[Closed] Election Campaign

kimbers - Member
Ed's obelisk aside, he's hated by Rupert Murdoch and the Daily Mail, so he's probably alright

It is almost a redeeming feature.

But his poor bacon roll eating technique disqualifies him from SS events, and that's too much to overlook. 🙂

Shocking stats Ernie

Indeed they are THM. Also shocking is George Osborne's claim that Croydon is one of the "most-prosperous communities in London". If this is so what does it say about the rest of London?

.

SNP leaders say that because the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes it very difficult to dissolve parliament, voting down a budget would not be a fatal blow for a minority Labour government but would merely force it to come back with revised proposals.

No it wouldn't be a fatal blow for a minority Labour government, which means that beyond a vote of no confidence a general election can't be forced. But the government can resign, which could be a very useful tactic for Miliband.

[i]Under the FTPA the only circumstances in which a Government falls would be if (a) they resigned – unlikely but not impossible or (b) the following is passed by a majority in the House of Commons

“That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”.

Nothing else forces a Government out of office – not defeat on a Queen’s Speech, a Budget, a key piece of legislation, a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, nothing.

Of course there may be political circumstances where a Government chooses to take such a defeat seriously and resigns.[/i]

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/under-the-fixed-term-parliaments-act-a-minority-government-doesnt-need-a-confidence-and-supply-arrangement-to-be-able-to-govern/

duckman - Member

Oh and NW; I do a bit of work for the SQA,they sell their products to over 40 different countries...I am unimpressed with this and feel a verification team should be dispatched from the "old country" to ensure standards are being met in say,New Zealand?

Good idea. Perhaps a totally independent representative from a partner institution should accommpany you.

Northwind - Member

duckman - Member

Oh and NW; I do a bit of work for the SQA,they sell their products to over 40 different countries...I am unimpressed with this and feel a verification team should be dispatched from the "old country" to ensure standards are being met in say,New Zealand?

Good idea. Perhaps a totally independent representative from a partner institution should accommpany you.

And someone who can understand your accents and translate for the poor New Zealanders 😉

the SNP as they can be totally trusted to pursue an agenda which furthers their fundamental aim to see an independent Acotland at all costs no matter how great to the UK or to Scotland. You certain,y know exactly what you'll get with the SNP it's just not what they tell you.

As for at all costs [ presumably that would include armed insurrections, direct actions and terrorism] that is just scaremongering BS of the lowest order. As I said the ones who claim the SNP hate the english write pish like this , about the SNP, to "explain" how much they hate the english and cannot be trusted.

Oh the irony.

FWIW the easiest way for the SNP to show to Scotland that Westminster does not work/defeat it from the inside is for them is to win the UK election with a landslide and then have all the rUK parties refuse to work with them and therefore listen to the Scottish voice within the UK whilst demonising the legitimate voice of the people.
Not even THM or yourself could sell the "better together" lie under those circumstances as better together literally means ignored and excluded.

You have to work with them if you want to preserve the Union and show it can work

CONTROLS ON IMMIGRATION

Interesting comments from Miliband this morning:

"I want to put a Labour Queen’s speech in front of the Commons and win a Labour majority for that speech. What the SNP does or any other MP elected to the House of Commons is a matter for them"

I read that as whilst he won't do deals with the SNP, he'll still seek to govern as a minority and challenge them to vote him down. I guess this means the manoeuvring in the event of a hung parliament is now fully underway.

I read that as whilst he won't do deals with the SNP, he'll still seek to govern as a minority and challenge them to vote him down.

was also a bit bonkers as we all know he wont win a majority and he will need to speak to them to get support

Why both the "main" parties are acting as if they can win a majority is lost on me.
Would be more honest if we know what and who they plan to work with [ though we can work it out ourselves.

Interesting observations NW thanks. Good that someone in education is talking sense!

duckman - Member
Getting close to the big day. Can I just say that I am getting nostalgic so THM, could you just type " the truth is out there." one last time for Ben and I?

Why not - I could do it for the first and last time even. You are a legend in terms of misquoting.

