But again, you overestimate how much impact leaders have. The leader would only be enough to swing an election on their own if they're MASSIVELY more popular than the opposition leader -- for example, Alex Salmond compared to the Scottish Labour leader before the last Scottish election, or Angela Merkel compared to the leader of her main opposition party (Merkel's party and the Social Democrats in terms of their brands were about equal, as was their general performances in local elections). Cameron being marginally more popular than Miliband (and sometimes not even that--you'd be surprised how many times Ed has had a slight lead over Cameron in approval ratings over the past 18 months) is not going to compensate for how much stronger the Labour brand is compared to the Conservatives'. Cameron will need something like a 15-20% lead in approval ratings just to pull the Tories' score even -- a 2% lead as at present is just not going to do it.

Salmonds willingness to meet ordinary people in the street, after they stopped him to ask questions, was a complete polar opposite to the Labour leader who ran away and hid in a shop to hide from uncomfortable questions.

 

Cameron answers like a weasel by avoiding the question and answering some shit. Salmond answered them straight (well, as straight as a politician can)

What about rising house prices Craig? Oh that's right they FELL by 0.2% in October.

 

FAIL

 

And that's without Funding for Lending being removed from mortgages which means mortgage interest rates are going to go UP, and that's at the same time as stagnant wages and an ever increasing cost of living.

 

That my friends is a hell of lot more important to people than GDP up by 0.6% last quarter (aka London house prices went up a bit and loads of debt fueling some limited growth in the retail sector). NO1CURR Craig.

What about rising house prices Craig? Oh that's right they FELL by 0.2% in October.

 

FAIL

 

And that's without Funding for Lending being removed from mortgages which means mortgage interest rates are going to go UP, and that's at the same time as stagnant wages and an ever increasing cost of living.

 

That my friends is a hell of lot more important to people than GDP up by 0.6% last quarter (aka London house prices went up a bit and loads of debt fueling some limited growth in the retail sector). NO1CURR Craig.

 

Falling in Nottingham and Newcastle or wherever they did will not make a lot of difference, London and SE and Midlands are the heartbeat of this country economically so as long as prices are rising there people will FEEL better off

 

As for retail sales, Amazon doing 47 sales a SECOND yesterday, Nat West servers crashing due to sheer demand and massive fights at Asda on Friday and long queues suggests the retail sector is buoyant

Yes, that's called Christmas shopping Craig. Happens once a year, generally in December.

A strong growing economy plus Crosby getting his media pals to destroy Miliband in print will, not that i condone personal attacks on Ed

For f*** sake Craig. Let's cut this strong growing economy crap.

 

The VAST MAJORITY OF THE UNITED KINDGOM OF GREAT BRITAN AND NORTHERN IRELAND are not in an economic recovery in the slightest. The English economy outside of the South East is stagnant at best, Wales is just about treading water, sod knows about NI (too busy fighting over flags) and Scotland's recovery is being restrained by Cameron and his shackles.

 

Millions are struggling with real term wage cuts, the cost of living keeps rising at a rate that will bankrupt the average person within the decade if pay doesn't keep up oh and we're all still drowning in debt. The entire Higher Education sector is in line for a 1% pay rise, not that the unions are happy about it, the public sector is on a pay freeze and the minimum wage is hardly rising.

 

Pay is not rising, the economic recovery is so fragile a CEO sneezing in the wrong board meeting could collapse the recovery and if I have to read you w*** on about house prices again...

Falling in Nottingham and Newcastle or wherever they did will not make a lot of difference, London and SE and Midlands are the heartbeat of this country economically so as long as prices are rising there people will FEEL better off

 

As for retail sales, Amazon doing 47 sales a SECOND yesterday, Nat West servers crashing due to sheer demand and massive fights at Asda on Friday and long queues suggests the retail sector is buoyant

That's called Cyber Monday. It's the busiest shopping day of the ENTIRE YEAR.

 

Also, that's down on orders from last year for Amazon. (Granted by one, but that's 60 orders less per MINUTE)

HA! Me and Doctor Blind clearly on the same wavelength.

For f*** sake Craig. Let's cut this strong growing economy crap.

 

The VAST MAJORITY OF THE UNITED KINDGOM OF GREAT BRITAN AND NORTHERN IRELAND are not in an economic recovery in the slightest. The English economy outside of the South East is stagnant at best, Wales is just about treading water, sod knows about NI (too busy fighting over flags) and Scotland's recovery is being restrained by Cameron and his shackles.

