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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » In spite of his current travails the betting markets make E

SystemSystem Posts: 11,008
edited July 2013 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » In spite of his current travails the betting markets make EdM the leader most likely to hang on to his job during 2013

As a general rule I think that we over-estimate the chances of leaders being booted out when the going gets a bit tough. Time and time again we’ve seen people hang on even in, apparently, the most difficult of circumstances.

Read the full story here


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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    I'd rather not bet on any leaving in 2013. If I had to, I'd bet on Ed Miliband. Longest odds, clearest current threat to authority. But I still don't fancy the bet.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,131
    As an attempt at diversion I am really not sure this works.
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    If you want to bet on Ed Miliband being replaced as Labour leader during 2013 (and I personally don't) then you'd be better off over at Ladbrokes, who are offering 16/1 (versus Paddy Power's 9/1).
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    - "So I’m not attracted by any of the PaddyPower prices."

    Mike, that PP link is dead (404 Error Not Found).
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    richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    Perhaps the PM is the one most at risk because he has to take more risks, the other two can sit on their hands
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,131

    - "So I’m not attracted by any of the PaddyPower prices."

    Mike, that PP link is dead (404 Error Not Found).

    Stuart, I see the telegraph agrees with your gold buying:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/comment/10163015/The-smart-money-is-quietly-buying-more-gold.html

    Bet you are worried now.

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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    edited July 2013
    Has anyone seen this woman? Although her (rather threadbare) CV describes her as "Leader of the Scottish Labour Party" (sic) she has gone AWOL during the biggest crisis of her "leadership" (sic).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JohannLamontMSPgreenjacket.jpg
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    JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,006
    Well it's a bit stupid for anyone to think that a party leader will have to leave office just because they and/or their party is going through a sticky patch. I guess much of the probability of a party leader resigning is the probability of a black swan event occurring
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    Chris Froome riding into yellow...
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    DavidL said:

    - "So I’m not attracted by any of the PaddyPower prices."

    Mike, that PP link is dead (404 Error Not Found).

    Stuart, I see the telegraph agrees with your gold buying:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/comment/10163015/The-smart-money-is-quietly-buying-more-gold.html

    Bet you are worried now.
    Thanks David.

    By the way, I have been quietly cursing you all week! I got a bit worried by your comment on the Chinese interbank rates and decided not to buy approx 1800 GBP of stocks that day. Grrr. I'd have made a very tidy profit to date. But I'll forgive you ;)

    (Note: I am really only saving in gold stocks with a very long time horizon - approx 30 to 40 years - so short-term movements are irrelevant.)

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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    edited July 2013
    Neil said:

    Chris Froome riding into yellow...

    Froome is trading at 4/7 at SpreadEx (for the overall). Too short?

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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983


    Froome is trading at 4/7 at SpreadEx (for the overall). Too short?

    No, tbh I think that's still good value.

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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    PM after next UK GE - Paddy Power

    Miliband 4/6
    Cameron 6/5
    Johnson 16/1
    Hague 20/1
    Balls, Gove, Hammond, Cooper 25/1
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    A superb ride by Richie Porte as well.
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Gaby Hinsliff noted that the leaders seem to be in a slow bicycle race:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/05/labour-union-row-distraction-tories
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    dugarbandierdugarbandier Posts: 2,596

    A superb ride by Richie Porte as well.

    chapeau! and white jersey for Quintana
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    Wow - what a fantastic TDF stage.

    Froome for SPOTY
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    QuincelQuincel Posts: 3,949
    History shows that the Tories are the party most likely to kick out leaders mid-term. While being too chartist about things is a risk, culture dies hard.
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    MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    Cameron is at more risk of replacement than Miliband because the Tories have several potential leaders whereas Miliband's only rival is Balls . Labour just doesn't have anyone who is any good.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    Cameron is at more risk of replacement than Miliband because the Tories have several potential leaders whereas Miliband's only rival is Balls . Labour just doesn't have anyone who is any good.

    Has Tom Watson just put himself at the front of the queue?

