UK General Discussion

[You kip if you want to...]

Me thinks someone's got selective amnesia with the budget he voted for a few months back...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19406022

[bore]

Sort of Osbourne related, apparently his political hero is LBJ, which really surprised me. Was I wrong to be surprised?

[You kip if you want to...]

Sort of Osbourne related, apparently his political hero is LBJ, which really surprised me. Was I wrong to be surprised?

Woah, no.

What's all that about!?

[bore]

Sort of Osbourne related, apparently his political hero is LBJ, which really surprised me. Was I wrong to be surprised?

Woah, no.

What's all that about!?

In case anyone is interested this is the article : http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/27/which-cabinet-minsters-should-sacked?newsfeed=true

[You kip if you want to...]

Sort of Osbourne related, apparently his political hero is LBJ, which really surprised me. Was I wrong to be surprised?

Woah, no.

What's all that about!?

In case anyone is interestedx this is the article : http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/27/which-cabinet-minsters-should-sacked?newsfeed=true

On that ICM poll, I must be the only person who thinks that there's far more dangerous cabinet ministers than GO. Michael Gove closely followed by Lansley.

[Peter the Lefty]

Caroline Lucas is about to make a huge mistake, by standing down as her party's leader when she's clearly their best hope (and their only MP).  Those who could succeed her:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19295069

That bloke who run in Norwich South in 2010 or Jenny Jones, I imagine. Common sense would tell you Lucas'd lose the seat on the new boundaries anyway, but actual facts (local election results) are making Brighton look as if it's becoming a Green stronghold or something.

Ironically, the two strongest potential leaders aren't running.  A guide to the candidates: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19295069

[You kip if you want to...]

Caroline Lucas is about to make a huge mistake, by standing down as her party's leader when she's clearly their best hope (and their only MP).  Those who could succeed her:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19295069

That bloke who run in Norwich South in 2010 or Jenny Jones, I imagine. Common sense would tell you Lucas'd lose the seat on the new boundaries anyway, but actual facts (local election results) are making Brighton look as if it's becoming a Green stronghold or something.

Ironically, the two strongest potential leaders aren't running.  A guide to the candidates: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19295069

Wow, back to irrelevance for them then.

[You kip if you want to...]

Tide is most definitely turning against Clegg now...
http://www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2012/08/30/are-we-seeing-the-tectonic-plates-moving-against-nick-clegg/

It's beyond offensive to the left and to the wider electorate for them to think a new leader will make any difference though. If they think a change of face is going to turn their fortunes around, then they don't even understand why they're so unpopular in the first place.

Every LibDem minister has had to back every piece of government legislation in this parliament, so they can moan and moan about having changed their ways all they want, but actions most definitely speak louder than words and their record in government is nothing but shameful.

Personally, I do struggle to see the SDPers at the top (those who're left anyway) winning the party back since they're now sans much of their former SDPer grassroots in the country. And anyway, who's their flagbearer? I honestly struggle to see how Vince Cable isn't beyond tainted amoungst 2010 LibDems who're now Labour/Tory/Green/SNP. And Tim Farron's one of the biggest jokes in the party.

Though what has been hilarious throughout this parliament is the way that there's been constant leadership speculation around all three. When it fades on one (like Cameron at Olympics time) it flares up on another of them (Clegg).

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Sir Rhodes Boyson, a colourful figure from what seems like another age, has died. He was best known for his mutton chops. He was also well known as an advocate (in a hammed-up Lancashire accent) of populist right-wing stances on education. He had stances on certain other issues that are now perhaps a little stomach-churning (though at least he wasn't a racist), and he was beloved by the Tory grassroots.

He held Brent North for the Tories from 1974 until 1997 when he fell victim to the biggest ever post-1945 swing from the Tories to Labour (a barely believable 18.8%). Oddly enough this wasn't a personal rejection as such, but the result of local fury at hospital reorganisation and demographic changes combined with the national landslide.

Anyway, a detail from one of his obits:

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[You kip if you want to...]

lol.

