Awol

Glenmorangie. Mother in law is down so slowly drinking myself into a single malt oblivion. Tasty though.

Negative equity ‘to reach 2 million’ Interesting that Government are making noises about pressuring banks not to reposses homes when Northern Rock are doing so at twice the rate of public sector banks? Could that be because the quality of their loan book is so poor - more sub prime type mortgages than other banks? It's a nice thought but how could it work in reality without actually preventing a recovery in the financial system? The other interesting thing from this article is that Darling/Brown plan to spend our way back to prosperity which inevitably means massive tax rises further down the road. I reckon Labour won't put tax up before an election in the hope of leaving the whole thing for the Tories to sort out. 'Slash and burn' springs to mind.

Snowy, have you been posting in morse?

Fair enough Daz we'll agree to disagree but I think people have a responsibility to vote in some form or other even if it's the old 'non of the above' trick. The fact that you choose not to participate for whatever your considered reason may be is not picked up by anyone but yourself and is therefore in my humble opinion, utterly pointless.

Not really Daz, the numbers of spoiled ballots are recorded.

by whinge presumably you mean discuss? :winkold: I personally would turn up, my vote would be spoiled as follows .. None of the above X Fair play and without wishing to sound like everyones grandad, too many people have fought and died for our right to express a choice and if that is to spoil your ballot then as far as I'm concerned you have participated. We get precious little chance to influence the way we are governed as it is and should use it at every opportunity, particularly people who are clearly intelligent and switched on to the world around them. Doing nothing is little better than being another clueless and reality TV hypnotised mong imo, though I stress that is not aimed at anyone posting on this thread.

As it stands I'd vote Tory, then bitch about them for the next four years :-) I do think Cameron is a bit of a removed word but at least his lot would be competent. If Nick Clegg got hit by a bus and Huhne or Cable took over I'd think about voting Lib Dem. Also agree with kidlewis that people who don't even turn up at the polling station have no right to whinge about politics. IMO.

Now the Scotland Office Minister David Cairns has jacked it in citing Gordon's 'leadership'. Oh dear, if he wasn't such a c unit I could almost pity the bloke.

It's like watching the suicide squad in the Life of Bryan. Is there nothing the party members themselves can do if the PLP are set to self destruct mode?

Although I'd very much like to see them out of government at the moment I strongly agree that the reduction of the Labour Party on the scale being touted by some commentators would be a very bad thing for the country in the longer term. It is of course in the hands of Labour MP's and more specifically those ministers with the influence to give Gordon the push required. I hope one of them mans up and does the dead before any such action becomes a moot point.

good to see Jon showing the caring face of Conservatism trying to make fun from a guys physical characteristics Oh the fun that right wing bring and their caring attitudes Call a spade a spade Ian and he is a slack jawed idiot. Good to see one his own - now former - party whips calling for a leadership election too, bet you're looking forward to the party conference!

Even Polly Toynbee is putting the boot into the slack jawed idiot now So long, fair well... I suspect the only relaunch Labour MP's would like to see Gordon make is into space..

Property market to remain stagnant until 2010

Didn't they effectively right off the first 3 billion a few weeks ago as non-recoverable? Expect there will be plenty more too but the public purse should just keep shelling out according to Ian - unless of course you are, for example, a young couple who felt they had to get onto the ladder 18 months ago and are now facing real trouble. Let's face it they're just mugs, not like those clever men in suits.

Thanks for not answering my point at all. You back the banks ( NR) but think individual borrowers should be punished for being stupid. How very socialist of you Ian. I agreed with you that Thatcher started the problem but then said Labour have only deepened the problem which you ignore - blinkers eh? They've had ten years and three election victories to do something about it but they haven't, in fact the situation is worse now than in 97. Stop trying to pass the buck and realise that 10 years in government equals responsibility for the state of things today.

