I thought he was extremely smooth and confident this morning. Of course he could take a lot of the Chairing of Cabinet Committees whilst keeping the job he claims to be so fond of. I think that will happen with no one person replacing Green.
I am coming back round to my original opinion of Theresa May as the PM for our times. A mediocre leader for mediocre times. I admit I went off her in a major way. Strong and Stable was definitely a mistake. Supine and vacillating work better.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
and he is forgetting that the MPs get to pick the two that the members choose from. The order of preference of a long list of candidates amongst members - even if ConHome were representative, which it clearly isn't (just go read the comments sections!) - is pretty much irrelevant as to who the MPs might elect.
Con Home got the 2005 Tory leadership contest ( the last contest which went to the membership) spot on.
Given the final 2 are highly likely to come from those 8 the members polling cannot be ignored
If there were two front runners, for sure. With a long list of candidates each with low levels of support, the MPs choice will be pretty much independent of the preferences of ConHome readers.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
Do they? That can't have been put to the test since 2005, and even if it was tested then, the site and its readership will have changed significantly in the intervening years.
Besides, a free-for-all vote is no substitute for head-to-head polling, which teases out all the transferred votes. And it's not the members who decide who's in the top tier; it's the MPs.
Head to head polling from yougov showed Boris beating Rudd 60 to 40 amongst members and for Rudd read Hunt, though of course Rudd will likely be the Remainer in the final 2, Hunt has now disowned the Remain camp while still not being trusted by Leavers and having on Today this morning said Green was sacked for being a liar I expect Green is now an enemy of his too
If a manager in most organisations was told by the police that there was porn on one of the office computers they would want to try to find out who was responsible. Unless they already knew - because it was them.
Green was told, and then seemingly did not try to find out who was responsible. And then tried to cover up the fact he had been told.
Draw your own conclusions.
Everyone operates their office computer for personal use from time to time - even if only to view the BBC news site or political betting of course.
Unless the porn was illegal why should/would anyone be bothered?
Because most organisations have an internet usage policy that you sign , when you start working for them.This includes sites which you are not allowed to view , whilst at work..Most people working in the public sector would be suspended awaiting an investigation, if they had personally logged on and accessed porn .
But MPs are in an unusual position so it's not entirely analogous. On the one hand, they are effectively self-employed, so their disciplinary chain ends with them - until the next election anyway. On the other, it's parliamentary office equipment, so you could argue that there is an external interest.
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
Good to see. Hunt’s doing a very good job in the most difficult of departments.
The above comment is completely unrelated to him being my most profitable next PM.
Will Hunt becoming PM be one of PB's biggest ever payout days? Seems a few of us have taken the tip on this one.
Didn’t someone on here bet against Hunt at 50/1 if he makes the final 2? That will be a very bad day for him/her...
I only bet in a Boris/Mogg v Hunt final two the membership would back the former, that was the only circumstance that bet would apply
Actually no. AIR your bet was effectively whether Hunt or Boris/Mogg would become leader, and you lose if Hunt does, whoever else is in the final two. This was clarified on the day you made the deal. Just my recollection.
No. My bet was only that Boris or Mogg would beat Hunt in a contest amongst the membership between them. Your recollection is wrong. That was the only scenario I bet on
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
and he is forgetting that the MPs get to pick the two that the members choose from. The order of preference of a long list of candidates amongst members - even if ConHome were representative, which it clearly isn't (just go read the comments sections!) - is pretty much irrelevant as to who the MPs might elect.
Con Home got the 2005 Tory leadership contest ( the last contest which went to the membership) spot on.
Given the final 2 are highly likely to come from those 8 the members polling cannot be ignored
If there were two front runners, for sure. With a long list of candidates each with low levels of support, the MPs choice will be pretty much independent of the preferences of ConHome readers.
The next Tory leader is highly likely to come from the 10 put before Con Home readers of whom the top 5 were all Leavers, Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis and Raab. Confirming a Leaver is highly likely to succeed May
Good to see. Hunt’s doing a very good job in the most difficult of departments.
The above comment is completely unrelated to him being my most profitable next PM.
Will Hunt becoming PM be one of PB's biggest ever payout days? Seems a few of us have taken the tip on this one.
Didn’t someone on here bet against Hunt at 50/1 if he makes the final 2? That will be a very bad day for him/her...
I only bet in a Boris/Mogg v Hunt final two the membership would back the former, that was the only circumstance that bet would apply
Actually no. AIR your bet was effectively whether Hunt or Boris/Mogg would become leader, and you lose if Hunt does, whoever else is in the final two. This was clarified on the day you made the deal. Just my recollection.
No. My bet was only that Boris or Mogg would beat Hunt in a contest amongst the membership between them. Your recollection is wrong. That was the only scenario I bet on
I suggest going back to the discussion where you made the bet, and if you still think you're right, checking with whoever was on the other side of it. You don't want to be someone who tries to change the terms of a bet after it has been made.
Good to see. Hunt’s doing a very good job in the most difficult of departments.
The above comment is completely unrelated to him being my most profitable next PM.