    Ed himself proved you don't need to be popular with MPs (although how many would dare vote against him) or party members as long as you control the union votes
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298
    Wow


    The trade union at the centre of a row with the Labour Party is facing new claims that it worked to oust a Blairite member of the shadow cabinet.

    Ed Miliband’s office has been told that Unite tried to ensure the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander lost his seat in a shake-up of constituency boundaries.




    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10164227/Unite-accused-of-putsch-against-senior-Blairite.html
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,969
    Surely if Murray wins tomorrow he's a dead cert for SPOTY?

    Bad day for my bets. Incredibly wrong pair of tips. As wrong as someone who thinks Caesar was a better general than Hannibal. Working on the pre-race piece now.
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    It seems that they are aping the tactice of Militant from the early 80's in seeking to oust MP's of insufficient ideological purity.

    Wow


    The trade union at the centre of a row with the Labour Party is facing new claims that it worked to oust a Blairite member of the shadow cabinet.

    Ed Miliband’s office has been told that Unite tried to ensure the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander lost his seat in a shake-up of constituency boundaries.




    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10164227/Unite-accused-of-putsch-against-senior-Blairite.html

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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298
    Tim - Since April

    He fears, though, that Miliband could still fall under the sway of those he pejoratively refers to as “Blairites”. He singles out the shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander and the shadow defence secretary, Jim Murphy, for criticism.

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2013/04/len-mccluskey-if-ed-miliband-seduced-blairites-hell-be-defeated

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,969
    Betting Post

    Backed Raikkonen for a podium at 2.42, hedged at 1.1. Got a feeling the Lotus could be quite fast in the race. Then again, my two qualifying bets were utterly wrong.

    http://enormo-haddock.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/germany-pre-race.html
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,577
    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    When Len McClusky outed him?

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/04/exclusive-len-mccluskey-declares-war-shadow-cabinet-blairites

    " if he was "seduced" by the Blairites he'd lose the election and be "cast into the dustbin of history". He singled out shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy and shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne for criticism. "

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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,213
    Last night I saw that only politicalbetting.com was down but politicalbetting.vanillaforums.com was fine.

    Anyway, congrats to Marion Bartoli on her first Wimbledon title and indeed her very first Grand Slam too. She was the runner-up back in 2007.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298

    Betting Post

    Backed Raikkonen for a podium at 2.42, hedged at 1.1. Got a feeling the Lotus could be quite fast in the race. Then again, my two qualifying bets were utterly wrong.

    http://enormo-haddock.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/germany-pre-race.html

    Lewis is going to win on this Superb weekend for British and Irish
    Sport.

    Poor Nico, Mercedes strategy for him was really poor.

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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,213
    @tim

    Greetings from Ilford West! Or was it East? :)
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    I thought he tried to float between both camps (depending on who was in the lead) and end up irritating everyone? Wasn't he blamed for the 2007 general election which wasn't?
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    MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    edited July 2013
    "McCluskey began his union career as a campaign organiser for the TGWU in Merseyside in the 1980s and was a supporter, though not a member, of Militant throughout the period."

    It seems that they are aping the tactice of Militant from the early 80's in seeking to oust MP's of insufficient ideological purity.

    Wow






    McCluskey began his union career as a campaign organiser for the TGWU in Merseyside in the 1980s and was a supporter, though not a member, of Militant throughout the period.















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    TomsToms Posts: 2,478

    Wow - what a fantastic TDF stage.

    Froome for SPOTY

    I've just come back from a week in Cornwall. Great place. A major industry there seems to be tourism. That's all very well, but I got the impression that not a lot was being produced, although the windmills were great.

    The SKY team shows what focused money, planning, and quality management can do. So does the reborn Triumph motorcycle industry, in spades.This country has some world beaters. It might be good if our leaders spent more time consulting the real pros responsible for these successes. I know I oversimplify. It's just a thought.

    If you read about Froome's history you can only wish him an accident free victory.

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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298
    Today Warren Gatland followed the strategy of Caesar.

