Andrew Neil Interviews

[nil_desperandum]

So that would make Corbyn more committed to the idea of a United Ireland than Sinn Féin, who signed up? That seems unlikely to me. No, it seems more likely it stuck in his craw to try and move forward more than it did Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness et al.

I think you need to revisit your Irish History.
The agreement was rejected by Republicans because it confirmed Northern Ireland's status as a part of the UK. Sinn Féin's president, Gerry Adams, denounced the Agreement saying: "... the formal recognition of the partition of Ireland... [is] a disaster for the nationalist cause... [it] far outweighs the powerless consultative role given to Dublin"
In any case, the Anglo-Irish Agreement was not a great success. The Agreement failed to bring an immediate end to political violence in Northern Ireland; neither did it reconcile the two communities. It can be argued, however, that it paved the way for the Good Friday agreement.

[Imploding Turtle]

Just remember that it will soon be June and May will be over.

This actually offended me.

[thatdberight]

I think you need to revisit your Irish History.
The agreement was rejected by Republicans because it confirmed Northern Ireland's status as a part of the UK. Sinn Féin's president, Gerry Adams, denounced the Agreement saying: "... the formal recognition of the partition of Ireland... [is] a disaster for the nationalist cause... [it] far outweighs the powerless consultative role given to Dublin"
In any case, the Anglo-Irish Agreement was not a great success. The Agreement failed to bring an immediate end to political violence in Northern Ireland; neither did it reconcile the two communities. It can be argued, however, that it paved the way for the Good Friday agreement.

My grasp on the history is fine. My ability to read, much less so. For reasons best known to myself I repeatedly read AIA as GFA. One certainly laid the ground for the other though.

[Damo]

Are you copy/pasting directly from this pro Corbyn forum nil?
http://www.corbynanswers.com/84/why-did ... -agreement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IanMcL]

Everyone talks to the enemy at some stage...things have to be resolved. In times past, it was the aristocracy, who just met in the middle of a battlefield and agreed terms.

[Spiral]

Financial services.
It won't be for long though when JC taxes the service industry away to pay for all of his madcap ideas

The UK is quite reliant on the City, true (and FWIW Corbyn is seeking to re-balance the economy), but a financial transaction tax won't cause the collapse the sector. It just can't. Brexit will do more to drive business out of the City than a FTT. Your comparison to Venezuela is still looking tenuous. The two things most likely to cause the collapse of the financial sector (again) are sub-prime lending and...ironically, considering your example of Venezuela...the price of oil.

[If it be your will]

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[If it be your will]

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[Imploding Turtle]

In fact, this is such a brilliant website, I recommend everyone have a look at it!

Are you and Damo the same person?

Was this a Labour ploy just to push the pro-Corbyn website into our faces without it looking like campaign spam?!!!!!

Where's Ringo when you need him? he'd know.

[Damo]

What a brilliant website! Cheers for the link Damo, I'll have a good read of that.

It's worth a read I agree.
It's a bit like on here though. If you are pro Corbyn you will agree with the ways they defend him.
If you are anti Corbyn, like me, you will disagree and look for other angles than the way they view things

[Damo]

Are you and Damo the same person?

Was this a Labour ploy just to push the pro-Corbyn website into our faces without it looking like campaign spam?!!!!!

Where's Ringo when you need him? he'd know.

It's funny you of all people should say that charlie

[dsr]

There can be no doubting Corbyn's love of country ...

Of course there can. He consistently supports the anti-Western organisations - IRA, Hamas, Hizbollah, etc. Someone who frequently sides with people who want to kill UK soldiers (and civilians, but the same would be true of it was restricted to soldiers) can't be blithlely assumed to be 100% patriotic. There is room for doubt, and I doubt him.

[If it be your will]

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[dsr]

Everyone talks to the enemy at some stage...things have to be resolved. In times past, it was the aristocracy, who just met in the middle of a battlefield and agreed terms.

How true. And Corbyn did indeed talk to the enemy, because to him, the enemy was the UK government. He had to talk to them because he was in the House of Commons.

Here is how Corbyn assigned the blame for the Enniskillen war memorial murders. This was an early day motion published between Remembrance Day 1987 and 24th November 1987, in which he explains whose fault it was that an IRA bomb killed 12 people.

