
  • Options

    With that PPB and the rumours of the Clegg decapitation strategy, am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?

    Never hate your enemies, it clouds your judgement.

    I find the strategy quite bizarre as surely any LDs who are going to switch to Labour will already have done so? Surely Labour should have been attacking UKIP. UKIP getting 20% in a by-election like Rotherham doesn't really hurt Labour but if UKIP can get 20% in Labour seats and poll strongly in Tory seats in a region like Yorkshire then that can hurt Labour. The other problem with this strategy is that it doesn't give Clegg haters a reason to vote Labour as opposed to say the Greens (or the Socialist Party)
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    isamisam Posts: 40,915

    FPT

    Richard_Tyndall said:
    » show previous quotes
    I expect a very large swingback from UKIP to the Tories in 2015. I may not agree with the Tory meme about letting in Labour but it would be daft not to believe that many will. Whether it will be enough to save the Tories is another matter but those from UKIP pretending it will not happen and that those supporters are lost to the Tories for good are not being realistic.


    Richard

    Do you fancy my bet of the other day, of (say) £10 a point either side of 10% for UKIP in 2015?

    I.e. if they score less than 7% of the poll you owe me £30. If they score over 16% I owe you £60.

    Just looking for a bit of fun really - maybe it's £5 per point away from 8%, for example, rather than my 10 and 10.

    Or anyone else fancy some of that?

    I'll go £25 a pop over 9 if you like??
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    edited May 2014
    @Pulpstar's predictions:

    All taken around evens or a bit under/over:

    Euros: UKIP (4-5)
    London region Euros: Labour (11-10)
    Newark: Conservative. (8-11)
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    isamisam Posts: 40,915

    isam said:

    With that PPB and the rumours of the Clegg decapitation strategy, am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?

    Never hate your enemies, it clouds your judgement.

    "Hate your enemies, save you friends, find your place, speak the truth"
    Kurt Cobain vs Michael Corleone

    Hmmmm
    Two of my heroes, but I think Kurt was the more genuine!
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    TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    'Then, companies are owned by their shareholders if a shareholder wants to sell by what right should a politician tell them that they can't?'

    FPT, to Hurst Llama.

    That will be the next bandwagon that Ed leaps under - nationalising 'special cases' such as Astra Zeneca.
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    MaxUMaxU Posts: 87
    Nick from FPT. Thanks for replying.

    As you say there isn't much between the parties on this issue. My point was really that I didn't see why Labour, as opposed to the Conservatives, could not hold out for more housebuilding as the political cost to them might not be so great. Maybe Labour should look a little more closely at what exactly the political cost would be- it strikes me that you do not have many seats to loose on the Surrey/London borders for example! Nonetheless your response and the visceral reaction of Sandy Rentool makes one wonder whether there is a component of Labour's vote which could be best be characterized as NANBYs (Not in Anyone's BackYard) as opposed to NIMBYs. However because their votes are unlikely to be concentrated and presumably they do not have so much skin in the game (as they do not live where the development will actually take place) I am surprised that you are so concerned by them.

    I would prefer terraced housing with roughly the same footprint as Victorian terraces and perhaps low rise blocks (4-6 stories) with smaller flats closer to the inner cities. I think that would be a reasonable compromise between suburban sprawl and going all out for high rise. Nonetheless I take your point and your solution is certainly better than no solution- which is the status quo! Why not broadcast it from the rooftops!
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    TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited May 2014

    Re ties.

    If you really want attention at work, wear a bow tie for a day instead of a normal tie.

    The one thing I can't stand is though is the very thin ties, I have dental floss that are thicker.

    Watcher Golden Rule - never trust anyone wearing a bow tie, or a beard. (Black or White Tie excepted).
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,599
    A good time to give an update of my New Year predictions:

    Newcastle to qualify for Europe - fail! (That's what happens when you sell your best player in January)
    Sunderland to go down - fail!

