chrisp65

On the radio yesterday evening they gave a new figure of 520,000 members and rising. That's more than they've had since forever and should be seen as a success. It certainly absolutely cannot be put down to 365,000 new members of the SWP signing up. But they hadn't accounted for new people joining a political party actually being interested in politics and having annoying left wing views. Previously, the ever decreasing membership was there in significant numbers because to get access to cheap beer and a skittle alley you needed to join a club. But the panic measure of stopping meetings just shows the lack of understanding of what they have. Locally, our Labour councillors have stopped engaging on social media. No official meetings. No 'Labour' leadership. However, similar to England with its Momentum grouping, this area has a grouping called Grassroots. Well they haven't been able to stop Grassroots members meeting and discussing things. So we now have no official traditional Labour communications. But the upstart Grassroots movement is still functioning. I'm not absolutely sure they've thought it through. I do not have a clue where they go from here. Other than hope they end up with a leader the media will tolerate, a support that votes for them regardless and the good fortune of a massive economic collapse under May's Brexit government.

I know, I know, this happens all the time where I live. We've got a colony of squirrels on the island and whenever they bring up a human baby it can just walk over twigs and gravel without shoes on. It's amazing to watch. It's the human babies brought up by seagulls I don't like though. Always shitting on my conservatory roof.

I guess the next question is, what the hell has happened to her smart phone that was there just minutes ago and now has 'just gone'?

Agreed, I thought the same thing, it was an impressive speech and it made me want to give her a fair chance. My wife actually said the same, and she's a hard left mentalist. My only two slight caveats, the queen's speech a few months ago set out a similar agenda of helping the underdog, the poor and those with mental health issues and they've done absolutely nothing since but have internal political larks. The other thing, is to remember most of them come in with a similar speech. Some have even quoted Francis of Assisi and said they would bring harmony where there was discord. Words were good. let's see the actions.

I hadn't appreciated it was going to be quite so analytical. I'd wandered in for some chit chat and an opportunity to remind myself of a rather pleasant evening watching my mates beat Porto a few years back. we used tiny goals and a packed defence

Imps had already beaten Flora Tallinn over two legs to get that tie against Celtic, scoring 3 goals along the way. How good are Flora Tallinn? Well as all good Scots know, there's only one team in Tallinn. Great to see the minnows mix it up a bit. Although if it happened too often, I guess they'd need to change the format.

it was a quick example off the top of my head that I knew as I was there, you may also wish to consider: 2012 - Partizan Belgrade 1:2 Shamrock Rovers 2011 - Llanelli 2:1 Dynamo Tiblisi

Where do they store Nicholas Witchell when we don't need to be told how old and regal and liked the queen is?

agreed, not relevant until the second leg and final aggregate score into perspective or you'd end up with people saying a mid summer CL qualifier in August 2002 which ended part part time Barry Town 3:1 FC Porto was a decent upset the 8:0 reverse in the other leg was a shame, but yeah, you know they put proper players out, Deco and his chums all played

No space for Ashley Williams? pfff

They've probably been there a while to be honest, she's just stopped shaving it.

I genuinely had to look him up and then thought I'd put a spin on the the usual 'who?'

Done nothing since Bittersweet Symphony and just trying to raise his profile.

Chrisp65 endorses this form of literal photography. Been all day trying to persuade a seller to sell me a tonearm he says is 'crap'. Bizarre turn of events, don't put it up for sale if it's too crap to sell....

worth checking out Labour membership numbers Trainspotters Porn Pre election, 'new' Labour got membership up to 400,000 once in power they impressed so much that they lost 60% of their members, finally getting the figure down to just 156,000. But not to worry, those missing 244,000 Blairites have recently been replaced, apparently, by a quarter of a million trotskyite infiltrators and mischievous tories. ---- then when you're done with the stats, it's worth checking out Frankie Boyle's column this week....

What if the rules are so poorly written they don't cover what to do with a sitting leader? I believe (but haven't checked) that fantastic middle of the road Ed Milliband changed the rules and specified that all challengers must have the backing of 20% of the MP's. But Corbyn isn't a challenger is he. He's the very popular incumbent leader that would very likely win if 'allowed' to stand. Ed's parting gift there, some fudge.

A parliamentary paper www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn05125.pdf gave Labour membership last year as 270,000. As of June 23rd this year it was at 395,000. So it doesn't take an Osbourne to work out that under Corbyn membership has risen by over one hundred thousand. Whilst it isn't easy to get hold of figures for membership of the SWP, their latest announcement was that they had 7,180 members. Some commentators would suggest the actual number is significantly lower than that. I think what we actually have here, is anyone with broadly left of centre views, anyone that doesn't like fracking, or trident, or paying for education, or austerity, or bailing out of banks, or go home vans, or TTIP is simply being described as SWP as a sort of short hand.

Well well, this is a pickle isn't it. Of the three possible candidates we have JC that the majority of his MP's don't like, won't follow and don't regard as any kind of leader. We have a man who's main selling point appears to be that nobody has heard of him. Plus we have Angela Eagle, who cried whilst announcing a week ago she was going to announce on Sunday her announcement of standing on Monday, but still couldn't get the media to turn up or other MP's to stand behind her. There's leadership. Then of course, we have party rules that have been re written and are unclear on what the rules actually are and might lead to a legal challenge from either side if the other side can / can't stand, because as everyone knows the majority of MP's are of a very different political hue and ambition to the vast majority of the paid up membership. Meanwhile, a grand total of two of them actually pitched up at parliament yesterday to do some parliamenting. Ouch.

I'd be interested to know what evidence or anecdote you have of Owen Smith's leadership qualities? In what areas does he compare favourably to Corbyn? Not a trick question, just don't know much about him and his voting record looks a bit thin. He didn't manage to make it to the Commons yesterday for the Wales Bill which was debated. Though to be fair, only 2 of the 26 Welsh Labour MP's did. Labour is dying on its arse here, and it's got nothing to do with Corbyn's abilities, it predates his leadership. They've just given up even turning up.

I've had an e-mail this morning to tell me the batteries in my remote thermostat are running low. Fair play to Hive, it's verging on the idiot proof. But I'm sure I can defeat it.