We cannot know what will happen on Thursday. There are huge differentials in opinion polls. We now know that the pollsters’ samples, demographically weighted to reflect the population in terms of age, geographical spread, and past voting intention, return very similar results. What differs is the extent to which they apply the additional filter of judging likelihood to vote, not by people’s declaration on this point, but by historic records reflecting the fact turnout is much higher among the elderly. That in itself has thrown a spotlight on the massive age differential in voting. The Tories are extremely dependent on pensioners. It is precisely the same age group that supported Brexit and opposed Independence.
There has been some drop in Tory support among the elderly in the election, but only in line with the drop in the general population. The abandonment of the triple lock, the dementia tax and the end of winter fuel allowance have not particularly dented the loyalty of the Tory grey army.
So if younger people want to stop the Tories, they have to get themselves to the polling booth at all costs. As for campaigning, almost certainly more effective than attending rallies or sticking leaflets through strangers’ doors, would be to sit down and have a real heart to hear with elderly family members and acquaintances.
A quick disclaimer. I realise there are a lot of wonderful people of pension age who are not Tories. I am not attacking the elderly, I am stating a plain and undisputed fact about voting breakdown by age.
It is also the case that there has been a very definite trend away from the Tories for the last month, and there is little evidence to suggest that has stopped. So today’s polls are not how opinion will stand on voting day.
But this election has been a great victory already, whatever the result.
Firstly, a genuine alternative has been put to the electorate in England and Wales for the first time in a generation. And Jeremy Corbyn has proved beyond doubt that left wing policies are popular. Refusal to endorse nuclear weapons, aggressive foreign policy, privatisation and austerity are indeed popular. With New Labour triangulating themselves right into the neoliberal establishment consensus, English and Welsh voters had no opportunity to express a radical view since 1983.
The careerist Blairites who had taken over the Labour Party argued that it would be electoral suicide not to adopt all the Tory policies. NHS privatisation, utility privatisation, PFI, benefit cuts, Trident, attacks on foreign countries; these are what the public want, said the Blairites.
Corbyn is now proving that was a lie.
Indeed, of all the opinion poll findings which give results such as strong public support for renationalisation of the railways, that which drives the stake deepest into the hearts of the Blairites and Tories alike is the YouGov poll on foreign policy. People are not stupid, and by a two to one majority people believe that our wars abroad cause terrorism here. That is why the furious Tory attack, that to explain is to support, bounced off.
A clear majority of people oppose our recent wars in Muslim lands.
It is precisely those of Corbyn’s views which the entire mainstream media, the Tories and the Blairites consider unacceptable, and which fall well outside the Overton window, which are popular. That explains why the attacks do not work. The victory of this election is that those popular views have been expressed widely, after years of being banished methodically from the airwaves.
If May wins, she will almost certainly not have the huge landslide she expected. Her honeymoon period is well and truly over and she now has a very negative public image. That is going to get worse as we are heading into a Brexit recession and a house price crash. I agree with every word of this extremely important article from Will Hutton. May’s support is almost entirely from hard Brexiteers who are going to crash the economy to satisfy their racism. That will quickly appear a very bad idea.
A May government with a small majority, possibly dependent on Ulster Unionists, running a disastrous policy and becoming ever more unpopular, is the best outcome the Conservatives have left in terms of retaining power. All the media’s horses and all the media’s men are not going to be able to put together again the ludicrous image they had constructed of Theresa May as a great leader, which fell apart at the very first public scrutiny.
If Corbyn comes to power, he will almost certainly have to be supported by the SNP, who I am proud to say have an even more radical platform than Labour, including scrapping Trident and reversing all benefit cuts. How many Blairites would defect to the Tories rather than support a Corbyn government with SNP support is an interesting question. But remember, most Blairites would sell their mother for a ministerial limousine. Corbyn’s position against the Blairites has been immeasurably strengthened by this campaign, and win or lose, his party leadership is safe if he wants to keep it. If John Woodcock etc. wanted to take themselves off to form a second Tory Party that would be no bad thing at all.
Of course I want to see May defeated and out of office, because Tory policies actually kill people. But I will not be too disappointed by a pyrrhic Tory victory.
A renewed Tory government will quickly become extremely unpopular as it flails in Brexit negotiations. It will be more right wing and authoritarian than ever, because those are May’s instincts when in trouble. As a Scottish nationalist, I have no doubt at all that the clarity of the choice between a hard right Brexit led Tory government, and Independence, can have only one result. Whether May or Corbyn is in No.10, I am confident this is the last Westminster election I shall have to endure.
