Quoted for truth #40
The Huffington Post, 15 December 2013:
This, remember, is after a summer in which the nation’s political commentators almost universally agreed that Miliband’s conference promise of an energy price freeze and subsequent talk of a cost-of-living crisis was winning the hearts of the country.
Last week three separate opinion polls showed Labour’s lead over the Tories down to a pitiful five points, despite 70% of the population saying they’d felt no benefit from Britain’s feeble economic “recovery”.
We don’t think Labour has ever sacked a leader who hadn’t contested at least one general election. Ed Miliband will lead them to the polls in 2015, and only one in five Britons thinks he’ll end up in Number 10. Don’t take our word for it. Don’t heed the experts. Don’t even examine the statistics. Listen to the people who’ll be voting.
Red Ed. Already dead.
What’s the point in voting for Labour? Regardless of whether you are in Scotland (Independent or not) or elsewhere in the UK, you’ll be voting for the same policies that the current Westminster government embrace. They are all Right Wing, there is no point in voting for Labour as they won’t change direction. Tory=Labour=LibDem. All for one and nothing for everyone else!
but I’d vote for Grommit
@ handclapping 06:11 pm your time zone
He is in the USA building up a war chest and fan base.
Ask Hiliary.
Does Grommit have a policy on Independence?What’s his views on the bedroom tax and the welfare system?How does he propose to control energy companies who think they are above the government?Too many questions remain unanswered by Grommit.
So, these polls are suggesting that Ed M becoming PM is even LESS likely than Scotland becoming independent.
The future’s bright, the future’s a Tory/UKIP coalition.
Come to think of it, Rev Stu, can you count the people who have clicked on your links in the “Links List,” especially the Zany Relief and, in particular, the Councillor Terry Kerry link?
Could be the source of another we stats post?
He must have Dougal o the Magic as his election agent, & Blair Mac Dougall as his spin orifice
Will be interesting outcome, in Germany CDU(Conservatives) almost got a full majority due to collapse of Liberal vote. That could be repeated in UK election. Liberals are the walking dead at the moment.
Issue for CDU was total collapse of Liberal vote and they are their normal coalitoin partners bit collapse was so complete and lack of outright CDU majority actually forced them to a coalition with SPD who are centre left(Third Way Labour).
Interesting times……ask yourself, what would it take for them both to be aligned ? Its not much now.
They had had to make concessions on minimum wage and retirement age to get it. I suspect we could see something similar in UK. There is actually little betweeen them these days policy wise.
Sunday Times reports that Labour and Tories have been having secret talks whereby taxpayers will pay for the election campaigning based on previous Westminster election voting.
Also that John McTernan repeatedly used X- rated language — including the c-word — in official communications to trash rivals and colleagues alike during his time as a spin doctor to Julia Gillard, the former Australian prime minister.
Journalists who criticised government policy were threatened with “deep freeze” treatment. On another occasion a “scare campaign” was suggested to win over voters. Even a senior aide to Barack Obama could not escape McTernan’s vitriol and was labelled a “c***” for predicting that Gillard’s Labor party would lose power at the 2013 election.
The crude language and aggressive stance adopted by McTernan has inevitably led to him being compared to Malcolm Tucker, the Scottish spin doctor and government enforcer played by Peter Capaldi in the BBC satire The Thick of It.
McTernan, 54, who grew up in Scotland, was hired by Gillard as her director of communications in September 2011 after he had served as a strategist at Downing Street under Blair.
Thousands of his emails were leaked to the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) after Gillard was ousted as the country’s first female prime minister earlier this year.
Linda’s back
Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving nematode.
Ed doesn’t look a natural shoe in to No 10. I just can’t quite see it. That said he can’t be any worse than the current lot. Where my imagination completely fails is trying to envisage Johann as FM. That is just absolutely bloody terrifying.
ComRes eh?