"this house expresses its horror at the continuing loss of life in Northern Ireland, as occurred at Enniskillen; believes that the violence in Northern Ireland stems primarily from the long-standing British occupation of that country and the partition imposed by force in 1921; ..." and goes on to list all the faults of the UK government and to say that only socialist policies can solve the problems of Ireland. Corbyn is the second name of the six initial sponsors of the EDM, Tony Benn is top, Ken Livingstone was also one of the six.

At no point does he blame the IRA for planting the bomb. The people he considers responsible for the 12 deaths are the UK government, first and foremost, with a hint that unnamed other forces may have a lesser role in the carnage. (These unnamed lesser parties may or may not include the IRA. Or he may be referring to the DUP, RUC, or the Boys' and Girls Brigade who were targetted at another Remembrance service on the same day, but the bomb didn't go off. Either way, the IRA who planted the bomb were not considered by Corbyn to be sufficiently at fault as to be named; the IRA were not his enemy at the Enniskillen War Memorial. The enemy was the UK government and its forces.

[Damo]

I only wish I was that clever, though I agree Damo's posts must surely be encouraging others to vote Labour. They're horrible!

Its going to take a lot more than me in afraid.
The majority of this country seems to have more sense

[Damo]

How true. And Corbyn did indeed talk to the enemy, because to him, the enemy was the UK government. He had to talk to them because he was in the House of Commons.

Here is how Corbyn assigned the blame for the Enniskillen war memorial murders. This was an early day motion published between Remembrance Day 1987 and 24th November 1987, in which he explains whose fault it was that an IRA bomb killed 12 people.

"this house expresses its horror at the continuing loss of life in Northern Ireland, as occurred at Enniskillen; believes that the violence in Northern Ireland stems primarily from the long-standing British occupation of that country and the partition imposed by force in 1921; ..." and goes on to list all the faults of the UK government and to say that only socialist policies can solve the problems of Ireland. Corbyn is the second name of the six initial sponsors of the EDM, Tony Benn is top, Ken Livingstone was also one of the six.

At no point does he blame the IRA for planting the bomb. The people he considers responsible for the 12 deaths are the UK government, first and foremost, with a hint that unnamed other forces may have a lesser role in the carnage. (These unnamed lesser parties may or may not include the IRA. Or he may be referring to the DUP, RUC, or the Boys' and Girls Brigade who were targetted at another Remembrance service on the same day, but the bomb didn't go off. Either way, the IRA who planted the bomb were not considered by Corbyn to be sufficiently at fault as to be named; the IRA were not his enemy at the Enniskillen War Memorial. The enemy was the UK government and its forces.

Quite similar to he's views on the Manchester attack then really

[dsr]

Quite similar to he's views on the Manchester attack then really

No, in the Manchester attack he was willing to appoint much more of the blame to the man who set the bomb.

[Damo]

Yes but What does he really think?

[IanMcL]

The one thing you all miss is that Jeremy Corbyn looks at things dispassionately- from an intellectual standpoint. To that end, it is easy to determine that the supposed enemy most likely had good reason to be risking their lives against an historical oppressor. There are more important things going on today. I am fed up being oppressed by Tory austerity, for instance and the Labour manifesto offers real hope for proper change.
Let's see May out - roll on June.

[nil_desperandum]

Are you copy/pasting directly from this pro Corbyn forum nil?
http://www.corbynanswers.com/84/why-did ... -agreement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No. As I posted: I was copying directly from Hansard, which is definitive in its reports of Parliamentary business, but as you've drawn it to my attention and other people seem to find it interesting I'll have a look. (However, I've really got much better things to do on a Sunday pm than read a pro-Corbyn website. The sooner we get this election out of the way, and (hopefully) see the back of Jeremy the better. It's a really poor reflection on our democracy, Parliamentary system and country that the choice is between him and Mrs May.)

[claretandy]

Wee Jimmy Krankie's turn tonight to get Brillo'd, 6pm bbc1

[Damo]

No. As I posted: I was copying directly from Hansard, which is definitive in its reports of Parliamentary business, but as you've drawn it to my attention and other people seem to find it interesting I'll have a look. (However, I've really got much better things to do on a Sunday pm than read a pro-Corbyn website. The sooner we get this election out of the way, and (hopefully) see the back of Jeremy the better. It's a really poor reflection on our democracy, Parliamentary system and country that the choice is between him and Mrs May.)

I can't argue with that

[IanMcL]

Just watched Nicola Sturgeon sort Andrew Neil. Now there is the best equipped leader in the UK.