Dazh - I think you will find that Burnham is one of the few that is being straight. They will do deals if they need to. Power is what matters and burger the consequences. You can always go to the EU gravy train afterwards if it doesn't work out.

Epic, glad we don't have too many like these either

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32581803

Bleedin'ell Jim Murphy's missus don't look like the sort of person you'd want to upset

[img] [/img]

She bears a canny resemblance to Anne Robinson, only a little more scarey.

😀 😀

BTW I particularly liked this picture in your link THM

[img] [/img]

If there's one thing I've learnt today it's that not all Scots have the same shaped head.

Just one more comment on education funding and politics, and how things spill over.

A huge amount of education funding comes from international students, and the Tories have proved themselves completely unfit on this- the Home Office takes every step possible to make it harder and more expensive for foreign students to study here. Almost every policy announcement contains some terrible bullshit that causes universities to howl with pain. Visa fees are up. Converting from one type of visa to another? Can't do that in the UK, you have to go home to apply then come back. Let's reduce the number of accepted english language qualifications so much that some students simply can't get to an approved testing centre (and let's do it so fast and so unexpectedly that there's no way to mitigate the damage). Let's make visas slower, ATAS slower, let's make them leave faster after they graduate, lets make police registration harder. Lets just make this a bad place to study.

And in the time it took you to read that, fees went up again. Just utter madness, designed purely to placate the anti-immigration crowd. Because the truth is, to significantly cut UK immigration you have to cut student immigration, they're the single biggest source. Of course they'll never admit it- that's why it comes through in 50 different memos and announcements that mean nothing to the general public

(cynics, which by now should be absolutely everyone, might also observe that since most students leave the country at the end of their courses, reducing immigration today reduces emigration in a few years, it's rubberbanded. If the Tories aren't in power, brace yourself for SHOCK DECREASE IN FOREIGNERS LEAVING THE UK and how Labour are soft on immigration)

Where is Miliband on this? Nowhere? That's astonishing!

The SNP seem to be the only major party willing to say "Immigrants can be great. Cutting student immigration is madness. Let's do something better, and continue to improve the reputation of our country and our education system, increase UK influence around the world, and coincidentally make a bag of money off it." Universities Scotland estimates the economic benefit in Scotland alone at about £750 million per year of which £337 million goes directly to the universities.

Hands up who wants to increase the education budget by 15% to compensate for the loss?

It was interesting to see Murphy and co. at the receiving end of the sort of treatment the other right wing parties have often received in Scotland. He of course blamed it all on an SNP plot however it looks like it might well have been disaffected ex-Labour voters more than anything else.

I suspect the SNP would have rather let him talk, as that appears to have been a vote-winner for them so far.

Agree with sentiments (and interesting post thx) but discriminate against Johnny Foreigner??? Why not allow education to price itself properly in the first place.

Separate point:

Two years ago we were told not to bother applying to Edinburgh as they were PERCEIVED to be discriminating against the sassanachs. Doh, on the contrary they gave some great offers as they wanted the fees!?!?

I was just thinking, is it not about time for Jim to get hit with an egg again? Still his only political achievement. Sadly inevitable that despite everything to the contrary this protest will be painted as an SNP thing.

teamhurtmore - Member

Two years ago we were told not to bother applying to Edinburgh as they were PERCEIVED to be discriminating against the sassanachs.

I think it's fair to say that was all a load of crap, it's just not how university placement works here- Scottish and RUK students don't really complete directly for places at all. I think a lot of people seized on it as a chance to attack the scottish government to be frank.

Sadly inevitable that despite everything to the contrary this protest will be painted as an SNP thing.

Murphy was definitely taking that route despite the press telling him it didn't look like it was the case. His whole campaign has been about the SNP being bad just because they're the SNP though - he doesn't appear to have another other arguments.

teamhurtmore - Member

Why not - I could do it for the first and last time even. You are a legend in terms of misquoting.

No really,it was when you listed the paper on defence. Strange how you went quiet when Ben mentioned twitter being the current first line of defence. Stick to calling Scots "sweatys"..or "humour" as you call it on the rugby thread. Or am I misquoting you? This election must be a very harrowing experience for you,Salmond coming down to Westminster #prayforTHM

Northwind,Gordiemor; in my experience,that is pretty much how the SQA works,no point in one person going on a jolly when 3 can.

