Ask yourself why no-one told you that.

My partners neighbour spoke to him this morning. This is someone who has lived in this country for a long time, working for a well known company. He has married quite late in life and has two young children. His wife is from another country but I don’t know where. I chatted to him at a party once and he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever spoken to; we talked about the environment and lots of other things. I think he now does consultancy work. He said that he is genuinely terrified of Reform being in government because he doesn’t know how they would treat his wife. I intend to visit him and tell him that it is the media that is telling us that Reform will win the next election and that the decent people of this country will not let it happen. I feel awful for him. How do people like him feel about the flag flying everywhere?

MayBee70

Just saw someone on instagram asking Reform supporters if they knew Reform policies and they were shocked when told what their policies actually were.

Knowledge is everything.

He cannot fund social improvements with NO MONEY. He could do what the Tories did and win favour by borrowing the country into near bankruptcy

That’s all one big lie, I’m afraid, FranP

Where do you think a country’s money comes from?

Fallingstar

I think Starmer’s approach to national defence, his speech in Munich, and alliances forged with the EU and other European countries, whilst remaining on civil terms with the US, could be his saving grace.

He is doing a grand job given the state of the world and the black hole he was dropped into. He cannot fund social improvements with NO MONEY. He could do what the Tories did and win favour by borrowing the country into near bankruptcy.
We have turned into a MeMe society, and until we learn to stop wanting and start caring we are in trouble.

I heard Kemi Badenoch on Desert Island Discs tell migrants to adapt to us, not the other way around. Sadly, while she is shaping up to be a good leader, they will not let her go into the election as leader - you can bet on that

Ilovecheese

There was an interesting article in the new Statesman by Andrew MRr, I think it was him, suggesting that it was really only journalists and commentators like himself that were thinking Labour was on course to lose.

He could be right. However, it's still down to a democratic vote.

Flippin2

But who takes part in these opinion polls? I've never been asked ,has anyone on here ?

It may not feel satisfying, but statistically you don’t need to ask everyone. A properly selected random sample can accurately reflect the views of millions of people, as long as it’s large and representative enough.

Misquotation: 'A week is a long time in politics'

Attributed to Harold Wilson, and probably first said at a lobby briefing for journalists at the time of the sterling crisis in 1964. Interestingly, as Nigel Rees in Brewer’s Quotations (1994) records, Wilson himself, when asked just after his retirement as Prime Minister in 1977, could not pinpoint the precise occasion on which he first used the words. The Liberal politician Joseph Chamberlain is recorded in 1886 as having said: ‘In politics, there is no use in looking beyond the next fortnight.’

Nobody has said that Ladbrokes are experts in politics or political opinion. Have you read the thread?

Since when have Ladbrokes heen experts on Political opinion and matters.

None of the Bookies got it right on Brexit. Did they.

I think this is dodgy
a big dodgy. Wouldn't put it Labour if they had placed a massive bet on themselves to win.
To try and change their present, poor public opinion as being overwhelmed , incompetent and not fit to govern

Let's see what the Gorton Bi Election brings next week.

As for Ladbrokes they should stock to the gee gees.

I think in lots of ways the media have over inflated egos and do to a certain extent run the country. They’re not happy if they don’t get a juicy and exciting politics story every day. If there is nothing then they make up drivel and elaborate on it (bbc, sky and itv are equally bad).
I agree Labour is not good at countering and putting out positive stories. This may be because they’ve have less funds available to put towards their PR, unlike Tory who have huge income from donors.

sundowngirl

Graphite

Labour does publicise or at least publish its achievements but with a media dominated by papers owned by right-wing, tax-exile billionaires, where is one going to read about it in the main stream media other than in the Guardian or the Mirror? I don’t believe either covered what is essentially a short-life story about current betting odds. I think it was just something James O’B picked up on social media.

Anyway, I was glad to see the BBC pushing back hard at Reform yesterday evening on Newsnight. Victoria Derbyshire and Caroline Lucas made mincemeat of Zia Yusuf as he tried to claim that young white men can’t get jobs because of the Equality Act 2010. Just another culture war being stoked by this odious party.