 

Millions are struggling with real term wage cuts, the cost of living keeps rising at a rate that will bankrupt the average person within the decade if pay doesn't keep up oh and we're all still drowning in debt. The entire Higher Education sector is in line for a 1% pay rise, not that the unions are happy about it, the public sector is on a pay freeze and the minimum wage is hardly rising.

 

Pay is not rising, the economic recovery is so fragile a CEO sneezing in the wrong board meeting could collapse the recovery and if I have to read you w*** on about house prices again...

 

The election is not tomorrow, it is in 17 months time, lots of time for the good news to filter through to more parts of the country

 

Only today there was more good news http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-25...thers-pace.html

 

Our factories are performing better than any other nation in Europe, factory workers tend to be blue collar labour voters so the growing demand is even working its way into labour heartlands

 

Expect a lot of good economic news the next 17 months

Yeah I don't read the Dailymail, ever. So i suggest you find the information from a real paper (Independent preferable) if you're trying to use it as a point.

 

Manufacturing is hardly anything to shout about in the UK. It's up and down like a yo-yo at the moment (Like Scotland's employment figures). While the Automotive industry in the UK is going against the grain and doing very well against a tough European climate, there are a lot of sectors in terminal decline.

HA! Me and Doctor Blind clearly on the same wavelength.

 

Indeed. Radio Sanity.

 

Craig - I seriously worry about your reaction to the 2015 GE result. I think we could see a meltdown worse than Fukushima (though 20% less radioactive).

Indeed. Radio Sanity.

 

Craig - I seriously worry about your reaction to the 2015 GE result. I think we could see a meltdown worse than Fukushima (though 20% less radioactive).

 

He'll have had his name changed to "I ❤ HarryStyles" by the end of 8 May 2015.

Yeah I don't read the Dailymail, ever. So i suggest you find the information from a real paper (Independent preferable) if you're trying to use it as a point.

 

Manufacturing is hardly anything to shout about in the UK. It's up and down like a yo-yo at the moment (Like Scotland's employment figures). While the Automotive industry in the UK is going against the grain and doing very well against a tough European climate, there are a lot of sectors in terminal decline.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/n...property-market

 

Ok only one sector but even Labour supporting Guardian talks of a 6 year high for the construction sector

sod knows about NI (too busy fighting over flags)

I genuinely laughed out at this.

 

Falling in Nottingham and Newcastle or wherever they did will not make a lot of difference, London and SE and Midlands are the heartbeat of this country economically so as long as prices are rising there people will FEEL better off

 

As for retail sales, Amazon doing 47 sales a SECOND yesterday, Nat West servers crashing due to sheer demand and massive fights at Asda on Friday and long queues suggests the retail sector is buoyant

You're even stupider than I thought - Nottingham is in the Midlands. Well done on that one. And on saying that two urban areas of 1.5 million people "won't make a lot of difference".

Indeed. Radio Sanity.

 

Craig - I seriously worry about your reaction to the 2015 GE result. I think we could see a meltdown worse than Fukushima (though 20% less radioactive).

 

Dont worry about me :) Ed wins in 2015 i will be too busy searching online for one way tickets out of the UK to get stressed

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/n...property-market

 

Ok only one sector but even Labour supporting Guardian talks of a 6 year high for the construction sector

One small part of the Manufacturing sector doesn't speak for the entire industry. A well performing section can mask horrendous falls in other areas.

He'll have had his name changed to "I ❤ HarryStyles" by the end of 8 May 2015.

 

I have already been keeping one eye on the overseas job market in anticipation of 2015 and Ed getting in

 

I have already seen jobs that match my skillset and experience in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore

 

Decisions decisions ;)

Dont worry about me :) Ed wins in 2015 i will be too busy searching online for one way tickets out of the UK to get stressed

And there's the only motivation any who frequents this forum will need to put on a red rosette and go out door knocking.

Oh Dubai would be perfect for you! Just as long as you enjoy prison that is.

Oh Dubai would be perfect for you! Just as long as you enjoy prison that is.

 

Been there a couple of times, 4x4 experience is amazing :wub: less amazing is the lack of alcohol outside Dubai Mall when one watches the fountains outside the Burj Khalifa but drink is not everything in life :)

 

Stuck between Abu Dhabi and Canada really, Abu Dhabi has Yas Marina, an F1 race and Ferrari world whereas Canada has snow in winter but in all honesty i would rather stay here, lets hope get to after May 15 :)

Canada also has the F1. Just make sure you don't go there before I go on holiday in September '15.