Margaret Thatcher is dead.

[molly bloom]

MP's have a huge effect locally.

Some do, not all. Look how voters voted back a LibDem in Huhne's old constituency- partly tribal loyalty, partly out of dissatisfaction with the Tories.

It happens still sure, but constituency organizations can have a huge effect if they flex their muscles.

Harold Wilson tried it in the mid-late 60s ? with Patrick Gordon-Walker. Didn't work out happily for him or Labour that time...

I think a permanent coalition government would be a terrible thing for the country

It works just fine in plenty of other countries, in Europe and elsewhere.

[molly bloom]

My siblings and I were in London for a couple of days last January, and when we got there, we went to buy Oyster cards. So my brother goes to the tube ticket booth and asks: "An oyser card with 10 pounds in it". The guy in the booth looks at him funny, but still gets the card and asks my brother if he would like the plastic sleeve, to which my brother answers "Yes". Th guy can't hold himself any more and replies: "You're in Britain now mate, you say 'Yes please'" and asks him where he came from, my brother answers and the guy clarifies "SÃ por favor". My (british) cousin and I were laughing by then.

Fox has a piece on how many 'pleases' and 'thank yous' are contained in the simplest and most regular of transactions in the U.K., between Brits. It really is a great book, because every so often I was either laughing or nodding in agreement... Mikes was very funny too.

How odd sometimes life here must seem to those who are only visiting....

[Sava]

imagine what her rotting corpse must look like now

even with the formaldehyde and whatnot, how long until she looks like the cryptkeeper?

well, more so than she already did while alive

[notyoueither]

I thought I'd heard she is ashes.

[Sava]

even better

[Andemagne]

She's on a Highway To Hell.

[molly bloom]

She's on a Highway To Hell.

Probably a private toll road in her case....