Politics Thread!

[tufty]

And you also know that there was a load of stock shorting the Friday before the annoncement that drove the RBS share price down?

It's not necessarily the shorting that drove the price down, but it's a reasonable assumption that someone knew the sale was going to happen at a discounted price.

If somebody dumps a massive number of shares at market price, the price *will* go down. If you know or strongly suspect someone is going to dump, let's say, roughly 13% of tradeable stock in a particular company, it makes sense to short. If someone dumps a massive number of shares at under the current market price, that price is going to fall off a cliff. It makes even more sense to short. It makes even more sense if you happen to know that the company whose price is being driven through the floor is considered "too important to be allowed to fail".

A hypothetical increase in short interest just before the sale was announced would indicate that somebody has ears in the treasury.

[gravy]

What does rouse suspicions is that it was shorted by some of the purchasers who bought a lot more than they dumped.

Fully aware of the amniguities here but it's fair to say that if this was market manipulation just about no one would be shocked.

[gravy]

Hooray, the government sold the shares at 7.4p discount on the market closing price.

That's £48m quid to the investment bankers and hedge funds.

Conversely the government won't take over the running costs of Kids Company while an alternative for the services they provide to vulnerable people is found.

Even though it's a fraction of the cost. That's likely a serious false economy.

[VNVObit]

Hooray, the government sold the shares at 7.4p discount on the market closing price.

That's £48m quid to the investment bankers and hedge funds.

Conversely the government won't take over the running costs of Kids Company while an alternative for the services they provide to vulnerable people is found.

Even though it's a fraction of the cost. That's likely a serious false economy.

News is full of Kids Company but going light on the RBS share sales

[merman]

Hooray, the government sold the shares at 7.4p discount on the market closing price.

That's £48m quid to the investment bankers and hedge funds.

Conversely the government won't take over the running costs of Kids Company while an alternative for the services they provide to vulnerable people is found.

Even though it's a fraction of the cost. That's likely a serious false economy.

News is full of Kids Company but going light on the RBS share sales

Funny that. A scandal about how the Government spends money rather than how it loses money.

And of course the treatment of Kids Company was highly political, since it was providing services that the Government should be.

[VNVObit]

Funny that. A scandal about how the Government spends money rather than how it loses money.

And of course the treatment of Kids Company was highly political, since it was providing services that the Government should be.

it was providing services that were funded by the taxpayer - that is sufficient for a government to discharge it's duty
that said care and support workers have had significant downward pressure on their salaries in recent years despite public commitments by politicians to living wage (predating Osborne's national living wage)

[tufty]

Can you defend all of that please.

<tumbleweed.gif>

[The ghost of raids past]

Don't forget to register to vote for the labour leader. 3 Quid gets you a vote. I'm voting for Mr Corbyn, no better way that ensuring the party I actually back stays in power for ever.

It does seem rather strange that just about anyone who can spare 3 quid can vote.

[(o)(o)]

Don't forget to register to vote for the labour leader. 3 Quid gets you a vote. I'm voting for Mr Corbyn, no better way that ensuring the party I actually back stays in power for ever.

It does seem rather strange that just about anyone who can spare 3 quid can vote.

They do have a process to weed out fraudulent applications / votes .. and by signing up people are going on record to declare their support for Labour and Labour policies.

Frankly I hope Tory supporters sign up to Labour in the misapprehension that voting Corbyn is good for their cause - he is a genuine threat to the Tories.

The right-wing leaning media is trying to portray otherwsie but it's too obvious to hide - a MASSIVE cross section of the nation is totally TOTALLY ready to do away with self-serving liars, manipulators and cheats of corrupt cronyist governments and pretty much everyone who has a heart is sick of neoliberal bollocks of the past 30 years.

If there were an election today Labour would wipe the floor with the competition.

[phattslagg]

Don't forget to register to vote for the labour leader. 3 Quid gets you a vote. I'm voting for Mr Corbyn, no better way that ensuring the party I actually back stays in power for ever.

It does seem rather strange that just about anyone who can spare 3 quid can vote.

Do it. Even if it's for all the wrong reasons, the vote of a smug, Tory twat still goes towards the result that the majority of Labour supporters want.