[Damo]

Just watched Nicola Sturgeon sort Andrew Neil. Now there is the best equipped leader in the UK.

[AndrewJB]

Of course there can. He consistently supports the anti-Western organisations - IRA, Hamas, Hizbollah, etc. Someone who frequently sides with people who want to kill UK soldiers (and civilians, but the same would be true of it was restricted to soldiers) can't be blithlely assumed to be 100% patriotic. There is room for doubt, and I doubt him.

I don't doubt anyone's patriotism in this election. They all love Britain. I'm absolutely certain that In handing tax breaks to foreign rich people Theresa May believes she's acting in Britains best interests. I don't agree with her, but I don't think she's anti-British.

You might not agree with Corbyn's patriotism, but he most definitely loves Britain. So does Tim Fallon, and the Greens. And UKIP, and even the SNP in their own way (they are working within the framework).

Look at the Labour manifesto and tell me what would make terrorists happy. More council houses? More police? Better NHS and free education? Less reliance on oil? Ethical foreign policy? Terrorists thrive on disenchantment and Corbyn wants to reduce that, and make life better for everyone.

Theresa May's patriotism of continued austerity is her plan. Corbyn's plan of - to use their catchphrase- looking after the many not the few, is different but not at all unpatriotic.

[dsr]

I don't doubt anyone's patriotism in this election. They all love Britain. I'm absolutely certain that In handing tax breaks to foreign rich people Theresa May believes she's acting in Britains best interests. I don't agree with her, but I don't think she's anti-British.

You might not agree with Corbyn's patriotism, but he most definitely loves Britain. So does Tim Fallon, and the Greens. And UKIP, and even the SNP in their own way (they are working within the framework).

Look at the Labour manifesto and tell me what would make terrorists happy. More council houses? More police? Better NHS and free education? Less reliance on oil? Ethical foreign policy? Terrorists thrive on disenchantment and Corbyn wants to reduce that, and make life better for everyone.

Theresa May's patriotism of continued austerity is her plan. Corbyn's plan of - to use their catchphrase- looking after the many not the few, is different but not at all unpatriotic.

ISIL terrorists' disenchantment comes from the existence of people who disagree with them. There's only one way to solve that particular problem, and they're already trying that. They gave student loans to this particular terrorist - it doesn't seem to have made him happy.

[IanMcL]

Aaaah - youthful ignorance!

[Wokingclaret]

Any chance you could enlighten us all as to how a country would actually go about declaring bankruptcy?

(Hint: it's literally not possible)

At the end of Last time, " There is no money left"

Like I say who would not vote for labour, he is promising the Christmas every day. BHW I' am

[nil_desperandum]

At the end of Last time, " There is no money left"

Well obviously, since that was after we had massively bailed out the banks to the extent of £850 BILLION, but even then we were weren't declared bankrupt.
By contrast Labour's spending plans are costed out at less than 50 billion, so even if this is an underestimate, its a drop in the ocean compared to what the banks cost us.

[Spiral]

At the end of Last time, " There is no money left"

Like I say who would not vote for labour, he is promising the Christmas every day. BHW I' am

Before Gideon pi$$ed on everyone's chips be using it as a political weapon, treasury secretaries traditionally left jovial memos for their successors. A bit sad, perhaps. It's probably the closest thing to 'bantz' a career politician knows, but you'd have to be a complete and utter moron to use that, and that alone, as the evidence of a govt's alleged economic incompetency.

By the way, I'm still interested in hearing how a country would actually go about declaring bankruptcy.

[TVC15]

Before Gideon pi$$ed on everyone's chips be using it as a political weapon, treasury secretaries traditionally left jovial memos for their successors. A bit sad, perhaps. It's probably the closest thing to 'bantz' a career politician knows, but you'd have to be a complete and utter moron to use that, and that alone, as the evidence of a govt's alleged economic incompetency.

By the way, I'm still interested in hearing how a country would actually go about declaring bankruptcy.

Spiral - I agree with all you have said but to answer your specific country I think the country would just ring Greece and ask them how they did it !

[Spiral]

Greece came close to default (which absolutely isn't bankruptcy) before accepting a conditional bailout which saw them hand some state assets to other European investors, and imposed upon them an austerity programme designed to repay mostly foreign creditors at the expense of the Greeks and growth in the Greek economy; but again, It's literally impossible for a country to declare bankruptcy. The fact that the ECB, not Greece, determines eurozone monetary policy didn't exactly help the situation. Mercifully, we're not a part of the eurozone.

