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[JonathanEx]

Really? That's really the plan? I thought he'd be gone a few months after the election.

It sounds bonkers and I'm not entirely sure it's true, but that's definitely what they said, every day of a second term.

Gove tried to defend it comparing it to the American model, while forgetting we're not America.

How would it even work if he was going to serve right up to the next election? When would the Tories pick a new leader?

...sort of alongside Cameron still being PM there being a leader in waiting at the end? That's no good for building credibility...

 

[Nicktendo86]

Inflation at 0% today.

 

[Jezbollah]

I have had a chuckle to myself this morning about Labour talking about "arrogance" in Cameron saying that he'll look at serving one more term then leaving - the presumption that the Conservatives would end up "winning" the election.

I've heard plenty of Labour politicians talk about the next government as a "Labour" government. That glorious hypocrisy in action once again.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

The American model only works because American parties are very weak and decentralized; the president and/or presidential candidates can operate with a fairly high degree of autonomy from them. The chaos that would ensue if you tried to do that here would be unbelievable. Labour would have an absolute field day if the Conservatives tried having a leadership contest directly into the run-up to the election while Cameron stayed on office until it finished. Would make this look like small fry.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Inflation at 0% today.

...that's somewhat worrying. BoE will probably try and do something about that.

 

[Nicktendo86]

...that's somewhat worrying. BoE will probably try and do something about that.

Not in the immediate future, they have priced in that we are heading for deflation. I remember a report a month ago saying that they are relaxed about that and we should enjoy low prices while we can. Still don't expect interest rates to go up until next year...

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Not in the immediate future, they have priced in that we are heading for deflation. I remember a report a month ago saying that they are relaxed about that and we should enjoy low prices while we can. Still don't expect interest rates to go up until next year...

They must be expecting things to pick up again fairly quickly, then. Hope they're right, I'm not sure a deflationary spell is what a recently recovered economy needs.

 

[kmag]

Dave got Blaired at Age UK and those are from the folk he protected from austerity.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

...that's somewhat worrying. BoE will probably try and do something about that.

Why? PPI input rose MoM, and the oil price fall will begin to work its way out of the system from next month. No need to do anything, just wait it out.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Dave got Blaired at Age UK and those are from the folk he protected from austerity.

Dunno how true this is. Gotta love old folk anyways.

Looks like the @AgeConcern event was hijacked by Labour. There's going to be a lot of this in the next six-and-half weeks #GE2015

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Why? PPI input rose MoM, and the oil price fall will begin to work its way out of the system from next month. No need to do anything, just wait it out.

Ah, that's fair enough then. I wasn't sure whether they were expecting it to sort itself out or not.

 

[Nicktendo86]

What?

Reeves wants to scrap the bedroom ‘tax’ and “use the savings” to raise £175 million. But, as should be obvious from Labour’s name for the policy, the bedroom ‘tax’ actually reduces government spending. Saving around a billion pounds so far in fact. Therefore scrapping it would not, as Reeves thinks, ‘save £175 million’. On the contrary, it would cost over a billion. Not like Reeves used to be at the heart of Labour’s Treasury team or anything…

Are they just making it up as they go along?

http://order-order.com/2015/03/24/rachel-reeves-finally-admits-bedroom-tax-is-not-a-tax/

 

[kmag]

What?



Are they just making it up as they go along?

http://order-order.com/2015/03/24/rachel-reeves-finally-admits-bedroom-tax-is-not-a-tax/

She's talking in Scotland, about Scotland and Scottish Government in a failed attempt to show how Labour could "make a difference" in Scotland if Labour got control at Westminster. In Scotland since last year, the Scottish government pays out £175m from it's block grant to councils and housing associations to "cover" residents bedroom tax contribution.

A @UKLabour govt will scrap the #BedroomTax & @scottishlabour will use the savings for £175 million Scotland Cares fund to tackle poverty

https://twitter.com/rachelreevesmp

Guido really needs to try harder.

 

[War Peaceman]

Guido should just be ignored by everyone. Horrible man.

 

[CyclopsRock]

The old bastards should shut up, tbh.

 

[Meadows]

lol old people.

 

[Nicktendo86]

She's talking in Scotland, about Scotland and Scottish Government in a failed attempt to show how Labour could "make a difference" in Scotland if Labour got control at Westminster. In Scotland since last year, the Scottish government pays out £175m from it's block grant to councils and housing associations to "cover" residents bedroom tax contribution.



https://twitter.com/rachelreevesmp

Guido really needs to try harder.