    Today Nico Rosberg's engineers followed the tactics of Hannibal.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,577
    next Labour U-turn:

    "My sense of the mood in the opposition ranks is that the referendum u-turn has become inevitable. "

    http://www.newstatesman.com/rafael-behr/2013/07/labours-referendum-u-turn-looking-ever-more-likely
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    The cycing lobby has a great tradition of getting its vote out winning three of the last 5 SPOTYs

    Surely if Murray wins tomorrow he's a dead cert for SPOTY?

    Bad day for my bets. Incredibly wrong pair of tips. As wrong as someone who thinks Caesar was a better general than Hannibal. Working on the pre-race piece now.

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,969
    Has Gatland been stabbed by every Lions player?
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    The cycing lobby has a great tradition of getting its vote out winning three of the last 5 SPOTYs

    Surely if Murray wins tomorrow he's a dead cert for SPOTY?

    Bad day for my bets. Incredibly wrong pair of tips. As wrong as someone who thinks Caesar was a better general than Hannibal. Working on the pre-race piece now.

    I suspect that's because there are a larger number/proportion of "hobbyists" among the cyclist community - people who obsessively cycle as their main hobby - while other sports tend to be one of a number of things that people enjoy doing
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298

    Has Gatland been stabbed by every Lions player?

    He crossed the Rubicon today, and became the first successful Lions Coach in sixteen years.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,969
    Mr. Smithson, that's a fair point, but Froome would be a second winner (less impressive than the first), whereas Murray would be the first Wimbledon winner (men's) in most people's lifetime.

    That said, SPOTY can throw up some odd situations. In 2009 Button won the world title and got 2nd place, whereas Giggs got 1st for no apparent reason.
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    Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited July 2013
    Philip Collins ‏@PCollinsTimes 26m

    If it turns out that Tom Watson was indeed part of trying to get rid of Douglas Alexander that is extraordinary. Has anyone asked him?

    Paul Waugh ‏@paulwaugh

    Tom Watson: "There are some who have not forgiven me for resigning in 2006" A dig at Jim Murphy? Or just Blairites in general? #baltiplot
    We'll there's a f****ing surprise!


    Wee Dougie and Murphy neck deep in this whole affair. Who could possibly have seen that coming? ;^ )

    For the slow learners, who did they think Watson was referring to as giving "unattributed shadow cabinet briefings" when he quit?
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,943
    Former Australian Liberal PM Malcolm Fraser backs a Green Senator, saying neither major party deserves a majority in both houses
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-06/fraser-throws-support-behind-greens-hanson-young/4803722
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,943
    Matthew Parris - Scrap Tory Associations, build a new Party
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3809608.ece
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    Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    Proof, as if it were needed, that Falkirk is just an excuse for the uber-Blairites to start running around like headless chickens making yet more 'wise' demands on what little Ed should do next.
    Ostercy ‏@Ostercy1 1h

    Tom Watson: my part in his downfall @Telegraph http://fw.to/44wngkL Dan "Interesting" Hodges' finest hour (of narcissism). Still funny.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    edited July 2013
    Parris's contempt for the Tory grassroots shines through as always.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,919
    O/T:

    Whilst the events in Egypt have been in the news, the unrest in Turkey has continued, albeit at a reduced level. There has been another flare-up today:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23214046

    Question to someone in Ankara: How can you tell when there is trouble? Answer: When we have to keep our windows closed because of tear gas.

    It is not yet over ...
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    With 95 weeks to go before GE2015, UKIP have selected 44 candidates and the LDs 26:

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At91c3wX1Wu5dFkzTjFrRmJRN3F6ODBTTEs4NGFhcUE#gid=0
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,943
    Andy JS - Yes, he seems to have lost the plot a bit recently!
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,943
    Quincel - Perhaps Labour will learn from the cousins downunder?
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,966
    Andy_JS said:

    Parris's contempt for the Tory grassroots shines through as always.

    I'm sure it's reciprocated, with interest.
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    edited July 2013
    UKIP start with zero MPs - the LDs with 57

    To the exclusion of almost everything else the yellows focus will be on defending what they've already got - so your comparison is not that meaningful.