If May sneaks back, Corbyn can continue with the work of recasting the Labour Party on popular and radical lines. Most importantly, boundary changes will give the chance for reselections to ditch a large portion of the Blairite rump. Still better would be a change of rules for mandatory reselection, where again the SNP shows Labour the way. And by next time Corbyn must face down the disgustingly blinkered and selfish attitude of the GMB, who love getting fat pay packets for working on weapons of mass destruction, and Corbyn must get a policy on Trident which he can defend without twisting himself in knots – again following the SNP.
If May gets back in, her government will collapse by 2020. Even a “defeat” on Thursday would not be the end, but just the start of a new dawn for popular radical politics,
I hope you’re right Craig about coming independence. I am one of those pensioners who detests Tories and Blairites to my very boots. Yet you mentioned pensioners who despite being told that Tories will boot them in the balls, they still intend to vote Tory. . This deeply worries me, the depth of stupidity around us.It is beyond belief. I still dont get it.
We have to break free of an increasingly backward and right wing England; cut them adrift to float over the the tender mercies of Trump.
JC,
I’m glad you have finally recognised that there is a huge gulf between those who favour a hard Brexit come what may – and yes, many are racists ( I came across quite a few in South Wales during my May visit), and those who favour a soft Brexit, namely membership of the European Economic Area based on either the Norway Model or Swiss model, both of which I’m confident Corbyn could negotiate with our EU peers.
Come what may on Thursday, 8 June, suffice to say Labour’s days as a proponent of neoliberal economic prescriptions and proponents of an interventionist neocon foreign policy are over – this is a big win, as is the fact that hopefully Labour will enjoy a massive polling swing in its favour, one of the highest ever recorded. It’s a ‘win,win’ and I was/am proud to have played a little part, as countless hundreds of thousands have played since May called this Election in April.
Typo Alert: That should read ‘CM’ – I’ve got Corbyn on the brain I’m afraid!
Hang on, does that say that people oppose Desert Storm 30/35? That is, to put it mildly, surprising. Or is that simply a matter of poor memory?
People’s views shift with hindsight, the effect of subsequent wars and, as you say ‘poor memory’ aka wishful thinking, recasting thesleves in a better light to themselves and to the pollsters, etc.
Think of WW1.
Q. Have Blairites got mothers? I thought they arrived from outer space. LOL
Will the terrrrist attacks boost May’s polling?
After this mornings and early afternoon outings by the Tory leadership and media questioning I think the terrorism factor now plays to Labour – quite a turnaround and not one lost on the MSM itself.
Will they affect the turnout?
For 5 weeks on the BBC home page has been a link to their ‘poll of polls’ summary page showing all the different polls on the general election with a pretty graph showing how far in front Maybot was.
At the beginning it was a second tier story, ie right under the lead story of the day.
Two weeks ago as the polls tightened it seemed to be relegated half way down the page.
Last week as yougove pinged their hung parliament message it was down at the bottom of the page.
Now it’s disappeared altogether. They appear to be burying bad news.
Well, given how much space is taken up by Manchester and London Bridge-related news, I’m not sure there’s a conspiracy there.
Isn’t there a famous saying about not counting your chickens before they hatch?
If we’re talking in cliches / there’s only one poll that. Counts
On a little detail, I suspect if May’s propped up, it’ll be by the Democratic Unionists, rather than the Ulster Unionists (unless you weren’t referring to a specific party, but to just Irish unionist MPs in general). The UUP are looking to have maybe one MP by this time next week – Fermanagh and South Tyrone was always dependent on a unionist pact to stay out of the hands of Sinn Fein, and that probably won’t be enough this time round.
“Irish Unionists”
I bet they’ll love you for calling them that! Their whole position is they’re not Irish, they’re British!
Well it’s that or ‘Northern Irish’, which also has ‘Irish’ in it. Can’t just use ‘unionist’ here since that could get confused with Scottish Tory and Labour party MPs (or MP) and the like. Using ‘Ulster’ as a synonym for ‘Northern Ireland’ has the problem that it’s geographically wrong.
One problem with Northern Ireland is that pretty much any terminology you use can be used to pick a fight with you.
I know it’s pernickety but they are Irish.
Norn Irn half of the UK. GB & Norn Irn.