So what is next for Murphy? He is presiding over the death of the labour party and may even lose his seat,he has a year; it would be a right shame if he had to become a party list MP at the Scottish elections next year a la Davidson.

Stick to calling Scots "sweatys"..or "humour" as you call it on the rugby thread. Or am I misquoting you?

You mean like using the term sweaty here ?

teamhurtmore - Member

And then check education spending....all those things that the LW is suppose to treasure. No, really.

Folk need to have their eyes open (and their ears closed to the BS) when they go to vote.

Rhetoric and reality are uncomfortable in this election. No wonder it's getting so, so sweaty.

Posted 1 day ago

Oh come on, it's just a coincidence that THM said "No wonder it's getting so, so sweaty" when the topic being discussed was Scotland.

It's the sort of innocent thing which Jeremy Clarkson could easily have said.

Ducks, I am immune to your misquoting by now - doesn't get me sweaty at all.

Cross post - FFS Scotland does not have a monopoly on the word sweaty. As made clear before it means close/exciting/ nerve racking etc. Don't hijack it for your own purposes, that's a slippery slope.

He of course blamed it all on an SNP plot however it looks like it might well have been disaffected ex-Labour voters more than anything else.

That guy shouting in Jim Murphys face is an anti-austerity campaigner and not officially sanctioned by the SNP at all....

[img] [/img]

I think it's fair to say that was all a load of crap,

Certainly how it turned out. It was crap advice especially as grades were competitive that year v-a-v English ones

it's just not how university placement works here- Scottish and RUK students don't really complete directly for places at all. I think a lot of people seized on it as a chance to attack the scottish government to be frank.

Nowt to do with that. Advice from careers department.

THM looking confused when it's suggested that he deliberately uses the term "sweaty" to ridicule Scots.

[img] [/img]

Stay on topic Ernie, stay on topic.

It's the sort of innocent thing which Jeremy Clarkson could easily have said

Brilliant

And LOL at THM moaning about misquotes after his partial Binners quote yesterday. You never fail to deliver on tripping over your own petard then acting all innocent and unaware

I think a lot of people seized on it as a chance to attack the scottish government to be frank.

teamhurtmore - Member
That audio is the most depressing thing about being an England supporter. SLSC is even worse that the sweaty flower song.

Me misquoting from page 74 of the rugby thread.

Anyway,I will leave it at that.

That's a relief, back on topic (commented on that one at the time as you know, but you must have enjoyed the search)

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-baby/11581503/Royal-baby-Scottish-press-bury-story-of-Princesss-birth.html?fb_ref=Default ]How very dare they - Scottish Press Shows Contempt For Royals[/url]

Got to love the Torygraph. Imagine the people/media of Scotland being more interested in the election.

teamhurtmore - Member

Nowt to do with that. Advice from careers department.

And where do you think they got the idea? The same "Edinburgh university discriminates against RUK students" story runs pretty much every year.

I'll have a word with the HM - perhaps she should be fired for incompetence

Got to love the Torygraph. Imagine the people/media of Scotland being more interested in the election.

I was certain the birth was going to get used as a campaign tool by the Tories at some point.

I was certain the birth was going to get used as a campaign tool by the Tories at some point.

Did you miss the bit where everyone was banging on about her going into Labour?

That guy shouting in Jim Murphys face is an anti-austerity campaigner and not officially sanctioned by the SNP at all....

He a muppet, but you're getting to JHJ style posts of people together.

That guy shouting in Jim Murphys face is an anti-austerity campaigner and not officially sanctioned by the SNP at all....

Greenock, today:

[img] [/img]

Bloke on the right is a member of Combat 18 with a violent history, just to put the wee lassie's bravery in context.

I'm all for showing up the SNP's nonsense for what it is, but I suspect that photo is from when he was fighting over social housing stock transfer and met various politicians.

The photograph is of an incident which occurred 4 years ago when Salmond agreed to meet Sean Clerkin after he threaten to disrupt a SNP manifesto launch.

