UK General Discussion

[YL]

It appears the Lib Dem member who commissioned the ICM constituency polls was Lord Oakeshott, a long standing Clegg critic often associated with Vince Cable.  I wonder whether he had an inkling that he'd get an interesting result in Hallam, or whether he just got lucky?

[You kip if you want to...]

This morning's YouGov has Clegg as the least popular party leader since this kind've thing started getting measured.

13% approval
78% disapproval

Hilarious.

[BaconBacon96]

The Lib Dems are doomed. I think that's been established at this point.

[afleitch]

Scottish Tories set out their stall on devolution. They have finally settled on something close to Devo Max promising greater powers than Labour. It only took them forty years...

[politicus]

Scottish Tories set out their stall on devolution. They have finally settled on something close to Devo Max promising greater powers than Labour. It only took them forty years...

"Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Scottish Tories set out their stall on devolution. They have finally settled on something close to Devo Max promising greater powers than Labour. It only took them forty years...

That's terrible news for Ed Milliband

[politicus]

Scottish Tories set out their stall on devolution. They have finally settled on something close to Devo Max promising greater powers than Labour. It only took them forty years...

That's terrible news for Ed Milliband

Isnt the Torie brand still too toxic in Scotland for that to matter much?
And a big chunk of conservative/centre-right Scots will still vote SNP.

EDIT: My sarcasm detector was off.

[You kip if you want to...]

Scottish Tories set out their stall on devolution. They have finally settled on something close to Devo Max promising greater powers than Labour. It only took them forty years...

That's terrible news for Ed Milliband

Alright Dan Hodges.

[YL]

Today's YouGov poll had Lab 36 Con 34 UKIP 14 LD 6 Green 5.  This is the lowest figure the company has ever shown for the Lib Dems, and it's in line with a trend of bad figures for them since the EU and local elections.

[You kip if you want to...]

Today's YouGov poll had Lab 36 Con 34 UKIP 14 LD 6 Green 5.  This is the lowest figure the company has ever shown for the Lib Dems, and it's in line with a trend of bad figures for them since the EU and local elections.

You'd have to go back to 1959 to see a liberal party as low as 6%, back in the day when they'd only field a handful of candidates.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Andy Coulson found guilty, hurray. Tragically Brooks et al got off, but then juries always suck at this kind of thing.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Rolf Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault.

[patrick1]

Surprised this wasn't done earlier. Mildly entertaining if not very insightful read.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/28/scottish-independence-campaign-needs-orange-gatecrashers

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Surprised this wasn't done earlier. Mildly entertaining if not very insightful read.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/28/scottish-independence-campaign-needs-orange-gatecrashers

Best argument to vote YES yet.

[morgieb]

Rolf Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault.

Trust British prisons? Sure can.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Well the rumour mill is circling around a Westminster paedophile ring, supposedly featuring politicians of all three parties. A lot of notable Labour people are calling for a public inquiry.

What the hell was wrong with people in the 70's?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

What the hell was wrong with people in the 70's?

Disco.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The ultimate source for many of the rumours is the late Geoffrey Dickens (Conservative MP for Huddersfield West 1979-83, for Littleborough & Saddleworth 1983-95) who was... well... a crank. Amongst other things he was a firm believer in the truth of the Satanic abuse nonsense that needlessly ruined so many lives in the late 1980s. He was also virulently homophobic, even for a right-wing Tory backbencher of the 1980s. Stopped clocks are, of course, right two times a day and obviously everything related to possible child abuse should be taken seriously, but: caution.

[You kip if you want to...]

Big reshuffle underway

Ken Clarke gone.
Hague to Leader of the House and standing down at the election.
Owen Paterson out.
David Jones gone from the Wales Office.
Lansley gone.

Also loads've sub-cabinet frontbenchers moving round.

A pretty noticeable step to the right coming up.

[YL]

Big reshuffle underway

Ken Clarke gone.
Hague to Leader of the House and standing down at the election.
Owen Paterson out.
David Jones gone from the Wales Office.
Lansley gone.

Also loads've sub-cabinet frontbenchers moving round.

A pretty noticeable step to the right coming up.

Hague is a surprise.  What's the speculation about who'll be replacing him at the Foreign Office?

Unlike Hague, Ken Clarke is not standing down as an MP.

[You kip if you want to...]

Big reshuffle underway

Ken Clarke gone.
Hague to Leader of the House and standing down at the election.
Owen Paterson out.
David Jones gone from the Wales Office.
Lansley gone.

Also loads've sub-cabinet frontbenchers moving round.

A pretty noticeable step to the right coming up.

Hague is a surprise.  What's the speculation about who'll be replacing him at the Foreign Office?

Unlike Hague, Ken Clarke is not standing down as an MP.

Liam Fox or Hammond for Foreign Office. I'd say Hammond would be the one, appointing Fox to such a high position just screams weakness.

[afleitch]

Given this has been one of the most unchanged cabinets in recent political history, it seemed odd to make changes this close to an election.

[YL]

To answer my own question, apparently Philip Hammond is moving from Defence to the Foreign Office.

Paterson should never have been in that position in the first place.  He wasn't very good, and his views on climate change made a mockery of that "greenest government ever" line.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Wow, they kept Hague's resignation under wraps, didn't they?

Glad Paterson's gone, but a shame about Jones. If only because it was wonderful to finally see a Welsh Secretary called "David Jones".

Esther McVey is one of those supposedly being promoted to cabinet. A bit risky, seeing as she has a marginal seat; but I guess Cameron has a plan?