You do realise that amongst the other activities for which it is notorious it doesn’t just do polls, it lobbies and it doesn’t do so with the good of the Labour party in mind, well not in Westminster. I’m minded to the view that ComRes are less involved in sampling opinion than shaping it. If there is a whispering campaign in the corridors of power the issue is whether ComRes are acting as ears or acting as mouth.
Having said that I’ve come to understand they had good working relationships with some of our MSPs. I can only suppose that the interests they serve north of the border are better achieved by parties currently in opposition to government. Different political dynamics at Holyrood, not to mention different transparency rules, so it calls for different tactics.
The people don’t believe Ed Miliband, wasn’t he the Secertary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2008 to 2010, and not a blind bit of difference in energy bills occured then.
Interestingly in the self description category (Wiki) Ed Miliband describes himself as a socialist, and the implimentation of a living wage, Miliband also endorsed the so called “Blue Labour” which promotes friends and family instead of wealth,a bit rich I think coming from a Westminster politician, where cash is king.
Despite the idiots we have in this wretched Westminster government, it will only be down hill from now on for Miliband simply because he doesn’t appeal to the soft Tory vote in the SE England the way Blair did (remember Broon wasn’t voted in), so the last time we actually had a Labour Prime Minister voted into office by the people was way back in 2005 and Labour’s majority was shrinking even then. Labour front bench has no appeal to the crucial swing voters so the real danger for the Tories in marginal seats will be UKIP, who are essentially Mr and Mrs very angry Tory voter. Miliband is a bit like Kinnock, despite Maggies nastiness he couldn’t get those SE England votes for love nor money and even eventually lost out to grey suit Major. I think it is written on the wall for Miliband, not electable, and it’s too late to change the suit.
” fails is trying to envisage Johann as FM. That is just absolutely bloody terrifying.”
That’s the only good reason I can think of to vote No.
Mmm, who’s the best possible PM ? , Ed the labour tory or David the tories tory, well you can’t make a decision based on policys because they are both using the same ones to win the middle england vote. Its a hard one folks, who would you pick ? or is it just a coin toss.
But the one advantage we have, is after 18th Sep next year we don’t have to give a shit as it won’t be anything to do with us.
Ed Miliband as Prime Minister – NEVER!
Seriously, the only way Ed would be Prime Minister, is for Cameron and Osborne to decide to go full hog, and implement full-on austerity measures that ends all benefits …ALL BENEFITS!
And even then, millions within the lunatic Tory hordes will think Cameron is the greatest thing since slice bread ( …or Maggie), as he has finally dealt with all those benefit junkies, the lazy, the useless and oh …just about everybody else that shouldn’t either be here, or should be working at the coal face for 18 hours a day.
Sorry Ed. Just can’t see you beating Cameron. Your damned if you do, and damned if you don’t!
Then there’s Nick Clegg. Well, Nick lied during the run up to the election by breaking just about every promise he ever made so that he could obtain a wee bit power by getting into bed with the Tories. We all know Nick is untrustworthy. And yet …if it was a two horse race, it would still be a close run for Ed to beat Nick.
That says a lot!
If the hordes of Tory Supporters get sick of Cameron because he is just not fascist enough for them, then there is always Nigel Farage. If Nigel picks up a few seats at the next election, then Ed can kiss it all goodbye forever. The Tory hordes will demand a coalition with England’s new favourite son, and if they get it, expect orgasms all over the south east of England.
Even if the Tory party didn’t exist, and there was only UKIP and Labour, I would still put good money on Farage to whip Ed’s ass in a two horse race!
And don’t mention Scotland. Ed doesn’t care about Scotland. It may have 50 potential Labour seats within it, but so what! That place is full of Nationalists …and what do they know????
That says a lot about how much Ed cares about Scotland, and his complete sheer ignorance of what is happening in Scotland. It is no surprise (except to the media) that most Scots now wouldn’t vote Labour, even if you paid them.
Do I see Ed as Prime Minister.
In short ….No.