    Two left in play:

    Kippers to win the Euros
    Scotland to vote Yes

    With my track record, you know where not to put your money!
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,331
    edited May 2014
    I think Mike's right. I meet very few 2010 LibDems who now hate the LibDems, just loads who want to end the Coalition.

    FPT:
    welshowl said:

    Though many years ago I worked for a German firm and the "dress code" was jeans and casual shirts if in our office/factory, even if clients were visiting, but if you went to the very same clients' offices/factories it was suit collar and tie. It seemed accepted by all and "worked" even if looking back it seems an odd mix.

    I generally wear a tie and relatively smart suit for work, because I still meet corporate and regulatory types around the world who think that anyone lobbying on animal welfare is probably somewhere between a hippy and a nutter. You can see the relief on their faces when they see I'm a boring grey chap like themselves.
    ping, transport and both urban and rural areas.
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    RodCrosbyRodCrosby Posts: 7,737
    With 99% of the vote counted in South Africa it's looking like:

    ANC 249 (-15)
    DA 89 (+22)
    EFF 25 (+25)
    IFP 10 (-8)
    NFP 6 (+6)
    UDM 4 (nc)
    VF PLUS 4 (nc)
    COPE 3 (-27)
    ACDP 3 (nc)
    AIC 3 (+3)
    AGANG 2 (+2)
    PAC 1 (nc)
    APC 1 (nc)

    Simple Droop-LR would have brought another two parties into parliament (with one seat each).
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917

    I think Mike's right. I meet very few 2010 LibDems who now hate the LibDems, just loads who want to end the Coalition.

    FPT:
    welshowl said:

    Though many years ago I worked for a German firm and the "dress code" was jeans and casual shirts if in our office/factory, even if clients were visiting, but if you went to the very same clients' offices/factories it was suit collar and tie. It seemed accepted by all and "worked" even if looking back it seems an odd mix.

    I generally wear a tie and relatively smart suit for work, because I still meet corporate and regulatory types around the world who think that anyone lobbying on animal welfare is probably somewhere between a hippy and a nutter. You can see the relief on their faces when they see I'm a boring grey chap like themselves.
    ping, transport and both urban and rural areas.

    Is insulting Clegg going to get them tactically voting Labour though ?
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378

    A good time to give an update of my New Year predictions:

    Newcastle to qualify for Europe - fail! (That's what happens when you sell your best player in January)
    Sunderland to go down - fail!

    Two left in play:

    Kippers to win the Euros
    Scotland to vote Yes

    With my track record, you know where not to put your money!

    Can you predict Man City to win the title on Sunday, please!
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    HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    BobaFett said:

    Correct! They don't polish their shoes. I had never thought about it before (even though my wife owns 60+ pairs). I have never seen a woman, ever polish her shoes. I guess they simply buy a new pair...

    Before we drift too far into the territory that could be labelled as sexist. Mr. Fett said this in an earlier post,

    "the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement."

    And cuff-links, Mr Fett, don't forget cuff-links. This is another item of the Gentleman's ensemble that is falling foul of the current come as you feel like it mode (though more slowly). To a young man starting out I would say always wear cuff-links and chose them carefully.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378

    BobaFett said:

    Correct! They don't polish their shoes. I had never thought about it before (even though my wife owns 60+ pairs). I have never seen a woman, ever polish her shoes. I guess they simply buy a new pair...

    Before we drift too far into the territory that could be labelled as sexist. Mr. Fett said this in an earlier post,

    "the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement."

    And cuff-links, Mr Fett, don't forget cuff-links. This is another item of the Gentleman's ensemble that is falling foul of the current come as you feel like it mode (though more slowly). To a young man starting out I would say always wear cuff-links and chose them carefully.
    At last count, I have 24 pairs of cuff-links.
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,704
    taffys said:

    ''They just want to duck and avoid being pinned down on anything, and that will probably continue as long as they can.''

