+1 ... Increase in minimum wageOVERALL: -2/10. Broken promises and vacillations mount up over the parliament. This government will be looked upon as a crucial missed opportunity - to respond adequately to the recession, to the disaster of Syria, and to climate change.
-1 ... Greenest government ever? Yeah, right.
-1 ... Continuing spinelessness over Syria.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Coalition scorecard
It's been a while, largely because the coalition has settled into a sort of steady state of ongoing incompetence.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
On the left
There's a bit of an argument out there between Pablo at Kiwipolitico and Chris Trotter about the current shape of the left. I haven't been following it closely as I am heroically indolent and they use too many big words. But the jist is that Pablo thinks the left is effectively dead and Chris thinks it isn't.
I think that the left in the sense that Pablo intended has effectively perished and we're left (pun intentional) with a zombie left which is based on a series of compromises with capitalism. It makes me sad to here Ralph Miliband's son talking about "a more responsible capitalism" and reforming the banking system by introducing ... more banks. It's like Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past, saying that you can't win in gambling, but "There are ways to lose more slowly." That seems to be all that's left for the the left. Again, puns again intentional.
The Leninists used to say that while the evolution of society was historically inevitability, the revolutionary vanguard of the proletariat could be at hand to "lessen the birth pangs." Perhaps they got it the wrong way round and the only real function of the left was to administer palliative care to the dying corpse of humanity.
Unless Marx really was right all along (yeah, that pun was intentional as well) and at sun unclear point in the probably distant future the whole shoddy enterprise collapses and something new emerges. Though human history doesn't suggest much hope for revolutionaries building utopia in the rubble.
Well, that was cheerful!
I think that the left in the sense that Pablo intended has effectively perished and we're left (pun intentional) with a zombie left which is based on a series of compromises with capitalism. It makes me sad to here Ralph Miliband's son talking about "a more responsible capitalism" and reforming the banking system by introducing ... more banks. It's like Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past, saying that you can't win in gambling, but "There are ways to lose more slowly." That seems to be all that's left for the the left. Again, puns again intentional.
The Leninists used to say that while the evolution of society was historically inevitability, the revolutionary vanguard of the proletariat could be at hand to "lessen the birth pangs." Perhaps they got it the wrong way round and the only real function of the left was to administer palliative care to the dying corpse of humanity.
Unless Marx really was right all along (yeah, that pun was intentional as well) and at sun unclear point in the probably distant future the whole shoddy enterprise collapses and something new emerges. Though human history doesn't suggest much hope for revolutionaries building utopia in the rubble.
Well, that was cheerful!
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
The most important news story of the year
A first class performance and five fine away goals against Alloa Athletic have pushed Dumbarton up to fourth place in the SPFL Championship.
In a pulsating first half Sons went ahead early through Mark McLaughlin, following a period of concerted pressure on the home defence.
Chris Turner's close range header added a second on the half hour, before Chris Kane's penalty gave Dumbarton a three-goal cushion just before the break.
The visitors continued to dominate in the second half, but it was the Wasps who struck next through Kevin Cawley on 70 minutes.
A second goal for Chris Kane five minutes later effectively wrapped the game up for Dumbarton.
But there was more to come, as Sons went nap on 81 minutes through an amazing volley from Jordan Kirkpatrick (pictured).
The stunning 5-1 victory puts Dumbarton into the promotion play-off places in the second tier of Scottish football — the club's highest league position for nearly 20 years.
Link
My home team, yeh ken.
Rangers, down in what might be termed the third division, may have to up their game if they are to going to share a league with the Sons next season.
Monday, 20 January 2014
Quake
Never felt anything like that! We have a railway line running by our house, and I literally thought a train had derailed into the house.
It looks like the Big Eagle at the airport was as well secured as my wife's jewellery tree, which was also upended by the quake.
Where is "Health and safety gone mad" when you actually need it?
It looks like the Big Eagle at the airport was as well secured as my wife's jewellery tree, which was also upended by the quake.