Will Hunt becoming PM be one of PB's biggest ever payout days? Seems a few of us have taken the tip on this one.
Didn’t someone on here bet against Hunt at 50/1 if he makes the final 2? That will be a very bad day for him/her...
I only bet in a Boris/Mogg v Hunt final two the membership would back the former, that was the only circumstance that bet would apply
Actually no. AIR your bet was effectively whether Hunt or Boris/Mogg would become leader, and you lose if Hunt does, whoever else is in the final two. This was clarified on the day you made the deal. Just my recollection.
No. My bet was only that Boris or Mogg would beat Hunt in a contest amongst the membership between them. Your recollection is wrong. That was the only scenario I bet on
I suggest going back to the discussion where you made the bet, and if you still think you're right, checking with whoever was on the other side of it. You don't want to be someone who tries to change the terms of a bet after it has been made.
I am quite happy to. My bet was only that Boris or Mogg would beat Hunt in a contest amongst the membership nothing else. End of conversation
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
Do they? That can't have been put to the test since 2005, and even if it was tested then, the site and its readership will have changed significantly in the intervening years.
Besides, a free-for-all vote is no substitute for head-to-head polling, which teases out all the transferred votes. And it's not the members who decide who's in the top tier; it's the MPs.
Head to head polling from yougov showed Boris beating Rudd 60 to 40 amongst members and for Rudd read Hunt, though of course Rudd will likely be the Remainer in the final 2, Hunt has now disowned the Remain camp while still not being trusted by Leavers and having on Today this morning said Green was sacked for being a liar I expect Green is now an enemy of his too
You overrate the Leave/Remain divide: it's ancient history. Remainers are no more interchangeable than Leavers, and you can't simply substitute Hunt for Rudd. Boris might still have a chance given that he is a proven campaigner but I think his star is on the wane now, his having been found out in office.
I think Damian Green has some basis for feeling he has been treated harshly, not just by the police, but also by Theresa May. Although Green has no comeback on the precise point you make, the unimportant lie was in the context of a policeman acting unethically and possibly illegally.
If it was an unimportant matter, why did he lie about it? It was stupid, at the very least.
If someone lies about something unimportant, how can one trust them not to lie about something important?
Of course Green had to go. Silly man.
But the police’s behaviour - both in failing to destroy evidence they had been ordered by a court to do, in taking a police note book from police control, in revealing confidential information, other than as required by law, and in making unsubstantiated assertions about a person’s behaviour in the context of something which was not a criminal offence - is quite outrageous and an abuse of their power.
It is a pity that this point is being lost in the newspaper coverage. If the police can be as sloppy and as careless of their legal obligations in such a case, little wonder that they are incapable of complying with their legal obligations when a man faces a rape trial.
Yes, unimportant indeed, Cyclefree. Just a thought though. It has been regularly stated that the porn was legal, but the law changed about eight weeks after the event and a lot of pretty toxic stuff was still legal at the time and certainly isn't now. This is pure guesswork, but it may be that those who knew exactly what was on the puter were in a position to make Green's position untenable.
On your substantive point, agree wholeheartedly. The police need to wotchit, and we need to watch them carefully now to make sure they wotchit.
Indeed. And the chances of that are what, exactly? I mean, look at this thread. Everyone obsessing over whether he had / watched porn and not on the more important stuff. My fear is that some in the police will think that they have been vindicated and will see no real need to change their approach. That will likely affect a lot of ordinary people who don't have the connections to make their story public or a cause celebre.
The bright light which ought to be shone on the police and the CPS will move on elsewhere and they will continue in their dangerously mediocre ways.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
Do they? That can't have been put to the test since 2005, and even if it was tested then, the site and its readership will have changed significantly in the intervening years.
Besides, a free-for-all vote is no substitute for head-to-head polling, which teases out all the transferred votes. And it's not the members who decide who's in the top tier; it's the MPs.
Head to head polling from yougov showed Boris beating Rudd 60 to 40 amongst members and for Rudd read Hunt, though of course Rudd will likely be the Remainer in the final 2, Hunt has now disowned the Remain camp while still not being trusted by Leavers and having on Today this morning said Green was sacked for being a liar I expect Green is now an enemy of his too
You overrate the Leave/Remain divide: it's ancient history. Remainers are no more interchangeable than Leavers, and you can't simply substitute Hunt for Rudd. Boris might still have a chance given that he is a proven campaigner but I think his star is on the wane now, his having been found out in office.
Tory members want a Leaver now to ensure Brexit is ultimately delivered in full and all the polling shows that Tory voters prefer Boris and Mogg too with Davis not too far behind either. There have now been two successive Remain backing leaders of the party the membership will want a change next time. Though May will likely stay up and until the end of the transition. The Remainer candidate and continuity Cameroon is in any case more likely to be Rudd than Hunt
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
Surprised not to see a discussion on the incident in Melbourne. Seems like terrorism to me.
The driver of the car has been arrested by an off-duty male police officer. He is a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent. The driver was known to police in relation to minor traffic offences and a minor assault in 2010. Police say he was alone in the car.
