6 Comments

• David Raw 18th Jan '19 - 10:57pm

  Burgon very polite tonight (and did quite well)…….. must have read LDV and been scared off by a Caron (from Edinbrow).

  Interestingly, huge applause for a new referendum in what was a 45/55 Kirklees leave result in 2016 – though in the University Hall. Layla did OK …. but a bit wobbly on Hinckley Point (Ed Davey’s contract ?) but she had Burgon eating out of her hand.

• Christopher Haigh 19th Jan '19 - 12:30am

  @David Raw -according to the (H)uddersfield Examiner research by academics at University of East Anglia calculated the town and environs to be 50/50. Batley and Spen were 60/40 leave. (H)uddersfield was/is a major exporting town with textiles and engineering before/after de-industrualisation. It is said that yardage of cloth produced is constant as before but concentrated in just a few high tech factories and requiring vastly reduced workforce.

• David Raw 19th Jan '19 - 7:26am

  Good to hear that Christopher…… and I’m not surprised by Dewsbury for reasons that have nothing to do with the EU.

  Yes, I know a bit about textiles – Dad was a weaver at Taylor’s Smithies Mill in Birstall……. where the old man practised workers share co-partnership.

• Roger Lake 19th Jan '19 - 10:34am

  I think it is a touch unfunny, if not downright tactless, for a Lib Dem to seem to poke fun at a well-loved regional accent. We southerners, we metropolitans, should ask ourselves how much such an apparent attitude may have contributed to the clamour for Brexit. The remark betrayed a rather similar sniffiness towards Americans, incidentally — very understandable, of course– but best not broadcast? When Mr Gove explains that people have had enough of experts, it is People Like Us (and himself — Edinburgh is ok of course ) it us and himself he has in mind.

  And see the the over-tenderness of Diane Abbott, reported in the Grauniad this morning. Of course I cannot well judge, not having been present at the warm-up. But I believe most of the derision complained of was not aimed at her, but at the leader she was trying to defend. We are all of us too sensitive, but must not become ‘snowflakes’.

• expats 19th Jan '19 - 3:03pm

  Roger Lake 19th Jan ’19 – 10:34am…….And see the the over-tenderness of Diane Abbott, reported in the Grauniad this morning. Of course I cannot well judge, not having been present at the warm-up. But I believe most of the derision complained of was not aimed at her, but at the leader she was trying to defend. We are all of us too sensitive, but must not become ‘snowflakes’………………..

  Like her or not the racial abuse she receives on-line and in person (such abuse is well documented and not a figment of her imagination). I was not at the ‘warm up’ but if as she says the matter was personalised then she has a point.
  As far as impartiality goes Fiona Bruce certainly interrupted her more than any other panelist and when Isabel Oakeshott wrongly claimed that Labour were ‘miles behind in the polls (the last polls show Labour ahead in three, one tie and one Tory lead), instead of correcting Oakeshott, she interrupted Abbott to align herself with Oakeshott’s wrongful claim. Bias, or not, the BBC presenters should at least be informed.

  The audience were certainly in no frame of mind to give Abbott any sort of a hearing and Isabel Oakeshott’s ‘walk-away’ got the biggest cheer of the night.

  As for your ‘Too sensitive’ had any other minority personality made such a complaint LDV would be up in arms in their support.

• Jayne Mansfield 19th Jan '19 - 4:00pm

  @ Roger Lake,

  Shame on you for your comment on Diane Abbott.

  Anyone who looks at her CV and reads some of the vicious abuse she receives, can hardly be described as over -tender. It demonstrates a strength of character and bravery that many of us would be able to muster.