    It's a great spread-sheet. Thanks for keeping it updated.

    Andy_JS said:

    With 95 weeks to go before GE2015, UKIP have selected 44 candidates and the LDs 26:

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At91c3wX1Wu5dFkzTjFrRmJRN3F6ODBTTEs4NGFhcUE#gid=0

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    Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 30,919
    edited July 2013
    OT.

    Been a sombre day today in spite of the bright sunshine.

    Rigs and platforms across the North Sea are marking the anniversary of Piper Alpha and most of the Oil company offices have silences, events and meetings planned for Monday.

    This is a short piece from the BBC Reporter's Notebook which is worth listening to.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23210048

    In particular we will be remembering the heroic crew of the Sandhaven Fast Rescue Boat who went into the fire under the rig to try and pull survivors from the water but who never made it out again.

    Rest in Peace guys.
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    If the tennis authorities approach to doping was as rigorous as in cycling then I'm sure there'd be quite a few cases.
    tim said:

    The cycing lobby has a great tradition of getting its vote out winning three of the last 5 SPOTYs

    A sport that combines blood doping and ballot rigging.

    Unicycling

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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,298

    OT.

    Been a sombre day today in spite of the bright sunshine.

    Rigs and platforms across the North Sea are marking the anniversary of Piper Alpha and most of the Oil company offices have silences, events and meetings planned for Monday.

    This is a short piece from the BBC Reporter's Notebook which is worth listening to.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23210048

    In particular we will be remembering the heroic crew of the Sandhaven Fast Rescue Boat who went into the fire under the rig to try and pull survivors from the water but who never made it out again.

    Rest in Peace guys.

    There's a documentary about it on BBC2 on Tuesday night, at 9pm.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    @MikeSmithson

    I know it doesn't really mean anything as far as the LDs defence of their 57 seats is concerned.

    It was more of an excuse to put a link to the spreadsheet once again.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    Useless fact: with 235 candidates selected, we still don't have a seat where Con, Lab and LD candidates have been chosen.
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    Some of the sexist comment on Twitter on the Wimbledon winner

    https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/353537169354276865/photo/1
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    MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    It's really great Andy.

    When parliament goes into recess I'll do a piece with links to your data.

    Andy_JS said:

    @MikeSmithson

    I know it doesn't really mean anything as far as the LDs defence of their 57 seats is concerned.

    It was more of an excuse to put a link to the spreadsheet once again.

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    SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    @Mike Smithson

    Cameron was right, those who tweet are often twats, no idea why anyone pays any attention to twitter.
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,213
    The Bryan Brothers win the so-called "Golden Slam" in Tennis, being the current holders of the US Open (albeit 2012), the Australian, the French, and now Wimbledon, in the Men's Doubles.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Indeed events in Egypt may encourage the Turkish protesters.

    O/T:

    Whilst the events in Egypt have been in the news, the unrest in Turkey has continued, albeit at a reduced level. There has been another flare-up today:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23214046

    Question to someone in Ankara: How can you tell when there is trouble? Answer: When we have to keep our windows closed because of tear gas.

    It is not yet over ...

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    MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    @Mike Smithson

    Cameron was right, those who tweet are often twats, no idea why anyone pays any attention to twitter.

    Are you saying that OGH is a twat? Mr Smithson tweets enormous amounts.

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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903
    I hope Froome doesn't hold back, want to see him do a sub 37 Alpe D'Huez - twice ;)
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,903
    edited July 2013
    Also I'm liking the look of my Each Way bet on Porte right now. 100-1 was very generous, even if I was restricted.
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    tim said:


    Another £10k per term arsehole.

    Why am I not surprised that you went to the bother of finding out where he went to school?
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    ***FREE MONEY ALERT***

    You can back UKIP to get a seat at a by-election before the next election at 7/2 with William Hill, and oppose this at 2/5 with Paddy Power for a sizzling tax-free return of 6.8% in a maximum of 22 months. Note, money invested with Messrs Hill and Power is not covered by the FSCS.

    I expect the 2/5 is the real value.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    edited July 2013
    Marion Bartoli is one of the most interesting tennis players of recent years IMO. I think her quirky style of play is a big plus. I hope she goes on to win a lot more grand slams.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    John Inverdale has always been an irritating non-entity of a sports commentator.
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    Avery will be devastated by today's FT report that the 3bn+ Swiss tax windfall banked in the figures last month looks unlikely to be recovered.
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    tim said:


    ScottP's allegations don't seem to have been repeated outside his head either, bit surprising., it would've been a huge story.

    It was in the Guardian, tim. The Labour Uncut story simply put names to the story.
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    tim said:


    Which accounts did Osborne bank those against, tax revenues?

    It wasnt Osborne's decision, tim. There are rules for these things. But it did flatter the public sector borrowing figures.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Andy_JS said:

    Useless fact: with 235 candidates selected, we still don't have a seat where Con, Lab and LD candidates have been chosen.

    Andy are most of these candidates in marginal seats (which would make sense but given there are limited 3-way marginals might explain your useless fact?)

    Or is there no pattern?
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Some of the sexist comment on Twitter on the Wimbledon winner

    https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/353537169354276865/photo/1

    What charming people.

    I feel like I need a shower after reading that link
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,811

    Some of the sexist comment on Twitter on the Wimbledon winner

    https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/353537169354276865/photo/1

    absolutely unbelievable
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    antifrank said:

    ***FREE MONEY ALERT***

    You can back UKIP to get a seat at a by-election before the next election at 7/2 with William Hill, and oppose this at 2/5 with Paddy Power for a sizzling tax-free return of 6.8% in a maximum of 22 months. Note, money invested with Messrs Hill and Power is not covered by the FSCS.

    I expect the 2/5 is the real value.

    That's only about 5% p.a. pre-tax. Admittedly it's risk free (well, subject to credit risk only but you should be ok), but not that great.
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,321
    Assume there will be the first YG tonight fully to reflect the McCluskey stuff, maybe other polls too. What do we predict? Labour lead of 5 is my guess.
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    @tim

    It does make Darling's Liechtenstein deal look a bit better in comparison. But would a Labour government push for a harder deal? Hard to imagine they would.
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Charles said:

    antifrank said:

    ***FREE MONEY ALERT***

    You can back UKIP to get a seat at a by-election before the next election at 7/2 with William Hill, and oppose this at 2/5 with Paddy Power for a sizzling tax-free return of 6.8% in a maximum of 22 months. Note, money invested with Messrs Hill and Power is not covered by the FSCS.

    I expect the 2/5 is the real value.

    That's only about 5% p.a. pre-tax. Admittedly it's risk free (well, subject to credit risk only but you should be ok), but not that great.
    I wasn't being desperately serious. While I will arb if the incentive is worth it, for the permitted stakes this isn't. I was more flagging up that at least one of these bets should be value.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,919
    Charles said:

    Some of the sexist comment on Twitter on the Wimbledon winner

    https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/353537169354276865/photo/1

    What charming people.

    I feel like I need a shower after reading that link
    What gets me is that these idiots do not realise that nothing you say on a public forum on the Internet is ever really deleted. The comments you make could well be there in six months time, when you go for that all-so-important job interview.

    That includes the stuff we write on here.

    I went onto one of those twitter feeds to find an utterly unapologetic Neanderthal. I wonder how we can be the same species, yet alone sex.
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    I was wondering the same thing. Wee Dougie has had his tongue rammed far up Gordy's posterior ever since the beginning of his career, the Perth and Kinross by-election in 1995 (SNP Gain from Con on 12% swing, with Dougie Alexander, astonishingly, knocking the defeated Tories into 3rd place).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_and_Kinross_by-election,_1995
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    MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Shows that a lot of men watch women's tennis for perving reasons (and women's tennis would probably make more money if they changed the rules so there was less massive serves and more scampering).
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557

    Surely if Murray wins tomorrow he's a dead cert for SPOTY?

