See my reply above.
Quartz’s prediction was denying that Scotland was lurking by the exit door.
THIS IS CHANGING THE SUBJECT BUT…*
Holy fuck, has there been any policy more cynically inept than Cameron’s tax lock law? Constitutionally it’s a non-starter because Parliament can’t bind Parliament. Politcally it’s inane because if followed it would make fiscal policy illegal. Economically it’s foolish because it implies a guarantee of no recessions.
Cameron isn’t actually an idiot and could be made to understand the above if he wanted to be. But he doesn’t care how stupid a policy is, if he thinks it will sound impressive. And he’s right, to a point, because it’s an approach that seems to work.
*seriously guys, we were doing so well for so long
It really has been amazing how hamhanded the Conservatives have been in wooing the electorate lately. They promised Scottish voters the moon on a stick in order to get them to stay in the union (followed by “Promises? What promises?” the next day*), and now they’re throwing every possible enticement into the mix in the hopes of bribing enough idiots to keep them in government despite the impracticality of their proposals. If Ed Miliband had been halfway competent and charismatic from the start Labour would be storming back into Number 10.
As it is, Labour seem to be getting a little traction late in the game. Cameron has been mocking Miliband’s interview by Russell Brand, presumably hoping that no one will notice that amongst a certain demographic Brand is extremely influential, and that talking to him is actually a smart move. (not that I’m a Brand fan but he does have his followers).
*To be fair, Labour did exactly the same with regard to Scotland
Yet the Daily Mail’s headline yesterday was Miliband Prepares Land-Grab ( didn’t bother to find out ) whilst the Telegraph’s was that 25% more people were planning to vote Tory because they feared a Labour-SNP alliance carving up the country, and in the Sunday Telegraph according to ARS there’s a delightful photo-set of Cameron hugging a lamb for Easter.
Upon such trifles great elections grow.
The last reminded me of a photograph displayed in CrapTownsReturns [ a site and book dedicated to the hideousness and boredom modernism and fate wrought on various British towns/cities, I don’t know if America has an equivalent ] has I saw earlier — which Labour really should run with — Thank you, dear Leader upon the return of Lady Thatcher to Hell:
Maggie and Jimmy. Together again at last!
Cameron is desperate. He’s been a very poor leader and Boris Johnson is waiting in the wings. Even if Labour fail to achieve a majority, he knows he’ll be out. He might even go if the Tories can form an alliance. Only an outright majority will definitely save him.
Telegraph spin- 25% of undecided voters were more likely to vote Conservative and 16% were more likely to vote Labour if Labour depended on the SNP.
And today all the tabloids are OMG RED ED THE LOONIE LEFTY WAS SEEN TALKING TO RUSSELL BRAND LOLOL.
Because journalism.
I think the point about Boris is rather on target; even if Cameron sees off threats from Labour, the SNP and UKIP, he’s still got an internal rival breathing down his neck who will not be going away any time soon.
I agree that if they scrape through he might be out, but I disagree he’s been a poor leader, and Boris is only an asset at the (relative) sidelines.
You have to remember first of all what a mess the Tory party was in, and all it’s many failed attempts to modernize and try to appeal to a larger proportion of the population (without overt opposition from those furthest right in the party). He did that, and finally gave Blair a run for his money in debating ability and electability (I mean early Blair).
When it comes to him vs Miliband, for a long time there was no contest. I found PMQs hard to watch at times as every line of attack Miliband tried Cameron had prepared better for, and could deliver his message more clearly.
I will admit that has changed in recent months however…Miliband has become better prepared, and Cameron more easily flustered. But nevertheless the Tories should really think carefully before they boot him and potentially go back to the Hague - Howard - IDS days.
Boris is something of a joke figure. He’s charming, and can deflect serious questions with humour. You can’t do that as PM; in short order he’d piss a lot of people off.
I agree to an extent about Boris Johnson. Whether the public view him as serious PM material is still open to doubt. However, he has won the London Mayoral contest twice now. That’s the second biggest electoral hurdle any UK politician can possibly face. That’s a sizeable chunk of left leaning and centrist electorate he has convinced of his seriousness for a serious job. A serious job he handily got re-elected to. The thing about Johnson is he’s quite a serious thinker. He’s not all jokes and buffoonery. He does have an ability to lessen the buffoonery when he wishes to. Believe it or not he is a more serious public figure now than he was a decade ago. I expect his “act” to become watered down even further in future.
I think the papers are quite justified in having a go at Miliband for his discussion with Brand. Whether they are correct or not is not the point, but it is not unreasonable for them to question the timing of the meeting or the motive. If Miliband wishes to court Brand and his fans then he is quite entitled to. Just as the media and Miliband’s political opponents have a right to label it as desperation or posturing on Miliband’s part. If Ed wishes to court certain “controversial” public figures and constituencies then he also has to deal with the backlash. A backlash that is not entirely unreasonable.
Not that I know of. We largely *invented *all that stuff, after all.
You have an unconventional definition of “prediction”, one that makes it synonymous with “observation” or “opinion”.
Only rational ones are acceptable to you?
Or simply abiding by the once-in-a-generation agreement. Or losing another vote, and another one …
The defining hallmark of your posts has been reluctance, yes.
The Scottish edition of The Sun is tonight backing the SNP with a rather mental front page. Image here:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDyZ8cUVIAEzxNz.jpg
A somewhat different line to the one the English edition’s been taking.
Here’s the English edition’s frontpage for comparison (Surprise! They’re backing the Tories)
I’ll have whatever they’re having, please.
The English one is even stranger, I think. It’s like the final scene from Rosemary’s Baby. :eek:
I’m fairly sure the Sun is just trolling these days. Even more so than before.
Oh that shit is hilarious. Nice to see a newspaper that doesnt take itself too seriously. Not even remotely seriously. Like it’s a joke of a newspaper. Very refreshing.
The Sun is being totally rational.
The Tories stand almost no chance of having a Scottish MP this election. They have three possible seats open to them- two on the Borders and one in Perthshire. The SNP surge means they are likely to lose their current single MP and gain zero. The rational thing for a Tory to do in other seats is to vote to limit Labour seats; this obviously works best by increasing the SNP vote.
Danny Alexander goes nuclear and drops the Welfare bomb outlining possible Tory cuts in welfare for the middle classes.
Cleverly ignoring benefits for the under class but concentrating.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3061598/Danny-Alexander-claims-Tories-trying-British-people.html on the working majority.