The General Election Thread

[Len Rum]

Labour's problem with the SNP issue is that they're saying what they will not do but not saying how they will operate as a minority governement. They're leaving it for everyone else to fill in the gaps.

Why doesnt Milliband just spell it out? Explain which issues he will not speak to the SNP about (eg the Queen's speech, budget, trident). Make it clear that he will not negotiate on the fundamentals of his economic strategy and that it will be up to the minority parties as to whether they choose to support Labour.

It would be unbelievable for there to be no communication between Labour and the SNP. Milliband could perhaps give some non threatening examples of when this would occur eg any issues, or clauses in bills that primarily affect the oil and gas industry.

Milliband needs to switch the focus from Labour to the SNP. Make Sturgeon explain why she would not support a budget that includes a higher top rate of tax, a bankers bonus tax, plans for a mansion tax etc

He has done exactly what you have requested him to do in your second paragraph!

And still no one believes him, it's Labours Achilles Heel and it will lose them a lot of votes in England

Erm, not so sure now mate.
Last week I would have agreed with you but now I think Ed has been totally unequivocal on this issue AND it has given him an issue on which he can be seen to be strong and decisive.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

As Business Owners maybe not quite so funny for us de niro
Worst case scenario is a Labour Majority then a SNP Minority Government (Labour biggest party)

These both are Likely and both would be devastating for small businesses like ours.

You own your own business? Why haven't you mentioned this before?

Whp.blue I am intrigued - call it the CFO in me, knowing plenty of businesses well owned by close family and friends that survived everything Callaghan, Wilson, Blair and brown threw at the and even thrived and grew - please can you explain what is so unique in your business model and with your business that means a government with 99.5% the same policies will be disasterous?

Not being patronising but most businesses plan around government changes through their risk management and ensure they are robust enough that such thins done matter. I am sure a few simple ideas could ensure you aren't bankrupt in a few weeks. Genuinely interested as apart from in very specific industries that are uniquely dependent on direct government spend or policy it is hard to see how a win for labour could be so disasterous.

If it is hyperbole fair enough! If not I would be interested to hear why this government Change will be such a blow?

His business is letting everyone know he's got a business.

 

[blueinsa]

He has done exactly what you have requested him to do in your second paragraph!

And still no one believes him, it's Labours Achilles Heel and it will lose them a lot of votes in England

Erm, not so sure now mate.
Last week I would have agreed with you but now I think Ed has been totally unequivocal on this issue AND it has given him an issue on which he can be seen to be strong and decisive.

He will climb into bed with the SNP, guaranteed.

 

[cibaman]

Labour's problem with the SNP issue is that they're saying what they will not do but not saying how they will operate as a minority governement. They're leaving it for everyone else to fill in the gaps.

Why doesnt Milliband just spell it out? Explain which issues he will not speak to the SNP about (eg the Queen's speech, budget, trident). Make it clear that he will not negotiate on the fundamentals of his economic strategy and that it will be up to the minority parties as to whether they choose to support Labour.

It would be unbelievable for there to be no communication between Labour and the SNP. Milliband could perhaps give some non threatening examples of when this would occur eg any issues, or clauses in bills that primarily affect the oil and gas industry.

Milliband needs to switch the focus from Labour to the SNP. Make Sturgeon explain why she would not support a budget that includes a higher top rate of tax, a bankers bonus tax, plans for a mansion tax etc

He has done exactly what you have requested him to do in your second paragraph!

When did he do that? I've heard him say no deals etc, the things he will not do but it seems he's leaving it for people to work out how his minority government would work. And the message is being confused as people like Benn and Burnham have already said that there would be day to day discussions with the SNP on individual bills.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

And still no one believes him, it's Labours Achilles Heel and it will lose them a lot of votes in England

Erm, not so sure now mate.
Last week I would have agreed with you but now I think Ed has been totally unequivocal on this issue AND it has given him an issue on which he can be seen to be strong and decisive.

He will climb into bed with the SNP, guaranteed.

He'll find ways of justifying it to himself. I'm all for a Labour/SNP coalition. The comedic possibilities are almost endless.

 

[union city blue]

Thank you for genuine concern for my well being.