If a manager in most organisations was told by the police that there was porn on one of the office computers they would want to try to find out who was responsible. Unless they already knew - because it was them.
Green was told, and then seemingly did not try to find out who was responsible. And then tried to cover up the fact he had been told.
Draw your own conclusions.
Everyone operates their office computer for personal use from time to time - even if only to view the BBC news site or political betting of course.
Unless the porn was illegal why should/would anyone be bothered?
Because most organisations have an internet usage policy that you sign , when you start working for them.This includes sites which you are not allowed to view , whilst at work..Most people working in the public sector would be suspended awaiting an investigation, if they had personally logged on and accessed porn .
But MPs are in an unusual position so it's not entirely analogous. On the one hand, they are effectively self-employed, so their disciplinary chain ends with them - until the next election anyway. On the other, it's parliamentary office equipment, so you could argue that there is an external interest.
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
Maybe there is an argument for updating the Parliamentary Code of Conduct to explicitly prohibit using parliamentary office equipment to access pornography but really, isn't it obvious to every MP that this is inappropriate conduct?
Good to see. Hunt’s doing a very good job in the most difficult of departments.
The above comment is completely unrelated to him being my most profitable next PM.
Will Hunt becoming PM be one of PB's biggest ever payout days? Seems a few of us have taken the tip on this one.
The Hunt for next Tory leader movement on here is rather like the Kendall for next Labour leader movement in 2015
There is a parallel universe somewhere...
In the universe of some on pb the next general election would ideally have been Kendall v Hunt, forgetting the fact that it is the left wing Labour membership and the Brexit backing Tory membership who will ultimately decide who they want to lead them
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
If a manager in most organisations was told by the police that there was porn on one of the office computers they would want to try to find out who was responsible. Unless they already knew - because it was them.
Green was told, and then seemingly did not try to find out who was responsible. And then tried to cover up the fact he had been told.
Draw your own conclusions.
Everyone operates their office computer for personal use from time to time - even if only to view the BBC news site or political betting of course.
Unless the porn was illegal why should/would anyone be bothered?
Because most organisations have an internet usage policy that you sign , when you start working for them.This includes sites which you are not allowed to view , whilst at work..Most people working in the public sector would be suspended awaiting an investigation, if they had personally logged on and accessed porn .
But MPs are in an unusual position so it's not entirely analogous. On the one hand, they are effectively self-employed, so their disciplinary chain ends with them - until the next election anyway. On the other, it's parliamentary office equipment, so you could argue that there is an external interest.
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
David I agree with your post , but for many not interested in the minutiae of politics.The argument holds , I have heard many say , I I had done that , I would have been sacked.This feeds into one rule for ordinary Joe another for those that govern us.
Surprised not to see a discussion on the incident in Melbourne. Seems like terrorism to me.
The driver of the car has been arrested by an off-duty male police officer. He is a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent. The driver was known to police in relation to minor traffic offences and a minor assault in 2010. Police say he was alone in the car.
I think Damian Green has some basis for feeling he has been treated harshly, not just by the police, but also by Theresa May. Although Green has no comeback on the precise point you make, the unimportant lie was in the context of a policeman acting unethically and possibly illegally.
If it was an unimportant matter, why did he lie about it? It was stupid, at the very least.
If someone lies about something unimportant, how can one trust them not to lie about something important?
Of course Green had to go. Silly man.
But the police’s behaviour - both in failing to destroy evidence they had been ordered by a court to do, in taking a police note book from police control, in revealing confidential information, other than as required by law, and in making unsubstantiated assertions about a person’s behaviour in the context of something which was not a criminal offence - is quite outrageous and an abuse of their power.
It is a pity that this point is being lost in the newspaper coverage. If the police can be as sloppy and as careless of their legal obligations in such a case, little wonder that they are incapable of complying with their legal obligations when a man faces a rape trial.
Yes, unimportant indeed, Cyclefree. Just a thought though. It has been regularly stated that the pl at the time and certainly isn't now. This is pure guesswork, but it may be that those who knew exactly what was on the puter were in a position to make Green's position untenable.
On your substantive point, agree wholeheartedly. The police need to wotchit, and we need to watch them carefully now to make sure they wotchit.
Indeed. And the chances of that are what, exactly? I mean, look at this thread. Everyone obsessing over whether he had / watched porn and not on the more important stuff. My fear is that some in the police will think that they have been vindicated and will see no real need to change their approach. That will likely affect a lot of ordinary people who don't have the connections to make their story public or a cause celebre.
The bright light which ought to be shone on the police and the CPS will move on elsewhere and they will continue in their dangerously mediocre ways.
You've read Tony Blair's 'A Journey', haven't you? If not, I recommend it if only for the many insights provided in asides. In one of the more telling of these he refers to the Police Federation as by far the most efficient, well-organised, successful and powerful Trade Union in the country.
Once you understand that, you understand a lot of things.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
Cameron was already emerging in those polls as Davis' main rival even before the conference speeches and the party was desperately seeking a new face after 8 years in opposition, that is rather different from being in power for 8 years as will be the case from next year.
