Draft EU renegotiation text published Posted at 11:33 Draft EU reform proposals released by European Council president Donald Tusk today allow for an "emergency brake" on benefits for migrant workers to be imposed immediately after the UK votes in favour of remaining in the union. Cameron didn't even manage to get the EU to allow us to stop people sending child benefit abroad...
What to make of David Cameron's EU renegotiation package James Landale Deputy political editor Posted at 12:00 David Cameron has secured a package of draft reforms that, if agreed, will allow him to argue that Britain should remain in the European Union. But the Prime Minister has by no means achieved all his aims. On migration, he's got his emergency welfare brake. But it is not clear how easy it will be to pull that brake or how long it will last. And while the benefits of EU migrants will be curbed for four years, they will be gradually restored the longer they stay in the UK. EU migrants will be able to send some their child benefit back home, reflecting prices in their own countries. But Mr Cameron had wanted to block all of it. On sovereignty, the PM has secured a clear legal statement that the UK is not committed to further political integration, that there is no common destination for all member states, and that the phrase 'ever closer union' cannot be used to integrate the EU further. But it is not yet clear when or how this will be incorporated into the EU treaties. He has also got new powers for national parliaments to block new EU laws but the thresholds are pretty high before those powers can be used. On competitiveness, the PM has got some language that commits the EU to strengthen the internal market and cut red tape. But they have been promising to do that for years. On protecting non-euro countries, there will be a new mechanism to get the eurozone to think again about decisions that could hit the City of London. On security, the PM has got some unexpected gains, making it easier for countries to stop terror suspects coming into the country even if the threat they pose is not imminent. There will also be a crackdown to stop people using sham marriages and other loopholes to gain access to the EU. So if this draft document, which the government says would be legally binding, is agreed, David Cameron will argue in a referendum that Britain's relationship with the EU has genuinely changed. His critics will say - and are saying - that the changes do not amount to a hill of beans. But before he makes the case to the British people, the prime minister now has 27 other countries to convince.
Depends. If Bernie Sanders gets the Democrat ticket it might be closer. Also, don't forget that Clinton is noted as a very, very poor campaigner. Democrats have an implied win chance of 59% on Betfair (which has been more accurate than the polls in the past couple of elections). Not a walkover by any means. I genuinely fear having a Republican president who believes in the coming rapture facing off against people in the Middle East who believe in the Mahdi. Two sides who think the end of days are both nigh and to be welcomed is not a recipe for happiness. Vin
Yes, I read that too. Something to do with the Southport Airshow from a year earlier, was it ? Tbh, I was amazed he was up and around.
Iowa's demographics really play to Sanders' strengths though...if he cannot win it outright, it's really difficult to see him winning the nomination. Few states are as white/liberal as Iowa's Democrats, and that's the demographic where he really shines. And while Rubio is definitely the frontrunner now, I cringe concerning his appeal to moderates and swing voters. It's probably real, but it shouldn't be; his voting record is extremely conservative, and he likes to wax on about torturing prisoners in Gitmo (while avoiding the words) and bombing things. It's only the insane rightward lurch of the GOP that makes him look rational, and it scares me that it might actually work.
http://news.sky.com/story/1634988/man-sucked-out-of-plane-after-explosion Man sucked out of plane after suspected explosion....could have been a hell of a lot worse. Nice to think he might have been the bomber, but no proof of that.
I don't disagree with any of that. On Sanders, I think the reason for saying he was the big winner was more the fact he was nearly 50% behind Clinton in the polls last summer, but managed to virtually get a draw in a state, one that you rightly assert has a large liberal contingent, but is a state nonetheless. Sanders won't win if Hillary remains in the race. The only way she won't is if she, and she could, be indited by the FBI for her email leak of sensitive data. That would kill her campaign. On Rubio, he is a conservative, and would be bad news for the US and us, I believe, but he will be portrayed as the establishment voice in the race. Bush or Kasich for me would be much better, and New Hampshire next Tuesday will be a big indication to whether they are viable candidates.
The senior American officers, from forces such as the NYPD and LAPD, watched demonstrations at Police Scotland training centres. Sky News cameras joined them as they went out on patrol in Glasgow, and watched as unarmed police dealt with a variety of potentially violent situations http://news.sky.com/story/1633328/scots-police-teach-us-cops-how-to-avoid-gun-use Any one watched this?
Either an elephant is crapping on my back lawn or I've got moles. A friend of mine used to sit on an office swivel chair armed with a gun in the evening to reduce his mole population....shame I've lost touch. The only good thing is that the soil they push to the top is good for filling pots.
Interesting Beef. Watched significant sections of that video. Initially it comes as a bit of a surprise that a Britiish Police Force can give advice and teaching to one from another country, but such is the poor attitude and relationship that US Forces and US civilians have, that it should be a relatively easy task to show them something. I think we're all aware of the fundamental difference between the respective environments that US and British police forces operate in, and that's a major factor which governs long term attitude and relationship traits, in my opinion. That the people of the US don't, won't or can't see it, is what makes the advice and teaching from a British police force ultimately of limited value. However, if it helps a bit, then it's worthwhile.