Still don't get how scrapping it would save money?

Edit: I get it now, the Scottish government basically pays the bedroom 'tax' for people in Scotland so scrapping it would free up that money, so not new money but a kind of reallocation. So they would have to find approx £1 billion to repeal the bedroom tax in order to bribe some Scottish voters.

They are terrified of being wiped out, aren't they.

 

[Humidex]

Good God, Luisa Zissman is the Poundland equivalent of Katie Hopkins....she's not exactly helping the Tory campaign with her bluster on BBC3....

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Still don't get how scrapping it would save money?

Although it is not at all clear, she is talking about the Scottish budget so spending the extra money in England would result in a higher payment to Scotland via Barnett which would allow for an increase in the Scottish budget allowing the government to save the £225m they currently pay out to councils to allow for Scotland to not implement the policy.

It is all a bit convoluted and best left for a platform other than Twitter. Talking about such a complex idea over a 140 character platform is foolish at best.

Good God, Luisa Zissman is the Poundland equivalent of Katie Hopkins....she's not exactly helping the Tory campaign with her bluster on BBC3....

Does it really matter?

 

[Humidex]

I wouldn't call myself a feminist, but I'm all for women's rights.

?

 

[pulsemyne]

The Age concern thing today was amazingly funny. Cameron came across so badly it was hilarious.You can see why Cameron didn't want to debate Ed given the hassle he got from OAP's. Also I noticed none of the pro tories on here even mentioned Osbourne refusing to rule out a VAT rise FIVE times today. VAT is probably the most regressive tax going. Also deflation is not good at all for an economy. No way would the bank of england want deflation.

 

[CyclopsRock]

The Age concern thing today was amazingly funny. Cameron came across so badly it was hilarious.You can see why Cameron didn't want to debate Ed given the hassle he got from OAP's. Also I noticed none of the pro tories on here even mentioned Osbourne refusing to rule out a VAT rise FIVE times today. VAT is probably the most regressive tax going. Also deflation is not good at all for an economy. No way would the bank of england want deflation.

It's not "real" deflation though.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

Is "pro Tories" similar to "pro Russian separatists"?

I would not be chuffed about a VAT rise. 20% is enough imo. I give cost estimates for my work ex VAT, and while clients understand that the VAT bit doesn't go into my pocket, larger invoices generally make it more likely that a client will dispute an invoice, ask for a reduction or take longer to pay it.

 

[kmag]

Still don't get how scrapping it would save money?

Edit: I get it now, the Scottish government basically pays the bedroom 'tax' for people in Scotland so scrapping it would free up that money, so not new money but a kind of reallocation. So they would have to find approx £1 billion to repeal the bedroom tax in order to bribe some Scottish voters.

They are terrified of being wiped out, aren't they.

It frees up money in Scotland essentially. It would be a reallocation of the money already given to Scotland as part of the Barnett block grant (I don't think housing benefit is a Barnett residual as it is currently centrally administered, so the change in UK policy wouldn't affect the amount of money given to Scotland), but it's the Scottish Government which decided to spend it's pocket money on paying the Bedroom 'tax' for folk so it's the Scottish Government which would decide what to do with the money 'saved' so it's not really anything to do with Murphy, who basically attempted to claim he'd spend that money for an anti poverty fund or something.

I'm not a fan of the Bedroom 'tax' as currently implemented but I'd have no issue with it if it was just for new occupants. Existing occupants shouldn't be penalised for an inability to move and with my wife being an adults and older persons social worker I know just how little suitable housing stock is available especially 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. There's even less when you take into account mobility issues and pre-existing or required adaptions. It seems perverse to penalise people who cannot move.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32038485

Is it just me or does that guy look like robin williams

 

[QuicheFontaine]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32038485

Is it just me or does that guy look like robin williams

with notes of Bill Oddie

 

[Jezbollah]

Interesting article by FiveThirtyEight on the history of UK politics.

Worthy of inclusion into the Election OT maybe?

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-brief-political-history-of-the-united-kingdom/

 

[Nicktendo86]

Cameron just ruled out a VAT rise. That's that fox shot.

Edit: sounds like Miliband 'lost' the last PMQs of this Parliament pretty badly. The VAT answer was a shock (very clever as well, I bet Labout have printe lots of leaflets and posters about that) and got into an argument about NI, refusing to say he wouldn't put it up. Tories will bang on about that now.

