MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Tony Blair predicts landslide for PM May, but warns 'unreasonable' Brexit policy is geared by right wing Tories
Tony Blair has urged voters not to elect MPs who “back Brexit at any cost”, whichever party they are from. The ex-PM told the BBC that Brexit was a bigger issue than party allegiance for the general election on 8 June. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesHis statement shows how out of touch and biased he is. The circulation of right wing newspapers is about 5% of the UK population. People form their opinion largely from TV news and debate. BLiar no longer has any credibility, indeed he is a hated figure. Anything he says probably helps the Tories!
Apr 24th, 2017 - 08:44 am - Link - Report abuse +2Blair and democracy don't sit too well on the same page - Peter Hain revealed in his memoirs that Tony Blair reached an agreement with the Spanish Government in 2002 to deliver the shared sovereignty of Gibraltar.
Apr 24th, 2017 - 09:42 am - Link - Report abuse +2Makes it clear that he and Mr Blair were willing to trample on the objections of the people of Gibraltar in order to get his way, describing the attitude of Mr Blair to the inhabitants as “contempt”. (Daily Mail, January 24, 2012)
And the Spanish view of Gib - Rajoy - “This is the only such territory in Europe, and one that affects our own territorial integrity,” Mr Rajoy said, claiming that Britain had “ignored the mandate” of the UN General Assembly. (Daily Telegraph 26 Sept 2013).
So, according to the Spanish, territorial integrity, as per UN Resolution 1514 (XV) (1960), constrains the right to self-determination. Hm, let's take a look: Gibraltar – Territorial Integrity: https://www.academia.edu/29347730/Gibraltar_-Territorial_Integrity
@The Voice
Apr 24th, 2017 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Combined print and online readership for Daily Mail is 23.5m, for The Sun 13.6m, Daily Express 6.8m, and all campaigned for Brexit. That's easily enough people to swing the vote to benefit the rich newspaper owners. Murdoch will save over £2bn on his deal to buy Sky thanks to the fall in the pound that he pushed for. He's laughing all the way to the bank, while the rest of us will be paying with even more years of austerity.
Austerity = Living within the country's means. Record number in work, record new car registrations, record high minimum wage ...Etc etc. Austerity is another wheeze of the looney left who want to bankrupt Britain by providing 'services' that cannot be afforded. BLiar would probably start a few new wars, whilst Corbyn would make us lie down and be trodden on, Gib given to the Spaniards and the Falklands handed to the Argies - what a choice? Take your socialist pick....
Apr 24th, 2017 - 11:41 am - Link - Report abuse +1The Voice changes the subject because he can't deny that I'm right.
Apr 24th, 2017 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Does anyone else get the impression that Blair prefers May to Corbyn?
DT
Apr 24th, 2017 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Blair was never a socialist but a Tory under a different name.
@ DT & Clyde15
Apr 24th, 2017 - 07:07 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Blair joined the party he thought would get him elected into power - New Labour was never a left-wing party but slightly right of centre. Blair never got over the loss of power and pretty much all through his terms in office was campaigning to be President of Europe. His miscalculation over the Iraq War and the subsequent backlash ruined that ambition but he lives in hope.
@DT
You are quite right about the media. Murdock has too much unelected power, controls the thinking of too many Brits and now has a foot in the door of power in the U.S. with his buddy Trump. Why we allow it is a complete puzzle to me.
I agree Blair was closer to a Tory than traditional Labour, he always saw himself as Thatcher's heir. Unfortunately we are close to getting into yet another war in the middle east now as Boris has said if the US asks us to bomb Assad's forces in Syria he will leap to obey.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 12:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0We do have a problem with the media in this country, it's controlled by too few people who have great power to shape opinion and control who is elected. Murdoch buying Sky can only make the problem worse, but unfortunately if the government tried to fix it they could compromise media independence.
Elite Islington socialists believe they are superior. Avidly scrutinising the pages of the Guardian they believe everyone, like them, is controlled by the media. They live in a socialist bubble echo chamber Events like Brexit and the forthcoming election prove them wrong. They actually hate Democracy. 'Two legs good, four legs bad' is an appropriate elite Socialist slogan!
Apr 25th, 2017 - 06:46 am - Link - Report abuse +1@The Voice
Apr 25th, 2017 - 07:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Try giving up your simple slogans for once and consider the issues we face and what is best for the country. Murdock and co don't give a shit about ordinary people like us; they tell you to vote for what is best for them. Do you think these rich men who own the newspapers have suffered cuts to their income? No. They are doing just fine while others suffer.
