btb

Interesting, if a touch confusing, article..................... http://sportsscientists.com/2017/12/brief-thoughts-froomes-salbutamol-result/

Tax Threshold £11,850 as opposed to £11,500 south of the border - Saving £70 19p rate from £11,850 to £13,850 - Saving £20 21p rate above £24,000 - Cost £90 for those earning £33,000/year. *************** Anyone earning less than £33,000/year will be better off, those earning more will be worse off.

It's clearly what she's been angling for since the last GE. I suppose the big question is whether she will have faith in the Tory revival in Scotland in that GE being repeated or whether she'll be off to a safe seat in the shires.

Any reason why it taken three months to come out?

Up till that last corner......................

My opinion is still pretty much unchanged from June. With an interim period of (at least) two years after March '19 when we'll still be in the EU without having any say as to how policies are shaped the SNP might be able to secure an attractive deal from Brussels as a GIRFUY to Westminster and with the threat of a hard border removed it should be down to the mood of the country. I certainly don't foresee NS deciding to roll the bones again unless it's odds on the country would vote for Independence.

My pre-season prediction was between third and fifth. I still think Dundee Utd. are favourites to finish top but from here I'd be disappointed to finish outside a play-off spot.

Yup I expected someone from Britannia Unchained, perhaps the recently sacked Priti Patel to have raised the flag for a low regulation, tiger economy.

It's all clear now: This is highly significant. I'm away to listen to the Maple Leaf Rag.

Irish Teashop on the telly now, clearly struggling to avoid laughing. FFS - he just said funding for border communities would continue until 2021 when they'd "examine continuing it beyond that"!

Erm yeah, all a bit of a fudge. On Citizen's Rights if I heard correct they'll be regulated by the UK courts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, On the Irish border, a soft one, but a seat for the DUP at the negotiating table when issues arise giving the DUP opportunities to dip into the pork barrel in years to come. A mechanism has indeed been agreed for the Divorce Bill, the EU can whistle for it & Boris will send it over.

Just watched the Junker/May press conference, it was all a bit vague and contained contradictory statements about which courts would have the ultimate responsibility - May said the UK courts, Junker the European ones. Details to follow........................ ****************** Wrong thread.

They really are the Nasty Party.................. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42265268

Well yeah the work has clearly been done and no amount of semantics should convince anyone otherwise. The only reasonable assumption for trying to keep the information secret is that it suggests the country will be worse off. *************** Poor performances by Corbyn & Blackford at PMQT!

Um the PM has just said there's been analysis but no assessment - I'm confused.

Contadicts what he said in October...... Brexit impact study 'will not be published' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41749270 ********* My take then (and now) is that they're not favourable reading.

Morning Geoffrey!

Surprised by Ruth Davidson's statement, everything else she's said since the GE in June seemed to be geared towards her getting a safe seat down south but I doubt very much whether this is the sort of policy that'll go down well in a Rotary Club in the Shires. Still respect to her for showing a bit of support for her ain wee region!

Well May came out of a meeting to phone Foster and the PM backed down. I suppose anything can happen and the other 27¾ countries could stick together and see if the DUP maintain their position, but like I said in Round 1 it was TM who backed down.

She's already ducked that opportunity, hasn't she?

Like I said TM's incompetence in not informing the DUP about what she was about to agree is staggering!

Fascinating afternoon - virtually all political decisions are leaked in advance these days so there are few surprises. Admittedly the leaks were coming from Brussels & Dublin (according to the BBC) but how incompetent is TM in not getting Arlene Fraser & the DUP onside? I was listening to the BBC correspondent saying he'd gone from virtually certain a deal would be announced in the morning to being 50/50 only to have to finish the sentence with "there'll be no deal today"!

Welsh First Minister joins the debate Your turn Richard Leonard.......... ******************************* Ooops latest news - no deal today!

Nicola + Sadiq