    Is that approach going to bring out their vote at the euros? I have major doubts.

    Look at their PPB... it's only negative 'give the tories and the lib dems a kicking' tactic at the moment.

    Which is fair enough on one level...
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    @TSE

    I felt my one came pretty high up on that list, but even I can't compete with the Bolivian farmers one.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,599
    Voodoo poll - from the web site of "The Engineer":

    It's exactly a year until the next General Election. What do you think is the most likely result?

    Conservative majority 25%
    Labour majority 4%
    Other majority 0%
    Conservative-led coalition 8%
    Labour-led coalition 6%
    None of the above 57%

    Presumably 57% expect a minority government!
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,704
    edited May 2014
    I had a great moment a few days ago when my wife discovered a live mouse in one of her shoes which one of our cats must have brought in.

    Cute little thing too...although it did do a little wee in it after I took it outside..

    Needless to say those shoes are never getting worn again for some reason.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,317
    edited May 2014
    There will be books written about the flaws in Labour's strategy next year, after they lose. The theme of much of them will be 'what on earth were they thinking?' And 'how could they have been so inept?'

    The idea that a governing party, that has recently lost an election to the main opposition, through directly losing votes to that opposition, need not make any real effort to win those votes back to regain power is lunacy.

    It's as silly as Kinnock and his talking heads saying the reason they lost in 1992 was because they didn't squeeze enough votes from the Lib Dems as the 3rd party.

    They were wrong then and they are wrong now, for the same reasons: Labour will not regain power until it makes a direct - and successful - pitch for Conservative inclined floating voters to switch back to them.
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    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    FPT

    Richard_Tyndall said:
    » show previous quotes
    I expect a very large swingback from UKIP to the Tories in 2015. I may not agree with the Tory meme about letting in Labour but it would be daft not to believe that many will. Whether it will be enough to save the Tories is another matter but those from UKIP pretending it will not happen and that those supporters are lost to the Tories for good are not being realistic.


    Richard

    Do you fancy my bet of the other day, of (say) £10 a point either side of 10% for UKIP in 2015?

    I.e. if they score less than 7% of the poll you owe me £30. If they score over 16% I owe you £60.

    Just looking for a bit of fun really - maybe it's £5 per point away from 8%, for example, rather than my 10 and 10.

    Or anyone else fancy some of that?

    I'll go with you on that at £10 a point. Anything over 10% I gain; anything under you gain, 007.

    @Richard_Tyndall, while I agree that there will some returning UKIP voters to the main 2 parties for the GE, It won't be nearly enough to help those 2 parties.

    In the 49 odd weeks untill the elections UKIP will keep on building the party structure. It will also try to get on board more of those voters disillusioned with the Lab/Lib/con, and also those voters that have not voted at all for the last 3 elections. By GE 2015 KIP may have 100K± members. Then watch out!
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917

    BobaFett said:

    Correct! They don't polish their shoes. I had never thought about it before (even though my wife owns 60+ pairs). I have never seen a woman, ever polish her shoes. I guess they simply buy a new pair...

    Before we drift too far into the territory that could be labelled as sexist. Mr. Fett said this in an earlier post,

    "the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement."

    And cuff-links, Mr Fett, don't forget cuff-links. This is another item of the Gentleman's ensemble that is falling foul of the current come as you feel like it mode (though more slowly). To a young man starting out I would say always wear cuff-links and chose them carefully.
    I am seeing why we made such shockingly poor allies for each other in the first diplomacy game !
  • Options
    stodgestodge Posts: 12,850
    Afternoon all :)

    On-topic, given the much smaller pool of LD Euro voters I'm not very surprised. As others have said, there is a small constituency of pro-EU voters and a larger constituency of those who, while not enamoured of the EU, are not convinced of the arguments for exit and that is Cameron's patch. Yet at the end of the day, Cameron's pitch is simply "trust me". The problem is he may not be in a position this time next year to keep to his commitment of a 2017 Referendum and those who either don't believe he can deliver or don't want him in place to be able to deliver form the other factions at work.