Where is "Health and safety gone mad" when you actually need it?
Sunday, 19 January 2014
More (British) Polls!
Polls! More polls! I can't get enough polls!
Opinium:
CON 30%(nc)
LAB 36%(-1)
LDEM 8%(nc)
UKIP 17%(nc)
ComRes:
CON 30%(+1)
LAB 35%(-1)
LDEM 8%(nc)
UKIP 19%(+1)
Interesting that ComRes, Opinium and Survation all give the UKIP about 18% of the vote and a cocmparatively low Labour lead, while Populous. IPSOS Mori and YouGov record higher levels of Labour support and lower UKIP support.
It's like a contingent of Labour voters are somehow being recorded as UKIP supporters. I am sure there is some entrancingly dull methodological reason for it, and ther reason is probably more to do with weighting than actual flesh and blood voters; but it seems very bizarre that it would affect parties that are seen as at opposite ends of the spectrum, rather than close together.
If polling companies were showing was the Tories suffering to the UKIP's benefit, then it would be a bit logical; as it is, it is a bit mad.
As always, nuff respek to Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report.
Opinium:
CON 30%(nc)
LAB 36%(-1)
LDEM 8%(nc)
UKIP 17%(nc)
ComRes:
CON 30%(+1)
LAB 35%(-1)
LDEM 8%(nc)
UKIP 19%(+1)
Interesting that ComRes, Opinium and Survation all give the UKIP about 18% of the vote and a cocmparatively low Labour lead, while Populous. IPSOS Mori and YouGov record higher levels of Labour support and lower UKIP support.
It's like a contingent of Labour voters are somehow being recorded as UKIP supporters. I am sure there is some entrancingly dull methodological reason for it, and ther reason is probably more to do with weighting than actual flesh and blood voters; but it seems very bizarre that it would affect parties that are seen as at opposite ends of the spectrum, rather than close together.
If polling companies were showing was the Tories suffering to the UKIP's benefit, then it would be a bit logical; as it is, it is a bit mad.
As always, nuff respek to Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report.
Lord McAlpine dies
Lord McAlpine, a long term supporter of Margret Thatcher has died. He was the man briefly - and incorrectly - implicated in child abuse allegations in 2012. After a disgraceful trial by Twitter, it was confirmed he was innocent.
Several people - including smart people like George Monbiot - got into significant legal trouble over the accusations, but McAlpine opted to settle the cases out of court, requiring the offenders to carry out charity work or make donations to good causes.
That was profounded decent of him, and shows that he had a big soul.
David Cameron, however, decides to focus on his loyalty to the Tory Party, tweeting:
"My thoughts are with Lord McAlpine's family - he was a dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative party."
What a crap comment. Why not identify some of his noble qualities, rather than citing his slavish support of a mad woman and her corrupt cabal of sycophants?
Even I can think of better things to say about McAlpine that just praising his support for a political party - he demonstrated immense integrity and decency in the face of shocking and scurrilous accusations, and given the chance to exact revenge, chose not to take it.
Several people - including smart people like George Monbiot - got into significant legal trouble over the accusations, but McAlpine opted to settle the cases out of court, requiring the offenders to carry out charity work or make donations to good causes.
That was profounded decent of him, and shows that he had a big soul.
David Cameron, however, decides to focus on his loyalty to the Tory Party, tweeting:
"My thoughts are with Lord McAlpine's family - he was a dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative party."
What a crap comment. Why not identify some of his noble qualities, rather than citing his slavish support of a mad woman and her corrupt cabal of sycophants?
Even I can think of better things to say about McAlpine that just praising his support for a political party - he demonstrated immense integrity and decency in the face of shocking and scurrilous accusations, and given the chance to exact revenge, chose not to take it.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
British Polling Bonanza
I love british politics, because even between their gargantuan elections (where processing results takes a whole day, not the couple of hours required for a count in New Zealand) they have heaps of polls.