The sad truth of it is that it doesn’t matter who wins the next UK general election.
The next UK government agenda will be set by the bankers in the city of London and the government (left or right) will just jolly well have to accept their position in the pecking order.
For those who are undecided reading this, make no mistake, the bankers are running the UK. They know they are in control and driving government policy.
They own the arse of everything from you and your home to the newspapers (Do you think the Scotsman could carry on beating the unionist propaganda drum whilst haemorrhaging cash without an understanding banker behind them?).
A yes vote will be nice wee kick in the nuts for them next year as we take control back 🙂
O/T
I see that, probably in conjunction with the Guardian article bemoaning a lack of sense of humour in the independence debate, Better Together got Facebook to pull Better Together St Kilda (presumably for being too funny) I see they are back with a Better Together Saint Kilda and a redesigned logo so those of a humourless disposition can’t say their copyright has been breached. The new page is feistier than ever…which is good.
After next Westminster election I think we will have a con/lab coalition fleecing the country, with lib/ukip opposition scrambling for the loose change. The jocks will either be bayoneted or totally f*** by everybody who wants to. With the blessing of HMG & HMQ! The duke of Cumberlands battle plan ( Culloden 1746) will be brought up to modern standards and and issued to Lt Col. Cherchube for action. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
Watching sports personality,seriously,what’s with all the singing .
What is most inexpicable of all are the morons in areas like Dunfermiline & Shettleston who keep voting a bunch of corrupt, self interested, pocket filling, blatant stealth tories, that is the ‘modern’ Labour / New Labour / Old labour / Blairite Labour party.
The lack of talent, policies, principles, probity, vision, dignity does not even come into it. Any gimmick going on the day suits Labour. Candidates such as Cara Hilton form the calibre of benchmark for modern Labour, but still get voted in by a public that should realy have learend by now, yet time and time again buys the garbage that Labour peddle.
If you’re a Labour supporter reading this, ask yourself one question.
This man will ‘lead’ you exactly where ? Interms of charisma & chutzpa, you cant believe this Milliband character is the one surely ?
Watching sports personality,seriously,what’s with all the singing .
aken, what a load keech.
Did Rev ever find out who wrote the article referred to in ‘The Kinnock Factor’ post (as linked above via ‘our word for it’)?
“Did Rev ever find out who wrote the article referred to in ‘The Kinnock Factor’ post (as linked above via ‘our word for it’)?”
No he did not.
H&S
You are aware that there’s a Better Together Rockall facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Better-Together-Rockall/367374203390150
The chaps living there are doing a fine upstanding job for the union. Blair should be proud.
Rev Stuart Campbell and ‘ wings’, 2 mentions on BBC radio Scotland this morning ‘ what the papers say’ 9am-10am.
An IT dinosaur I’m not able to re-access the programme, but maybe some readers can sort it out.
Old mikey Here it is. Haven’t heard it myself yet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03lbb9l
O/T
The ‘Orkney Mole Rat speaketh’ – (what a complete tosser)
Speaking to the Huffington Post, Lord Tallace of Vankerness said it would “be fine” for Scots such as himself to hold onto their titles even if there was a Yes vote in next year’s independence referendum.
At least he’s got Scotlands best interests at heart eh ?
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/8466-scottish-lords-can-keep-titles-after-independence-says-lib-dem-peer
The people who are helping keep BT afloat financially must realise that they’re backing a horse which happens to have no legs: they still haven’t found a positive case for staying in the UK, and even if they do manage to concoct one, they’ve no-one capable of delivering it.
Moore has already gone, Carmichael must, surely, soon follow – Darling and McDougall are degenerating by the day, Lamont is heading for a red-card in the SP, and Ruth Davidson must be keeping her fingers crossed that some voice-over work will yet materialise. (And Wee Wullie Rennie is, well, he’s Wee Wullie Rennie.)