Oh I don’t disagree Neil. I just know how rabid they are about their Britishness.
“We are heading into a Brexit recession ”
You say it as though Brexit will be the CAUSE of the upcoming recession. You state it like a fact. Nothing to do with decades of neoliberalism (the type the EU espouse and adore). Nothing to do with record debt levels. Nothing even to do with the ups and downs of the natural business cycle.
No, all down to Brexit !
When the US economy crashes you will also blame Donald Trump, even though he wasn’t responsible for one cent of that $20 trillion of public debt. You will know FULL WELL it wasn’t his fault yet you will blame him anyway. Hey’ the narrative’s too good to waste. be a team player, right?
Brexit recession
You are thoroughly dishonest man. Willing to twist the truth to support your political narrative.
Disgraceful.
Agreeing with every word Will Hutton says is a very bad sign
Hutton is about as good at economics as Donald Trump is at diplomacy.
Well, he’s got a lot of decent arguments, unlike you.
“The abandonment of the triple lock, the dementia tax and the end of winter fuel allowance have not particularly dented the loyalty of the Tory grey army”
Surely among the most stupid still living on our planet. What credible reason remains for them to still vote Tory?
I do enjoy Craig’s posts, though from time to time he hits a raw nerve with me! Excuse me for saying so! Craig likes lumping people together, perhaps so that he can demonise them! Examples:- all those voting for Brexit are racist, the “Pensioners” are responsible for the failure of the Indy vote, as they are for Brexit as they are the main stay of the Conservative vote and thus can be categorised as stupid. (Though he doesn’t talk much about Nationalisms more unpleasant connotations much). It would be as well to remember that “Pensioners” are those members of our society having the longest experience of our Political system and amongst whom one would expect to find the wisest people. Thus think twice about dismissing them out of hand! The description “pensioners” is chosen deliberately to be derogatory. ” Senior citizens” at least infers some degree of respect. Applying averaging and Labelling people is a poor way of arguing your point and I think it tends to encourage rather than deter hatefulness as between various groups . And hatefulness is the root of racism, so we ought to be trying to avoid it. Clearly all those voting for Brexit are not racists, and it diminishes the term to misuse it in this way. Clearly it is false and unfair to point the finger at retired people with the clear insinuation that they are somehow less than worthy, or as you imply, stupid, illinformed, when the very fact that they are more likely to participate in the democratic procèss by voting (surely indicating that they think about the subject more than those who can’t be bothered) That they have more experience of the everyday day political process than younger people is never acknowledged in a positive manner. You won’t win over your opponents supporters through unfair and ill thought out criticism, or prejudice!
Most of these pensioners were adults in the 60s and can therefore well remember the time when Britain was at its most outward looking and international (and not a member of any euro thingy).
No elderly person in my family or my wife’s is voting Tory, because they can’t think of any reason to. Couldn’t help but notice you refrained from identifying a reason. Please think of one because I’m genuinely intrigued by this fealty to a party that offers nothing to elderly Britons.
Whilst I don’t wish to suggest reason why some people might want to vote Conservative, or to endorse them in any way, are you seriously suggesting that there are no valid reasons that another person might hold a different opinion to your own. That betrays quite a dangerous mindset, in my view. I am against Brexit, and I am against the Conservative Party. But whilst I remain open to other points of view, I try to resist those who try to bully or ridicule others to their own viewpoint , rather than to persuade. We must listen to opposing views, and test them against our own. I have friends who vote Conservative. Having observed the Political arguments and the various players, they choose to vote in the way they see fit. To accuse them of being fascists as has been suggested here is quite wrong. It’s another argument, but surely fascism is more associated with Nationalism, isn’t it, historically at least, and beaten back by a Coservative leader, some might argue? Our democracy gives us the right to vote for who we want, or to abstain, and to try to persuade others to follow . But in my view, bullying, ridiculing, organised tactical voting, believing you are so right that any one disagreeing with your viewpoint is a fool or in some way evil, is heading in the direction of extremism. To call Conservative voters fascists, as someone here has suggested is arrogant in the extreme, and simply propagates hatred, which as I observed previously, is a principal factor in racism.
You’re a wonderful man. Fine, we’ll agree on that just in order to get past it. Now, these reasons your friends give for voting Tory…the only thing I enquired about.