    Not according to the betting markets. Two Scots are the frontrunners:

    SPOTY

    Alex Ferguson 11/10 (PP)
    Andy Murray 5/4 (BF)
    Chris Froome 11/2 (PP)
    Justin Rose 15/2 (WH)
    Alastair Cook 64/5 (Betfair)



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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    Interesting — China and Taiwan joining forces in the women's doubles final at Wimbledon against an Australian pair.
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    MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    I wonder if any of this UNITE business is Scottish Labour politicians thinking ahead.
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    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,470
    @Charles

    Most of Labour's selections are in marginal seats, whereas it looks like the Tories have re-adopted a lot of sitting MPs.
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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557
    MrJones said:

    I wonder if any of this UNITE business is Scottish Labour politicians thinking ahead.

    Please clarify.

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    Stuart_DicksonStuart_Dickson Posts: 3,557

    If the tennis authorities approach to doping was as rigorous as in cycling then I'm sure there'd be quite a few cases.

    Spot on Mike. Tennis is one of the dirtiest sports on the planet in terms of drug cheats. Soccer and rugby are riddled with it too and everyone turns a blind eye.

    Well done cycling for at least making a decent effort at catching them.

    All the sprint cheats (Carl Lewis, Linford Christie, that Canadian guy etc etc etc) put me right off track n field.

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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    I was on Ennis on the basis that the World Athletics Champs are back on BBC and in prime time but she's been injured recently.
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    MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    I wonder if any of this UNITE business is Scottish Labour politicians thinking ahead.

    Please clarify.

    Either a referendum win or a loss followed by a SNP surge for Bloc Quebec type reasons might not leave many career options for a Scottish Labour politician.
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    Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited July 2013

    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    I was wondering the same thing. Wee Dougie has had his tongue rammed far up Gordy's posterior ever since the beginning of his career, the Perth and Kinross by-election in 1995 (SNP Gain from Con on 12% swing, with Dougie Alexander, astonishingly, knocking the defeated Tories into 3rd place).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_and_Kinross_by-election,_1995
    He was a Blairite when it was advantageous to his career and he was a Brownite when that was advantageous to his career, and a Blairite when the writing was on the wall for Brown.

    Sadly for him he did a Dan Hodges and bet the farm on David winning and has had to make do with little Ed ever since. He's also shown about as much 'tact' as Hodges at times as he slid his way up the greasy pole yet again.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,961

    Surely if Murray wins tomorrow he's a dead cert for SPOTY?

    Not according to the betting markets. Two Scots are the frontrunners:

    SPOTY

    Alex Ferguson 11/10 (PP)
    Andy Murray 5/4 (BF)
    Chris Froome 11/2 (PP)
    Justin Rose 15/2 (WH)
    Alastair Cook 64/5 (Betfair)



    Well he hasn't won yet! ;)

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    PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    Vincent Moss @vincentmoss
    In Sunday Mirror, Unite's Len McCluskey urges Ed Miliband to "step back from the brink of a ruinous division" tinyurl.com/q5r984y
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    No_Offence_AlanNo_Offence_Alan Posts: 3,802

    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    When Len McClusky outed him?

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/04/exclusive-len-mccluskey-declares-war-shadow-cabinet-blairites

    " if he was "seduced" by the Blairites he'd lose the election and be "cast into the dustbin of history". He singled out shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy and shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne for criticism. "

    You must remember that for many on the left of the Labour party, "Blairite" is a code word for "competent".
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    AveryLPAveryLP Posts: 7,815
    Neil said:

    Avery will be devastated by today's FT report that the 3bn+ Swiss tax windfall banked in the figures last month looks unlikely to be recovered.

    Not devastated at all, Neil, and even less surprised.

    Anyone reading the last OBR Commentary on ONS's Public Finances Bulletin would have been left in no doubt about Robert Chote's anger at being stitched up again by the ONS and Treasury.