The reason I'm flogging this dead horse is that any ill-informed notions of nation states actually having the capacity and legal recourse to declare bankruptcy will likely lead to an acquiescence among the general public of what would inevitably be a blatant power-grab by the already wealthy and powerful. Anyone who objects to the notion of neofeudalism-the current neoliberal direction of travel-should rid themselves of this specious, economically fallacious idea. It's literally impossible for a country to declare bankruptcy. Anyone who ponders a nation becoming 'bankrupt' is attempting to disingenuously conjure a picture of inevitable and unavoidable despair for purely political gain.

Talk inflation as much as you like. Talk credit rating. Talk interest rates. But don't talk bankruptcy. It's literally nonsense.

[TVC15]

It was a joke !
I understand fully the definition of bankruptcy and purely on a technical basis it is like you say not possible for a country to be bankrupt

....but maybe they should invent a new word for a situation like Greece which many people do still describe as bankrupt or "bust".

How about describing a country in Greece's economic plight as clusterf-ucked ?!!!

[dermotdermot]

The one thing you all miss is that Jeremy Corbyn looks at things dispassionately- from an intellectual standpoint. To that end, it is easy to determine that the supposed enemy most likely had good reason to be risking their lives against an historical oppressor. There are more important things going on today. I am fed up being oppressed by Tory austerity, for instance and the Labour manifesto offers real hope for proper change.
Let's see May out - roll on June.

You call him an intellectual? I call him a a subversive.

[joey13]

So Corbyn is a terrorist appeaser, whereas May just supply's their weapons .

[HatfieldClaret]

Appeaser ? No.

Supporter ? Yes.

Our government, at the moment Conservative, led by Theresa May, gives aid to the Palestinians. Bit different.

[Hipper]

Just watched Nicola Sturgeon sort Andrew Neil. Now there is the best equipped leader in the UK.

I'm not Scottish nor live in Scotland but of the three interviews I've seen so far (Sturgeon, May, Corbyn) this was the best and most competent performer. She answered (and tried to answer) all the questions and when Neil wouldn't accept her answers she was not evasive but showed him why he was wrong.

Very impressive in comparison with the others.

[nil_desperandum]

I'm not Scottish nor live in Scotland but of the three interviews I've seen so far (Sturgeon, May, Corbyn) this was the best and most competent performer. She answered (and tried to answer) all the questions and when Neil wouldn't accept her answers she was not evasive but showed him why he was wrong.

Very impressive in comparison with the others.

If you are able to detach your own political prejudices and look at things dispassionately, Sturgeon and Davidson, wipe the floor with May and Corbyn in just about every area. They demonstrate just how poor our options are in England at present.

[claretandy]

I'm not Scottish nor live in Scotland but of the three interviews I've seen so far (Sturgeon, May, Corbyn) this was the best and most competent performer. She answered (and tried to answer) all the questions and when Neil wouldn't accept her answers she was not evasive but showed him why he was wrong.

Very impressive in comparison with the others.

you must have watched a different version to me, she got brillo'd, especially on poor school standards, she also said she would prop up Corbyn even though she thinks he's not fit to be prime minister.

[nil_desperandum]

........................ she also said she would prop up Corbyn even though she thinks he's not fit to be prime minister.

I haven't seen a transcript of the entire interview, but as far as I am aware, she said no such thing. That's what the Sun said. As I understand it she said " we would look to be part of a progressive alliance that pursued progressive policies.”
If she believes that Corbyn is not fit to be Prime Minister, then she would be perfectly within her rights to say, "we are prepared to consider a progressive alliance, but not one which was led by Corbyn". This would mean that the Labour Party would have a serious decision to make, since it's quite possible that other parties would also not join an alliance led by JC, and he himself has also ruled out being leader of any coalition.

[If it be your will]

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[IanMcL]

At the end of Last time, " There is no money left"

Like I say who would not vote for labour, he is promising the Christmas every day. BHW I' am

Christmas every day...or never again! What a stark choice for ordinary folk....now which shall I vote....?

Time running out for May!

[Spiral]

It was a joke !
I understand fully the definition of bankruptcy and purely on a technical basis it is like you say not possible for a country to be bankrupt

....but maybe they should invent a new word for a situation like Greece which many people do still describe as bankrupt or "bust".

How about describing a country in Greece's economic plight as clusterf-ucked ?!!!

I feel a bit of a dummy, now!