[b][i]"Salmond sparked anger among parents and political opponents after he caved in to demands from anti-cuts protester Sean Clerkin, who was threatening to disrupt today's SNP manifesto launch in Glasgow".[/i][/b]

[url= http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-accuse-alex-salmond-of-running-1100295 ]Labour accuse Alex Salmond of running scared on campaign trail[/url]

Kimbers used the photograph from the Daily Record but didn't include the accompanying story for obvious reasons.

Here's another beaut from the Torygraph...

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11578416/Scots-are-in-for-a-shock-when-the-English-run-out-of-patience.html ]Scots are in for a shock when the English run out of patience[/url]

teamhurtmore - Member

I'll have a word with the HM - perhaps she should be fired for incompetence

Course she shouldn't be fired. But careers advice is, well, you probably know. We have a full time job giving high quality advice to students for one university so it's no wonder they can't give good advice for whatever it is, 130 or thereabouts, plus all the other options. It's a no-win situation.

If you'd spoken to Edinburgh they'd have put you straight. It's all a bit hogwarts up there but they're very good.

Here's another beaut from the Torygraph...

Scots are in for a shock when the English run out of patience

That is amazing - Scotland is ruined, apparently 😀

Why does THM hate the SNP so much and spends hours berating them on here(not that it will have any affect on the Scottish voters),seems he reserves even more bile for them than Labour.
Is there a hidden agenda,or is there something I have missed/or something we should be told?
ernie is far more even handed with his criticisms of all the players.

IIRC its because he is neutral and above party politics 😉

He claims they are worse [ lying/decitful/manipulative ] than the others for reasons I am sure he will be delighted to explain

I am sure he will be delighted to explain

Don't worry OB, no intention. 😉

more comedy gold from [url= https://vine.co/v/eZz7BWWeKgY ]Jim Murphy just making up new words. #LeadersDebate[/url]

Why not allow education to price itself properly in the first place.

How do we do that, AAMOI ?

Northwind very interesting reading your posts on education. One point to pick up on though are the Tory reforms to granting visas, we had far too many students using higher education visas to come here for work never attending their Uni or not competing their course but remaining in the UK. You are right that some Unis became heavily reliant upon them but the flow needed to be addressed.

bencooper - Member

Greenock, today:

Bloke on the right is a member of Combat 18 with a violent history, just to put the wee lassie's bravery in context.

Brave wee lassie. Freedooommm!

jambalaya - Member

we had far too many students using higher education visas to come here for work never attending their Uni or not competing their course but remaining in the UK

That's not connected at all. These are measures targeting all students, not just those abusing the system, and none of them affect visa abuse or overstaying in the slightest. In fact most of them have more impact on genuine students. Seriously, look over the points I made and tell me which ones you think counter that issue.

Meanwhile, the procedures in place to deal with visa abuse, which are totally separate, are actually pretty effective when used and monitored. The Home Office struggles with them, because they're underfunded, demoralised and their procedures change every time the wind does but they do what they can. Which is why you saw tier 4 licences suspended (another one of these quite recently), highly trusted statuses withdrawn as with London Met, and why there's a load of measures in place to ensure attendance and to monitor universities. Which are all a pain in the arse but they do serve a purpose.

London Met is a joke of a Uni. Its really nearer to a college in quality. The very few grant applications we got from them when I was at the Research Councils were laughable. It's a shame a rubbish Uni made a mess of visas and impacted the rest.

One point to pick up on though are the Tory reforms to granting visas, we had far too many students using higher education visas to come here for work never attending their Uni or not competing their course but remaining in the UK. You are right that some Unis became heavily reliant upon them but the flow needed to be addressed.

I fully agree that there are some establishments (and fake unis and colleges iirc?) that do this a lot. There should be stricter controls and checks on the establishments rather than the universities as far as I could tell the rules were either making it very difficult for highly talented students to study here or pushing them away entirely.