It's been something of a Super Friday for Sad People Who Follow Opinion Polls (i.e. me) with FOUR at once.
Populus:
CON 33%
LAB 40%
LDEM 13%
UKIP 9%
Ipsos MORI’:
CON 30%(-3)
LAB 39%(+2)
LDEM 13%(+4)
UKIP 11%(+1)
YouGov:
CON 32%
LAB 39%
LDEM 10%
UKIP 12%
Survation:
CON 30%(-1%)
LAB 34%(-1%)
LDEM 12%(+1%)
UKIP 18%(+2)
The degree of consistency is startling: only Survation stands out, with a lower Labour lead and a rather ludicrously high level of support for the UKIP. the others give Labour a lead between 7 and 9 points, rather weakening the suggestion that Labour's lead is evaporating in the face of good economic news.
MORI also asked some questions about possible coalitions in a future parliament, and the results are interesting:
The results for Labour suggest that the party should reconsider its stance of proportional representation. Its supporters would be as comfortable to see the party working with the Greens as with the Lib Dems; but it is an irrelevant question with only one Green in parliament. Embracing electoral reform would give them a coalition alternative, and would also strengthen their negotiating position with the Lib Dems.
The Lib Dem result suggests the Lib Dem voter is more right wing than he or she is typecast as, and undermines the myth that the Lib Dems are just an extension of the Labour Party. They might have been once, but now they seem to be more inclined towards supporting the Conservatives. This might be because they see the current coalition as successful, and / or because the left leaning Lib Dems stopped being Lib Dems when the coalition formed.
Hat Tip: Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report for compiling all this lovely data.
It's been something of a Super Friday for Sad People Who Follow Opinion Polls (i.e. me) with FOUR at once.
Populus:
CON 33%
LAB 40%
LDEM 13%
UKIP 9%
Ipsos MORI’:
CON 30%(-3)
LAB 39%(+2)
LDEM 13%(+4)
UKIP 11%(+1)
YouGov:
CON 32%
LAB 39%
LDEM 10%
UKIP 12%
Survation:
CON 30%(-1%)
LAB 34%(-1%)
LDEM 12%(+1%)
UKIP 18%(+2)
The degree of consistency is startling: only Survation stands out, with a lower Labour lead and a rather ludicrously high level of support for the UKIP. the others give Labour a lead between 7 and 9 points, rather weakening the suggestion that Labour's lead is evaporating in the face of good economic news.
MORI also asked some questions about possible coalitions in a future parliament, and the results are interesting:
-70% of Tory voters would support another coalition with the Lib Dems, only 40% would support a coalition with UKIP.
-62% of Labour supporters would support a coalition with the Lib Dems, 63% would support a coalition with the Greens.
-65% of Lib Dems would support another coalition with the Tories, 53% would support a coalition with Labour.The first suggests Conservative voters are probably less hostile to the Lib Dems than the Conservative Party in parliament is; and perhaps implies the typical Tory voter is more left wing and level headed than the frothing imbeciles he or she has to vote for. Conservative voters probably quite like the way the coalition is working, and appreciate the way the Lib Dems have moderated the lunatic right wing of the Conservative party in parliament. It suggests people - even Tories - are slightly less anti-Europe than they are portrayed.
The results for Labour suggest that the party should reconsider its stance of proportional representation. Its supporters would be as comfortable to see the party working with the Greens as with the Lib Dems; but it is an irrelevant question with only one Green in parliament. Embracing electoral reform would give them a coalition alternative, and would also strengthen their negotiating position with the Lib Dems.
The Lib Dem result suggests the Lib Dem voter is more right wing than he or she is typecast as, and undermines the myth that the Lib Dems are just an extension of the Labour Party. They might have been once, but now they seem to be more inclined towards supporting the Conservatives. This might be because they see the current coalition as successful, and / or because the left leaning Lib Dems stopped being Lib Dems when the coalition formed.
Hat Tip: Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report for compiling all this lovely data.
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