[Peter the Lefty]

Ironic that Clegg's incompetence is the reason why Ashdown's 1997 breakthrough (seat-wise) is about to be totally erased, and his name will likely disappear from the Lib Dem history books. 

[You kip if you want to...]

Ironic that Clegg's incompetence is the reason why Ashdown's 1997 breakthrough (seat-wise) is about to be totally erased, and his name will likely disappear from the Lib Dem history books. 

I'd be in a rage if I was a past LibDem leader. Nick Clegg's destroyed everything that the party's work for for the past 20 years.

[minionofmidas]

He held Brent North for the Tories from 1974 until 1997 when he fell victim to the biggest ever post-1945 swing from the Tories to Labour (a barely believable 18.8%). Oddly enough this wasn't a personal rejection as such, but the result of local fury at hospital reorganisation and demographic changes combined with the national landslide.

I think that's (at least partially) a case of a strong personal vote evaporating in the face of too strong a wave/realignment.

[YL]

He held Brent North for the Tories from 1974 until 1997 when he fell victim to the biggest ever post-1945 swing from the Tories to Labour (a barely believable 18.8%). Oddly enough this wasn't a personal rejection as such, but the result of local fury at hospital reorganisation and demographic changes combined with the national landslide.

I think that's (at least partially) a case of a strong personal vote evaporating in the face of too strong a wave/realignment.

Brent North also had the highest C to Lab swing in 2001.

[You kip if you want to...]

First whispers coming out about tomorrow and the moving around of the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Mitchell to the Whip's office from International Development. Warsi or Hunt to replace him.
Gillan moving out of the cabinet completely. Widely expected prior to the reshuffle anyway. None of the Tories in the Welsh seats seem like obvious cabinet material to me though.
Gove's staying put.

[You kip if you want to...]

Patrick McLoughlin to Transport, so what of Miss Greening?

Seems to just be the bottom rungs so far. Doubt they'll be much change at the top, so this is all cosmetic really. Obviously, Cam still hasn't got a clue why his government's oh so unpopular.

[You kip if you want to...]

Ken Clarke's gone. There's a mistake I didn't think the PM'd make. He was offered Commons Leader, but said no apparently. That'd be a complete insult to him.

Greening off to Health. She's risen through the ranks quicker than her skills would suggest. Lansley being sacked was a no brainer, even if he did have the PM's "full backing" before the recess.

So far, this is all seeming a bit... omnishambles.

[You kip if you want to...]

Everyone's favourite benefits extremist IDS's moving.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What, is this going to be an actual reshuffle, or are these all coming from unconfirmed rumourvilleland?

[You kip if you want to...]

What, is this going to be an actual reshuffle, or are these all coming from unconfirmed rumourvilleland?

Actual reshuffle. It's on all the news sources, so...

We'll have a clearer view in the morning anyway.

[Phony Moderate]

In the meantime....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs

[Supersonic]

Ken Clarke's gone. There's a mistake I didn't think the PM'd make. He was offered Commons Leader, but said no apparently. That'd be a complete insult to him.

Greening off to Health. She's risen through the ranks quicker than her skills would suggest. Lansley being sacked was a no brainer, even if he did have the PM's "full backing" before the recess.

So far, this is all seeming a bit... omnishambles.

Where are you getting this from?

Anyhow it's good to see Clarke go, we need a strong law and order type at Justice in the wake of the London riots a year ago. Michael Howard would be a strong pick. Greening had to be moved away from Transport as she had threatened to resign over the third runway at Heathrow.

Hopefully Grant Shapps will be in cabinet or at least be appointed Tory Chairman. Warsi is a catastrophe.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Warsi's departure would be a national tragedy. She isn't just a first rate hack ala Michael Fallon, she throws herself into matters with such palpable enthusiasm that you can almost believe that she almost believes everything she says. That's rare in politics. And hilarious.

[Dr. Cynic]

lol.

Is the split in the LibDems over Clegg really as deep between old Liberals, many of whom endorsed Clegg and old SDPers, many of whom endorsed Chris Huhne, as it seems?

[You kip if you want to...]

Warsi against Nick Griffin on Question Time. The only positive thing she's ever done.