 

[kmag]

Cameron just ruled out a VAT rise. That's that fox shot.

Edit: sounds like Miliband 'lost' the last PMQs of this Parliament pretty badly. The VAT answer was a shock (very clever as well, I bet Labout have printe lots of leaflets and posters about that) and got into an argument about NI, refusing to say he wouldn't put it up. Tories will bang on about that now.

The fox isn't shot. Cameron ruled out a VAT rise last time around as well then promptly did it.

And the Treasury Minister, Priti Patel has just said on the Daily Politics that she knew nothing about the VAT promise before Cameron announced it.

 

[Nicktendo86]

The fox isn't shot. Cameron ruled out a VAT rise last time around as well then promptly did it.

And the Treasury Minister, Priti Patel has just said on the Daily Politics that she knew nothing about the VAT promise before Cameron announced it.

It was a clear trap, Osbourne didn't mention it yesterday either and dodged it. They wanted Miliband to fall for it so he would be wrong footed which worked.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

It was a clear trap, Osbourne didn't mention it yesterday either and dodged it. They wanted Miliband to fall for it so he would be wrong footed which worked.

That's what you get when you have a leader and a chancellor on the same page

I guess labour wouldn't know anything about that though, it's rarely been the case for them since John Smith passed away over 20 years ago. Ed Balls is only in the damn shadow cabinet so miliband can see the knife coming

 

[zomgbbqftw]

It was a clear trap, Osbourne didn't mention it yesterday either and dodged it. They wanted Miliband to fall for it so he would be wrong footed which worked.

It is literally the same trap that has been set by Osborne over NHS spending. Labour are ploughing ahead with this idiotic Tory cuts campaign on the NHS while Dave and George stay quiet only for Labour to continue ratchet up the rhetoric then they will reveal a £20bn spending increase for the NHS that Labour won't be able to match because they won't be able to stomach the cuts in other departments and welfare that the Tories can.

As or Miliband's attack line on what happened last time, the difference is that there was an urgent need to raise revenue in 2010, now there isn't. The Tories are not the party of tax.

 

[Jackpot]

Guido should just be ignored by everyone. Horrible man.

He's the UK's Drudge Report. Whatever journalistic insight they had when starting out has long since been lost in a slide towards more and more hardline views.

Guido even posted this piece of propaganda complete with fake photos. He has a real hard-on for hating Arabs

http://order-order.com/2013/08/14/why-not-holiday-in-gaza-this-year/

All comments were deleted after it was pointed out the photos were of a different country.

 

[31GhostsIV]

Cameron just ruled out a VAT rise. That's that fox shot.

Edit: sounds like Miliband 'lost' the last PMQs of this Parliament pretty badly. The VAT answer was a shock (very clever as well, I bet Labout have printe lots of leaflets and posters about that) and got into an argument about NI, refusing to say he wouldn't put it up. Tories will bang on about that now.

They ruled out a VAT rise last election as well. "There are no plans to raise VAT". Then as soon as they got into power they put it up to 20%.

But yeah, let's believe them now.

 

[Uzzy]

Interesting article by FiveThirtyEight on the history of UK politics.

Worthy of inclusion into the Election OT maybe?

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-brief-political-history-of-the-united-kingdom/

Speaking of that, what else do we want in the Election OT? Polling data, links to newspapers and other media?

 

[kmag]

It is literally the same trap that has been set by Osborne over NHS spending. Labour are ploughing ahead with this idiotic Tory cuts campaign on the NHS while Dave and George stay quiet only for Labour to continue ratchet up the rhetoric then they will reveal a £20bn spending increase for the NHS that Labour won't be able to match because they won't be able to stomach the cuts in other departments and welfare that the Tories can.

As or Miliband's attack line on what happened last time, the difference is that there was an urgent need to raise revenue in 2010, now there isn't. The Tories are not the party of tax.

Last 3 Tory PM's said they wouldn't increase VAT during an election campaign, all 3 of them increased VAT during the next parliament normally as soon as they got in the door. For not the party of tax they sure do seem to have a hard on for that particular tax.

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

SNP 'could block Tory government'

The SNP being able to scupper a minority government could cause a real "constitutional" crisis, especially considering the fact that Labour has apparently ruled out any sort of agreement with them.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

Last 3 Tory PM's said they wouldn't increase VAT during an election campaign, all 3 of them increased VAT during the next parliament normally as soon as they got in the door. For not the party of tax they sure do seem to have a hard on for that particular tax.

wasn't it always "No plans", the classic non-answer?