DT Murdoch doesn't tell anyone to do anything. Do you think all people are stupid? What arrogance! You need to move outside your bubble and get out more. Now chant after me... 'Two legs good, four legs bad'. A simple slogan that's sooo true of the arrogant self regarding socialist elite you identify with.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 08:09 am - Link - Report abuse +1Here Murdoch tells people to vote Leave. And they - and you - did it:
Apr 25th, 2017 - 09:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HfhiFlTjkg/V1--WwhnOoI/AAAAAAAAtbE/r7v6THqQOUs0Z4MCDHalq5izrzuUkGAuwCLcB/s1600/Sun140616.png
Here he tells them to vote for Blair:
thecolemanexperience.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/the-sun-backs-blair.png?w=196
...and you did.
Here he tells people to abandon Labour:
www.libdemvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/suncover.jpg-243x300.jpg
And we got a coalition government.
People believe what they read in the papers. If the Daily Mail writes about wonky bananas people believe it. If the Express talks about Project Fear people believe that too.
If you want to live in a bubble and keep chant comforting slogans to convince yourself that you made the right decision, that's up to you, but I have no intention of doing it. I haven't decided who to vote for yet, but when I do it will be based on their policies and what I think is best for Britain, not on what some billionaire newspaper owner tells me.
Wrong! Socialists chant slogans, thought you would like it as you are clearly a socialist. Don't worry you will grow up one day. Unfortunately your current leader never managed it.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 12:55 pm - Link - Report abuse +4I don't think Theresa May's problem is a lack of growing up. Indecisiveness and pandering to the extremists are her major ones.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 01:31 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Very decisive lady Theresa, who obviously believes people will behave honourably like herself. She was wrong, the Remoaners naysayers and others who constantly talk Britain down wouldn't accept a democratic decision of the people and were planning to try and foil it so she coolly decided to fix that by having an election that she hadn't planned. She's a tough cooky who does the right thing and can be trusted to deliver. That's why she is so popular, you get what it says on the tin. Opposition wipeout coming up...
Apr 25th, 2017 - 04:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How sweet; The Voice has a crush. You sound just like Think talking about how wonderful CFK is (puke).
Apr 25th, 2017 - 05:49 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Back on topic, I'm curious. Have you ever voted against whoever The Sun aka Murdoch was backing?
I don't suppose it is really cause and effect, to some extent they must pick the team they think will win, but Murdoch has certainly boasted about his ability to influence British politics. Newspapers can have a lot of influence, especially on people who aren't exposed to much other news.
You keep asking questions but until you answer mine you won't get a reply. There is a massive choice of newspapers and other media. Perhaps Murdoch has a lot of influence but so have Warren Buffet, the Barclay Brothers and Corbyn. It's called freedom, something arrogant socialists often have difficulty with.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 06:18 pm - Link - Report abuse +1What questions do you want me to answer? You've accused me of being a socialist several times (can't you find something more imaginative?), but I don't think you've actually asked me any.
Apr 25th, 2017 - 06:31 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Also the UK doesn't score too well on press freedom. You'll be relieved to know it's better than Argentina, but we are below such heavyweights as Belize and Tonga, and only just above South Africa.
I only asked one!
Apr 25th, 2017 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hmmm, let me see... “Do you think all people are stupid? What arrogance!”
Apr 25th, 2017 - 08:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Since you immediately assumed the answer, I didn't realise you were waiting with baited breath for me to reply. No, I don't think all people are stupid. Some people are stupid, but even the ones who aren't are influenced by what they see and read. That is why companies like Coca-Cola spend billions of dollars on advertising every year. If people don't know the true facts then they will not make good decisions, and sadly people are often inclined to ignore the facts if they don't agree with their existing beliefs.
Will you answer my question now?
TV
Apr 25th, 2017 - 09:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Saint Theresa honourable ? Time and time again she said there will be no election.
Like Paul on the road to Damascus she has an epiphany !
On a weekend in Wales she is struck by a blinding light and realises that this was what she had to do to redeem herself in the public's eye. The truth and the light were blindingly obvious.
As we say up here..... “Aye, that'll be right” !
Clyde, she changed her mind simply because she underestimated the depths the Remoaners would go to to oppose the will of the people. My view is that is fair enough. Do you put honour before the interests of the vast majority? Now, we are going to get unopposed red in tooth and claw Tory policies instead of any compromises. That's the Remoaners fault entirely. They will be kicking themselves...
Apr 26th, 2017 - 06:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Still no answer for me TV? I answered your question, fair's fair.
Apr 26th, 2017 - 07:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0Which action of your so called Remoaners was it that made her change her mind? Because as far as I can see parliament passed her bill to activate article 50 without amendment, and she has not had to face any real opposition from Labour.
Judging from your comments on here, your view is 'whatever the Tories do is good', whether that is calling an election, not calling an election, lowering taxes, or raising taxes. Instead of choosing a party based on the issues, you choose what to believe based on what your party says.
You are right about one thing though; we ARE going to get unopposed red in tooth and claw Tory policies, and it will be a disaster for everyone except the Murdochs of this world.
