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.

fred.

What do you think drives Call Me's position?

Ongoing reforms and negotiations are always necessary in dynamic "institution", but one doesn't enter into the debate rolling up one's sleeves and making demands on others to concede to your wishes, when you are more dependant on them, than they are on you.

It is typical arrogance of the schoolboys who lead the present tory party and can't understand why they are going to lose the election in May.

=-====

PS.

I hope that after May and with a labour led coalition, there will be a move to proportional representation and reform or the Lords.

That should sink the tory boat until they come to their senses.

are you saying DC's rather like union leaders bob crowe, len mccluskey and others of similar vein?

funny thing though ..... in one breath you blather like juncker that DC has no backbone, and in the next you maintain he shouldn't enter the arena to demand significant eu reform

it should also be noted that DC does not want uk to leave eu, but assuredly needs to find (negotiate) some significant reforms if the country is not to vote otherwise

how long eu will or even can survive without some major reforms is a great unknown

Given a referendum on the EU, I think the UK population will vote to stay in even without any reforms. The case for staying will be made strongly with dire warnings on leaving. It was the same with the Scottish referendum. Irrespective of reforms, we should get used to staying in the EU.

Agreed. Bummer in some ways but nevertheless, agreed.

Manuel,

Go back on holiday!

I think many on the left, or right of the political spectrum have/had principles, some of which are questionable and often would have difficulties in practice.

But at least they had principles and tended to believe in them, even if modifying with practice and experience!

The present tory crew, appear to me, to have only self-serving principles and values and are a led by an incompetent con, or PR man and a second rate chancellor.

Shooting one’s mouth off like football hooligan going to a ”game” is not the best way of approaching negotiation in Europe.

Not against strong argument and debate, but with detailed analysis, not “sound bites” for party political consumption at home.

But Europe does not like smash and grab of UKIP or the present Tory right wing.

==========

There won't be a referendum in the next parliament and the UK will remain in EU.

The majority of the UK know which side their bread is buttered.

''The majority of the UK know which side their bread is buttered.''-------- That is why the Tories will form the next government.
2517

Put a £1000 on it at the bookies.

Sounds the easiest money you will ever make!

Cameron won't give them a referendum.

He will duck and dive as usual!

What a bunch of hypocrites the Labour party has become, in their manifesto they plan to ban zero hours contracts, yet they are quite content to utilise such employment within the Labour party.
2517

Labour councils use zero hours contracts extensively.

Sturgeon chasing Labour votes in Gordon Brown seat


SCOTT MACNAB
10:03Wednesday 15 April 2015
33
HAVE YOUR SAY
NICOLA Sturgeon today hit the election campaign trail in Gordon Brown’s former Kirkcaldy seat - and insisted more and more Labour voters are switching to the SNP.

The First minister insisted that only the SNP offer an alternative to five more years of the “Westminster austerity consensus” during a visit to children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Jim Murphy can’t keep ducking and diving and trying to hide the impact of Labour’s cuts plans.
Nicola Sturgeon
The SNP says it is committed to a 0.5 per cent real terms increase in public spending to allow investment in public services, while both the Tories and Labour have said there will need to be more cuts.

Labour has faced difficult questions in recent days as Ed Balls and Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna publicly rejected Jim Murphy’s claim that there would be no Labour cuts in Scotland.

“Now that it has been established by Labour’s leaders in Westminster that they plan more cuts in Scotland, Ed Miliband and Jim Murphy now need to spell out exactly where their axe would fall,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“With only a week to go before postal voting begins, Jim Murphy can’t keep ducking and diving and trying to hide the impact of Labour’s cuts plans.

“Austerity is causing real harm in communities across the country – hurting our must vulnerable people, putting family budgets under strain and holding back economic growth. And the Labour-Tory plans for a further £30bn of cuts will only see the situation get even worse.”

Ms Sturgeon launched the SNP Guarantee to Labour voters at the weekend, and according to the most recent YouGov poll 41 per cent of people who voted Labour in 2010 now intend to vote SNP which represents over 400,000 people.



comments


Funny how Sturgeon recently described Labour in England as a 'progressive' party.


What about an alternative to Nationalism?

After all in world history Nationalism has caused more misery than austerity ever could.

The graveyards of Europe are full of deluded nationalists.


Is there no end ti the unionist partys lies and deceit.Libs asking fir labour ti vote fir them ti save their skins!Remember the last election? The libs couldn't wait ti jump into bed with the Tories? They will do the same again, after all nick has just said (judge us on our record). Well labour folk do just that.The libs are playing you for fools!Vote labour if you must but far better vote snp and keep the Tories and the lieing libs out!


