Oh bad news: I've just had Canada on the phone. They think that all English people are abusive, work-shy alcoholics. I'm afraid they won't let anybody emigrate as they want to be fair to HARD WORKING Canadians.

 

Sorry Craig. Awks. :(

November 2008.

 

Admittedly that point is a bit flattering for Brown because that was after he'd just bailed out the banks, but even so, it should be a sobering reminder to Tories including Craig of how much they totally overestimate what an election-saving asset Cameron (compared to Miliband) is supposed to be.

OH, I'd thought it'd be measuring from the beginning of the premiership rather than since the last election. It feels like a bit of a cheat as I imagine Brown plunged wayyyyy past that by his third year.

I've just been reading the details of this whole infrastructure spend and it's ever so safe and 'will this do'. Promoting 50 million to spend at gatwick and being overbearing about a no question extension of the northern line?! Where's the new blood, new ideas to keep us going?!

 

Dead water red tape continues

And by the way, I still don't think it's impossible Miliband will have a slight lead over Cameron even in personal approval ratings by the election, mainly because I think it's very possible Ed will "win" the debates -- partly because people's expectations will be, like Clegg last time, that Ed will be a disaster or a non-factor in them so just being decent would itself be enough for him to be seen to have won, and also because he's actually surprisingly decent in that type of thing rather than speeches where he comes across robotic and painfully over-rehearsed (and thus inauthentic).

This is the main reason I think the Tories are soon all they can to wriggle out of the debates. I can't see them happening unless the Tories are still in the low thirties this time next year, as the potential downside to them wimping out of the debates is probably pretty low.

This is the main reason I think the Tories are soon all they can to wriggle out of the debates. I can't see them happening unless the Tories are still in the low thirties this time next year, as the potential downside to them wimping out of the debates is probably pretty low.

 

Cameron wants a debate, he has made that clear, but the sticking point is Farage, he doesn't believe UKIP should take part as they have no MPs, if Farage is excluded he will take part

 

Cameron wiped the floor with Brown and Clegg in the 2010 debates, nothing to fear

This is the main reason I think the Tories are soon all they can to wriggle out of the debates. I can't see them happening unless the Tories are still in the low thirties this time next year, as the potential downside to them wimping out of the debates is probably pretty low.

 

I don't think Cameron would be able to get away with wimping out of the debates. I know in many past elections leaders managed to wriggle out of debates when they were suggested without much public fuss, but the difference is we've had the debates now, the genie's out of the bottle, and people are expecting them again. There would be a big outcry if they didn't happen. Besides, even if Cameron does say no, mightn't they just do the debates without him? I think atleast one of the broadcasters last time was threatening to go ahead with the debates and "empty chair" any leader who refused when Brown was reluctant.

Cameron wants a debate, he has made that clear, but the sticking point is Farage, he doesn't believe UKIP should take part as they have no MPs, if Farage is excluded he will take part

 

Cameron wiped the floor with Brown and Clegg in the 2010 debates, nothing to fear

 

Erm...

Erm...

 

I remember vividly polls showing Cameron won 2 of the debates and Clegg 1 of them based on public feedback

 

He has many faults but Cameron is an outstanding orator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdo...n_debates,_2010

 

On many scorecards Cameron won debate 2 and 3

I remember vividly polls showing Cameron won 2 of the debates and Clegg 1 of them based on public feedback

 

He has many faults but Cameron is an outstanding orator

 

No, Cameron was only seen to have won the third debate; Clegg won the first two, and Cameron wasn't even that far ahead of Brown in those two.

 

There's another problem for Cameron in that his whole strategy for the next election (and, presumably, for the debates, if they happen) is to just personally insult Ed Miliband and call him "weak". That's the type of thing that would go down horribly in debates - the last time, when the TV stations had that "worm" which showed how an audience of swing voters reacted to each of the politicians' answer, their reaction plunged right down whenever Brown and Cameron started flinging gratuitous personal insults at eachother. Even if people agree that a politician is useless, they still find it unattractive to see another politician ranting and raving at them in such an immature way.

No, Cameron was only seen to have won the third debate; Clegg won the first two, and Cameron wasn't even that far ahead of Brown in those two.

 

There's another problem for Cameron in that his whole strategy for the next election (and, presumably, for the debates, if they happen) is to just personally insult Ed Miliband and call him "weak". That's the type of thing that would go down horribly in debates - the last time, when the TV stations had that "worm" which showed how an audience of swing voters reacted to each of the politicians' answer, their reaction plunged right down whenever Brown and Cameron started flinging gratuitous personal insults at eachother. Even if people agree that a politician is useless, they still find it unattractive to see another politician ranting and raving at them in such an immature way.

