Are you following Scotland's upcoming vote on independence?
Sep 18th, 2014, 10:04 PM
#123
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I like how the media was not allowed to do exit polls. The U.S. needs to do that.
<i>They naes have it. You may all now plan your trips to Scotland--or not.</i>
The referendum mattered not one iota to me regarding my trip to Scotland.
<i>They naes have it. You may all now plan your trips to Scotland--or not.</i>
The referendum mattered not one iota to me regarding my trip to Scotland.
Sep 18th, 2014, 10:38 PM
#124
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The only ban on exit polls is on publishing them while the polling stations are still open. I think the logistics of doing one accurately might have deterred the main polling companies and media outlets from trying it this time. It's much easier to extrapolate from smaller samples for general elections because there's a track record of previous results for any given area; not so with an issue like this.
Sep 19th, 2014, 03:10 AM
#125
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Hi PATRICKLONDON,
"Forthcoming attractions: The Defenestration of Dave?"
Had to look this one up:
"The action of throwing someone or something out of a window: 'death by defenestration has a venerable history'."
Do you think Cameron is gone in next election-or before? Not sure how things work over there.
"Forthcoming attractions: The Defenestration of Dave?"
Had to look this one up:
"The action of throwing someone or something out of a window: 'death by defenestration has a venerable history'."
Do you think Cameron is gone in next election-or before? Not sure how things work over there.
Sep 19th, 2014, 03:54 AM
#126
lateday - slightly off topic, but on a visit to the Czech Republic, we were amused to be shown the site of the 2nd defenestration of Prague - obviously it has been a popular activity in some places.
Until the elapse of 5 years from the last election, when there has to be a general election anyway, Dave can only be got rid of in one of two ways [excluding death, which I don't think that many of the electorate favour at the moment] - someone forces a new election of the leader of the conservative Party, in the way that got rid of Maggie, and put John Major in charge, OR the current coalition government loses a vote of confidence in the HoC in which case Dave would have to "go to the country" aka go and see the queen and tender his resignation as PM, so the Queen would then dissolve Parliament, thus prompting a general election.
I found myself awake at about 4am so I stuck the radio on and listened to the results. It was quite exciting for about 10 minutes when they were coming in thick and fast, but after that it was a bit of a damp squib as the result was by then pretty clear.
The Yes team [or part of it] are apparently claiming that their loss was the fault of the media, especially the BBC, who didn't give them enough/proper coverage. IMO the lack of any convincing plan for what was going to happen after a Yes vote, coupled with the best speech Gordon Brown ever made in his life, had rather more to do with it.
perhaps we can now all get back to normal.
Until the elapse of 5 years from the last election, when there has to be a general election anyway, Dave can only be got rid of in one of two ways [excluding death, which I don't think that many of the electorate favour at the moment] - someone forces a new election of the leader of the conservative Party, in the way that got rid of Maggie, and put John Major in charge, OR the current coalition government loses a vote of confidence in the HoC in which case Dave would have to "go to the country" aka go and see the queen and tender his resignation as PM, so the Queen would then dissolve Parliament, thus prompting a general election.
I found myself awake at about 4am so I stuck the radio on and listened to the results. It was quite exciting for about 10 minutes when they were coming in thick and fast, but after that it was a bit of a damp squib as the result was by then pretty clear.
The Yes team [or part of it] are apparently claiming that their loss was the fault of the media, especially the BBC, who didn't give them enough/proper coverage. IMO the lack of any convincing plan for what was going to happen after a Yes vote, coupled with the best speech Gordon Brown ever made in his life, had rather more to do with it.
perhaps we can now all get back to normal.
Sep 19th, 2014, 03:56 AM
#127
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sparkchaser, I love how in France there were no signs or ads and the President was gone from office the next week. They had some fast packers. The stupid signs are everywhere in Fl for the November election. The tv ads are on nonstop.
I still think the uncertainty of money and fear mongering won this for the no party.
Lauren, this was not about planning a trip, this was about current events in a country we all care about and love.
I still think the uncertainty of money and fear mongering won this for the no party.
Lauren, this was not about planning a trip, this was about current events in a country we all care about and love.
Sep 19th, 2014, 04:26 AM
#129
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<i>If you want to discuss Scottish politics, there are places for that other than a travel board.</i>
People here that want to talk about it probably won't go join another forum just to talk about when the lounge is perfectly suited for off-topic discussions. If the topic doesn't interest you, don't read it.
People here that want to talk about it probably won't go join another forum just to talk about when the lounge is perfectly suited for off-topic discussions. If the topic doesn't interest you, don't read it.
Sep 19th, 2014, 04:45 AM
#131
I am still puzzled why this isn't an appropriate place to talk about the topic. Plenty of people are interested in discussing it, and this is a great place to get the perspective of people living in Scotland, the rest of the UK, and all over the world. There seems to be one poster who keeps telling folks to stop talking about it, and I can't think of one good reason why people who are here discussing it should stop.
This discussion is FAR more civil than similar posts about US politics. And I have learned a great deal by reading it.
This discussion is FAR more civil than similar posts about US politics. And I have learned a great deal by reading it.
Sep 19th, 2014, 04:54 AM
#133
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Nikki, I have also. I love getting real views from those that live there. The lounge has several threads going about it all but many can't use the lounge. It was Andy Murray speaking for the yes vote that caused a stir on twitter. Would he play for Britain or Scotland if the yes vote won. I have UK Boxers and have friends from both places. The UK kennel club would have been split. I just think it was history in the making and very interesting. Now for the healing to begin.