If Labour are so ghastly and there's no difference between them and the Tories then why on earth does Sturgeon want to prop up a Labour Government? If that was true then Labour and the Tories would combine together to 'lock' the SNP out. Only a fool would be taken in by this nonsense.

This is the Sophistry Nationalist Party.


The tories are only fighting one election, in England for the English votes, their policies show this. Labour is fighting 3 elections In England against Tories, in Scotland against SNP and Wales against Plaid. The different reports in English media is giving mixed messages whereas Tories have one message "WE will bribe the English electorate with their own money"

Still not to worry Labour are going to solve the long-term unemployment problem after just 12 months in charge, so why didn't they solve it during the 13 years they were in charge.
2517

ANDREW WHITAKER
22:37Tuesday 14 April 2015 00:00Wednesday 15 April 2015
74
HAVE YOUR SAY
LABOUR’S shadow business minister, Ian Murray, has broken ranks with the party leadership over the renewal of Trident by stating that he would not vote for the renewal of the submarine missile fleet under any circumstances.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that scrapping Trident would be a “red line issue” for the SNP in any deal to prop up a minority Labour government. Party leader Ed Miliband has made a commitment to replace the four Trident submarines currently based at Faslane on the Clyde.

“If we determined the future of nuclear weapons on how the SNP votes, politics has gone bonkers”
Ian Murray
However, Mr Murray told The Scotsman that he had a “different view on Trident” to the ­Labour leadership and also suggested he would be prepared to vote against his own party on the issue in the House of Commons.

The shadow minister, who is seeking re-election as the MP for Edinburgh South, is thought to be the first member of Mr Miliband’s frontbench team to deviate from the official Labour line of being fully committed to renewing Trident.

When asked whether he would be prepared to face being sacked from Labour’s frontbench for voting with the SNP against Trident, Mr Murray said: “I’m more than happy to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

The Labour politician said it would be “bonkers” if he allowed concerns about being in the same House of Commons lobby as the SNP on the Trident issue to dictate his position, which he insisted was a matter of principle rather than party loyalty.

He said: “I have a different view on Trident. The party ­position is the party position. I’ve made it clear that I wouldn’t support it [Trident].”

Mr Murray stated his opposition to Trident after it was reported that 75 per cent of ­Labour’s parliamentary candidates oppose renewing Britain’s nuclear deterrent – including some who are running in the party’s safest seats.



He said the future of nuclear weapons could not be decided on how the SNP votes, and confirmed he would resist attempts to persuade him to vote for the renewal of Trident.

Mr Murray said: “I made it clear to my constituents in 2010 that I would not vote for the renewal of Trident and I’ve been saying that regularly.”

He added: “If we determined the future of nuclear weapons on the basis of how the Nationalists vote, then politics has gone bonkers.”

Mr Murray’s remarks came after he said he had been “against Trident for a long time”, saying that it was not the best way to defend the UK, in a letter to anti-nuclear campaigners in his Edinburgh South constituency.


A Labour spokesman, when asked whether Mr Murray’s views were at odds with those of Mr Miliband and Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy, said: “Ian Murray’s views on Trident are well known.”

The SNP last night said Mr Murray’s intervention was “significant” due to his position in the shadow cabinet and suggested that Labour was split on the issue of Trident.

SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: “We ­already know that three-quarters of Labour candidates across the UK are opposed to wasting £100 billion renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system, and it is significant that someone who has been one of Ed Miliband’s frontbenchers is against Trident.”





comments -


Willie Forbes answer to my question --IE --If as the unionists tell us FFA will be a disaster why would it lead to independence ,as they tell us it would .
==============

"Morning fittie, I thought my ears were burning (or was it my feet?)

I don't see any contradiction:

FFA would be a financial disaster for Scotland
FFA would lead to independence
Independence would be a financial disaster for Scotland.
=======
So if its a disaster why would Scots vote for independence .
What I suspect is that the unionists fear is that FFA will will make Scotland richer and that is why Scots will vote for independence after the success of FFA .


Kind of a non-story really. there is no doubt that in a free vote at Westminster, Trident would be supported by a comfortable majority. Also-no matter how unlikely you consider Russia invading the West-remember Putin's pointed reminder that Russia is a major Nuclear Power!! Why would he have said that??

Finally-I think that most sane people consider Nukes to be nasty weapons but supporters are not nasty people who want to incinerate babies-we are just realistic enough to know that they are necessary insurance!!