    Off-topic, went for a walk this morning - in one Newham Ward, the businesses are backing the Tories against Labour yet next door similar businesses have Lib Dem posters. Incredibly, businesses have posters while none of the houses (large rental area) do.

    I strongly suspect Labour will carry all 60 seats in Newham.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322

    Re ties.

    If you really want attention at work, wear a bow tie for a day instead of a normal tie.

    The one thing I can't stand is though is the very thin ties, I have dental floss that are thicker.

    Watcher Golden Rule - never trust anyone wearing a bow tie, or a beard. (Black or White Tie excepted).
    I have no problem with beards, but pin stripe suits or red trousers are my warning signs.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    @Stodge I misread Newham for Newark for a brief few seconds there.
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    Afternoon PB

    [am I the only thinking Labour are making a huge mistake of hating the Lib Dems and Clegg when they should be love-bombing the bejeezus out of them?]

    There strategy's working though isn't it? They're ahead in the polls - and it's nice and simple. I'm sure it must keep the activists happy too.

    RE:work ties.

    I always seem to get it wrong. I was told to buy low sell high after one shirt combo - which although made me smile at the time I can't help but feel made me perhaps overly wary of non-tie warers in the long term.

    welcome back marf

    What are we betting on the Morris.

    Fitalass - I got the Con leaflet today.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Interesting turn of events. Newsweek runs piece about Israeli spying on the US:

    http://www.newsweek.com/israel-wont-stop-spying-us-249757

    Israel responds by calling journalist anti-Semitic:

    http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Report-Israel-spies-on-the-US-far-more-than-other-close-US-351455
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    sladeslade Posts: 1,930
    I have received Euro literature in this order - UKIP, Green, Labour, Lib Dem. Nothing yet from the Conservatives. Only the Lib Dem leaflet was addressed - and it arrived on the same day as my postal vote.
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    AveryLPAveryLP Posts: 7,815
    edited May 2014
    Current economic stats are quite remarkable. They show the UK surging ahead in most measures on near full steam as our major G7 competitors remain, at best, becalmed or, worse, still battling headwinds.

    The boredom of a long sea journey can tempt passengers to look for early indicators of weather change, or at least a change in pace or direction of passage. There have however been few such indicators over the past few month. Mostly the figures and commentary are shouting "steady as she goes".

    This morning's REC-KPMG Markit Report on Jobs may however be different.

    A first reading of the report may yield little new: the rate of growth of permanent placements in the Labour Market accelerated in April with temp billings also growing but at a slower pace. Demand for staff increased too with vacancy levels increasing at a similar rate to March. Regional figures showed that growth was highest in the North and Midlands and slowest in the South. The private sector led growth at a "particularly sharp pace" but public sector recruitment also rose at a "solid" rate. Engineers were most in demand with Medical/Nursing/Care staff taking second place in the league table.

    All signs of a healthy growing economy we might conclude, but Markit also report a sharpening fall in the availability of staff to fill vacancies:

    For permanent candidates, the latest fall was the sharpest since October 2004, while for temporary workers it was the steepest since December 2000.

    The usual effect of reduced staff availability is to drive pay upwards and the first signs of this happening are being reported:

    Growth of permanent salaries accelerated further in April. The latest increase was the most marked since July 2007. Temporary staff pay increased at a solid pace that was sharper than in the preceding month.

    Now this is a clear early indicator of the labour market tightening up suggesting that the slack in the economy, much touted by the Bank of England as a justification to maintain current monetary policies, is coming to an end.

    Politically this should be good news for the government in the short term as wage inflation is likely to lead general inflation rapidly increasing standards of living and weakening any opposition attack based on "the cost of living crisis".