Cameron also polled well with the public, there is no evidence of that yet with Hunt, indeed Labour voters and NHS workers despise him
Surprised not to see a discussion on the incident in Melbourne. Seems like terrorism to me.
The driver of the car has been arrested by an off-duty male police officer. He is a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent. The driver was known to police in relation to minor traffic offences and a minor assault in 2010. Police say he was alone in the car.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Nothing as the payment has been accounted for and agreed long before this and was only held up by the sanctions.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
Cameron was already emerging in those polls as Davis' main rival even before the conference speeches and the party was desperately seeking a new face after 8 years in opposition, that is rather different from being in power for 8 years as will be the case from next year.
Cameron also polled well with the public, there is no evidence of that yet with Hunt, indeed Labour voters and NHS workers despise him
Hunt can turn that negative into a positive very quickly.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
Do they? That can't have been put to the test since 2005, and even if it was tested then, the site and its readership will have changed significantly in the intervening years.
Besides, a free-for-all vote is no substitute for head-to-head polling, which teases out all the transferred votes. And it's not the members who decide who's in the top tier; it's the MPs.
Head to head polling from yougov showed Boris beating Rudd 60 to 40 amongst members and for Rudd read Hunt, though of course Rudd will likely be the Remainer in the final 2, Hunt has now disowned the Remain camp while still not being trusted by Leavers and having on Today this morning said Green was sacked for being a liar I expect Green is now an enemy of his too
You overrate the Leave/Remain divide: it's ancient history.
The pattern is well-established. The EU’s chief negotiator makes a robust declaration and ultra-remainers leap on it, as though Michel Barnier is the oracle and not a key participant on one side of the negotiations with a vested interest.
This week the process was repeated when Barnier declared that it was impossible for financial services to be included in a free trade agreement between the European Union and the UK. The City is stuffed and the Brits were presented as naive, hopeless, silly optimists for suggesting that a deal is possible. The response was predictable in ultra-Remain land. Look! Barnier has really stuck it to the deluded British! The City will never get a deal. Financial services cannot be included in an agreement on the future relationship! We are doomed because of Brexit, part 93.
.....Barnier said in 2014: “Joined-up markets need joined-up regulation and supervision. The EU and the US agree on the overall objectives of sound and resilient banks and financial markets. But we have and will keep different regulatory procedures and frameworks.”.....
....This is why we want to include regulatory cooperation on financial services in the TTIP.”
Now Barnier says such agreement is impossible with the UK, a close neighbour and host to the largest capital market in Europe by far.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
Cameron was already emerging in those polls as Davis' main rival even before the conference speeches and the party was desperately seeking a new face after 8 years in opposition, that is rather different from being in power for 8 years as will be the case from next year.
Cameron also polled well with the public, there is no evidence of that yet with Hunt, indeed Labour voters and NHS workers despise him
Hunt can turn that negative into a positive very quickly.
Effective leaders either fire up the base or appeal to swing voters and ideally do both. There is no evidence Hunt does either yet
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
I'd like to see a source on that because the very reason Boris discussed the matter in the first place was precisely because she was NOT due for early release! If she was already going to get released, Boris would never have gotten involved.
The police can leak false details to the press to discredit killed victims (de Menezes was running away! That Muslim was shot by his own brother and was a pedo anyway!) all they want, but when middle-aged Tory porn addicts get targeted PB for some reason takes it personally...
Well, the terrifying thing about this is seeing how they act with cabinet ministers who could potentially get back at them and, in the Plebgate case, also CCTV, think what they must be like when dealing with poor and/or uneducated people with little or no hope of defending themselves.
Juries really need to start routinely assuming that the police are lying to them.
A constant drip of stories like those mentioned will eventually have that effect on juries, they’ll certainly be more willing to question whether the accounts of policemen are accurate and believable. Not good for justice when that change happens, of course the majority of coppers are straight and want to see justice served in the correct manner.
Public trust is very important and I am not sure the Police value it as much as they should.
I am extremely law abiding and have had very limited exposure to the police. One of my few contacts followed a burglary in my house where I had a camera stolen. The police found a camera of the same model in a raid on a suspected burglar and called me in to identify the camera so they could link the suspect to a theft. It's curious how powerful recognition is because instantly I knew that wasn't my camera. I was put under quite a lot of pressure to say it was. I would get a camera and a thief would get the punishment he deserved. From the policeman's point of view, he was doing his job of putting bad ones away and I wasn't being helpful.
I used to feel safer and more secure if I saw policemen around, and would go and talk to them if I had time.
Now, I feel on edge when I see them, and go out of my way to avoid them.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
Cameron was already emerging in those polls as Davis' main rival even before the conference speeches and the party was desperately seeking a new face after 8 years in opposition, that is rather different from being in power for 8 years as will be the case from next year.