I'm already looking forward to May 2016 and the great cat and dogfight for Holyrood berths between discarded Westminster SLABbers and FiFi and her mates already ensconced there.


Well done Mr Murray, now will the rest of the Anti-Trident MPs now stand and be counted ?

Whilst we have Unemployment, Homelessness, Poverty and Food Banks it is an obscenity to spend £100billion on Trident replacement.
Spend the £billions on building affordable homes and creating jobs with decent wages, then the poverty and Food Bank problems may be solved.


Yesterday Mr Cameron behaved as though austerity was over. Despite having told us that austerity is unavoidable has offered a "freeze" on rail fares in real terms - estimated cost £1.8 billion, increases in inheritance tax thresholds - estimated cost £1 Bn. Raising the personal allowance to £12,500 over the parliament - estimated cost £8 Bn. Raising the higher rate threshold to £43,300 by 2017-2018, announced by Osborne to cost £2.5 Bn.

These changes maybe desireable but they hardly fit with the message that clearing the deficit is the main priority. Lets not forget the £8 Bn a year extra above inflation for the NHS by 2020. The deficit is approaching £90 Bn and the national debt is £1.5 trillion!

Here's the reality, after all these goodies Osborne still wants the £30 Bn in spending cuts he proposed in January. Labour voted for that absurd programme. What do you have to say about that Mr Murray?

TANKERS MATE IS A LIVERPOOL FAN :0)
Muslim men branded 'disgrace' for praying at Anfield
Stephen Dodd causes storm after allegedly tweeting picture of two solicitors worshipping during half-time break as Liverpool take on Blackburn Rovers



By Agency11:23AM BST 15 Apr 2015
Liverpool FC has said it will take action against a fan who allegedly called two Muslim men "a disgrace" for praying at Anfield.
Stephen Dodd was at the centre of a Twitter storm over a picture of solicitors Asif Bodi and Abubakar Bhula worshipping during the half-time break as the Reds took on Blackburn Rovers on March 8.
The picture appeared to be sent from his account, with the caption: "Muslims praying at half time at the match yesterday #DISGRACE."



In a statement, Liverpool FC said the club reported the tweet to Merseyside Police after receiving complaints.
"Merseyside Police investigated the matter and has referred this to LFC to take appropriate action against the individual involved," it added. "The club is currently in the process of determining the appropriate action to take and a further update statement will be made in due course.
"Liverpool Football Club would like to remind its supporters that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination and is committed to ensuring that the club and Anfield provides a welcoming and safe environment for all fans regardless of race, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation."
• Council docks Muslim worker's pay for prayer breaks
• 'Illegal' Muslim prayers in Church of England parish
The club asks fans if they experience any discriminatory abuse of behaviour at Anfield to report it to the matchday "incident report" hotline.
The comment, later deleted, was met with widespread criticism from fans, with some describing Dodd as a "bigot".



A man, who would only give his name as Mr Bodi, said his eight-year-old son Ayman can also be seen in the photo.
The 46-year-old, from Preston, said: "My little boy said at the time 'someone is taking a picture of us' and I thought maybe it was someone who hadn't seen prayers before.
"I certainly didn't expect to be called a disgrace for doing it. But the support since has been very nice and I'm thankful."


He added: "We have a small window in which to pray, a bit like the transfer window in football. Once that closes the chance has gone. That day, the time came for prayer and the window would have closed before the game finished so we did it at half-time.
"Most people are absolutely fine with it and the stewards at Anfield are wonderful, but it only takes one or two people to react in the wrong way and you could have a nasty situation."

chris

I have a 262 stop loss on ITV , when it goes x div i will be stopped out, do ig index unjust the stop or do i,

Nothing wrong in praying at a football match. It is just pointless trying to communicate with a fictitious extraterrestrial being from any religion.

some teams need all the help they can get from whatever seemingly hopeless source for what is probably a hopeless cause

George Osborne rejects Jim Murphy attack on English income tax
The Chancellor argues that it is "right and fair" that Scottish MPs no longer decide on income tax rates that apply in England after the levy is devolved to Scotland.