    In the medium term however, a tightening labour market is likely to drive the need for increased immigration and bring forward the point at which the Bank of England will need to raise interest rates. Neither would represent a good political outcome if occurring before the General Election.

    Osborne has proved himself to be a highly competent helmsman and navigator to date. If that reputation is to survive, some careful hands on potentially dangerous levers will be needed. Is it better to loosen immigration controls in order to prevent the labour market overheating? And if so what will be the political consequences?

    Sometimes the news isn't always good.
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    [At last count, I have 24 pairs of cuff-links.]

    I used to rip off the cuff buttons of my burtons shirts so I could wear mine. Honestly, you can't win with office fashion.
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    stodgestodge Posts: 12,850
    Pulpstar said:

    @Stodge I misread Newham for Newark for a brief few seconds there.

    Suspect not too many similarities - certainly politically as similar as chalk and a substance completely unlike chalk.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Good afternoon, everyone.

    Mr. Llama, you should wear a tie.

    Saw a little bit of Kirsty Wark's programme last night (didn't watch it as either rampant misogyny or rampant over-sensitivity would've annoyed me) and was unsurprised and depressed to see Cameron's perfectly fine 'Calm down, dear' line used as the sort of 'soft' anti-women line that can lead to more serious stuff.

    I do think there's much misogyny but it's an aspect of, rather than the whole, story. A Call of Duty developer got death threats (as did, I think, his wife and kids) after miniscule changes to reloading times for weapons in a patch.

    Still a bit on edge about the computer. I get the feeling the only way I'll find out for certain if I'm ok or not will be if I end up losing access to my e-mail and my bank account suddenly becomes empty.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,287
    Ed Balls owns up to a mistake. http://www.edballs.co.uk/blog/?p=5096
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407
    Off topic but just realised that Monday marks 20 years since John Smith passed away. Can't believe it's that long, I now feel old.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    edited May 2014
    Half my work suits are pinstripes.

    As PBers know, my fashion sense is unparalleled.

    twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/325399046216888320
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    isamisam Posts: 40,915
    Hate cufflinks and hate ties more
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    I have a wide array of suits. Tartan, gold, silver, blue velvet, denim, pinstripes: they're all grist to the mill.

    I love ties, but have an irrational dislike of cufflinks.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    dr_spyn said:

    Ed Balls owns up to a mistake. http://www.edballs.co.uk/blog/?p=5096

    Car crash for Mr Balls !
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    BobaFett said:

    Correct! They don't polish their shoes. I had never thought about it before (even though my wife owns 60+ pairs). I have never seen a woman, ever polish her shoes. I guess they simply buy a new pair...

    Before we drift too far into the territory that could be labelled as sexist. Mr. Fett said this in an earlier post,

    "the tie being pretty much the key part if an ensemble where a man can make a statement."

    And cuff-links, Mr Fett, don't forget cuff-links. This is another item of the Gentleman's ensemble that is falling foul of the current come as you feel like it mode (though more slowly). To a young man starting out I would say always wear cuff-links and chose them carefully.
    Mr Llama, I beg to differ

    Novelty cufflinks make me shudder.

    I have a very simple pair of gold cufflinks, designed to look like buttons, that I wear most days. Apart from that, of course, I have a pair with an eagle's head on them for black and white tie. That's all I need.

    Simple and understated is good when it comes to cufflinks.
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    MikeLMikeL Posts: 7,287
    Saw my Mum's postal ballot for Euros today - London area.

    An Independence for Europe is not top of the list - it's 2nd - top is a Party called 4 Freedom.

    UKIP right at the bottom - interestingly there was a fold just above the bottom - when I first opened ballot paper I couldn't see UKIP at all!
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Mr. Jim, apparently it's 16 years since Resident Evil 2 came out. I still remember getting that and FFVII when I bought my Playstation.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Mr. L, origami conspiracy!
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    stodgestodge Posts: 12,850
    AveryLP said:


    Now this is a clear early indicator of the labour market tightening up suggesting that the slack in the economy, much touted by the Bank of England as a justification to maintain current monetary policies, is coming to an end.

