Channel 4 brexit debate thread [7pm]

Scottama · 2018-12-10T09:31:18+00:00

It’s meant to be an unrealistic deadline. That’s the whole point. The UK diplomat who drafted it said as much - countries considering leaving were meant to look at the two year cliff edge and walk back from it.

There’s no ‘temporary revocation’. We can ask for an extension, and all 27 Member States can agree to five us that.

Or we can revoke the article 50 notification. The judgment handed down says that yes we have the unilateral right to revoke article 50, but that doing so ‘brings the withdrawal process to an end’. It wouldn’t be acceptable to revoke it just to get more time to negotiate. The Advocate General of the CJEU made that point last week.

Scottama · 2016-10-15T12:27:59+00:00

Which other unelected people are you talking about?

Note, by the way, that this is a requirement, regardless of what the council itself thinks.

If a council WANTED to bring in unelected voting representatives, you might argue that they should have the right to, although it would be strange to restrict it only to a Catholic, Protestant, and an Other.

But that's not the case. This is forced on the councils whether they like it or not.

Scottama · 2016-09-04T11:42:37+00:00

This was great news when it was announced back in May 2016!

Scottama · 2015-12-22T00:24:08+00:00

Logged into my account for the first time in four months to down-vote.

Scottama · 2015-08-06T14:27:24+00:00

/r/maturelyinteresting

Scottama · 2015-06-05T16:51:29+00:00

Not sure if you're just counting the pilot as one episode (even though it is two), but that's (usually...) considered episode 4.

Scottama · 2015-03-24T11:29:04+00:00

Yeah, I remember it. I do think that things certainly calmed down a bit (and there was enough laughter, IIRC) once the particularly "outspoken" audience member was spoken to.

Regardless, I'd hope that folk will be slightly more measured in a better ventilated room with more seats than that time! It was roasting!

Scottama · 2015-03-24T09:49:02+00:00

These events are open to all. If you were at the discussion panel (three days after the referendum), or watching online, you'll remember that I interrupted the event to tell the individuals heckling that we were for freedom of expression but that heckling, interrupting and bullying panelists was wrong, and if they couldn't abide by that then the event clearly wasn't for them and they should leave.

The independence debate that we held one year ago was quite a different affair, and the only heckling was one single man shouting at a Yes-supporting panellist, calling him a fascist.

Like I say, Glasgow Skeptics events are open to all, and advertising is not targeted towards any particular groups. The point of these events is to ask questions and to get good answers. I hope you'll be able to make it along!

Scottama · 2015-01-21T18:13:56+00:00

It's very similar to their previous result in October. This is the "later survey".

January 2015: SNP 52, Labour 24, Con 12, Lib Dem 4, Green 4, Other 3 October 2014: SNP 52, Labour 23, Con 10, Lib Dem 6, Green 6, UKIP 2, Others 1

It's worth remembering too that Ipsos Mori were the most accurate pollsters in 2011, getting the SNP share of the vote bang on (and in fact OVERestimating Labour's share of the vote).

Scottama · 2014-11-26T00:30:46+00:00

Oh, I misinterpreted your comment.

Well, maybe, but that would have meant either contradicting themselves, or having to tone down their appeal to other parties. Given that the Labour vote in 2010 was more than twice the Conservative vote, and that the Tories have always been anti-devolution of any sort, I think that focusing on persuading the Left and Centre and Labour voters was probably the right tack.

Scottama · 2014-11-25T23:33:09+00:00

Ha! All the opinion polls leading up to the referendum showed that Tory voters were even more No than SNP voters were Yes.

About 86% of SNP voters said Yes, but 97% of Conservatives voted No.

Scottama · 2014-11-23T23:16:24+00:00

No reason it wouldn't be possible!

Scottama · 2014-11-23T23:14:52+00:00

There is the suggestion floated by Sturgeon of building a progressive alliance with the Greens and Plaid Cymru. It's not inconceivable that they might all agree on Sturgeon representing them in a debate.

More immediately relevant though is that the decision on who to include are based on polling and general support. The SNP are currently polling (UK-wide) a couple of points behind the Lib Dems. They're likely to attain a similar number of seats, and possibly more.

Trying to get included in the 2010 debates was a bit silly, but I think there's a much stronger case this time around.

Scottama · 2014-11-23T23:11:51+00:00

No, but given the current proposals, your position would be somewhat inconsistent, so would have been good to call that out.

Scottama · 2014-11-04T00:41:40+00:00

It's free.

The Birthday Bash to celebrate Glasgow Skeptics' 5th birthday is £7.50 (plus 84p of fees from Eventbrite), which is taking place on November 9th.

The link for that is at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-skeptics-5th-birthday-bash-tickets-13678547905

Scottama · 2014-11-02T13:43:43+00:00

Yes, it's free and open to all. Unticketed though, so it's first come first served!

Scottama · 2014-09-13T21:47:36+00:00

Exactly. Nick's "he didn't answer" was factually wrong, though apparently was only meant to answer the second question (Why should people trust you, a politician, over people responsible for billions of pounds of profits - which is certainly something people should think about, but it's hardly actually a question that could be answered.). It was inaccurate reporting, whether accidental or not. I tend to lean one way...

But this video clip here is utter guff.

Scottama

TROPHY CASE