There is an extraordinary betting market for London mayor. Ken is a strong favourite with Boris unfeasibly close behind. But the other three Tory hope-fools are not quoted while various non-runners are there. Strange.
Another day it seems, another half arsed economics story from Guido. The twisted chart at the top is literally distorted but purports to show a massive rise in residential repossessions. In fact it shows a fairly modest rise in residential repossessions. From about 270,000 five years ago to about 280,000 one year ago. This is around a 4% change. And I think there may be a gag behind this. Involving speculating rentiers losing their shirts in an over egged buy to let market.
I've humbly requested that Mr GuF finds out how many repossessions are plural as MY co-conspirators tell me that there are quite a lot of small but rather dim property investment companies going down.
As Mr Marx might say: "Ahhh, bless. Poor little rentiers. Some unearned losses now after all those unearned profits."
Clearly the underlying issue of repossessions is very real and very serious for those concerned. But clumsily or deliberately twisting a chart, starting it just after the worst ravages of the Tory years, and presenting a c 4% variation from the modal figure of the last 10 years as an "explosion" is really yet another GuF "Lurch to the Crap".
The not exactly twisted chart beneath it is already superceded by events. This supposedly shows 10% off the "value" of everything as measured by some responsible gamblers aka fund managers and institutions, and beyond these some speculating tossers who talk up scares - on their blogs and the like - manipulate the responsible ones, often bound by sensible, cautious rules, bet on their predictable behaviour, and then make 10% on their money in 30 days as predictably enough the FTSE does this:
Always remember; the value of blogs may go down as well as up. As Dizzy says, shares-wise the story is clearly BUY BUY BUY. And as LOL says, blog-wise Mr GuF has been struggling to keep his head above water after a series of serious reversals on his "nap" stories. Back to the nappies mate. They can be full of it too.
Dr Yasmin Zalzala and LOL have begun a dialogue on this post about experiences of the race card in both selections and elections.
Yasmin was usurped as Man Wit PPC by John Leech who had been her agent in 2001 as they overtook the Tories and created a platform for an unlikely but as it turned out successful challenge on Labour's Keith Bradley. Leech got to do it at least in part because some so far unnamed Lib Dem activist, officer, and possibly candidate circulated a memo suggesting that as an Iraqi Refugee Muslim Woman Yas had four attributes to prevent her electoral success.
The Lib Dems believe they have expelled her from membership in the fall out from this and she did stand as an Independent in 2005 but I believe Yasmin still believes she is in membership.
In her parliamentary elections - two Westminster, one Brussels - she had no experience of any trading on these things from opponents but Yasmin did receive reports of some stirring in local government elections.
Clearly we had some communalist action within and around the Labour Party in the case of the Ealing Southall By-election. And there was an extraordinary incident in the Bethnal Green and Bow selection when one of the women who did not make the cut tried to orchestrate a candidate strike.
I was able to report various example of Lib Dems at these tricks in Manchester:
- A Focus leaflet in Clayton which had an unusual facial hair style feature suggesting the Labour candidate's moustache was somehow related to Saddam, Zapata and/or Stalin;
(I'll dust off the archive sometime)
- A couple of Lib Dem councillors being caught referring on several occasions to a Labour candidate as "kebab boy" in reference to a former job of this graduate professional;
- A Lib Dem Equality Spokesman claiming that Lib Dems were, ahem, whiter than white over Yasmin's de-selection as PPC and in every regard, when also appearing in a communalist Urdu-language advertisement;
(Also all present and incorrect in the LOL archive)
But, enough of our examples. What are the worst examples of race card play, communalism and the like in selections and elections. From opponents or indeed your own party?
Is Yasmin on the money when she suggests "ethnic cleansing" in our politics? Or is that an expression too far?
Durham get Hampshire on 0-2 after two balls. With Steve Harmison's substitute Otis Gibson momentarily on a hatrick. And meanwhile Spurs get to 2-0 after just six minutes after a miserable start to the season.
UPDATE: Trevor Jesty, the third umpire, considers overturning the first umpire and giving old Creepy Crawley out which would have left Hampshire on 6-3. The R5 Sports Extra team thought Otis was out and Jesty wrong.
UPDATE II: Otis Gibson gets Peterson for his third. Though it should be four.
Oh I don't know. Just get up to make a cup of tea and the Art Department produce an image of how David Hennigan wishes to be seen by others (left) and how he sees himself (right).
He feels that being called a Fib Dem on a leaflet is a badge of honour and should be used as a morale boost.
David also claims that if they'd had "two more weeks" the Lib Dems would have won in Sedgefield. Really, he does insist that that is the case. Though it is pretty hard to come up with a by-election which was known about to 99% certainty, including the likely range of dates, so very many months in advance. A three month never mind three week by-election window.