    Politically this should be good news for the government in the short term as wage inflation is likely to lead general inflation rapidly increasing standards of living and weakening any opposition attack based on "the cost of living crisis".

    In the medium term however, a tightening labour market is likely to drive the need for increased immigration and bring forward the point at which the Bank of England will need to raise interest rates. Neither would represent a good political outcome if occurring before the General Election.

    Osborne has proved himself to be a highly competent helmsman and navigator to date. If that reputation is to survive, some careful hands on potentially dangerous levers will be needed. Is it better to loosen immigration controls in order to prevent the labour market overheating? And if so what will be the political consequences?

    Sometimes the news isn't always good.

    Indeed, and anecdotal though it is, half a dozen of the fast food shops on the Barking Road are asking for staff (waiting staff, drivers etc.) . Seems to suggest growing demand and therefore some sense of prosperity.

    However, this is classic "boom and bust" territory and we've been before countless times. Wages start to rise as there is pressure on jobs (especially if immigration is further constrained) and our old friend inflation starts to stalk the land. This was how it was in the late 1980s in the south east and that didn't end well.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,599
    After ties and cufflinks, does anyone want to admit to wearing armbands or sock suspenders?
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    Morris is just a kid! Resident Evil 1 was where the action was surely??
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    So far I've had two leaflets through the door of my block of flats for the EU elections: the Lib Dems and the Communities United Party. It seems you can't cross the congestion charge boundary without having your jab against Europhobia.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    antifrank said:

    I have a wide array of suits. Tartan, gold, silver, blue velvet, denim, pinstripes: they're all grist to the mill.

    I love ties, but have an irrational dislike of cufflinks.

    A denim suit! Gordon Bennett!
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Mr. Briskin, I see your RE1 and raise you Phantasy Star IV.
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407

    Mr. Jim, apparently it's 16 years since Resident Evil 2 came out. I still remember getting that and FFVII when I bought my Playstation.

    Mr Dancer I have no clue what you are talking about I'm afraid :(
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    Morris - I don't know which one IV was but I did get addicted to the first one I think.
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    The dreamcast one.
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    might be the same one we're talking about.
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Socrates said:

    antifrank said:

    I have a wide array of suits. Tartan, gold, silver, blue velvet, denim, pinstripes: they're all grist to the mill.

    I love ties, but have an irrational dislike of cufflinks.

    A denim suit! Gordon Bennett!
    It's very nice, very subtle. Just like my gold suit is a very subtle gold.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378

    Mr. Briskin, I see your RE1 and raise you Phantasy Star IV.

    I see that, and raise you an Operation Wolf, a Turbo Esprit and My name is Uncle Groucho, you win a fat cigar.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378
    antifrank said:

    Socrates said:

    antifrank said:

    I have a wide array of suits. Tartan, gold, silver, blue velvet, denim, pinstripes: they're all grist to the mill.

    I love ties, but have an irrational dislike of cufflinks.

    A denim suit! Gordon Bennett!
    It's very nice, very subtle. Just like my gold suit is a very subtle gold.
    So that's why you bought those shoes, to match the suit?
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,917
    @JBriskin, @Morris_Dancer I see your FFVII, RE1, PS IV and raise you Secret of Mana.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Dreamcast?!

    Phantasy Star IV was for the Mega Drive (and is arguably the best game I've ever played. You can get it for modern consoles, Playstation at least, with a Sega Classics collection).

    Mr. Jim, you missed some truly, wonderfully awful voice acting.

    Mr. Eagles, not heard of any of those, but unless they're cassette games for an Amstrad I raise you a Ghostbusters game, for an Amstrad (can't recall the type).
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    PS IV I'm beat with but appartently I've hit my inside flush with Secret of Mana and we split the pot - Sorry Morris
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,378

    Dreamcast?!