I watched Newsnight too and no way did Victoria Derbyshire and Carolin Lucas make ‘mincemeat’ of Zia Yusuf. He spoke very well.
He spoke the truth when saying so many organisations including the Bank of England, are positively discriminating against young white men by advertising for ethnic minorities and females.
You omitted to say that there were four people in this discussion including Jacob Rees-Mogg who agreed with Zia.

Well, he would, wouldn’t he…

Arto1s

Looking at the UK from the USA, I cannot believe that Reform would ever get into power. It would be a disaster.

Do keep saying that and maybe Farage’s followers will take heed, but I won’t hold my breath.

The media seems to be working overtime to get Reform elected. I can only assume they have filed away juicy titbits to drip feed us all with. I think the Labour Government so far has been too boring and tame for them.

Looking at the UK from the USA, I cannot believe that Reform would ever get into power. It would be a disaster.

Interesting article: canary.co titled "Zia Yusef gets his arse handed to him on a plate on Newsnight over Equality Act." by Rachel- Charlton- Dailey.

Braverman said in her speech yesterday that she/Reform would get rid of the "divisive notion of protected characteristics". That is the protected characteristics as in the Equality Act that states you can't be discriminated against because of your sex, pregnancy, race, religion, disability, age, sexuality, gender reassignment, marriage or belief. However Reform have not actually made clear what they would "rip up" and how discrimination will be policed - which is where the author felt that Zia Yusef fell foul on Newsnight.

Graphite

Labour does publicise or at least publish its achievements but with a media dominated by papers owned by right-wing, tax-exile billionaires, where is one going to read about it in the main stream media other than in the Guardian or the Mirror? I don’t believe either covered what is essentially a short-life story about current betting odds. I think it was just something James O’B picked up on social media.

Anyway, I was glad to see the BBC pushing back hard at Reform yesterday evening on Newsnight. Victoria Derbyshire and Caroline Lucas made mincemeat of Zia Yusuf as he tried to claim that young white men can’t get jobs because of the Equality Act 2010. Just another culture war being stoked by this odious party.

I watched Newsnight too and no way did Victoria Derbyshire and Carolin Lucas make ‘mincemeat’ of Zia Yusuf. He spoke very well.
He spoke the truth when saying so many organisations including the Bank of England, are positively discriminating against young white men by advertising for ethnic minorities and females.
You omitted to say that there were four people in this discussion including Jacob Rees-Mogg who agreed with Zia.

Sorry Maremia I didn’t mean to quote your post

Maremia

Would we all prefer to have a resurrection of 'The Lady's not for turning'?
Would we?

I really enjoy listening to Nick Ferrari on LBC in the morning and find his program very balanced, but I switch off at 10.00 when James O'Brien comes on. He is so opinionated and quickly shuts down anyone who disagrees with him. It’s his way or the highway.

Ladbrookes are also offering 1/3 that Keir Starmer will be gone this year. If he clings on or his replacement is not popular the odds may change. Betting odds are a result of what people are betting more than what polls say.

We know why positive stories about Labour are not reported widely. We have a very heavily-biased right-wing press. It’s that simple.

That said, this was not a particularly important story.

Ladbrokes were quoting odds of 13/8 for a Labour win and 7/4 for Reform.

These are just betting odds based on the theory of the “wisdom of the crowd” - the collective opinion of a diverse and independent group of individuals (rather than that of a single expert). A jury trial versus a bench verdict.

If a diverse and independent gropu of individuals at the track are betting on a particular horse then the odds will shorten.

In case anyone fancies a punt.

Bet £1 on each of the two parties and you’d win £2.63 (Labour win) or £2.75 (Reform win).

Bet £10 on each and you’d win £26.25 or £27.20.

Bet £100 on each and you’d win £262.50 or £275.00

(Bookmakers typically round down winnings to the nearest penny.)

So it would be worth taking a punt on both as you would make a profit whatever the result ... always assuming a third party doesn’t sneak past on the rails!

AGAA4
Like you I would rather a party to rethink their policies and realise they were wrong and do a u turn!

Many people will say one thing to pollsters and actually do the opposite. Exit polls have proved that. So I will wait and see....

Would we all prefer to have a resurrection of 'The Lady's not for turning'?
Would we?

I’d stop listening to James OBrien were I you, msm is way out on many folks opinions.

Because most of the media is owned by right wing billionaires.