Balanced Question Time panel tonight - of course not!

[JustAnotherLogin]

Smiler. said:

I don't. But the whole of the south east is like one big city. It soon will be.

Oh I agree the SE is over-crowded.

But then if you choose to live around a major capital city then frankly you should expect that

That doesn't mean the whole country is

[FredClogs]

"He's a pound shop Enoch Powell, we've got to keep an eye on that one"

[Pieman68]

Thought that the times journalist was superbly eloquent and her answers were excellent throughout

On the overcrowding issue, I think that Farage spoke very well about the issue being around infrastructure. Labour lady commenting that only 10% of UK is built on - doesn't really take into account the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales, Pennines, Brecon Beacons etc. Point scoring about house building whilst completely ignoring the fact that the wind farms etc. are struggling to produce enough energy as it is. Not only that but it was true what was said about school places/NHS pressures as well

I don't necessarily agree with UKIP across the board and am not utterly convinced that they are the answer, but the immigration debate has been skirted around for too long due to people like the purple haired loony shouting racist, and it needs to take place before it happens in a very messy and dangerous manner

Thought the comment on the 30s and the rise of facism was actually scarily accurate representation of what we are seeing happen

[Digga]

JustAnotherLogin said:

Smiler. said:

I don't. But the whole of the south east is like one big city. It soon will be.

Oh I agree the SE is over-crowded.

But then if you choose to live around a major capital city then frankly you should expect that

That doesn't mean the whole country is

Agree with your post, but a point of order; London is not merely a capital city, it is one of the few world super-cities and this in a very small island at that.

It is questionable whether the momentum and gravity of London should allow this to continue - build on the success if you like - or whether it is a self-serving and self-fulfilling phenomenon. Could, or should, infrastructure spending be skewed for or against the SE? It's not actually a question that anyone could say they have a definitive answer to.

Outside of London, there is a feeling that they get the cream - Crossrail, Wembley, Olympics etc. etc. - but there is also a feeling that they are welcome to it, with all the congestion and overcrowding it brings. In other words, two opposing views from without.

[Northern Munkee]

FredClogs said:

"He's a pound shop Enoch Powell, we've got to keep an eye on that one"

In answer to a stupidly framed question about immigration, Brand launches a lazy and clearly rehearsed ad hominem attack on Farage, pandering to the cheap seats and his right on, mate, crowd, and why he was booked for the gig, by the BBC, who think he's a deep thinker, in touch, or "down with", the public and the yuff. And misfires badly, 'Comedian'? He's a clown.

[hornetrider]

Brand was shown up for the intellectual pigmy he is I thought. His 'answer' when asked about grammar schools was embarrassing - he didn't have a clue. I think Farage has it spot on regarding immigration, my personal view is we should be more like the Aussies. Only allowed in if you've got a job organised, and let's have a work permit system rather than open door you can stay as long as you like.

[DMN]

FredClogs said:

"He's a pound shop Enoch Powell, we've got to keep an eye on that one"

Best quote of the night by far.

[hornetrider]

NDA said:

wc98 said:

hornetrider said:

Camilla Cavendish was excellent I have to say.

agreed,first time i have heard her speak in public. would make one serious politician .

Did anyone else fall in love with her? Tiny bit?

Just me then.

Eye wood.

[Abagnale]

Brand is a fool & angry never plays well in politics. And neither do his written down views if people care to analyse them.

Farage though, I just can't get on board with his brand (no pun intended) of the politics of fear. Time & time again we see populist half formed parties rise in times of astringency & decline. People all too easily turn to pedlars offering easy answers.

I was reminded of this in the first question, pretty inconsequential stuff, but a reminder of what lies beneath. Farage equated knockabout petty debate in Australia with high voter turn out as a de facto rebuttal of the question, neglecting to mention compulsory voting laws.

He would have known that, or been seriously remiss if he didn't & so the response is in fact wrong, untruthful, factually inaccurate or a lie. Take your pick, but for me if that's the level of rigour in a question about nothing much at all, he & his priapic, never ending scandal ridden pals can stick it on the big issues.

[MarshPhantom]

Smiler. said:

I don't. But the whole of the south east is like one big city. It soon will be.

It really isn't and won't be any time soon.

Did you know that in Surrey there is more land used for golf courses than there is for housing?

[BrabusMog]

hornetrider said:

NDA said:

wc98 said:

hornetrider said:

Camilla Cavendish was excellent I have to say.

agreed,first time i have heard her speak in public. would make one serious politician .

Did anyone else fall in love with her? Tiny bit?

Just me then.

Eye wood.

Really?!!?!

I agree that she would make a good politician, however.

[Scuffers]

MarshPhantom said:

Smiler. said:

I don't. But the whole of the south east is like one big city. It soon will be.