    Phantasy Star IV was for the Mega Drive (and is arguably the best game I've ever played. You can get it for modern consoles, Playstation at least, with a Sega Classics collection).

    Mr. Jim, you missed some truly, wonderfully awful voice acting.

    Mr. Eagles, not heard of any of those, but unless they're cassette games for an Amstrad I raise you a Ghostbusters game, for an Amstrad (can't recall the type).

    They were games for my Spectrum 128k +3
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,407
    Labour really are obsessed with Clegg. This isn't cringeworthy but I think it looks too like an ad for Clegg not against.

    http://order-order.com/2014/05/09/watch-labour-release-another-clegg-attack-video/
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    philiphphiliph Posts: 4,704
    isam said:

    Hate cufflinks and hate ties more

    I am not an avid suit and tie person. Sometimes I still wear a suit I bought in 1984, it fits and still looks OK - I do have newer ones too.

    Ties should be fun, and as I only wear them a few times a year I enjoy them, as they add colour and individuality. Cufflinks are also worn for pleasure. In my collection have my Dads cufflinks, which is a nice reminder of him at times, then my eclectic selection including pigs, elephants and sundry other random styles.

    Bow ties (outside formal attire) are to me (based on experience) the sign of an insecure individual who should not be trusted.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Mr. Eagles, can't say if that's worse than the Amstrad or not (which was miles worse than a Mega Drive or Atari).

    Mr. Briskin, I find it hard to believe Secret of Mana predated cassette games... unless it was a text-based roleplaying game or something like that. Perhaps.
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    SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    antifrank said:

    Socrates said:

    antifrank said:

    I have a wide array of suits. Tartan, gold, silver, blue velvet, denim, pinstripes: they're all grist to the mill.

    I love ties, but have an irrational dislike of cufflinks.

    A denim suit! Gordon Bennett!
    It's very nice, very subtle. Just like my gold suit is a very subtle gold.
    You're making a very strong argument for a more progressive taxation system.
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    JBriskinJBriskin Posts: 2,380
    Morris - If it's the same game I'm thinking of - and it may not be - it was Snes. I may have got this all wrong.
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    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    Socrates said:


    You're making a very strong argument for a more progressive taxation system.

    ... and perhaps even for government intervention
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    Dr Stephen Fisher's latest weekly 2015 GE forecast is out, based on UKPR's average current polling figures.
    This shows the Tories winning 310 seats (+4 over the previous week), Labour winning 283 seats (-3) and the LibDems winning 29 seats (-1).

    With the Tories now projected to be very marginally up on their 2010 GE seat count, this forecast suggests that they are set to win around 15-20 seats from the Libdems and to lose around 13-18 seats to Labour.

    Were this to be the case, there are some very tasty odds available on backing Tory holds which in the betting markets are currently assumed to be near certain losses to Labour.

    On this basis it may be worth looking at those seats which are between say the 30th and 60th Tory Seats most vulnerable to Labour. Is there a ready means of identifying these please anyone?
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    At least we're now getting to see what Labour is responding to in its current bout of ads attacking the Lib Dems. They're trying to bind in the Red Liberals by engendering tribal hostility to the coalition by tying Nick Clegg in with David Cameron, labelling him as weak and duplicitous and/or a fellow traveller. This really is consistent with a fabled 35% strategy.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,976
    Mr. Briskin, if it was SNES then I win :p

    Pretty sure SNES was about the time of Mega Drive, whereas the godawful Amstrad predated it.

    Still, from such machines as that are modern PCs and tablets descended. We had a typewriter too (sadly now gotten rid of) which I wrote a few stories on.

    Mr. Putney, not sure if you saw me post it before but there's a question mark as to whether there'll be any F1 articles this week (first will be tomorrow, if there is). Should there be no further problems my intention is to put up a pre-qualifying piece tomorrow, but only if there's no more trouble.
This discussion has been closed.