One thing that has been shelved because they ran out of parliamentary time, the dividend tax grab. Good move, but I expect it to be reinstated eventually.
Apr 26th, 2017 - 08:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0...and he changes the subject again.
Apr 26th, 2017 - 08:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Answer the question TV!
Just had a Labour chappie on the Daily Politics spelling out Labours spending plans which ran into billions and billions but no clue as to how they are going to raise the money? Jeremy will be out in every community meeting real people apparently, sounds good to me!
Apr 26th, 2017 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Here's something you won't see in the Telegraph, or on TV.....
Apr 26th, 2017 - 06:38 pm - Link - Report abuse +1https://politicalscrapbook.net/2017/04/mays-decision-to-dodge-tv-debates-to-speak-to-voters-backfires-after-campaign-trail-calamity/
I'm really disappointed in the BBC and certain other media for giving May such an easy ride. The Tories potentially cheated in the last election and there has been almost nothing about it, or its relevance to the timing of this one. And there should be a lot more pressure on her to attend the TV debates so we can all see what she is (or isn't) made of. She already has a massive advantage given Corbyn's unpopularity, so it's not like she needs any more help, but I suppose they are worried about losing their funding if they say anything against her.
Apr 27th, 2017 - 07:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0The last Labour government built only 7,870 council houses in 13 years which is less than were built in the last year of Thatcher's reign. Now Jezza is promising to build 50,000 council houses a year! At that rate Labour could have built 650,000 council homes in their last spell in office, but they didn't.
Apr 27th, 2017 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Council house schemes rapidly become eyesores...no incentives for the residents to maintain high standards...
Apr 27th, 2017 - 12:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Always a bad idea,...instead introduce 100 year mortgages to make housing affordable for everyone...
A boost to the building trade for the increased demand and more disposable income for folk to spend on leisure creating another boost to the leisure industry...
20000 over 30 years @4% ,- 950 monthly, over 100 years 680 monthly, not as much difference as you might imagine.
Apr 27th, 2017 - 01:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Voice
Apr 27th, 2017 - 01:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The ex-council flat I used to live in was surrounded by others that were still owned by the council, and the area wasn't an eyesore. Some council estates turned out badly, others not so much, it depends entirely on who lives there.
How is a 100 year mortgage supposed to work? Do your children and grandchildren keep paying? The problem with the building trade is certainly not lack of demand, there's a massive shortage of housing right now. The trouble is lack of competition and lack of incentive to build houses quickly exactly because that would lower prices. Hence the lack of supply we are suffering. I don't care if the government builds more houses or they induce developers to do it, as long as they build enough.
The question is, who is the next Labour leader? Fancy putting £100 on Kier Starmer, he's at 5/1 at the mo. We'll see...
Apr 27th, 2017 - 04:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ Elaine
Apr 27th, 2017 - 04:59 pm - Link - Report abuse +2“and pretty much all through his terms in office was campaigning to be President of Europe”
Precisely, he sees the chance of a fat cat European post slipping through his hands.
I don't remember him vigorously campaigning before the referendum to stay in the EU.
Too busy making £millions out of speeches.
DemonTree
Apr 27th, 2017 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Multi generational...children inherit the debt...
They have them in Sweden and Germany...
Wouldn't work in the UK as debts are not inheritable...Googled it...
I'm thinking it's not such a good idea now, as The Voice mentioned, the saving are not as great as one would imagine and the amount of interest paid would almost guarantee negative equity...
Plus roof tiles are only good for 35/45 years, it would need to be slate 70/100 years...
Unless it's a Scottish roof...mine's original and it's 147 years old and still got horse hair on top of the sarking...;-)
Inheritable debts sound like a terrible idea.
Apr 27th, 2017 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Besides, like the many things the Tories have tried, it wouldn't solve the problem as it doesn't address the real issue; that the high prices are caused by a housing shortage. In areas of the country with no shortage, prices have not risen to crazy amounts.
What I would like to see is a tax on empty properties, and a scheme to make it easier to self-build. Maybe try creating some 'new villages', and sell off plots with provisional planning permission already granted. That way people can build the house they want and can afford, and it might avoid the soulless 'new town' look.
There certainly does need to be some 'blue sky thinking...'
Apr 27th, 2017 - 10:43 pm - Link - Report abuse +1What's a charactert?
VOICE
Apr 28th, 2017 - 07:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You have me worried. The concrete slates on my roof are 46 years old and the lichen is probably holding them together. Anyway, I get only half the rain you get !
Clyde
Apr 29th, 2017 - 12:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Don't worry about it...it's still a Scottish roof that means it will have felt under them and then sarking boards underneath the felt...you'll be fine...;-)
Voice..my comment was tongue - in -cheek !
Apr 29th, 2017 - 09:15 am - Link - Report abuse +1Commenting for this story is now closed.
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