Cameron also polled well with the public, there is no evidence of that yet with Hunt, indeed Labour voters and NHS workers despise him
The contest didn't begin at Conference. Cameron didn't poll very well with either the public or ConHome before he was a candidate and the contest, he was relatively unknown until then. Please find even a single poll prior to the contest being triggered (6th May 2005 was when Howard announced he was to stand down) that had Cameron either in the lead or in second place.
The police can leak false details to the press to discredit killed victims (de Menezes was running away! That Muslim was shot by his own brother and was a pedo anyway!) all they want, but when middle-aged Tory porn addicts get targeted PB for some reason takes it personally...
Well, the terrifying thing about this is seeing how they act with cabinet ministers who could potentially get back at them and, in the Plebgate case, also CCTV, think what they must be like when dealing with poor and/or uneducated people with little or no hope of defending themselves.
Juries really need to start routinely assuming that the police are lying to them.
A constant drip of stories like those mentioned will eventually have that effect on juries, they’ll certainly be more willing to question whether the accounts of policemen are accurate and believable. Not good for justice when that change happens, of course the majority of coppers are straight and want to see justice served in the correct manner.
Public trust is very important and I am not sure the Police value it as much as they should.
I am extremely law abiding and have had very limited exposure to the police. One of my few contacts followed a burglary in my house where I had a camera stolen. The police found a camera of the same model in a raid on a suspected burglar and called me in to identify the camera so they could link the suspect to a theft. It's curious how powerful recognition is because instantly I knew that wasn't my camera. I was put under quite a lot of pressure to say it was. I would get a camera and a thief would get the punishment he deserved. From the policeman's point of view, he was doing his job of putting bad ones away and I wasn't being helpful.
I used to feel safer and more secure if I saw policemen around, and would go and talk to them if I had time.
Now, I feel on edge when I see them, and go out of my way to avoid them.
If a manager in most organisations was told by the police that there was porn on one of the office computers they would want to try to find out who was responsible. Unless they already knew - because it was them.
Green was told, and then seemingly did not try to find out who was responsible. And then tried to cover up the fact he had been told.
Draw your own conclusions.
Everyone operates their office computer for personal use from time to time - even if only to view the BBC news site or political betting of course.
Unless the porn was illegal why should/would anyone be bothered?
Because most organisations have an internet usage policy that you sign , when you start working for them.This includes sites which you are not allowed to view , whilst at work..Most people working in the public sector would be suspended awaiting an investigation, if they had personally logged on and accessed porn .
But MPs are in an unusual position so it's not entirely analogous. On the one hand, they are effectively self-employed, so their disciplinary chain ends with them - until the next election anyway. On the other, it's parliamentary office equipment, so you could argue that there is an external interest.
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
Maybe there is an argument for updating the Parliamentary Code of Conduct to explicitly prohibit using parliamentary office equipment to access pornography but really, isn't it obvious to every MP that this is inappropriate conduct?
When banging your secretary on the desk is considered to be normal behaviour, watching some porn is neither here not there.
Tories' righteous anger at the police (or technically, ex-police) should be suppressed. Reflect on Oscar Wilde. Let the story die.
It s not just Tories who are angry. Nor do I particularly care if this remains bad news for them. This is just yet more of the same from the Police. They do this sort of thing all the time to normal people and it is only when someone in a position of influence is stitched up that we get a chance to try and do something about it.
The police are no longer fit for purpose by any reasonable measure and are certainly not an organisation that can be trusted. They need to be utterly reformed both in their structure and their purpose.
Mr. Evershed, I'll never understand the infatuation some people have with electronic voting. We have a simple, robust system that works very well (outside of Tower Hamlets). Why bugger it up with something so vulnerable to outside manipulation?
Postal and Proxy voting are equally open to abuse/manipulation.
@SkyNewsBreak: The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has suspended her investigation into allegations made about the private life of Labour MP Keith Vaz "for medical reasons"
When banging your secretary on the desk is considered to be normal behaviour, watching some porn is neither here not there.
I don't have a secretary, so I have no immediate need for the information, but as a matter of interest: where is it normal?
I believe that there is a whole genre of specialist interest videos on the subject. It seems that some offices are rather quiet so people need to fill their time.
If a manager in most organisations was told by the police that there was porn on one of the office computers they would want to try to find out who was responsible. Unless they already knew - because it was them.
Green was told, and then seemingly did not try to find out who was responsible. And then tried to cover up the fact he had been told.
Draw your own conclusions.
Everyone operates their office computer for personal use from time to time - even if only to view the BBC news site or political betting of course.
Unless the porn was illegal why should/would anyone be bothered?
Because most organisations have an internet usage policy that you sign , when you start working for them.This includes sites which you are not allowed to view , whilst at work..Most people working in the public sector would be suspended awaiting an investigation, if they had personally logged on and accessed porn .
But MPs are in an unusual position so it's not entirely analogous. On the one hand, they are effectively self-employed, so their disciplinary chain ends with them - until the next election anyway. On the other, it's parliamentary office equipment, so you could argue that there is an external interest.
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
Maybe there is an argument for updating the Parliamentary Code of Conduct to explicitly prohibit using parliamentary office equipment to access pornography but really, isn't it obvious to every MP that this is inappropriate conduct?
When banging your secretary on the desk is considered to be normal behaviour, watching some porn is neither here not there.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Spot on. A gift to the hard-pressed Iranian Exchequer.
@SkyNewsBreak: The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has suspended her investigation into allegations made about the private life of Labour MP Keith Vaz "for medical reasons"
So reading between the lines, is this an indication that CCHQ spinners have been asking about look, squirrel, I mean Vaz?
@SkyNewsBreak: The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has suspended her investigation into allegations made about the private life of Labour MP Keith Vaz "for medical reasons"
So reading between the lines, is this an indication that CCHQ spinners have been asking about look, squirrel, I mean Vaz?
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Spot on. A gift to the hard-pressed Iranian Exchequer.
In any event, the money was due and it was only because of the Septic’s attitude pro-Israeli attitude that it wasn’t paid.
When the lady herself and, with her (British) daughter, is on the plane home will be time to rejoice.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Spot on. A gift to the hard-pressed Iranian Exchequer.
In any event, the money was due and it was only because of the Septic’s attitude pro-Israeli attitude that it wasn’t paid.
When the lady herself and, with her (British) daughter, is on the plane home will be time to rejoice.
When banging your secretary on the desk is considered to be normal behaviour, watching some porn is neither here not there.
I don't have a secretary, so I have no immediate need for the information, but as a matter of interest: where is it normal?
I believe that there is a whole genre of specialist interest videos on the subject. It seems that some offices are rather quiet so people need to fill their time.
You're in danger of having to invoke the "only for research purposes" excuse.
Mr. Evershed, I'll never understand the infatuation some people have with electronic voting. We have a simple, robust system that works very well (outside of Tower Hamlets). Why bugger it up with something so vulnerable to outside manipulation?
Postal and Proxy voting are equally open to abuse/manipulation.
No, they're not. Postal is open to abuse but it's hard work and involves widespread intimidation / logistics. Proxy is even harder because you need real people to cast the votes, and they're limited to two each (plus family, I think - but that adds its own complications).
By contrast, an insecure electronic voting system puts tens of thousands of votes at risk.
Mr. Evershed, I'll never understand the infatuation some people have with electronic voting. We have a simple, robust system that works very well (outside of Tower Hamlets). Why bugger it up with something so vulnerable to outside manipulation?
Postal and Proxy voting are equally open to abuse/manipulation.
No, they're not. Postal is open to abuse but it's hard work and involves widespread intimidation / logistics. Proxy is even harder because you need real people to cast the votes, and they're limited to two each (plus family, I think - but that adds its own complications).
By contrast, an insecure electronic voting system puts tens of thousands of votes at risk.
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
and he is forgetting that the MPs get to pick the two that the members choose from. The order of preference of a long list of candidates amongst members - even if ConHome were representative, which it clearly isn't (just go read the comments sections!) - is pretty much irrelevant as to who the MPs might elect.
Con Home got the 2005 Tory leadership contest ( the last contest which went to the membership) spot on.
Given the final 2 are highly likely to come from those 8 the members polling cannot be ignored
If there were two front runners, for sure. With a long list of candidates each with low levels of support, the MPs choice will be pretty much independent of the preferences of ConHome readers.
The next Tory leader is highly likely to come from the 10 put before Con Home readers of whom the top 5 were all Leavers, Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis and Raab. Confirming a Leaver is highly likely to succeed May
What odds would you offer on a Leaver vs. Remainer? Counting Hunt as a Remainer & ignoring any side switching post vote. Winnings to charity of winners’ choice.
Good opportunity to test the public interest disclosure defence
They've done this all wrong - the criminal act here is the theft of Police property, the notebooks and evidence that should have been retained for destruction by the Met.
Implying the government will collapse over this? Hmmm
With Ozzy the wish is father to the thought. One very compelling argument for her staying is the torture and agony this brings to a certain editor of a London freebie who used to be somebody.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Spot on. A gift to the hard-pressed Iranian Exchequer.
In any event, the money was due and it was only because of the Septic’s attitude pro-Israeli attitude that it wasn’t paid.
When the lady herself and, with her (British) daughter, is on the plane home will be time to rejoice.
Good news - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case has been marked for early release. Well done Boris
"Well done Boris"?! Are you being sarcastic?
If it wasn't for Boris she'd almost certainly not be getting early release.
I think she was due for release anyway prior to Boris opening his mouth. The Iranians have obviously now extracted a payment and will allow her to go free according to the original timetable. The only question is how much Boris's interference has cost us.
Spot on. A gift to the hard-pressed Iranian Exchequer.
In any event, the money was due and it was only because of the Septic’s attitude pro-Israeli attitude that it wasn’t paid.
When the lady herself and, with her (British) daughter, is on the plane home will be time to rejoice.
Implying the government will collapse over this? Hmmm
With Ozzy the wish is father to the thought. One very compelling argument for her staying is the torture and agony this brings to a certain editor of a London freebie who used to be somebody.