    In his key findings:

    The £3.2 billion estimate is based on the forecast for Swiss capital tax in our March 2013 Economic and fiscal outlook (EFO) and includes the £0.3 billion prepayment already received and the £2.9 billion cash receipts expected over the next year. We noted when this measure was first incorporated in our forecasts that the eventual amount that would be raised was highly uncertain and revisions to this estimate could therefore be significant.

    And twice again in the body of the commentary:

    Swiss capital tax receipts which are accrued to May. Although ONS have previously used OBR forecasts as the basis for their estimates in similar circumstances, this is unusual in its size and the degree of uncertainty around it. As we said when the expected impact of the agreement was first included in our forecasts in autumn 2012: “The estimated revenue raised by this measure is highly uncertain as there is little hard information about the value of UK individuals’ financial assets in Switzerland, and how these individuals will respond to the policy.”;

    and,

    As noted earlier, this largely reflects the effects of APF transfers and Swiss capital tax receipts which are accrued to May. Although ONS have previously used OBR forecasts as the basis for their estimates in similar circumstances, this is unusual in its size and the degree of uncertainty around it. As we said when the expected impact of the agreement was first included in our forecasts in autumn 2012: “The estimated revenue raised by this measure is highly uncertain as there is little hard information about the value of UK individuals’ financial assets in Switzerland, and how these individuals will respond to the policy.”

    Chote was behaving as if a fellow diner at Patisserie Valerie had ordered a bottle of vintage Krug for breakfast and had then done a runner leaving the OBR to pick up the bill.
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    TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    We're all in this together: Barefoot David Cameron 'chillaxes' in the sunshine at 'Poshstock' festival... but what's going on with those knock-off sunglasses?

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2357471/Were-Barefoot-David-Cameron-chillaxes-sunshine-Poshstock-festival--whats-going-knock-sunglasses.html

    Thought I post it before our tim does ;-)
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Good job Ed Miliband has swiftly and decisively solved the Unite problem, and not pushed it onto another news cycle...

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/len-mccluskey-urge-ed-miliband-2033804
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    NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    AveryLP said:


    Not devastated at all, Neil,

    It's just that you seemed so happy with the public borrowing figures that depended on that yield, Avery!
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    Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530

    tim said:

    When did Douglas Alexander become a Blairite?

    When Len McClusky outed him?

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/04/exclusive-len-mccluskey-declares-war-shadow-cabinet-blairites

    " if he was "seduced" by the Blairites he'd lose the election and be "cast into the dustbin of history". He singled out shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy and shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne for criticism. "

    You must remember that for many on the left of the Labour party, "Blairite" is a code word for "competent".
    Wee Dougie was chair of David Miliband’s leadership campaign. Does that strike you as a lesson in competence?

    Byrne's "no money left" was one of the biggest gifts to the tories they could have dreamed of, again was that competence in action?

    As for Murphy, it's not just some in Unite that are sweating now that the Falkirk police are looking over the documents.

    McLuskey and Unite are symptoms not causes. This is all about trying to push little Ed and labour further to the right or pulling him back from the endless tory triangulation. Both sides (exemplified by the Brownites and Blairites in cabinet) are overplaying their hands and giving the tories a massive open goal.

    SLAB are still mired in that division with Lamont's amusing silence on Falkirk speaking volumes.
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    AveryLPAveryLP Posts: 7,815
    edited July 2013
    Neil said:

    AveryLP said:


    Not devastated at all, Neil,

    It's just that you seemed so happy with the public borrowing figures that depended on that yield, Avery!
    Oh but I am, Neil.

    The velocity of lift off is so great that George doesn't need to use Chote's imagination as an afterburner.

    Setting a provision against the Swiss Tax accrued receipts will be useful at year end to dampen premature expectations of tax cuts and interest rate hikes.

    You must stop listening to tim and start appreciating boy George's master strategy through all the camouflage of complexity.
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    MikeLMikeL Posts: 7,286
    Alex Ferguson isn't even listed in Betfair's SPOTY market.

    I suspect he isn't eligible though it may well be a grey area.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,919
This discussion has been closed.