Catching up on the news. More abusive and unpleasant behaviour in Scotland from those wearing the Saltire shown on the BBC. Laughed out loud on the newspaper reviews on SKY when they pointed out austerity was indeed over in Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon is now flying around in a personalised helicopter 😀

More abusive and unpleasant behaviour in Scotland from those wearing the Saltire shown on the BBC.

that's just the BBC being down on the Nats as an independent Scotland will see the end of the BBC's cosy world, probably Labour Party supporters dressed up to cause trouble 😉

Catching up on the news. More abusive and unpleasant behaviour in Scotland from those wearing the Saltire shown on the BBC. Laughed out loud on the newspaper reviews on SKY when they pointed out austerity was indeed over in Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon is now flying around in a personalised helicopter

Funny how they didn't cover the female SNP supporter (from Leicester, actually) who was attacked by unionist thugs in Paisley so badly that she needed stitches. Oh well, par for the course really.

The helicopter. Critics love going on about that. However we live in a country with no motorways north of Perth, and not many railway lines either. There are only so many ways to get about Scotland quickly, and it's not like it was paid for by the taxpayer.

However we live in a country with no motorways north of Perth, and not many railway lines either.

God that sounds awful. Hasn't it been fully colonised yet ?

ernie_lynch - Member
However we live in a country with no motorways north of Perth, and not many railway lines either.
God that sounds awful. Hasn't it been fully colonised yet ?

POSTED 4 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

They keep trying,but the bally natives are increasingly restless old chap.

Jam have you tried Fox news ?
IMHO you will just love its news coverage

Morning JY, I watch a broad variety, Vice News is my current favourite. You can hardly hold the BBC up to bias when you have obnoxious SOBs simply intent on distrupting someone's canvassing.

Ben the helicopter has a large picture of Sturgeon emblazoned on it. I cannot recall ever seeing such a thing anywhere else, not in the UK or the US even where politics is focused on the individual. With all the violence it's not surprising the Romans built a wall.

@jambalaya you are nigel farage. Keep the fiver.

Ben the helicopter has a large picture of Sturgeon emblazoned on it. I cannot recall ever seeing such a thing anywhere else, not in the UK or the US even where politics is focused on the individual. With all the violence it's not surprising the Romans built a wall.

I know it's a strange thing in this country, to have a politician who people actually like. Other leaders like to flit in and out unnoticed apart from the pre-arranged press, holding closed events in empty warehouses or private meetings. The SNP would be mad not to make the most of Nicola's popularity.

Is this unpleasantness (on all sides) something new in Scottish politics or has it always been there?
It is markedly different to around here that's for sure, it feels more like a local council election rather than the most closely balanced General Election in memory.

Is this unpleasantness (on all sides) something new in Scottish politics or has it always been there?

There's no real unpleasantness. Just as before the Referendum, the media report a bit of heckling as a riot.

Well, you mentioned someone getting assaulted, that's pretty unpleasant.

Anyone need their ball back?

jambas, shin pads in the post 😉 (had you in mind with your reign experience yesterday!!)

Yes, there's a new trend for the sectarian knuckle-draggers to latch onto political things - that is different, it's true. The Orange Order were strong No campainers.

However I don't think it's right to extrapolate this to a wider thing about Scottish society.

Didn't mention anything about wider Scottish society, I asked if the unpleasantness around politics is a new thing.
It is pretty rare in England outside of extremist groups like BNP etc.

I think the SNP move to the left, combined with the collapse of the Old Firm derby, means that in Glasgow at least we are seeing the knuckle headed idiots using the SNP and everything around it as a cause to jump on.

Dragon has it spot on.

muddydwarf - Member
Didn't mention anything about wider Scottish society, I asked if the unpleasantness around politics is a new thing.

There's no real unpleasantness. Just as before the Referendum, the media report a bit of heckling as a riot.

Is it right to extrapolate this to wider Scottish society ? What ever the answer it certainly reinforces the steriotypes.

On the helicopter the SNP are normally pretty smart at managing their publicity, this seems a real own goal in particular with the cult status graphics. As for popularity Cameron, Miliband and Farage all have far far more supporters than does Ms Sturgeon. Big fish small pond.

@ernie, a throwback to a post you made a few days ago about the Conservatives taking it out (or similar such words) on societies most vulnerable.