I'm looking forward to browsing all the Sedgefield by-election leaflets. Ealing Southall ones are up. Lib Dem ones Here. What a lot of leaflets one can get printed for the permitted budget these days!
It is about time someone stuck up all the Manchester Withington 2005 leaflets at the sister site too ... any offers?
PS Incidentally the Labour leaflets in Ealing Southall DID NOT run the 12 Things You Didn't Know About Lib Dems kind of attack David is complaining of. Horses for courses I guess.
Alert readers may remember that a young and beautifully woven Mao has pride of place on my bathroom wall. One day I'll post a picture of it. Believe me our hero looks plucky, pure and powerful. On the mountain. Tho' with a precautionary brolley, something that it must be said fellow seeker comrade Moses did not flaunt.
Please pay no attention to my priestly neighbour if she again runs from our house - having used the facilities - that this, and the huge Gorby (with kittens) in the kitchen, never mind the East German and Welsh Language items, makes ours a communist household. Heaven forfend! Though we are of course a nest of moderately militant atheist, humanist, internationalist, pragmatic socialists.
Dave Osler - also once thought to be a bit of a lefty, despite his rather bourgeois employment - worried recently about China's progress.
Certainly eggs have been repeatedly broken, sadly in their millions at times, during the People's Republic's omelette making. But these days things ain't all bad.
When I was just 17 I was lucky enough to go "on tour" to India, under the auspices of the British Council. Even back then things were beginning to pick up in the former colonies.
I saw a dying nine year old the size of a three year old. Which was a confirming of the expected experience for a child like me, rather than the sort of shock-horror that some of the "grown ups" with us seemed to affect. Didn't they read the papers or watch the news?
Then, strangely, I was uplifted and encouraged when I talked with a family of beggars.
The father with a monstrously mangled leg and a gaping hole where one third to one half of his face had once been. In other words maintaining singular eye contact meant a not so peripheral vision of the inside of his head. But his kids ... who were also career beggars ... were not deliberately maimed in any way. Progress 1975 style. Dad knew. Things could only get better. Their own kids are most likely begging on clever clogs blogs. Progress.
I saw a dying adult "privileged" to pass away, rather abandoned and solitary, but in a clean gutter. That was within Mother Saint Teresa's "Prem Dam" home In Calcutta. A former ICI base now dubbed "Gift of God". Mother Teresa was not in that day. Off on her travels I expect. But she had delegated to a keen crew. So that was fine.
The population of Calcutta then was 15 million. But only 9 million were "on the books". If you didn't have a lintel you were not counted. Though there was a lot of elective-for-comfort outdoor sleeping - according to our hosts anyway.
We mostly stayed with pillars of the Brit ex-Pat community. My host was in charge of Brooke Bond - Fray Bentos in India. Fresh from Daar-es-Salaam. We lived for ten days in a luxurious Penthouse on Shakespeare Street, A street which had run with random Bengali blood in partition times.
Fray Bentos incidentally were then making Corned Beef in India as well as in home town Uruguay and wherever they could blag some cows and bullocks. I'm not sure they still are doing this in India. The googling is showing Brooke Bond-Liptons being an Indian run company these days. But no sign of the current shredded-holy-cow-meat-division inc.
Anyway, in a turn of events that would surely challenge the would-be saviours of the sick bullock Shambo, "that Corned Beef ting" was going on in India back then, despite all the sacred cows and shiboleths.
The only challenge was to organise the shifts for everyone's various sabbaths and to arrange the correct slaughtering of Shambo's rellies in line with each sensibility. Then get the proceeds in the tins and to market PDQ.
But I digress. Only around 1% of the population of India then was middle and upper class and paid taxes. 32 years ago. Now the proportion is around 30%. Up 30 fold in one sense. Or down from 99 to 70% poor in another.
I'm digressing again. If China does as well in going quickly from 1% to 30% - and it probably will do, say three times quicker - then one half of a billion people there could be doing OK (and admitting it) by 2017.
More people than there are altogether in the US of A or Europe SORTED OUT from being in penury to being financially OK in 10 years to go with 300M in India in the last 30 years and likely another 300M there in the next ten years.
So do we deal with these absolute numbers? Or with proportions?
How long did it take in UK to go from 1% to 30% being financially OK? Or even having a vote? Clearly 100% being OK in 10 years would be better. But when has that happened anywhere?
I'm not approving of China's many growing pains. Still less a Maoist Communist.
But I'm just uncertain on the idea that we should respond with desperate despond to these kinds of numbers.
This show truly is the post modern Parkinson. But mostly excellent.
There was a time when John Leech Watch was useful and interesting. Sadly that time may now be well past. The last "strand" (as linked) was started early in June. Ten weeks ago.
It has been utterly undisciplined and strayed off "topic" regularly. It is now closing on 400 posts. A world record. Hurrah! Most of them from HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE! Or less as some "are legion".
John Leech needs watching of course. He is good for nothing. Or at least for hardly anything. Miserable whining and irrelevant EDM signing he does. But having "the usual suspects" chasing their tails round and round? Pretty pointless.
Is John Leech Watch now performing the same function as the classic den of thieves for wild eyed Withington Lib Dem apologists?
These desperate hold outs are still claiming the Christie Hospital really was under threat of closure, even though John Leech MP beat off the threat just ONE WEEK after being elected?
That old people would be falling into abandoned graves at Southern Cemetary? How we laughed!
That poor Lib Dem supporting squirrels and pigeons are about to be replaced with multi-storey millionaire socialist property developers in a South Manchester park?
There is one ray of hope these last few days. Dr Yasmin Zalzala - who was the Lib Dem PPC in 1997 and 2001 (and 1999 for Europe), making good progress in closing down and overtaking the Tories - has started teasing.
Let's hope she finally spills the beans on the despicable way she was (by all accounts) treated by our perfidious Manchester Lib Dems.
Seems Cllr Alexis was cook for a day at the Heathrow climate camp. Chopping wood, mushrooms and garlic. Which sounds a bit high on Carbon and roughage both? Hat tip Mr Watson.
BNP Dave (Bournmouth Nationalist) is cock a hoop. Two Asian men, who broke into the natural BNP gangster monopoly on grooming and working underage girls, have been convicted.
I'm not sure how. But apparently this proves that the BNP are NOT liars and criminals. BNP Dave knows best I suppose. But how does that work?
Dear "BN" aka "BNP Dave"
Can you please tell your readers:
(1) the total number of men convicted for grooming in the last 12 months;
(2) the proportion of these that are white, black, yellow, brown, asian - but anything but muslim;
(3) the total number of men and women convicted for level 4 and 5 images in the last 12 months;
(4) the proportion of these that are white, black, yellow, brown, asian - anything but muslim;
(5) the total number of men and women convicted for producing and disseminating level 4 and 5 still images and equivalent videos in the last 12 months;
(6) the proportion of these that are white, black, yellow, brown, asian - anything but muslim;
Then recant your ridiculous story and stop waving your filthy white BNP willies at us about this.
Anecdotal evidence is ... NOT evidence.
Statistics can be misused but most of the time it would be more relevant to point out that say - and I'm completely guessing - that 300 sad men were convicted on grooming, 100 grooming towards prostitution, and 3,000 on images in the last 12 months and that 99.9% of all these were potential if not actual BNP voters, and not muslims.
Thanks.
Chris Paul
[Sorry to use real name and that. Know it is not something you fascists do.]
Picture (right) shows Robert Cottage who was recently convicted and given a desultary sentence for collecting 23 bomb making chemicals in his outhouse. As he is white he cannot now be a pimp or a child groomer and although convicted of bomb making and admitting planning assassinations BNP Rob has not ever pimped an underage girl ... or boy ... and been caught at it. Same goes for the BNP Soho nailbomber.
Meanwhile the chap at the top of the post may look barmy and damaged - he is. He may also look a bit brown, but he isn't. He's white and proud of that. He says he is not a Muslim. This means - according to the BNP - that he is not a kiddy fiddler or a man who grooms young girls for prostitution. They are all brown Muslims. At least 0.01% are. Well done mate!
Boff is serious and a slasher, ruddy Borwick is into detail except where vagueness serves better, and lightweight Warwick wants to be Chair of the Arts Council or the Design Council or the Tourist Board. Something or other. Not Mayor anyway.
Bozzer will surely have some ideas soon?
The BBC has a story that certain Labour members, uncertain New Statesman readers, and anyone game for a laugh is piling in to the Tory mayoral primary to stop Boris.
Who on earth would want to stop him? I'm Backing Boris for candidate, who could resist his bumbling? :Back Boris for Mayor of London ... Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my campaign site.
I’m busy working on finalising my priorities for London and pulling together the talented individuals who will make up my campaign, and that includes you. If you have specific areas of interest or knowledge where you think you can help, please do get back in contact via info@backboris.com.
London is, without a doubt, the greatest city on the planet. However, I believe it can be greater still.
Looking forward to putting a smile back on the face of Londoners ... Boris
The idea that Labour might disrupt the Tory selection as Tory Boy Bloggers suggest and STOP Boris being the candidate is quite extraordinary. Even Warwick who is seeking some different job is more of a threat. And Boff would be a real threat, reminding of old Robocop in the North East. Ruddy Vicky too. Boris Johnson is just a joke entry who will embarrass the Tory Party into oblivion. This fact has won LOL's support.