By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor1:09PM BST 15 Apr 2015 Comments11 Comments
George Osborne has hit back at Jim Murphy’s outspoken attack on a Tory plan for an English-only rate of income tax by arguing the change is only “right and fair” after control over the levy is devolved to Scotland.
The Chancellor rejected the Scottish Labour leader’s claim that the move represented a “brutal betrayal” that would undermine the Union, claiming instead that it would create “a stronger Scotland within a stronger UK.”
Speaking during a visit to Aberdeenshire, he also rubbished Mr Murphy’s claim that Scottish MPs would no longer be able to vote on UK Budgets under Conservative proposals to deal with English votes for English laws.
The cross-party Smith Commission agreed to devolve a swathe of new tax powers to the Scottish Parliament in the wake of the No vote in last year’s independence referendum, including control over income tax rates and bands.
Mr Murphy launched the incendiary tirade after the Conservative manifesto, published on Tuesday, pledged to give English MPs a veto over financial matters if they affect England only.
But the Tories said his attack was “complete and utter nonsense” and designed to attract attention away from Ed Balls contradicting his claim there was no need for further spending cuts in Scotland.


Mr Osborne said: “If you have a Scottish rate of income tax, a consequence of that is you have an English rate of income tax and I think it's only right and fair that English MPs would then have a decisive say over that.
"Of course the whole budget would be voted on by all the UK MPs, including Scottish MPs, and I think that's a fair arrangement. I think people in Scotland would see it as fair, I also think people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would see it as fair.
"I think it's about making our union stronger, a stronger United Kingdom, a stronger Scotland within a stronger UK."
But, speaking at a campaign event in Glasgow, Mr Murphy said: "George Osborne is all over the place.
"He signed up to the Smith Agreement, which said explicitly that income tax is a UK tax system, but they have, with their manifesto, ripped up huge tracts of the Smith Agreement and rewritten the entire tax legislation of the United Kingdom.
"Now they are desperately trying to backtrack and justify a colossal mistake. They are just plain and downright wrong."
He said the Tories were proposing the design of "an entire new tax concept, without compensation", and "out of the political blue" in order to "chase down Ukip votes".
Mr Osborne also said he was “very much in favour of” a Scottish rate of income tax and insisted the Tories had plenty to offer voters north of the Border.
Their plan to extend social housing tenants’ right to buy their homes does not apply in Scotland because the privilege has been abolished by the SNP government at Holyrood.
But, speaking ahead of Ruth Davidson and David Cameron unveiling the party’s Scottish manifesto on Thursday, Mr Osborne said voters should consider who had the best economic plan for the entire UK.


The Chancellor said the Tories are the only alternative Government to a “cabal” between the SNP and Labour that would lead to higher taxes and a weaker economy.
Mr Osborne was campaigning in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, a Liberal Democrat-held seat that is one of the Conservatives’ top Scottish targets. He insisted the Lib Dem vote had collapsed and it is a “two-horse race” between his party and the SNP.
Sir Robert Smith, the incumbent Lib Dem MP, said: "This is desperate stuff from a Conservative Party who have not won an election in the North East since 1992.
"All the Conservatives can do with their campaign is split the No vote, letting the SNP in. Only Liberal Democrats in the North East can stop the SNP."



comments -


It appears that Mr Murphy has suddenly realised the consequences of transferring income tax responsibilities for Scotland to Scotland. I daresay that the SNP may also start to worry about the direction that this taking Scotland. In essence, it could mean (if all tax responsibilities are transferred) that the Scots will have to pay for everything they spend out of their own pockets. Now there's a thing!


The increasingly desperate Jim Murphy tries to portray himself as the defender of Scotland with the latest anti-English outburst from the supposed champion of the Union.

For all his faux outrage at Osborne, in effectively ruling out any deal with the SNP, Murphy would precipitate EVEL more rapidly than the Tory proposal. A Labour minority government without any SNP support effectively turns Westminster into a dual function UK and English parliament in a quasi-federal mess.

Labour would find themselves in government but unable to govern England. The SNP have no interest in voting on English only issues (except when Scotland is compromised). For English laws, English (Tory majority) votes would carry the day. Disputes between the budget-setting Labour government and parliament would be akin to US budget disputes.

The fixed term parliament rule means Labour would need to vote with the Tories to bring themselves down and face a new election. Labour would be brave to take the risk as there is nothing to suggest such an election would result in a diminished SNP cadre of MPs. The only two results would be a Tory majority or the same mess again.

Those that supported Independence have no problems with English MPs voting on English issues. Those that supported the Union now find themselves defending the supremacy of a Westminster parliament where they would effectively be second class citizens.


“He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.”


Did Murphy have permission from his boss Millibland before making any policy statements.

Branch managers don't normally have any say in these things.

Murphy especially, since Millibland and Balls put him on their own favourite form of employment, a Zero Powers Contract.


Murphy screams out his desperate anti-SNP message whilst a desperate Milliband knows he'll need the SNP.

Murphy's wings will be getting clipped again soon.

Alders off out to play golf, get back to you re ITV. Can you post that question on ITV thread.