Be Excellent To Each Other

Worse, it sounds like an Adam Sandler film

"Steady"

That could be a fluctuating dollar that causes that, though. MOAR GRAFZ are needed.

I'm not sure why the markets would react to the start of Brexit negotiations anyway, it was something that has been scheduled to happen for months.

Against the Euro;

I think it's the fact that some small measure of economic stability has been predicated on us at least having a slight modicum of skill in negotiation.

Us wandering out of the first meeting having backed the fuck down on just about everything we banged the desk about indicates a government in a weak position.

It looks bad, but that's about half a penny. Is that bad? It doesn't strike me as bad.

Said the bank guy, and he went on

That's the thing isn't it. Look at that same graph over a 2 month period and today might not even be a blip.

For example. Here's a month of data

And that entire graph covers 5 cents

See, I don't think this is true at all. I don't think people trend conservative as they get older, I think conservative voters are ageing. The big tory voter block is now those people who remember the (disastrous) labour government of the 1970s. You're not seeing gen X start going from Labour to Conservative, it's just not happening. The Conservative party has some real thinking to do about how it takes itself forward. IMO it needs to kick the rancid old hardliners to the curb and form a new, sensibly right of centre pro-business party. Pretending that 2017 is the same as 1980 is killing the party and the country.

The 25-34 age group saw a massive swing towards Labour since 2015.

I think that whatever they do their Brexit mess is going to cast a long shadow. The younger generation overwhelmingly didn't want it and they will remember this government with about the same level of fondness cavey has for Labour.

Related to the above few posts

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 98386.html

I think that statement needs some clarification. You're not seeing Gen X start going from Labour to this Conservative. Referendum aside, Cameron did pretty well out of the Yoot (sufficiently enough in 2015 in any event). If the ref hadn't happened (or, had come in as the correct answer), and Cameron had then called the 2017 election anyway, I've a feeling he would have deliverered the majority that everyone thought May would have now.

The issue is with this Conservative party though. I can't realistically see May or any of the current shitballoons who are tipped for leader (with the notable exception of Ruth Davidson, who can be PM even as an MSP, but this isn't going to happen soon) ever making any form of progress in this area. Maybe, maybe Hammond could if his recent noisiness is a push for the top job, and he could have a reasonable change as a Major-esque candidate, but I can't see him having the desire for doing that.

I think Cavey's right on a historical basis, I reckon that previously as people have aged they do tend to become more conservative - I attribute this to them finally getting "sorted" in terms of property, career, kids etc. and not really wanting to give away too much of their hard earned income.

However, the generations that are ageing now are of the ilk that are increasingly unlikely to ever really get much of a foot on the property ladder, or get a decently paid job, or have much in terms of prospects. So they're probably going to stay closer to Labour's ideals.

E.g. maybe think about not making a deal with the DUP?

In Shoreditch's Box Village there's a ball pit for grown ups. Millennials deserve that future.

And that Flight Club place can get to fuck and all.

Bull in a China shop was ok, though.

Betfair are currently giving 13/8 on their being another General Election in 2017.

Party like it's 1974!

I miss the betfair twitter account.

Small-c conservative, you're probably right. But I think the idea that people switch from being labour voters to conservative voters somewhere in their thirties is insane.

Yes, I think​ people become more pragmatic about what can and cannot be done, and things are viewed through a more self centered lens.

Is that from insider knowledge or from just looking on though?

Brenda normally sounds bored when she reads the speech. I bet today she's going to sound bored and irritated.

Dennis Skinner: 'Get yer skates on - first race is half past two'

Charlie's there too, I see. Must be take-your-son-to-work day.

Superb

The Queen: 'Prince Philip and I look forward to welcoming their Majesties King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain on a state visit in July.'

No other visitors this year?

I like the way the Queen wore a hat that looks like the European flag.

Let's be positive. Skimming the BBC's list and here's some instant reactions to possibly good things in the speech:

Draft Tenants' Fees Bill - this could actually bring about a good change, but by the time it's gone through consultation and if it ever appears as an actual bill I fear Big Letting will have neutralised all of its provisions.

Draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill - a serious issue and will keep an eye on what relevant organisations think of its scope and reach. Still only a draft, however.

High Speed 2 Phase 2A Bill - who doesn't want to get to Crewe that bit quicker?

Space Industry Bill - yay, space!

You've missed the point there - it lets people *get away from* Crewe quicker.

Once again ignoring the most critical part of the Customs Union



Without reciprocal agreements on trading standards for goods, EU exports are dead. Tariffs are small potatoes, standards are everything.

Poking a bit of fun at Crewe is one thing but that's just mean.

From graun

I do love Bercow sometimes

It's years since I've done this but as I recall the tariff resolves the standards issue by itself. You cant import shit into the EU unless it's on the tariff and for goods subject to standards only those that meet the standards can get through the tariff.

You then have a question as to whether the EU would let the UK institutes certify that the standards are met. However, local certification works for other jurisdictions outside the eu already by reciprocity and audit of samples I believe so that's not insurmountable.

It's not insurmountable, but it needs to be done. The very idea of creating a customs bill that doesn't have as one of its headline points reciprocity of certification is madness.

You can't legislate a principle or a future treaty though. Reciprocity is part of the negotiations.

Everything listed there under the Customs bill is part of the negotiations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tvjfq

25 minutes in for Boris and Eddie. Good lord, what a shitshow.

I listened to that this morning. I genuinely don't understand how Boris Johnson has a job. He is a liar and a chancer extraordinaire and everybody must know this by now.

I listened to it this morning (although the 'please sign into radio Iplayer' can go away, please). Complete car crash, and all Boris Johnson's fault. Eddie Mair has long been the best thing on Radio Four. Long may he continue.

Don't forget he agreed to turn over a journalist's details in the knowledge that said journalist was going to get beaten up.

"Hang on a minute" *shuffling papers*

Good god.

Despite the initial ballache this is actually very handy once you're signed in across all your various devices, to the extent I'm slightly irritated with myself for not doing it voluntarily a long time ago.

I was listening to this live while driving home last night and sat in shitty traffic and it made the M6 more than tolerable for once.

After Eddie Mair systematically dismantled him on Andrew Marr's show that time I think Boris may have gone in there looking to bluster his way into a revenge performance but Mair pulled the rug from under his feet from the get go. The Two Ronnies line in the middle of it all and Johnson's flat-footed prevarication in response made the entire thing one of my favourite pieces of radio.

Potential PM. Fuck me.

I heard people moan about it on 'Feedback' recently. As usual with that programme the interview with the relevant BBC executive went along the lines of: