Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

There is no point in Garage debating as he is on track to get zero MPs.

What would he debate. It is a one policy party.

You could say the same about Cleggy...his lot are gong to get wiped out.

They will end up with roughly the same number of MPs. The Libs also have a complete set of reasonable policies.

A few more surges like Eastleigh, and ukip could take off.


Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat) 13,342

Diane James (UKIP) 11,571

Maria Hutchings (Conservative) 10,559

John O'Farrell (Labour) 4,088

Danny Stupple (Independent) 768


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21625726

lib/dems really do seem to have collapsed completely .... we could be back to the days when their whole representation could fit in a telephone kiosk

ukip really do not seem to have any sensible policies, and i'm far from convinced that staying silent for weeks and months at a time really does them any favours, though i suppose farage is hoping that the others will all hang themselves

For Europhobes like Hays and Manuel,

EU has a combined population of over 500 million inhabitants,[22] or 7.3% of the world population,[23] the EU in 2012 generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of 16.584 trillion US dollars, constituting approximately 23% of global nominal GDP and 20% when measured in terms of purchasing power parity, which is the largest nominal GDP and GDP PPP in the world.

The UK has a population of about 65 million and approximate GDP of 2.435 trillion.

----------

The UK with its present political leadership is becoming and more and more insignificant irritation to the EU, with many of the "partners" getting fed up with grandstanding by the Euro-phobes, who are mainly from the looney tory right and UKIP little Englanders.

If the UK was to leave the EU it would not lead to a breakup if the EU, but probably ease a greater political, economic and legal integration, leading to increased cooperative military development and scientific research amongst the remaining members.
(It would be likely that there would be a brain drain to Europe, or elsewhere as the "independent UK fiefdom" would be unable to afford the costs of "serious" R&D, etc.)

The UK be sidelined as an off shore island, which it is and trade deals and regulations would be slanted in Europe's favour.

Banking and tax regulations would be improved, and centrally supervised and gradually enforced.

(London may remain the a centre for money laundering, as many already see it, but to a lesser degree. This may suit some.)

Investment from outside the EU would be into EU more and more directly and through the UK.

The "financial services" would gradually move to Central Europe giving others who need the services direct exposure to the EU and Euros. This would be a matter of convenience.

The Euros won't collapse, as has promised by euro-sceptics since it conception.

The collapse has been continuously sort after by some, especially for the last 18 months with its imminent death being forecast at 2-3- 4 or so months.

Yet, it is as strong now as any other time and the EU is being referred to as recognisable entity as GB is becoming less important.

=========

Cameron and some of his cronies recognise this and in spite of all his present blustering and posturing, would if the crunch came, acclaim he has got "concessions" from his fruitless negotiations and canvass to stay in the union.

Fauxpage, wouldn't do so, but he is already beginning to look a busted flush.

-------

It may be sensible to examine some of the more wealthier protagonists financial reasons for getting out of the Union.

The views and reasoning of the BNP and UKIP minions are less interesting.

Just the usual nonsense.

We will see.

It depends on whether you want to live under the Pax Germanica.

Happy new year to all capitalist running dogs!

Hays.

What I want is for my children and grandchildren and all others to be healthy, to live at peace, with respect for themselves and all others. With comfortable standard of living and opportunities to enjoy the careers they map out for themselves.

Whether that occurs or not is within the realms of possibility.

A news reporter dressed up as a priest to attempt to gain access to Michael Schumacher’s hospital room where he is currently battling for his life after a skiing accident, the Formula One champion’s manager Sabine Kehm revealed.

You haystack, are becoming more irrelevant with every post you make.


Have you completely lost the plot?

And who the fucking hell are you Max? Nobody so fuck off not to put to fine a point on it! Copy and paste, soft daft cartoons straight from that left wing rag laughguardian. Go and peddle your left wing shite where it may be appreciated. Happy New Year you tosser!

MaxK
This is not a political discussion. It is really apropos of nothing.