Sep 19th, 2014, 04:56 AM
#134
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Hi ANNHIG,
Thanks for your insight:
"IMO the lack of any convincing plan for what was going to happen after a Yes vote, coupled with the best speech Gordon Brown ever made in his life, had rather more to do with it [the YES vote]"
Not surprised that the YES side blamed the BBC. On this side of the pond, the conservatives blame the media for everything.
NIKKI, thank you for agreeing -
"This discussion is FAR more civil than similar posts about US politics. And I have learned a great deal by reading it." Somehow, Lauren is quite annoyed by it...
Thanks for your insight:
"IMO the lack of any convincing plan for what was going to happen after a Yes vote, coupled with the best speech Gordon Brown ever made in his life, had rather more to do with it [the YES vote]"
Not surprised that the YES side blamed the BBC. On this side of the pond, the conservatives blame the media for everything.
NIKKI, thank you for agreeing -
"This discussion is FAR more civil than similar posts about US politics. And I have learned a great deal by reading it." Somehow, Lauren is quite annoyed by it...
Sep 19th, 2014, 05:04 AM
#135
"The Yes team [or part of it] are apparently claiming that their loss was the fault of the media, especially the BBC, who didn't give them enough/proper coverage"
I heard Tommy Sheridan (?sp) on about that this morning. Apparently saying everything will be wonderful on independence is OK, but reporting that major Industry leaders are preparing to disinvest in event of a yes vote was just another example of BBC bias.
I wonder if the apparent tactic of "push for the vote from the heart, give as few details of what that will mean in real terms" actually backfired.
If there had been more detailed explanations of what it might mean e.g "we will need to put tax up by 3%, but this will be used to cover the NHS and recruit more troops to the Scottish military" I wonder if people would have been less uncertain over outcomes, so more likely to vote yes?
I heard Tommy Sheridan (?sp) on about that this morning. Apparently saying everything will be wonderful on independence is OK, but reporting that major Industry leaders are preparing to disinvest in event of a yes vote was just another example of BBC bias.
I wonder if the apparent tactic of "push for the vote from the heart, give as few details of what that will mean in real terms" actually backfired.
If there had been more detailed explanations of what it might mean e.g "we will need to put tax up by 3%, but this will be used to cover the NHS and recruit more troops to the Scottish military" I wonder if people would have been less uncertain over outcomes, so more likely to vote yes?
Sep 19th, 2014, 05:05 AM
#136
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I said on another thread that one women was scared yesterday because all foundation and research grants or at least the one she worked for comes out of London. They seem to hold the purse strings and that needs to change. I was watching BCC last night and all guest were no people. Is it like our Fox news. The UKMail did have some great pictures this morning. Just look at the pictures, I know the text can't be trusted.
Sep 19th, 2014, 06:38 AM
#138
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>>They seem to hold the purse strings and that needs to change.<<
But the issue there is whether or not the current funding formula for the Scottish government is over-generous (as, on a simple per capita basis it appears to be), and whether greater fiscal devolution to Scotland (.e., more taxation of Scotland by the Scottish parliament) would raise enough for whatever they choose to spend it on - bearing in mind that they already have power to levy additional local income tax to some degree, but haven't actually used it.
Or in the specific case quoted, whether university research funding from the Scottish government for Scottish universities only would be capable of being more or less generous than from the UK government - bearing in mind the relative sizes of the overall UK economy and budget and the Scottish economy and potential budget.
But the issue there is whether or not the current funding formula for the Scottish government is over-generous (as, on a simple per capita basis it appears to be), and whether greater fiscal devolution to Scotland (.e., more taxation of Scotland by the Scottish parliament) would raise enough for whatever they choose to spend it on - bearing in mind that they already have power to levy additional local income tax to some degree, but haven't actually used it.
Or in the specific case quoted, whether university research funding from the Scottish government for Scottish universities only would be capable of being more or less generous than from the UK government - bearing in mind the relative sizes of the overall UK economy and budget and the Scottish economy and potential budget.
Sep 19th, 2014, 09:08 AM
#139
flpab - I'm surprised at your saying that the BBC just had "nay-sayers" on board - they are obliged by their charter to be balanced and sometimes go to ridiculous lengths to be so, unlike the newspapers. [i see you've cottoned onto the Mail and its tricks!]
Patrick has summed up the problem in his normal masterly fashion. Scotland has traditionally done better per capita than some other parts of the UK eg Cornwall. They could not have continued to afford that if they were on their own without increasing taxes. It's worth remembering that the population of Scotland is only 5 million or so - half the population of london - with nowhere near the economic power, except from the oil, and goodness knows how long that will last. It was noticeable to me that Aberdeen, the major oil city in Scotland, voted strongly NO.
Lauren - what else is the lounge for, if not for discussing non-travel subjects?
Patrick has summed up the problem in his normal masterly fashion. Scotland has traditionally done better per capita than some other parts of the UK eg Cornwall. They could not have continued to afford that if they were on their own without increasing taxes. It's worth remembering that the population of Scotland is only 5 million or so - half the population of london - with nowhere near the economic power, except from the oil, and goodness knows how long that will last. It was noticeable to me that Aberdeen, the major oil city in Scotland, voted strongly NO.
Lauren - what else is the lounge for, if not for discussing non-travel subjects?
Sep 19th, 2014, 09:10 AM
#140
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<i>they are obliged by their charter to be balanced and sometimes go to ridiculous lengths to be so</i>
It gets so ridiculous that the BBC has to go to "fringe" folk in order to get the "balance".
Just watch any time climate change is brought up - invariably it's a scientist against some has-been politician
It gets so ridiculous that the BBC has to go to "fringe" folk in order to get the "balance".
Just watch any time climate change is brought up - invariably it's a scientist against some has-been politician
