Reply to: What's Cameron's game with the TV debates?

[minestrone]

Craig Murray failed the interview because he would have refused to follow the party whip. The question was merely rhetorical to find out what the candidates would do. The Scottish government has announced an end to the bedroom tax up here.

I just received through my door a flyer from the SNP promising to fight the bedroom tax.

Funny that.

[TheFaQQer]

Because if he forces Wallace out, he might have to face someone competent

Whatever he does with the debates isn't going to force a change of Labour leader.

If he runs away from them, he faces the risk that he'll be portrayed as chicken constantly until the election. Every time the Conservatives try to portray Miliband as too weak to rule, the response will be "if he's so weak, why were you running scared from a debate?"

If he faces Miliband at a meaningful debate and wins enough support to ensure that Labour are shown to be unelectable in the election, then Labour might well change leadership - assuming there are feasible candidates to replace Miliband. If he faces him in a debate and Miliband does well enough to convince enough people that Labour are a credible alternative, then Labour won't have to change leader because they'll be in power.

To suggest that Cameron won't debate Miliband because he's worried that they'll replace him with someone competent seems a tad far fetched, though.

[Batcher]

I can't put up with these imbeciles anymore.

Bye.

Better to leave the politics to the grown-ups anyway

[Batcher]

Welfare is not a devolved issue.

ScottishGovernment - News - Comment on Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments in Scotland: 1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014, published today, shows that councils made 101,000 awards of Discretionary Housing Payments, with a total value of over £46 million.

Commenting, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said:

“Discretionary Housing Payments are a lifeline for claimants who need extra help with housing costs or to offset the effects of the bedroom tax, which affects over 70,000 households. Using the new powers coming to Scotland, the Scottish Government will abolish the bedroom tax as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, the Scottish Government is providing £35 million this year, and the same next year, to councils to fully mitigate the bedroom tax. This funding is making a real difference with today’s statistics showing over 100,000 awards have helped people across Scotland avoid arrears or eviction.”

[TestMangler]

Well if I go any buy some beer today and the shop has a special on with a 50% reduction in cost would it be reasonable for the shop to claim they had put an end to beer duty?

Fookin morons the pair of you. I'm out.

And there he goes again......

Obviously, the Lithium he took last night has worn off.

[minestrone]

No, but the finding of the budget to mitigate it was. And that's what was done.

Well if I go any buy some beer today and the shop has a special on with a 50% reduction in cost would it be reasonable for the shop to claim they had put an end to beer duty?

Fookin morons the pair of you. I'm out.

[TestMangler]

Welfare is not a devolved issue.

No, but the finding of the budget to mitigate it was. And that's what was done.

[minestrone]

I can't put up with these imbeciles anymore.

[minestrone]

Craig Murray failed the interview because he would have refused to follow the party whip. The question was merely rhetorical to find out what the candidates would do. The Scottish government has announced an end to the bedroom tax up here.

Welfare is not a devolved issue.

[MicrosoftBob]

You'd have thought that Cameron would want the chance to brag about the record, while at the same time showing how bad Miliband is and how weak he is.

But if Miliband is so poor, why won't Cameron stand up and show that?

Because if he forces Wallace out, he might have to face someone competent

[TestMangler]

Actually saying on a BBC show beamed out to the whole of the UK that they would have a mansion tax in England to pay for 1,000 Scottish nurses is bound to help their chances in the Home Counties

And as the Spectator guy said, this is about the fourth time they've spent the 'mansion tax' money.

[Batcher]

Aye, that was amazing. Never thought I'd see that. I think the labour party, particularly in the central belt will take years to realise that shouting about heritage, shipyards, coal mines and saying we'll tax them rich bastards over and over again isn't going to wash with enough people any more.

Actually saying on a BBC show beamed out to the whole of the UK that they would have a mansion tax in England to pay for 1,000 Scottish nurses is bound to help their chances in the Home Counties

[Batcher]

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archi.../12/disbarred/

There are numerous tales of this behaviour going around, if the SNP follow labour's continuation of the bedroom tax which looks possible then there will be hell to pay.

Craig Murray failed the interview because he would have refused to follow the party whip. The question was merely rhetorical to find out what the candidates would do. The Scottish government has announced an end to the bedroom tax up here.

[TestMangler]

Yeah, thought it funny that Murphy didn't want to be there. Amazing that in a Yes city like Glasgow the Tories had a big chunk of the audience and Davidson got a better reception than The Dug.

Aye, that was amazing. Never thought I'd see that. I think the labour party, particularly in the central belt will take years to realise that shouting about heritage, shipyards, coal mines and saying we'll tax them rich bastards over and over again isn't going to wash with enough people any more.

[Batcher]

I now recall that Craig Murray was involved in some mess when he was in Ambassador in Uzbekistan.

The envoy who said too much | Politics | The Guardian

He was the one who whistleblew the fact the UK/USA were involved in rendition flights through there and also that the oil pipeline was the reason for the Afghanistan war.