[zip accident]

If there were an election today Labour would wipe the floor with the competition.

Strange, I could have sworn there was one a month or two ago, and it didn't go that way at all. Not that I liked the way it did go, but "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

[The ghost of raids past]

Don't forget to register to vote for the labour leader. 3 Quid gets you a vote. I'm voting for Mr Corbyn, no better way that ensuring the party I actually back stays in power for ever.

It does seem rather strange that just about anyone who can spare 3 quid can vote.

They do have a process to weed out fraudulent applications / votes .. and by signing up people are going on record to declare their support for Labour and Labour policies.

Frankly I hope Tory supporters sign up to Labour in the misapprehension that voting Corbyn is good for their cause - he is a genuine threat to the Tories.

The right-wing leaning media is trying to portray otherwsie but it's too obvious to hide - a MASSIVE cross section of the nation is totally TOTALLY ready to do away with self-serving liars, manipulators and cheats of corrupt cronyist governments and pretty much everyone who has a heart is sick of neoliberal bollocks of the past 30 years.

If there were an election today Labour would wipe the floor with the competition.

It does indeed state you support the goals of the Labour party, but thats a hollow promise as its being done to drive a wedge into the Labour Party. If Mr Corbyn gets in there is a realistic probability of the Labour party fragmenting along the Blairite, Hard left lines. As a supporter of their opposition this is too great an opportunity to miss. All it takes is 3 pounds and a worthless promise,

Its also impossible for them to deny my request. I am not affiliated with any party formally and so cant be weeded out.

I agree a vote today would probably produce a different result. The SNP vote in my opinion would collapse as the people of Scotland realise there is no political traction in voting for the SNP. Would the Conservative vote collapse, probably not. It would be a much tighter result but it would still be a Conservative government. The Labour party doesn't present any credible ideas of the economy and cant even seem to decide to oppose Tory policies such as the reduction in Tax credits for families with more than 2 children.

I cannot believe anyone in the Labour party believes a lurch to the hard left will win more votes but it does seem to be happening anyway

[pogo]

If there were an election today Labour would wipe the floor with the competition.

You really think so? Most commentators seem to think Labour are in their worst electoral hole for a very long time. They‘ve lost support to UKIP, the SNP and Tories. UKIP have weakened them in many of their strongholds, and may even win a few next time as they will know where to focus their efforts. The SNP have wiped out their Scotland advantage, which traditionally guaranteed them a few dozen seats whatever their national vote. And the Tories won convincingly in England where 90% of the seats and votes are.

All that means is they can’t rely on getting a swing back to e.g. the share of the vote they had in 2005 to win again; they need much more support to gain an overall majority. It is harder too as in 2010, 2011, 2012 people were struggling and many wanted a change. They just didn’t trust Labour to give them one. Now with the economy recovered there’s even less reason to kick out the current government.

As for Corbyn, he’s best placed to challenge the government on a number of issues, and least likely to cause the Labour party to fall apart. But he will never be prime minister; his policies are laughable, to the left of any mainstream party since the 1980s. The country has moved to the right since then, and that is where Labour needs to be to win. Tony Blair, the only Labour leader to win an election since before many of us were born, knew this. Labour are in danger of handing power to the Tories for a decade or more if they elect Corbyn.

[k345y]

Things have moved right, that doesn't mean they can't move back to the left.

Core Labour supporters are ready for it. They're sick of headless chicken Labour leaders that don't if they're to the left, right, centre or on the fucking moon for all the good it does them. Labour just echo conservatism dilute and people are sick of it.
I hope Corbyn gets in and even if he doesn't become PM he can at least show people in the party that Blairites don't dictate any more, it's good for democracy and it's good for some social justice, hopefully.

[(o)(o)]

Things have moved right, that doesn't mean they can't move back to the left.

Core Labour supporters are ready for it. They're sick of headless chicken Labour leaders that don't if they're to the left, right, centre or on the fucking moon for all the good it does them. Labour just echo conservatism dilute and people are sick of it.
I hope Corbyn gets in and even if he doesn't become PM he can at least show people in the party that Blairites don't dictate any more, it's good for democracy and it's good for some social justice, hopefully.

Spot on !!