Well thank you Franky Wiggles! That’s very kind. Who knows really why people vote how they do? We are not required to state “i am voting for x because…..(complete in not more than 100 words)”. And do people ever give their real reasons if asked, or are they even sure themselves? However, you seem to have difficulty in imagining why a voter aged over sixty five might vote “Conservative”. Anyone over sixty five will remember various political happenings during their lifetimes, and will be influenced by their experiences, their impressions and by the media responses to those happenings at those times. Current personalities and the declared policies of the various parties will be measured against a lifetime of listening, deciding, voting and generally being let down by whichever Party was chosen! For younger voters, this experience is less or non existent, so will be more susceptible to current personalities and manifestos. So for example, an older voter, although acknowledging the benefits of a postwar labour governments social revolution may have been disappointed by their subsequent performances as perceived by him.(He may have been misled in this, or have been mistaken, or his memory is defective, of course) . From a Conservative voters point of view (the argument works both ways for Labour and Consvertavie, but I’m taking Conservative, because you asked) our aged voter will think back to Harold Wilsons selective employment tax, wilsons apparent deviousness over the EU referendum, the massive inflation under Callaghan Denis Healey, the “Cap in Hand ” appeal to the IMF, Neil Kinnocks election campaign, John Prescotts election punch up, Tony Blairs Iraq war shenanigans, and that most of these socialists have either accepted “elevation” to the house of so called lords, having spent a lifetime decrying it, and at the same time made millions of pounds. Our senior citizen might conclude that those people with their high ideals actually were, with hindsight, not to be trusted. Thus he is susceptible to Conservative persuasion. We could produce a similar Conservative list! People will always hold differing opinions and we should respect that. It’s not black and white. Younger voters are in a better position to judge their preferences on current personalities and their respective arguments. Senior citizens have the added baggage of their lifetime experience to add contend with. Give them credit for being able to do this without calling them stupid if they don’t decide to agree with you, that’s all I ask. Putting Senoir Citizens into a distinct group and then using averages to argue that it is they who are responsible for the “failure”of the Scottish Independence vote, (it didn’t fail, by the way, people just voted according to their wills!) when as a group they have a high voting turnout, and not putting blame on those groups with a very poor voting turnout is simply dishonest. Calling all those who voted for Brexit “Racists” is irresponsible, and lessens the impact of the word. Encouraging hatred between groups holding different political views is wrong and it is dangerous. Otherwise, I agree with Craig, and enjoy his writings.
Re. that Yougov poll. I checked this morning… and prior to 2005, there were no Islamist terror attacks in Britain.
I’m not sure why this hadn’t occurred to me until today, I wonder if there are others in the same boat?
Strange that it hadn’t occured to you. But they’re certainly very careful to ensure it’s not mentioned on TV amid the endless discussion following terror attacks.
What I would say about May this morning is probably controversial but I believe it is true.
I have never seen anyone look more delighted after a terrorist incident. It has clearly been embraced by her as a means to get her campaign back on track. BBC helping of course by dragging out that Kuennsberg interview with Corbyn over shoot-to-kill. The BBC too seem happy about the terrorist incident coming to May’s rescue.
Be clear about May, she’s happy London was attacked on Saturday night. It’s saved her campaign. Take that in and then consider what it says about her. And about her Party. And about anyone who votes for her on Thursday.
Nothing controversial about what you say. Sat evening came the Survation neckandneck poll and then secret Tory prayers for another Falkland Moment were answered with a new atrocity. Daily poltiics today dusted off the disgraced Kuenssberg clip, this time falsely to imply that Corbyn had changed his mind: Only now does he believe in shoot when necessary. Such lies may work. Still, the latest poll of all polls gives theTories an 8 point lead. Cameron got his 12 majority on a 7 point lead. If Survation and Yougov are nearer the truth we can hope this will shrink. A lot may depend on tactical Labour voting in Scotland. Labour pro-unionists like me up there should realise that if they lend their vote to SNP it will not bring separation one inch nearer; but it could scupper May. Think about it. Thatcher and Blair are the true authors of Scotish independence.
For Jo Coburns mendacity go 15 minutes in.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08tn16n/daily-politics-05062017
Here’s something I think about the shoot to kill “policy”. If someone is armed with a knife (and I freely recognise that these people were wearing – what turned out to be – false explosive devices), what’s wrong with shooting them in the shoulder or hip?