Official turnout in the Catalan vote at 1.00 pm was very slightly down on the 2015 figure. However, that election was held on a Sunday. It could be we see a post-work surge as we do in the UK. However, polling stations close earlier there than here. All the opinion polls have been predicting a record turnout. If they are wrong about that, they could well be wrong about everything else, too.
Official turnout in the Catalan vote at 1.00 pm was very slightly down on the 2015 figure. However, that election was held on a Sunday. It could be we see a post-work surge as we do in the UK. However, polling stations close earlier there than here. All the opinion polls have been predicting a record turnout. If they are wrong about that, they could well be wrong about everything else, too.
Yikes. Our Spanish TV aerial is broken so I've missed quite a lot of news in the past few days. I'd be very surprised to see a lower turnout overall though the Spanish are not used to voting on a weekday and there are a lot of Xmas distractions also right now. Which side these affect most is difficult to say. Arguably the urban vote should be easier to get out on a weekday.
Good opportunity to test the public interest disclosure defence
They've done this all wrong - the criminal act here is the theft of Police property, the notebooks and evidence that should have been retained for destruction by the Met.
The Met (and indeed all public bodies) should retain and maintain Retention Schedules covering all records. It may be the notebooks are retained but they should be held in an appropriate environment (secure off-site storage).
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
and he is forgetting that the MPs get to pick the two that the members choose from. The order of preference of a long list of candidates amongst members - even if ConHome were representative, which it clearly isn't (just go read the comments sections!) - is pretty much irrelevant as to who the MPs might elect.
Con Home got the 2005 Tory leadership contest ( the last contest which went to the membership) spot on.
Given the final 2 are highly likely to come from those 8 the members polling cannot be ignored
If there were two front runners, for sure. With a long list of candidates each with low levels of support, the MPs choice will be pretty much independent of the preferences of ConHome readers.
The next Tory leader is highly likely to come from the 10 put before Con Home readers of whom the top 5 were all Leavers, Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis and Raab. Confirming a Leaver is highly likely to succeed May
What odds would you offer on a Leaver vs. Remainer? Counting Hunt as a Remainer & ignoring any side switching post vote. Winnings to charity of winners’ choice.
Official turnout in the Catalan vote at 1.00 pm was very slightly down on the 2015 figure. However, that election was held on a Sunday. It could be we see a post-work surge as we do in the UK. However, polling stations close earlier there than here. All the opinion polls have been predicting a record turnout. If they are wrong about that, they could well be wrong about everything else, too.
Yikes. Our Spanish TV aerial is broken so I've missed quite a lot of news in the past few days. I'd be very surprised to see a lower turnout overall though the Spanish are not used to voting on a weekday and there are a lot of Xmas distractions also right now. Which side these affect most is difficult to say. Arguably the urban vote should be easier to get out on a weekday.
I'd say that a lower turnout almost certainly favours the indy-bloc, which has a very motivated base that always votes. The constitutional parties need people who do not usually vote to go to the polls.
Official turnout in the Catalan vote at 1.00 pm was very slightly down on the 2015 figure. However, that election was held on a Sunday. It could be we see a post-work surge as we do in the UK. However, polling stations close earlier there than here. All the opinion polls have been predicting a record turnout. If they are wrong about that, they could well be wrong about everything else, too.
Yikes. Our Spanish TV aerial is broken so I've missed quite a lot of news in the past few days. I'd be very surprised to see a lower turnout overall though the Spanish are not used to voting on a weekday and there are a lot of Xmas distractions also right now. Which side these affect most is difficult to say. Arguably the urban vote should be easier to get out on a weekday.
The big Xmas celebration day for the Spanish is of course in early January, so it's not quite as near to the festive season there as here.
Presumably worse case scenario now Canada style FTA and not WTO? (Provided Tory hard liners don't kick off again)
Canada style FTA is almost certainly what we will get given the requirement to end free movement and be free of ECJ jurisdiction, whether anything can be done on financial services is the issue and would likely require the City accepting bonus restrictions
The plaudits are coming in thick and fast for Jezza Hunt after his interview today. I think he will soon become the Tories' new golden boy. Where does this leave the other leadership hopefuls, now put in the shade by Hunt's mastery? They need to to reclaim the agenda. DD should threaten to resign (again); Boris has to write another article slagging off Theresa's approach to Brexit.
Given Hunt was 8th in the last Conservative Home Tory members leadership poll, behind Mogg, Gove, Boris, Davis, Raab, Rudd and Stewart, he has a long way to go to be even in the top tier to succeed May, let alone be favourite
Conhome polls mean absolutely diddly squat outside of an actual contest.
They show who Tory members are likely to favour and given it is members who make the final decision between the final 2 chosen by MPs that is important
No it doesn't at all since the members views will change dramatically by events in the contest itself let alone its build up, plus once the 2 are known. How high was Cameron scoring in 2004, 12 months before he was elected leader by a massive majority?
Cameron was well ahead in the Con Home 2005 Tory leadership poll. As far as I recall there was no 2004 poll as the website was only founded about that time
No he wasn't, not before the contest. Before the contest David Davis was leading Conhome polls. Only during the contest did Cameron take the lead. Again demonstrating that pre-contest polls are utterly meaningless.