It really isn't and won't be any time soon.

Did you know that in Surrey there is more land used for golf courses than there is for housing?

I assume you have real evidence to back this up with (cuase it sounds like b00l0cks to me)

the reality is that even if you just draw the line at the M25, there are some 12M people living within that line, (and that's based on the ones that actually appear on the census, there are a huge number that don't), in an area that's only some 2,600 square miles (UK is a total of 94,000) so some 2.7% is inside the M25 yet has ~18% of the population.

remind me how that's not over-crowded?

[FredClogs]

Northern Munkee said:

FredClogs said:

"He's a pound shop Enoch Powell, we've got to keep an eye on that one"

In answer to a stupidly framed question about immigration, Brand launches a lazy and clearly rehearsed ad hominem attack on Farage, pandering to the cheap seats and his right on, mate, crowd, and why he was booked for the gig, by the BBC, who think he's a deep thinker, in touch, or "down with", the public and the yuff. And misfires badly, 'Comedian'? He's a clown.

Not really, he's spot on "someone did a fart in the city and Farage is holding his nose and pointing at the immigrants."

[Digga]

BrabusMog said:

I agree that she would make a good politician, however.

I'd prefer she continued to do what she is already doing very well; scrutinising and criticising our politicians and government.

She was landing some weighty blows; the lack of dilligence of MPs regarding voting issues in EU; the inability of parties with differing opinions and interests to get any traction in Whitehall, the petty nature of debating. All of this is damning.

[Scuffers]

FredClogs said:

Not really, he's spot on "someone did a fart in the city and Farage is holding his nose and pointing at the immigrants."

OK, let's have it, exactly how?

[Du1point8]

Scuffers said:

FredClogs said:

Not really, he's spot on "someone did a fart in the city and Farage is holding his nose and pointing at the immigrants."

OK, let's have it, exactly how?

Its s trap... don't do it Scruffers.

[Guybrush]

Thanks to Labour, our population is increasing by about the size of Birmingham City every 30 months. Now I wonder what effect that would have on housing, the NHS, the roads? Does it take much intelligence to work it out? Does it also escape the lefty brain, that it might be a good idea to emulate countries like Australia to implement a points-based immigration system, whereby each year the government decides the skills they require from immigrants and adjust the entry system accordingly? All Farage is saying is that we do just that. Hysterical shouty lefties may like to stifle debate by employing their usual anti-democratic tactics and pandering to the simple minded, for example by (wickedly) accusing Farage of racism, lying about his opinions of the disabled, but surely those of at least average intelligence are able to see what is a sensible route to take with regards immigration.

[Four Litre]

pork911 said:

HewManHeMan said:

That Labour lady, however, was superb.

huh?

WTF - She came across as talking utter bks! It was like she had some pre determined answers that didnt fit with the questions asked, however she read them out anyway!

Thought Farage came out very well, at least he stuck with the facts and Brand wasnt on his best form, seemed to come unsuck a few times.

[rover 623gsi]

Scuffers said:

MarshPhantom said:

Smiler. said:

I don't. But the whole of the south east is like one big city. It soon will be.

It really isn't and won't be any time soon.

Did you know that in Surrey there is more land used for golf courses than there is for housing?

I assume you have real evidence to back this up with (cuase it sounds like b00l0cks to me)

the reality is that even if you just draw the line at the M25, there are some 12M people living within that line, (and that's based on the ones that actually appear on the census, there are a huge number that don't), in an area that's only some 2,600 square miles (UK is a total of 94,000) so some 2.7% is inside the M25 yet has ~18% of the population.

remind me how that's not over-crowded?

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/26/why-surrey-has-more-golf-courses-land-than-homes

Cheshire lays into "supporters of urban containment policies who argue that Britain is a small island that we are in danger of concreting over", claiming it is a myth because green belts cover one and a half times as much land as all of England's towns and cities put together. "Moreover, there is little or no public access to green belt land except where there are viable rights of way," Cheshire says. "Green belts are a handsome subsidy to "horseyculture" and golf. Since our planning system prevents housing competing, land for golf courses stays very cheap. More of Surrey is now under golf courses – about 2.65% – than has houses on it."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24378868
How much of the UK is covered in golf course?

Edited by rover 623gsi on Friday 12th December 10:06

[RichB]

HewManHeMan said:

Well, this went as expected.

Wrong, everyone expected a slanging match between Farage and Brand and it didn't happen. Farage remained calm, torry woman didn't say much, labour woman said less, Camilla the journalist looked far more intelligent than both of them and teh audience wound up having the fight. Oh and the obligatory comedian wasn't funny but started with a lot of bluster and by half time ran out of puff.

p.s. I see the BBC are "bigging up" Brand already on their news web-site. He really is their favourite darling.