I imagine that this would be excruciatingly painful and would focus the individual’s mind on pain rather than on their mission to kill. I think that I am correct in saying that police marksmen/women are just that; marksmen/women. Their skill lies in being able to shoot accurately. Therefore, having disabled the target, an easy capture would be available. If any other movement was made to detonate an explosive then the police would have ample opportunity to then shoot to kill. I would argue that someone who had been shot in the hip (or knee or shoulder or any combination of joints) would be fully focussed on how bad they felt at that instant and all thought of pulling a cord or pressing a button would be forgotten for at least a short while.
Arrest of the individual would then be possible. And with that arrest, much valuable information would, surely, be forthcoming.
I have long thought that the shoot to kill “policy” is a convenient barrier to the truth.
Very sensible. Having them alive is surely more useful too. I can however see why the aim is to take them right out.
Explain to me why. When more information is forthcoming from a living person than a dead one.
“Shoot to kill” as general policy has special resonance for Corbyn. as Laura K well knew. There is evidence that In Northern Ireland The Royal Ulster Constabulary and their Special Branch mentors shot IRA members even after long surveillance and when there was a good prospect of peaceful surrender. That is what was meant by “shoot to kill”. It means you exterminate the bad guys. That such a policy would be a Bad Thing is shown be the fact that it was officially denied.
A policy of shoot-when-necessary has always been Corbyn’s policy, though it is clear he has no relish for shooting. The dishonesty of Kuensberg was to insinuate that Corbyn was opposed to shoot-when-necessary. The dishonesty of Jo Coburn was to imply that Corbyn had changed his view
It may well for all I know have seemed quite necessary to shoot the London terrorists in order to prevent them from detonating their apparant explosives.
Craig Murray is a great man, but this separatist, like many great men, is not wise enough agree with my on every single point. I was hoping to rattle his cage be saying Thatcher and Blair were the onlie begetters of Scottish Independence as movement. A Tory government will make separation more not less likely.
Excellent writing. As a pretty ordinary English “leftie”, I have long felt the SNP’s policies resonate with many in the post-industrial wastelands of the provinces of England. Theresa May has had such a disastrous election and her record (apart from the one about her in the charts which I like) is so poor that a “coalition of chaos” would be less malignant and preferable to a Tory win. The Tories are like the M&S of British politics …. they just don’t understand people don’t wear that stuff anymore …. no-one wants to look like a catalogue model
Just read Will Hutton’sreport and it squares with that of 100 other economists yesterday who came to the same conclusion, though not just examining the uncertainties of Brexit, overall the Conservatives can’t be trusted with the economy anymore, they are merely fit to look after a small power elite and their hangers on.
” a narrow majority would even accept freedom of movement as the price of staying in. On these questions, Mr Corbyn and his party have been limp.”
As much as I admire his guts and aims, these negotiations will feature lots of give first, and maybe take later, JC will find that his case has been answered by Norway and Sweden, both tried to have the market without free movement, but failed.
Nevertheless they decided that the single market/ EEA is the answer to Sweden’s needs and accepted. He will have to give and surmise that exchange between us Europeans will be good for those young people who support him by the thousands, good for their education, mutual friendship, work and experiences in life.
Good to see that there is so little support for foreign wars. No need to fight and kill the foreign man when so many powerful non violent alternatives exist.
Just a shame that those who seek to effect change through peaceful measures are written off as ignorant racists. Did not someone once say something like those who make peaceful change impossible make violent revolution inevitable.
Following through on Brexit and being prepared to pay any price, irrespective of what it may be, allows for the opportunity to assist the entire Greek nation and to provide hope to all of the youth of Southern Europe.
It allows for the curtailment of funding currently deployed to harass Russia and constantly demonize all things Russian. You want Estomia, Latvia and Lithuania to construct a border wall to preserve the “integrity of the EU” – then you can pay for it. Are you too stupid to understand that Russian heavy ordinance and nuclear missiles will instantly obviate any border wall.
It affords the chance to highlight the rank hypocrisy of those who are shocked and alarmed at any fascists they discover at home but somehow cant resist the urge to send fascists other peoples money if they happen to be located in Ukraine.
It may stiffen the resolve of Poland to resist the deranged demand of the Germans that they admit an uncounted number of immigrants who with German help will dismantle every last vestige of Polish society.
All of these things are worth paying a price for. Realistic people understand that there is nothing for nothing in this world. Anyone interested in social justice should pay attention to the great prize that is available by sticking it to the globalist enterprise that is the EU.