Under the Tory government Welfare spending has been pretty consistent at £110bn, that's £550bn over the life of the parliament, half a trillion pounds 😯 Thats the same amount Labour where spending in 2009 and substantially more than the £80bn Labour where spending after 8 years in government in 2006

[url= http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/spending_chart_2006_2016UKb_14c1li1181266_785cs_40t ]UK Public Spending Link[/url]

It's a similar story on the NHS with Tories spending more year on year than Labour did. Curious Labour is focusing it's campaign on the NHS when the Tory spending increase is £8bn vs £2.5bn from Labour. Tories will kill the NHS spending £140bn whilst Labour will be saviour spending £134.5bn

The helecopter is paid for by the Weirs,the same euromillion winning couple who put nearly a million pounds into the indy campaign.But yeah,it isn't a good look.I'm not sure about the personality cult bit;that all sounds a bit THM and "dear leader" But maybe that is what the right are calling politicians from other parties now.Folk up here don't really see it as such.

A good article on why you shouldn't vote for Ed as he is an economic idiot:

[url= http://www.paulormerod.com/does-miliband-understand-the-importance-of-incentives/ ]Ed and incentives[/url]

Same blog has an interesting piece on how without inflation any debt currently taking out by whatever UK government will need to be paid back in full rather, than being inflated away, which hasn't previously happened in recent times.

@duckman, it's the personal photos on the side that really tip it over the edge for me.

@dragon, indeed re inflation and debt, the "right amount" has always been understood to be a good thing hence the BoE having an inflation target. In truth no government is ever intending to pay back the national debt, it's about keeping it at a sustainable level. There is no doubt our is not at a sustainable level and needs to be brought under control, it's still growing due to our substantial deficit. As/when interest rates return to a more normal level the interest burden is going to be very painful.

Clegg has impled hed be willing to go into coalition with Labour now
LabDem coalition?

Clegg wants power. He will do a deal with however offers it to him. Not necessarily a bad thing. Despite Vince's best efforts, the coalition has achieved a reasonable amount in very challenging circumstances. He deserves some credit for that.

Ben the helicopter has a large picture of Sturgeon emblazoned on it. I cannot recall ever seeing such a thing anywhere else, not in the UK or the US even where politics is focused on the individual. With all the violence it's not surprising the Romans built a wall.

Worth a read: https://opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/oliver-huitson/press-campaign-so-far -'coup'-gathers-pace/feed

"From around April 12th onwards, the new villain was Nicola Sturgeon, the "poisoned dwarf" as the Sun called her, the "most dangerous woman in Britain". The message runs essentially as follows: Sturgeon will dominate a weak Miliband in a coalition, the SNP will destroy the country. It's "the worst constitutional crisis since the abdication", ran the Mail's front page. This strategy doesn't target anyone except UKIP voters and the odd swing voter; unless you vote Tory the country will be destroyed."

I have no issue with raising issues with politician's failings (in fact more issues with them being hidden in the case of men like Lord Brittan), but smearing and name-calling say more about the slanderer than the person it's directed at.

I think the SNP move to the left, combined with the collapse of the Old Firm derby, means that in Glasgow at least we are seeing the knuckle headed idiots using the SNP and everything around it as a cause to jump on.

So the SNP and the BNP are starting to become better aligned? 😉

Seems to be either a bit of a damp squib around here, only noticed 2 yellow banners. I wonder if this is as a consequence of all the vandalism during the devo farce that the others have decided not to waste their money campaigning, putting up posters & banners or are they all broke!!
Or are they just giving up to the inevitable(according to the polls)?
Had 1 leaflet through the door, 2 letters and MrsT was in when the MP came'a knocking.
As a Scot Gov employee who has had no wage rise for a few years, an increase in Nat Ins, decrease in pension, raised retirement age and a ban on recruitment I'm not sure what way she'll be voting, maybe with her feet!!

Clegg or more to the point, the Lib Dems desperately need power. Having been so naive and passive in coalition, they need to get into government again and show that that won't happen again and that they can actually achieve something.

If they sit on the margins, people will just remember what happened this time round and it'll take a long time to build trust.

Or of course, they could get power again, prove to be equally ineffective and completely kill off their vote...