 

[Walshicus]

SNP 'could block Tory government'

The SNP being able to scupper a minority government could cause a real "constitutional" crisis, especially considering the fact that Labour has apparently ruled out any sort of agreement with them.

SNP really know how to wrong foot the unionists. The more Tories want to show Scottish MPs as others, or as being illegitimate with regards influencing the governance of England, the more Scots can see the lie that the Union is founded on.

 

[Lirlond]

I really wish people would stop interviewing Salmond and start interviewing Sturgeon. Is it so hard to accept that the head of the SNP is a woman?!

 

[CyclopsRock]

I really wish people would stop interviewing Salmond and start interviewing Sturgeon. Is it so hard to accept that the head of the SNP is a woman?!

It is sort of hard to imagine Sturgeon being more relevant to the SNPs Westminster politics given she's not actually going to be in the parliament. When was the last time that happened? Ok, Bennett is the Green leader but they are never going to be entering into serious debate or negotiations. How can Sturgeon do that when she'll be in Edinburgh?

This is Salmond's baby, that's why they're interviewing him.

 

[Lirlond]

He'll be acting under orders of Sturgeon, it's her party, she'll be making the decisions. Not to say the SNP is the First Ministers mouth piece, but on party issues Sturgeon will have the last word

 

[Volotaire]

This made me chuckle.

sajidjavid's avatar
Sajid Javid MP
@sajidjavid
Got home & daughters distraught @zaynmalik left 1D. I'm an admirer too. Would have been a difficult decision. Wish him & 1D all the best

.

 

[Jezbollah]

'Saj is "hip" and "happening", "yo"

 

[WayneMorse]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...es-lib-dems-secret-ballot-speaker-john-bercow

William Hague has tabled a change to parliamentary procedures to make it easier for Tory opponents of the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, to unseat him after the election.

In a move described by the shadow leader of the Commons, Angela Eagle, as a “grubby” plot, Hague will use his last day as an MP after 26 years at Westminster to allow MPs to vote on whether a secret ballot should be held on Bercow’s future after the election.

The Tories, who agreed with the Liberal Democrats to hold the vote in government time on Thursday – the final day of parliament before the election – came under fire for underhand tactics after slipping out the motion on Wednesday evening. Many Labour MPs had by then returned to their constituencies to campaign in the runup to the election.

Can't wait for Gove as speaker.

Cameron just ruled out a VAT rise. That's that fox shot.

Yea because we all remember when Dave kept his promise on no VAT rise in 2010, or when Major kept his promise with no VAT rise in 1992. On the bright side when Cameron breaks his VAT promise again whoever is in charge of Labour after the election will have some good PMQ fodder like John Smith did.

 

[Jezbollah]

Wayne, you never answered my question about where you actually live. Care to tell us?

 

[CyclopsRock]

I'm not sure Milibands "no one believes you" lines will play all that well (and thats basically all he said at PMQs). Iirc Cameron has better trust ratings than Miliband more or less across the board (even on NHS funding as per a poll at the start of this year).

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...es-lib-dems-secret-ballot-speaker-john-bercow



Can't wait for Gove as speaker.

As long as he wears the wig. Wouldn't it be more likely to be a labour mp this time round though?

Can't wait for Bercow to be gone either way

 

[kmag]

As long as he wears the wig. Wouldn't it be more likely to be a labour mp this time round though?

Can't wait for Bercow to be gone either way

I'm not a fan of Bercow he's far too self-aggrandising but this is pretty shabby behaviour by the Lib Dems and the Tories. The Lib Dems don't really give a toss and many of them won't be there but the Tories scheduled a 'strategy meeting' just before the vote so almost all their MP's are still there. Most Labour MP's will have headed to their constituencies. It's a pretty grubby ambush, the commons procedure committee investigated elections for positions in the house and recommended that no change be made but it also explicitly recommended that if the issue were to be debated by MPs it should be given a prominent slot and “not be tucked away on a Thursday”.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

If the secret ballot is a permanent fixture from here on in though it's probably a good thing overall.

Too many mp's are scared of getting on the wrong side of the speaker, same thing happened with Michael Martin, who also was not much liked(I do so miss bettie), but mp's were hesitant to try to unseat him.

This isn't really a party thing either, it's just pure hatred of Bercow - I wouldn't be surprised if some labour mp's were "unable to return from their constituencies in time" to stop it. Lindsay Hoyle is apparently favourite to succeed him if the tories pull this off.