Published at 12:01AM, January 1 2014

David Cameron takes a swipe at France today as he vows to make 2014 the year that Britain starts turning into the world’s “post-Great Recession success story”. In an apparent gibe at President Hollande’s handling of the French economy, the Prime Minister urges voters to reject any shift towards “more borrowing, more spending and more debt” by urging them to look at countries following that approach. “They face increasing unemployment, industrial stagnation and enterprise in free fall. The opposite of what’s happening here,” he writes in an article for The Times. “Our recovery is real, but it’s also fragile, and there are more difficult decisions ahead. A return to that economic madness would devastate this country.”

Morning Chris, I see you had a good night :-)


Morning Haystack, you should have been included in the Nu Years honours list for selfless efforts on behalf of the Nu tories.


In any case, happy new year to all, regardless of political leanings.

EU - to leave or to stay
whatever fossy may think i think, though actually i think he thinks i don't think at all, i am currently very undecided as to which way i would or shall vote come a referendum ..... tories i am sure will hold one; labour appears unwilling to do so; however, this is a matter of such importance that i think a referendum is more than warranted, at least for those who bother to vote (which de facto excludes fossy)

needless to say, it is very difficult to find a sensibly balanced opinion ..... however, i think that the present EU set-up needs a pretty drastic overhaul - and that is leaving aside the self-serving, gargantuan army of bureaucrats for whom we all pay handsomely (uglily would be better) for small return

i know i don't like the way uk, for many many years, has adopted every single diktat from brussels and then added bells and whistles to the country's detriment ..... other nations seem to adopt in part or in full those bits that they like or at least think are acceptable, and ignore the balance

very specifically, i think our kow-towing to the european courts with some its insane rulings is appalling when the judgements are clearly against uk's sovereign interests .....
this equally applies to the nonsense open-door immigration which a number of other nations also think is preposterous, and they therefore effectively do not allow it .....
i hate the idea of more and more federalism being foisted upon us, often through the back door, as all too often, this is not in our sovereign interest .....
finally, in this simplistic summation, i fail to understand why the "nebulous eu" is insistent on allowing more and more and more semi-bankrupt countries to join the "club" .... if these countries want to join, then let them first raise their "living standards" or some other sensible or realistic measure

on the other hand, i don't think there is any question that "europe" as an entity carries far more international clout than each country speaking from its own corner

the main economic plank for leaving seems to be that uk would lose a huge slice of export market
i remain to be convinced

meanwhile, i think DC's attempt to renegotiate certain key aspects and elements, using the threat of a "no vote" in a referendum is a very real and valuable weapon ..... without that threat, the other members can easily and totally ignore any demands

on balance, i hope DC gets some meaningful concessions - and without having to concede too much in return - so that the country can be persuaded to stay within the union

i see no intent to renegotiate let alone weapons within the labour party's thinking

Welcome to blighty, come on in, everything free.



Romanian Big Issue seller called the 'benefits teacher' is urging families to follow her to Britain
Firuta Vasile, 29, is claiming £28,000 in UK benefits
She is now passing on her knowledge to friends and family
Best friend Nadia Porojan, also 29, now hopes to move to Oldham
She came to UK last year in order to give birth to make claiming easier

By Arthur Martin

PUBLISHED: 00:23, 1 January 2014 | UPDATED: 00:48, 1 January 2014


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532002/Big-Issue-seller-called-benefits-teacher-urging-families-follow-Britain.html




Hundreds of thousands from outside EU could head for UK in passport loophole
Bulgaria and Romanian offering passports to non-EU citizens
Romania has offered citizenship to four million Moldovans
Meanwhile Bulgaria has handed 90,000 Macedonians passports
All will be able to come and work in the UK under EU rules

By John Stevens

PUBLISHED: 23:42, 31 December 2013 | UPDATED: 23:43, 31 December 2013





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531995/Hundreds-thousands-outside-EU-head-UK-passport-loophole.html

the trouble with rags like the Mail is that their reporting is partisan at best so of very debatable if any true value