I dont dare count my chickens til the votes are counted, but agree this is the way its looking.
Dont rule out though, even if Labour get most seats, the Blairites splitting and joining May in some sort of supposed ‘National Unity’ (or ‘F**k the electorate’) government.
Prising the Blairite hands off the levers of power within the Labour Party is a difficult business – they still control the NEC as well as having the majority of the MPs and hence big influence over constituency parties. If they bugger off it might be good for the Labour Party in the long run, but disastrous for the country in the short term.
+1
That is my fear too. My local Labour parliamentary candidate cannot even bring himself to mention who leads his party on his election materials. How can I trust him not to take part in a palace coup immediately after the election.
I wonder if the second leadership contest forced upon Jeremy Corbyn served to promote him further than the Blairites anticipated? Of course to win the leadership he had to say who he was, what he stood for etc, to those who weren’t familiar with him. But that second contest which was so heavily covered in the media, albeit with the aim of damaging him, could have actually elevated him in time for this snap election. This election so soon after his second leadership contest means Jeremy is not an unknown quantity, and no longer easy to tarnish, because so many people who agree with him know they’re not reds or hippies.
Good point.
The attacks, fake news and dirty tricks that media and the Blair/Tory axis levelled at Corbyn during his second leadership election and since, only served to highlight that there’s a real difference now between Labour and Tories.
And people found themselves actually liking and seeing sense in this new new Labour party under Corbyn.
You can’t buy advertising like that, and just before a general election too.
You need really really stupid enemies to hand you a freebie like that.
Labour Sadik Khan’s feud with Rump, and police talking about ideology creating home-gone terrorists help May, helping cover up underfunding of police, and the failures of the security service, especially by her Home Office.
Really? The sight of Corbyn today condemning May’s underfunding of the police was powerful, and I think struck home. I was quite impressed that he did it, and the way he put it. Ed Miliband never had that courage.
I agree Laguerre, but non of Labours issues are cutting through the terror obsession and negativity of the majority of the media, despite being highly popular.
There is but one last empowerment that could change the game drastically, an issue which has much support. Still the media will not change its terror theme. A last positive empowering message by Labour would be perfect, a long standing issue that speaks to all voters. How about it? Introducing a law that changes the electoral system to STV or AMS, for the first time ever in this country we would have a fair proportional vote. Not like the last ‘take it or leave it ultimatum’ or by a referendum, but by law.
Coalitions would form after weeks of negotiating, (not a weeks worth of speed dating) throughout the portfolios ending up with policies that speak for more than just one party, policies that demand a majority in the country.
Imho, this issue would ring bells with many undecided, it gives every voter power and representation. What’d you think?
If the police lacked numbers and was so overworked, how come it’s hailed of its quick, telling response?
Corbyn should have complained about the failures of the Security Service, allowing one of the unnamed terrorists to set up a recruiting site for ISIS with flag in Regent’s Park, of all places where the Provisionals pulled off the terrible bombing in July 1982, and then he droive over and sliced up as many as he could now.
What are theses uncover loons doing these days!
Electoral reform is the key that delivers the tactical voting Labour needs to win.
I am praying for a hung parliament where the SNP hold the balance of power.
That would be sweet revenge for the antidemocratic nonsense spouted by the unionist parties.
I most certainly dont want a conservative victory even if it would supposedly be good for the cause of independence.
An awful lot of irreversible damage can be done in a short space of time. Just look across the atlantic if you want to see evidence of that.
Prayer and hope are all thats left for the powerless.
The devil says:
“If its a hung parliament the Blairites will split, and support the Cons (minus May).
PM Fox anyone?”
Well that would certainly finish the union
I’m glad to see someone else thinks Fox is in the frame for replacing May. I suspect she’ll step down on June 12th (I think she’s currently just going through the motions) and he’ll be made leader of the Tories, but hopefully not in Number 10 selling off the nation’s firstborn to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s corporate clients.
You talk a lot of good sense, but I do wish you would stop equating a desire to leave the EU with racism
Craig used to call all Brexiteers “rascist”.
Now it’s just the “hard Brexiteers”.
If the word “hard” were not just a tactical addition one might think that Craig’s thinking has evolved……
++++++++++++++++++++++
Anyway, congratulations on your elegant way of admitting that Jeremy’s not going to swing it. Nothing like spotting silver linings. Problem is, they’re illusions.