BT doesn’t have ONE credible spokesperson, nothing positive to say, and virtually zero grassroots campaigning support:
‘…you are only coming through in waves…your lips move, but I can’t hear what you’re saying…’
Aye, Comfortably Numb is how they appear to be, and that’s probably the best they can hope for, but it’s going to cost a few bob to keep them in high-quality sedatives between now and September:
gordoz
While a food bank opens in the Northern Isles, Lord Wallace stakes his claim of privilege.
The good thing is food banks and Lords will be out after Independence.
@Brian Powell
The guy is a shocker, thought he stank as an MSP and Dep 1st Min, how he got to such a high office has always bemused me. Always looked very pleased with himself first and foremost.
@Ian Brotherhood
Surely we could find a a job for Wullie, lifting ‘dogshit’ with his fingers and if he’s good we might even give him gloves, but only after lunch (sorry for the pun Ian)
Was having a wee hunt for the elusive ‘Kinnock Factor’ article, and stumbled across this piece by MacWhirter – only two and a half years old, but already seems ancient.
Worth a look:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/06/snp-scottish-election-scotland
@Ian Brotherhood at 11;15pm
I took a look at that link you posted. The comments don`t seem as swivel-eyed as they are these days. 🙂
The comments were very interesting though spent the last 20mins reading them. sad Git!
Rev,
The ‘Kinnock Factor’ article is a mystery which deserves to be solved.
Clearly, you didn’t imagine the thing, but can you remember any one phrase, name, anything at all to help search? Something about it must’ve stuck in your heid – it’ll still be there, in your napper…
This is a useful test case – surely, with all the regulars onboard now, and all the means at our collective disposal, we can nail this thing?
(I’m wondering if the author of the original piece may be so unlikely a candidate that you’ve subconsciously deleted him/her from the list of possibles?)
Ian
Was it a WoS article, link please?
Just watched this a few minutes ago from Common Weal.
@Thepnr-
Cheers mister, hope ye’re well – here it is:
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-kinnock-factor/
Lord Wallace wull hiv tae move tae Enerland after Independence , Scotland dizzna hiv any peers, Blackpools goat a long drop aff ah hope he finds it
Probably not the “Kinnock effect” article you mean, but this?
http://www.betternation.org/2011/01/can-the-snp-beat-labour-at-its-own-game/
The Irish peers kept their places in Westminster and titles post 1922 until the last one died, I suspect Tankerness is banking on more of the same.
Whch does kind of illustrate where the loyalties lie.
Personally I am not anti Labour but I am pro independence .If Labour were to return to a more principled time I would again support them. The fact is the SNP is closer to these principles than any view that Milliband and therefor Lamont holds. This newer Labour sells out these principles to the South East of these islands and tries to ape Tory policies.
@Ian Brotherhood
I’ve just had a look at those comments. It’s interesting how some of the most savagely anti SNP/independence posters like BangorStu were actually quite mild in their remarks back then. Attitudes have obviously hardened.
“Clearly, you didn’t imagine the thing, but can you remember any one phrase, name, anything at all to help search? Something about it must’ve stuck in your heid – it’ll still be there, in your napper…”
Not beyond what I said in the original piece. Nearest I’ve got is that line about “the voters never elect the party with the worst leader” – the article said something very close to those words.
“Probably not the “Kinnock effect” article you mean, but this?”
No, but that Times bit is a funny story 😀
I think the ‘Kinnock Article’ touched on the fact that a person who scores least in the personal popularity polls, never goes on the win a General Election.
Don’t know if this helps much in your search:
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=21&ved=0CCwQFjAAOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.essex.ac.uk%2Fbes%2Fepop%25202005%2Fpapers%2Fevans%2520%2520andersen%2520epop%25202005.pdf&ei=2yGvUqnnBK_b7AaXn4C4Dw&usg=AFQjCNH9Ez2yr0z0xKn94NEXW02w9JHHmw&bvm=bv.57967247,d.ZG4
apologies for formatting I am on my way out.