 

Cameron is far more likely to talk about rising house prices, falling unemployment, improving construction and manufacturing sector, strong retail sales etc

 

Ed will just go on and on about energy prices, Google's tax affairs, how posh Cameron is, 'tax cuts for millionaires', and bankers bonuses

 

It is Ed who is likely to be far more the negative of the 2

Edited December 4, 201311 yr by Sandro Raniere

Considering that you currently benefit greatly from the welfare state and contribute precisely f**k all to society Chris, do you mind not casting aspersions on others right to claim benefits?

 

Thanks. Yours sincerely, The rest of the world.

 

 

I'm a British Citizen and voter and my parents have paid taxes all their lives so have every right to comment on what our Government does with public money. No-one from abroad who has contributed F all should get a penny. :angry:

Forget the whole Veyron thing - short of thinking "what a prick" or "I must start a business so I can afford that car" surely the natural reaction is to see if the prick's left the keys lying around?

 

 

We should have a LIKE button for posts!

I know it would be economic madness. You know it would be economic madness, so does Boris, and so does Farage. But when Boris is opposed to the party's founding policy then it's completely idiotic to suggest his views "mirror" UKIP on Europe.

Then why do you come across as so sceptical when the vast majority of an already exaggerated number will find work?

 

 

How will they magically find jobs when there just aren't many out there? So many UK born people can't get jobs and have been unemployed for years. How will a Romanian or Bulgarian get off the ferry and just walk in to a job. Ludicrous.

I cant be expected to give accurate financial projections after 3/4 of a bottle of wine

 

 

I have had too much wine to do detailed research but my opinion stands

 

Craig you're a lightweight! :P I had two full bottles myself on Sat, red and white and wasn't even merry and no hangover next day either ;)

Edited December 4, 201311 yr by Common Sense

Craig you're a lightweight! :P I had two full bottles myself on Sat, red and white and wasn't even merry and no hangover next day either ;)

 

I felt absolutely fine :P Just doing any research or deep thinking was too much effort :P

How will they magically find jobs when there just aren't many out there? So many UK born people can't get jobs and have been unemployed for years. How will a Romanian or Bulgarian get off the ferry and just walk in to a job. Ludicrous.

Because of this three month rule, a lot of those who come over do so already with a job sewn up - which begs the question what you've been doing recently.

 

I'm a British Citizen and voter and my parents have paid taxes all their lives so have every right to comment on what our Government does with public money. No-one from abroad who has contributed F all should get a penny. :angry:

Why does it matter in the slightest what your parents did?

 

Cameron is far more likely to talk about rising house prices, falling unemployment, improving construction and manufacturing sector, strong retail sales etc

 

Ed will just go on and on about energy prices, Google's tax affairs, how posh Cameron is, 'tax cuts for millionaires', and bankers bonuses

 

It is Ed who is likely to be far more the negative of the 2

PMQs says hi.

A great autumn statement from Gideon

 

Growth double original predictions, up to 2.4% next year

 

Help for consumers with a CUT in energy bills of £50, rail fares capped, and fuel price rise cancelled

 

More houses to be built to help first time buyers

 

Curbs on benefit

 

 

Ed Balls' foaming at the mouth mad ramblings did nothing to help Labour's image too

 

Good day for tories

Didn't watch it, but I'm guessing it's another example of the political hacks thinking whoever "wins" a boring parliament battle ("winning" being making some unfunny jabs and humiliating the opponent) actually means anything in the real world, when really, there's never any winners when people see politicians treating it like a game.

 

Reading through the news report, I don't see anything that will be particularly popular, and there's yet more smug gloating about the supposed economic recovery which is just going to rub people up the wrong way. The Tories seem to believe that if they say things are getting better enough times, people will believe it, and forget the fact they can see how terrible things are in their own lives.

Didn't watch it, but I'm guessing it's another example of the political hacks thinking whoever "wins" a boring parliament battle ("winning" being making some unfunny jabs and humiliating the opponent) actually means anything in the real world, when really, there's never any winners when people see politicians treating it like a game.

 

Reading through the news report, I don't see anything that will be particularly popular, and there's yet more smug gloating about the supposed economic recovery which is just going to rub people up the wrong way. The Tories seem to believe that if they say things are getting better enough times, people will believe it, and forget the fact they can see how terrible things are in their own lives.

 

If growth next year is 2.4% then people will see the recovery with their own eyes and in more cases than not feel it in their pockets in early 2015

 

2.4% is impressive growth, almost a boom