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.

Cilla and David don't exactly sound the same when they speak or sing - ground control to major tom !

typical fred ..... of course iraq could never ever be laid entirely at labour's door; heaven forefend! ..... that parliament (and the rest of us) would only ever have been given massaged information via Mr Blair on which to form a view, is of course totally irrelevant

Look...you never see them together.....one goes on stage when the other goes off,,,and vice versa !....look at the names : Cilla goes well into David...and Black into Bowie..

Fred you have come out with some belters this year and this one has to be about top of the list -----------"but the labour period was a period of general advancement of all" :-)) Personally I cannot remember any general advancement thanks to the Labour Government, but perhaps I just missed out !

Have you started your festivities early rf? :-)
2517

I don't know what you're on this morning rf - but could you send some over please!

Ground control to Major Tom,
Take your protein pills,
and keep your helmet on. La,La, La

Nothing in particular but I have been eating a lot of mushrooms lately....

SNP on course to hold balance of power in Westminster, according to new poll showing depth of Labour's collapse

Nationalists expected to take 54 of Scotland's 59 constituencies next May in poll predictions that could see Alex Salmond become minister in next UK Government




Alex Salmond, former First Minister and SNP leader, is running to become an MP Photo: PA



By Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent

10:20AM GMT 22 Dec 2014



The SNP is on course to hold the balance of power in Westminster after the next election as a poll revealed almost half of all Scottish voters plan to back the party.


A staggering collapse in Labour's appeal north of the border will see the Nationalists win 54 of the 59 Scottish constituencies and play a central role in any Coalition negotiations, pollsters found.


The predictions raise the prospect of Alex Salmond, the SNP's former First Minister who is running for Parliament, becoming a minister in the next UK Government – a scenario unimaginable six months ago when he led the campaign to break up the Union with Scottish independence.


The poll also reveals the depth of Labour's problem in Scotland and reveals the challenge Jim Murphy faces in turning around the party's fortunes after becoming Scottish Labour leader.


The loss of 39 of Labour's 41 seats in Scotland could prove fatal to Ed Miliband's hopes of entering Number 10, losing a power base the party has enjoyed for decades.


Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland, said the poll was a "great early Christmas present" for the party and promised a renewed push after the New Year to get the "strongest possible voice" in Westminster.

The Survation poll for the Daily Record predicted 48 per cent of voters will back the SNP next May – its highest ever predicted vote share in Westminster elections from the pollster.

Labour is expected to get 24 per cent, Conservatives 16 per cent, Liberal Democrats 5 per cent and the UK Independence Party 4 per cent.




More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11307543/SNP-on-course-to-hold-balance-of-power-in-Westminster-according-to-new-poll-showing-depth-of-Labours-collapse.html

Manuel,

I thought the tories were all knowing,

But they didn't object to loose regulation of the City and Financial Services or draw in the banks.

I feel the Iraq war and its aftermath is down to BUSH and Blair but IDS and compatriots did not vote against it.

At the time I thought it bloody stupid like so for the Fauklands.

And I am not a pacifist.

But the up and at "em" brigade of the right wing nauseates me.

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Max,

I think there is a difference in approach between the right polarised tory party and UKIP, and the lib/dem and centre left of the Labour party and the approach to our current problems would be more rational and moderate.

They will make mistakes, but if you have plan for the economic future, which you will guarantee, please print it now. It is worth a fortune.

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I was disappointed with the Libs over university fees and a few other things, but personally have a respect for Cable.

I think a lib/dem/labour coalition government would be a good result in May, when I hope the books are examine and collegial cabinet is formed which is based less on the PR tactics we have seen for the last 4 years.

It should be proactive and develop pragmatic long-term in its policies.

Max,

Don't swallow the content of the Mail or Telegraph. You don't know what the papers have been use for previously or the true cost of it.

.

.

Looking at the picture of Alex Salmond....

One can't help but think it's a good job Salmond lost the 'Independence Referendum' or the Scottish economy would be in tatters by now.

Exec,

You may be right.

It would be interesting to have heard Scotland's plans without a high oil price. If the price had collapsed earlier, the referendum would have been a very solid NO.

But when the oil goes up again?

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Could be completely wrong, but I feel the euphoria of the SNP over the number of seats they are promised will diminish nearer to the May election and the number of labour seats lost to them will be less than expected. But one thing which is almost certain those not voting labour out of "frustration" will not migrate to the tories or UKIP.

A coalition of Tories will be unrepresentative of the UK other than the shires and bits of the SE.

The SNP want another referendum sooner rather than later, so I expect Labour will get a bloody nose as predicted in the GE.

That Telegraph report LOL LOL LOL LOL total bollocks. Tories will get at most 20 seats.

Right wing propaganda at its worst.

Jim Murphy may even get it lower than that.

Gf you are the one who is talking total bollocks. You need to read that article again.

DB4.

Examine the basis of your prediction.

The split in at the Referendum 45 Yes/55 No.

For many, if Cameron hadn't shown himself to be a conniving liar after the referendum and unable to fulfill his promises then possibly the SNP "promised" support of now would be less.

I think Cameron and to a certain degree Labour and Lib/Ds have angered the Scots and they are demonstrating that distaste of the London elite.

Depends on the canvassing but the voting will probably return to the left of centre without the enthusiasm for independence, which is being registered now.

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