Cameron was already emerging in those espise him
The contest didn't begin at Conference. Cameron didn't poll very well with either the public or ConHome before he was a candidate and the contest, he was relatively unknown until then. Please find even a single poll prior to the contest being triggered (6th May 2005 was when Howard announced he was to stand down) that had Cameron either in the lead or in second place.
You're categorically wrong.
Cameron polled well with the public well before the party conference and was never asked as a candidate option before May 2005 as he was not even in the Shadow Cabinet until then and had only been an MP for 4 years so that point is irrelevant. Once Howard replaced IDS there were almost no next Tory leader questions, the next Tory leader questions were asked before IDS was replaced and after Howard announced his resignation.
Presumably worse case scenario now Canada style FTA and not WTO? (Provided Tory hard liners don't kick off again)
I am sure that a deal on manufactured goods, agriculture and fisheries, minus services would suit them rather well.
The Unicorn Slaughter in the spring sounds a little bit Valdemort.
Please explain what tariffs or practical block the EU could put on UK companies providing services within the EU.
With services the issues are to do with authorisation, certification and regulation. Firstly are you allowed to provide services as a foreign entity? Are you certified to do so? The killer here is the supplier questionnaire: Are you certified under regulation ABC? If you are not, chances are either the client goes somewhere else or you move to the territory and operate under that territory's rules. How are you meeting regulations? What official checks are being made? What's the recourse if you are not?
The EU gets to decide all these for its territory. It can authorise, certify and regulate entities from third countries. It needs a special reason to do so.
Comments
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/21/theresa-may-brexit-britain-needs
Also, MPs are not replaceable in the same way that other people are. They have been chosen by the electorate and while there should be better provision for recall than there currently is, I really don't think that watching a bit of dodginess crosses the line. As self-employed, they have no contracted hours and, in truth, no contracted duties (as Sinn Fein demonstrate). It can't be misbehaving 'on company time' because there isn't any such concept. Of course, the public, the whips and the local Association can take a view on an MPs effectiveness but as long as he or she is doing what they should be on that score, what else they're doing isn't really an issue.
I can understand the argument of 'if I did this I'd be sacked' but, while that may be true, it doesn't make it relevant.
The bright light which ought to be shone on the police and the CPS will move on elsewhere and they will continue in their dangerously mediocre ways.
The ITV News report last night was shockingly bad. Didn't mention the circumstances of the leak once.
https://twitter.com/SJAMcBride/status/943805805094227968
The driver was known to police in relation to minor traffic offences and a minor assault in 2010. Police say he was alone in the car.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/pedestrians-hit-in-melbourne-cbd-what-we-know-so-far-20171221-h08vht.html
Once you understand that, you understand a lot of things.
Cameron also polled well with the public, there is no evidence of that yet with Hunt, indeed Labour voters and NHS workers despise him
And of Afghan descent' might mean his family have lived in Australia for several generations.
And as an aside I do not support Boris for PM
This week the process was repeated when Barnier declared that it was impossible for financial services to be included in a free trade agreement between the European Union and the UK. The City is stuffed and the Brits were presented as naive, hopeless, silly optimists for suggesting that a deal is possible. The response was predictable in ultra-Remain land. Look! Barnier has really stuck it to the deluded British! The City will never get a deal. Financial services cannot be included in an agreement on the future relationship! We are doomed because of Brexit, part 93.
.....Barnier said in 2014: “Joined-up markets need joined-up regulation and supervision. The EU and the US agree on the overall objectives of sound and resilient banks and financial markets. But we have and will keep different regulatory procedures and frameworks.”.....
....This is why we want to include regulatory cooperation on financial services in the TTIP.”
Now Barnier says such agreement is impossible with the UK, a close neighbour and host to the largest capital market in Europe by far.
https://reaction.life/michel-barnier-wanted-free-trade-deal-financial-services-us/
Now, I feel on edge when I see them, and go out of my way to avoid them.
You're categorically wrong.
The police are no longer fit for purpose by any reasonable measure and are certainly not an organisation that can be trusted. They need to be utterly reformed both in their structure and their purpose.
"There we must leave it, with the observation that there is much more about a Corbyn Labour government that we don’t know than that which we do."
http://publicpolicypast.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/what-would-corbyn-government-actually.html
It would give hot-desking a whole new meaning.
When the lady herself and, with her (British) daughter, is on the plane home will be time to rejoice.
Presumably worse case scenario now Canada style FTA and not WTO? (Provided Tory hard liners don't kick off again)
By contrast, an insecure electronic voting system puts tens of thousands of votes at risk.
Counting Hunt as a Remainer & ignoring any side switching post vote.
Winnings to charity of winners’ choice.
The Unicorn Slaughter in the spring sounds a little bit Valdemort.
Sorry.
But does sound rather like no one else wanted to bid.
So you are wrong.
The EU gets to decide all these for its territory. It can authorise, certify and regulate entities from third countries. It needs a special reason to do so.