“… a living organism, imbued with STRONG AND STABLE power, and thus suited to upholding an idea and paving the way for its success … For leading means: being able to move masses. The gift of shaping ideas has nothing to do with ability as a leader … I devoted myself to propaganda in the first period of my activity in the movement.” (my capitalisation)
I think the Overton window is more properly considered the Overton PROPAGANDA window. It guides the MSM in their appointed task.
Beware the long knives Mrs. May:
“If an organization is mechanically ordered from above, there exists a great danger that a once appointed leader, not yet accurately evaluated and perhaps none too capable, will from jealousy strive to prevent the rise of abler elements within the movement. The harm that arises in such a case can, especially in a young movement, be of catastrophic significance.”
The UK propaganda industry has fallen on its collective arse thanks to Corbyn and SNP campaigns:
“For this reason it is more expedient for a time to disseminate an idea by propaganda from a central point and then carefully to search and examine the gradually gathering human material for leading minds. Sometimes it will turn out that men inconspicuous in themselves must nevertheless be regarded as born leaders.”
There will always be willing psychopaths ready to torture and exterminate. Sometimes they wear suits, carry briefcases and learn to speak in soundbites. Governments predicated on oppressing the 95% naturally need many of these in key positions.
I look forward to the day when advanced brain scanners can detect these sick individuals so that they can be barred from holding any position of influence.
Quotes from Mein Kampf (Volume Two): The National Socialist Movement
CHAPTER 11: Propaganda and Organisation
I still struggle to understand why you support a nationalist party like the snp. That scenario is a death sentence and will most likely sway most voters from voting labour
Twisted !
What scenario ?
Only wished Scotland had been independent in 2008. With a banking sector twelve times the size of gdp the likes of RBScotland and HBOS would have gone the way of Iceland but worse. Jimmy Crankie never mentions this.
Bitter ?
Who let the banks run out of control, and who started the deregulation ?
Who sent a letter to Fred Goodwin?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16835023
You work with the info you have Fred.
I was recommending buying RBS shares at the time, lots of egg on face.
Alex Salmond didn’t deregulate the banks, but don’t let that get in the way of your rancour.
I remember Bloatus saying that Scotland should have an economy like Ireland and Iceland before the crash. An economic genius like Gordon Brown.
Labours Gordon Brown ?
The doom and gloom forecasts for Brexit are nonsense because its Brexit that enables the creation of a National Investment Bank, an end to austerity and the mickey-mouse accounting (PFI) promoted to stay within Euro membership rules in readiness to join when it was politically possible to do so. Indeed a Remain vote would have been the green light to join the Euro and then you would have had a hard-Remain.
Germany has a National Investment Bank. Brexiteers who lie to think of themselves as left wing continually like to produce imaginary lists of left wing things the EU stops you doing, in order to provide cover for their desire to stop Polish people living here.
Not many people care where Polish people live. Some may I really don’t know. Polish people living in the UK will interact with other people living in the UK – some of these interactions may be positive some may be negative. That is life.
Not many people living in the UK will have any interaction with Ukrainian fascists – and so no relationship will exist. I think it is a racing certainty that the number of people that would vote in favor of sending money to Ukrainian fascists would be statistically insignificant.
So instead of smearing vast swathes of ordinary people trying to go about their daily lives why don’t you explain why it is that the EU funds Ukrainian fascists and by extension forces its citizens to fund these people. Why don’t you tell people how expressing concern about the quantum of people living in the UK is racist but funding Ukrainian fascists is not racist.
After all if you contend that a majority of people are racist then they should be perfectly willing to voluntarily send money to Ukrainian fascists without being compelled to do so by the EU. Why not put it to the test? Better still why not invite a few batallions of the Ukrainian Right Sector to come and live near you – you can feel the love
Yes I did think just saying a National investment Bank was unclear, as I meant the ambitious multi-billions pounds plans for it proposed by Labour is now possible following Brexit.
Nice.
I will say it tells lot about “the country” when you dig into all the details (in a very superficial way). I won’t ever again hopefully, but yea…
..While helping out the Green party last time a candidate was saying how spirited and meaningful it is when your on the finish line, counting the votes or whatever, I thought he was insane.
Still happy to help out, play a part, get involved. But didn’t actually vote in that election.
Being* insane.
I keep track of Ron Paul’s website as, although the Libertarian economics are pretty oddball, I’ve always had great admiration for his stance on American foreign policy,
the little broadcast ‘Liberty Report’ he’s posted today is in his usual character and he actually shows open appreciation for Corbyns position on foreign interventions,
http://ronpaulinstitute.org/
I think this is good source material if you are trying to point out to a Tory voter that Corbyn is not alone or wildly left wing in some of his positions,
Agree. And seems clear who has the more isolated position.
Thanks for the link.
“7 countries”
He should have thought about that a bit before he put it in the context he did.
He dose sometimes say some ok stuff imo. But still a very political animal, which ends up confusing on many issues.
Have just seen the maddest interview ever on Channel 4. Sadiq Khan started well outlining the various stats on the reductions in police numbers, in armed police etc since 2009/10. He then claimed he’d told TM 13 months ago to increase numbers to keep London safe.
Interviewer asks is he saying May is to blame for all this. He says no. Eh?
Interviewer says so is he saying London is more dangerous due to Tory cuts?
He then says London is “safest city in the world”. Interviewer says if so why was he saying not enough police, armed police and accusing government of reducing numbers. Khan took on a look I can only describe as glaikit!
He insisted he’s been busy working over weekend with emergency services “and the government” for London. Ah, so that’s it. Khan, you see is scared stiff to say too much about May’s neglect because he’d rather protect her than agree with his own Party Leader! He’d rather do that than stand up for police and emergency services. He’d rather quote figures showing the neglect and then make himself look a complete pillock by refusing to lay the blame where it belongs because he seems more comfortable being detached from his own Party as Mayor of London.. I’d go further. I think he sees himself as part of May’s government. Bizarre!
I don’t think Sadiq Khan has ever had any interest in anything but himself.
Same applies to at least half of all politico’s Craig. 100% of the Blairites.
I think some plod gave JC the heads up on this Butt loon, hence the repeated call for TM to resign.
He couldn’t have been more visible as a potential attacker, short of walking around with a big Terrorist sign round his neck, and for years apparently.
Cue BBC downplaying, but even the dimmest can join the dots here.
‘Why Mrs May, was this guy not on the watch list?’
‘It takes a lot of resources to monitor individuals, we have to prioritize, blah, blah, magic money tree, blah, blah’
I was followed to-day by someone in a white Rangerover. These people are on 40K p.a. plus expenses. Why me?
It seems the “political will” is have the money tree drop mass surveillance fruit.
Recent events would point to a need for some to be kept an eye on.
T May has brought in cops from all over Britain to shore up London and Manchester.
So who’s now policing the rest of Britain, PCSOs and school dinner ladies?
There is no need to worry – neither thought nor work is required from the British. President Trump is doing your jobs for you. He is exposing the rank idiocy of the Mayor of London.
By extension he has basically forced Theresa May to also admit her own idiocy by claiming that Khan is doing a good job.
If the General Election choice is between Labour and Conservative then on the showing of May and Khan you can vote for either party and end up with an idiot in charge.
Jeremy Corbyn has accused May of acting in a subservient manner to the US President. Given that May said Khan was doing a good job and that Trump was wrong to attack Khan then it follows that Corbyn must believe that Khan is doing a band job and that Trump is correct to attack Khan. Some people may think that Corbyn and May have reversed their traditional roles with regard to this matter.
Oh what a tangles web we weave…
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-05/uk-outraged-after-trump-repeatedly-slams-london-mayor-risking-diplomatic-scandal
Corbyn has just spoken to a 10,000 strong crowd in Gateshead who stood in the pissing rain to hear him.
Three days before the election you probably won’t see it on BBC News.
Corbyn’s been doing that all his political life. Good choice for these times, moving beyond the corrupt media to talk directly to the people.
May, like Hillary, is more used to committee kinda stuff and easy TV interviews.
Bureaucracy.
Media have to hide the fact that both May and Hillary ran astroturf campaigns.
Faux audiences, forced audiences. Tiny audiences.
No real people involved.
https://opendemocracy.net/uk/brexitinc/adam-ramsay-peter-geoghegan/dark-money-driving-scottish-tory-surge
Surprise, surprise: two men and a dog Scottish Tory groups seem to have tens of thousands of pounds floating around from obscure sources.
To add to what Craig said the best thing about this election has been seeing so many good, honest and responsible members of the public get the opportunity to state their points on TV and make it clear that there is a massive opposition to the Tory project to destroy our society. Whatever happens on Thursday we must build on this and make sure our narrative is heard above the BBC/MSM propaganda.