Aren't you making the same argument that you specifically opposed in relation to Northern Wreck, that is to say why should the public have to bail out irresponsible lenders who got themselves into trouble? It's surprising that you back the banks but not the man in the street. Be honest the only thing underpinning [extreme irony mode]Gordon's economic miracle [/off] was a massive debt bubble that they positively encouraged. Trying to blame Thatcher for this governments feck ups is fairly weak mate tbh, yes she started the rot but what have Labour done to address it? Nothing.

Cleese. A comedy genius.

Yep, agree with that entirely. 8-10 usually means nice bum and legs which I'd take over 12-14 with big funbags everytime.

The rumour - and it's in the public domain - is that they are already flying over Birmingham and trying to intercept voice print matches for Talibrum fighters recorded by the Nimrods in Afghan who have since come 'home'. Also doing the same thing 'oop North in the Leeds/Bradford area. I'd be surprised if the intention was to eventually use them as a replacement for plod on the street (purely because of the cost element of buying, operating and maintaining huge numbers of UAV's) but I guess you'd be silly to rule anything out these days.

Don't worry folks, Gordo is going to give us a stamp duty holiday to kick start the housing market. How? He's going to borrow even more money!! Something about being another day older and deeper in debt... Useless fecking tool of a man.

Snowy Dare I mention *cringes* pop idol politics?!! Tune in next week for the Westminster edition of It's a Knock Out when David Miliband will attempt to drown the PM in his own drool. C units, the lot of 'em.

I'm actually very excited to see who the replacement for Barry could be. With the goals scored last season I'm not really worried about our attacking options even sans the model pro. We've added a bloody great keeper and as long as we have a good back four by 1st of September - which I'm sure we will - I'll remain confident that we can knock f*** out of all comers bar Manure. I wouldn't have said that two years ago even with 10 pints of ale in me.

General, I think you all still have the full support and confidence of the vast majority of Villa fans, who I believe share my embarassment and bewilderment at the comments of a lunatic fringe. Many thanks and keep up the great work.

I voted yes for a few simple reasons. 1) As a team we are streets ahead of where we were when MON and Randy took over. 2) We have UEFA Cup football again and have achieved Europe two years into a five year plan which I reckon is ahead of schedule. 3) That five year plan was intended to build a team around the talent of Barry and his actions this summer have, I think, de-railed the carefully laid plans of MON. That is why this window looks a bit bonkers at the moment but ALL of the statements coming from the club recognise the same facts that we do - we need numbers and quality in serveral positions and are doing our best to get them, while also possibly adjusting some targets to cope with the loss of GB. Fine, it makes sense and I'm happy to accept that and let them get on with it. 4) Yes it would be nice to have everything done and dusted by now - and four players in is not a bad start - but I recognise the market doesn't operate to benefit AVFC and things will happen when they happen. Neither you, I or anyone else bleating about it wont make any difference so why become semi hysterical? ( that is not directed at any individual just an observation of some peoples apparent thought processes.) In short a little more composure and objectivity would go a long way to cheering up those who are currently upset, which I'm not, at all.

Sorry Jon but why should he sack him? and Spineless - sorry that does not make any sense Hi Ian. By spineless I mean weak, indecisive, a ditherer if you will. All the evidence of his Premiership to date indicate those character traits (election that was abandoned, 10p tax cave in, referendum etc etc etc). Miliband has been positioning himself for a leadership challenge, what otherwise was that article he wrote in the Guardian about if not his vision for Labour? if Brown really was a leader he'd stamp his authority on the situation and sack or demote him. My opinion is that he is too weak to act decisively and will put decisions (and reality) on the back burner in the hope of limping to the party conference in September. If he makes it through August I can see him going for a strategy of appeasement and promoting Miliband in the reshuffle. It is looking bad for them though Ian, even Harriet Harperson has had to deny she's plotting, as has Jack Straw. No smoke without fire? The ship is sinking and the rats know it, so the real question is whether any of them have the courage to save their party from electoral oblivion. Not sure what your point is unless it was a little dig at me? In fun, obviously :winkold: