Another example: Corbyn turned down doing debates. May wasn't going to be there. Amazing chance on national TV to begin each answer with "I'd thank the prime minister for her thoughts on tbis, but she isn't here" or somesuch, and get a superb platform to build from. The rewards outweigh the risk massively, but he isn't taking it.

Rudd did this very well, yesterday.

If you like grasping at straws, and I do (it's the only way to keep sane some days), I remember around 2004/2005 reading many articles and books about the death of the Tory party and the unbeatableness of New Labourism. 15 years earlier those books would have been about Labour. The wheel will turn eventually.

It's where they keep going wrong. They aren't getting the (any) message across. In 2015, they didn't stand up to the "Labour smashed the economy" claims, well enough (if) at all, the referendum campaign was far too low key, and, now, the message is Abbott's interview. There doesn't seem to be an effictive comms policy.

I think I've made that point, like, twice now.

So what is a rubber button?

The Labour party may have selected a record number of female candidates (41%) to fight June’s general election, but not in Shipley, where the Women’s Equality party is trying to unseat the divisive Tory incumbent, Philip Davies.

Female Labour party members in the West Yorkshire seat are threatening to vote for Walker after Labour decided to field the same man who lost last time to the divisive Tory incumbent, Philip Davies.

The split in the local party opened up on Wednesday when Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) chose Steve Clapcote, a lecturer at Leeds University, to fight Davies, who beat him by 9,624 votes in 2015, winning 50% of the ballot.

A number of members have written to the local constituency Labour party (CLP) suggesting Labour form a progressive alliance to stop Davies. They want the party to join the Greens and step back to help Sophie Waker, the leader of the Women’s Equality party (WEP), who announced ten days ago that she would be contesting the seat.

Agree. Giving up free airtime is stupid. His supporters keep on saying that the media misrepresent him, but here's a chance to have complete access to the broadcasters and control the agenda, and he declined. Yes, the other parties might start turning on him, but he could use that to his advantage. But no, better to stay away and have the real fight on the streets.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/jeremy-corbyn-has-ditched-newspaper-journalists-on-the?utm_term=.giZB69kkA#.qqQQqYDD8

Agree. Giving up free airtime is stupid. His supporters keep on saying that the media misrepresent him, but here's a chance to have complete access to the broadcasters and control the agenda, and he declined. Yes, the other parties might start turning on him, but he could use that to his advantage. But no, better to stay away and have the real fight on the streets.

Oh, it's "unique circumstances".

Oh, it's "unique circumstances". Perhaps those unique circumstances are a combination of the worst leader and worst shadow front bench in living memory?

This morning I saw a photo of Mr Trump and Republican congressmen celebrating taking healthcare away from people in the US and it quite put me off my breakfast. Domestic politics in another country shouldn't bother me so much, but this one does because it's so dam brazen.

But hey, at least UKIP is disappearing.

Silver linings...

This morning I saw a photo of Mr Trump and Republican congressmen celebrating taking healthcare away from people in the US and it quite put me off my breakfast. Domestic politics in another country shouldn't bother me so much, but this one does because it's so dam brazen.

It prompted me to write a short essay on twitter, describing my feelings about said Republicans .

So women who don't want to lose their health insurance shouldn't report their rape.

Jesus. These local results are depressing.

I voted in the evening and was dismayed to see a lack of ruled lines next to names as they looked for mine on the print outs.

PEOPLE. START GIVING A FUCK please.

Not to mention that it appears to make being assaulted or raped a pre-existing condition. Which seems terribly odd and horrible. So women who don't want to lose their health insurance shouldn't report their rape. I wonder which party full of fucking rapists put that through Congress.

Have you got a source for this? Even the most ardent anti republican news sources I read haven't breathed a word about this.

C-sections, since they can lead to future health complications, for instance leading to the development of conditions such as placenta accreta in future pregnancies, or making future deliveries through C-sections far more likely, exposing the mother to higher risks of hemorrhage and post-surgery complications.

Sexual assault, as it can put people at a higher risk for mental-health issues and substance abuse. (In some instances in the past—like the case of Christina Turner, in Texas, before Obamacare was implemented—getting prescribed medication like HIV retroviral drugs after a rape has compromised women’s ability to secure coverage.)

Domestic violence, since it can lead to a higher need for mental and physical health care.

Jesus Christ!

What's it done now? The reporting on Abbott's utter incompetence is fair isn't it?

Aaaaaaaaaand Tees Valley have voted for the Tory.

At least it was close.

Aaaaaaaaaand Tees Valley have voted for the Tory.

You'll get your airport back.

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.c ... f=mrb&lp=1