The fact it is a New Statesman blog witterer and some funseekers rather than "The Labour Party" when the links are perused shows just how floppy and sloppy the TBB's are on fact checking.
Have Labour managed to select any muppets at open selections for Tory candidates up and down the country? Requiring a mere handful of voters? NO? This being so how are they going to overcome the deathwish London Tory party?
Silly Standard. Silly story. Silly TBBs. Up with "man has drink at drinks party". In the Express and the Standard btw Coleman gave evidence of Ian Blair's drunkeness in the form of the allegation that he had been witnessed drinking a glass of wine rather quickly after his speech. Wow!
This is something I did the last time I spoke after a dinner, having stayed more or less temperate up to that moment.
Hardly a dead giveaway of wreckless drunkeness in a free country. Clearly if Sir Ian Blair messes up his work through drink that's another matter. But being squiffy every now and then at a function when the Met continues to improve significantly on most critieria? Not something we'd see in Manchester. But acceptable for second class London.
Good to see Iain Dale staying arms length from some silly smears and innuendoes from the loathsome Tory neantherdal Brian Coleman. The latter has used a New Statesman blog post for a rambling - almost inebriated sounding - string of generalisations about public figures, perceived as being "lefties".
Assuming Iain Dale remains tea total this is not one of the smear he will ever need to defend on his own behalf. But imagine the outrage if it were a commentator of the left saying Boris is unfit for office as he once got sozzled, or Cameron should be hounded out of parliament as he once got high, or that Osborne can't get tax sums right since he overindulged once at conference?
Reading his blog - this Brian Coleman seems to be a nasty arsey old Tory dinosaur who is by turns censorious (of the left) and libertarian (when it comes to the right).
He will allow ALL politicians to take a drink too far at a party conference, even excusing or laughing at or egging on perhaps a rather serious sounding sexual assault by a Tory MP which if involving a predatory hetero Labour MP rather than a predatory homo Tory one would very likely involve some more naming and shaming or at least another gurt dollop of innuendo.
Meanwhile Coleman generalises on the theme of the supposed general drunkeness of three London figures from some loosely alleged third hand and third rate drunken moments or in one case a supposed "well known" medical condition.
Was this "methodist" high Tory Thatcherite actually drunk when he dribbled this nonsense out? Do the New Statesman actually pay for such a garrulous, petty and careless correspondent to vent low rent jibes and gibberish of the worst kind?
They should sack him not give him a column.
Let us not forget that while Ken clearly enjoys the odd glass of red Bozzer and Cam and Oz are stalwarts of a despicable drinking and dining club which kills fox cubs by "stoning" with empty champagne bottles, thrashes restaurants willy nilly and generally engages - to this day - in behaviour that makes a slurring Mayor, a troubled Transport guru, or even a stumbling copper seem like a complete non story.
Nasty man this Coleman. Tell us about some top Tories and some illegal drugs Brian. Or more on this predatory pederast. But forget "man gets tipsy at drinks party" as this is down there with "dog bites man".
Iain Dale tells us once again how the Tories are the Party for Gay Rights! LOL respond firstly :
Goodness me. That old Cameron vs Brown gay rights voting record nonsense? How queer!
The people of Brighton are way too Bright to be taken in by that hogwash. As Bob says going for the pink vote in Brighton is one thing but it is not sadly balanced by the same tub thumping in Witney, Congleton and Macclesfield.
And secondly on reading more comments:
News of Newmania's move to Lewes coupled with that Town's fine record of rabid bonfire bigotry brings a smile to my face. This cannot be said for the Young Tories, or Young Farmers or Young Idiots entry in the St Columb Major Carnival Parade last evening.
Would have done well in Lewes though, and on the Tory Clause 28 Stand at Brighton Pride too.
20 drunken idiots cross dressed in hijabs clutching carpet off cuts for occasional prayer miming and "comedy" names like "Miss Poppidomistan" on lollypop signs. How we laughed!
You're right Iain, the (Tory) right in this country has been put to the sword good and proper.
My friend Wilson always had more pies going on than fingers. He died on Friday evening of a heart attack while under treatment for a particularly vicious cancer. I will be back to blog more on his 57 years of go-getting for Manchester, Music and Mayhem. What can I say? Wilson's funeral will be the hottest ticket in town. It will probably have a FAC catalogue number.
Scribbler Paul Morley today in the Observer, snapper Kevin Cummins in the same paper, bare life facts and book of tributes via the Manchester Evening News
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