Since the Leaders debate I can't help but notice a distinct lack of support for Beaker and his policies in this thread and just more personal attacks on our PM , I take it , this is an admission of Beakers failure and downright lies during the debate.

"More personal attacks on our PM"? I find that a little rich from a man - and presumably you are a man not a child, though it's not easy to tell from your posts - who refuses to even use the name of the Leader of the Labour Party and continually refers to him so hilariously as Beaker.

Point taken , I shall stop referring to him as Beaker.

Perhaps you can explain how Ed's promise to force the private sector to take on the long term unemployed will happen and how this will be funded?

Firstly, I don't believe he said that employers would be 'forced' to take on the long term unemployed, and I think you're being deliberatly alarmist to suggest this is the case. A government cannot compel any company to employ anybody. I suspect that the answer will probably that any scheme will be heavily incentivised for employers, probably through tax breaks. Rascal provided a possible plausible explanation in your 'Question for the Socialists' thread which I think will be very close to how it will operate.

 

[blueinsa]

Erm, not so sure now mate.
Last week I would have agreed with you but now I think Ed has been totally unequivocal on this issue AND it has given him an issue on which he can be seen to be strong and decisive.

He will climb into bed with the SNP, guaranteed.

He'll find ways of justifying it to himself. I'm all for a Labour/SNP coalition. The comedic possibilities are almost endless.

Imagine the demand for a independence referendum again within months of the Parliament and if the SNP do sweep all before them up here, its going to happen such is the hatred for all things Westminster.

 

[mcfc1632]

The questions were genuine ones that we all wanted to hear the answers to right?

Were there any Labour activists in the undecided section also?

If an audience member ripped Cameron and it turns out she was a Labour party activist just what do you think the majority of the media and posters on here would be saying?

you cant condone it can you, as the floaters should be exactly as described, Neutral

Maybe Labour missed a trick in this situation as you have to be as ruthless as your enemy in a battle

As the 80's (or was it 70's) film quote said "Don't fuck with the Baldies", maybe Labour got outwitted or they were too honest for their own good, hard to believe I am saying that about a group of politicians

All this seems a weird discussion - I thought that the BBC (probably stung by previous criticism) were clear to set out in advance their policy for audience selection - an equal percentage deliberately supporters of the 3 parties and the remaining percentage declaring themselves undecided. So why should it be a surprise if a Labour supporter asked Cameron a tough question or a Tory voter asking Milligan one?

It seemed that a consensus of reporting suggested that it was a good audience with all 3 getting tough questions.

Maybe it is just the first time that there has not been an imbalance in favour of Labour and therefore Ed has not had an easy ride

 

[scotty123]

Daft fucking question No1, will Kate going into labour with her baby this Morning and probably born Tonight or Tomorrow effect the outcome of the way some nutters vote?

Daft fucking question No2, will the way the leaders of the party's react to the Royal birth harm or enhance their standing in opinion polls?

 

[The Northern Baptist]

Daft fucking question No1, will Kate going into labour with her baby this Morning and probably born Tonight or Tomorrow effect the outcome of the way some nutters vote?

Daft fucking question No2, will the way the leaders of the party's react to the Royal birth harm or enhance their standing in opinion polls?

It might not affect the way people vote however it will be the main news story probably til Tuesday, its going to be very hard for any party to make any headway now before the election. So we'll be heading into the election pretty much as we are now in the polls.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Daft fucking question No1, will Kate going into labour with her baby this Morning and probably born Tonight or Tomorrow effect the outcome of the way some nutters vote?

Daft fucking question No2, will the way the leaders of the party's react to the Royal birth harm or enhance their standing in opinion polls?

It might not affect the way people vote however it will be the main news story probably til Tuesday, its going to be very hard for any party to make any headway now before the election. So we'll be heading into the election pretty much as we are now in the polls.

I think a significant number of voters will change their mind on Thursday. Whether that makes any difference to the outcome, however, is debatable.

 

[Bill]

whatever happens on thurday friday on here will be fucking funny.

As Business Owners maybe not quite so funny for us de niro
Worst case scenario is a Labour Majority then a SNP Minority Government (Labour biggest party)

These both are Likely and both would be devastating for small businesses like ours.

the country wouldn't be that thick would they? surely they know the liars will simply repeat in bankrupting the country. they always have.

 

[Paulpowersleftfoot]

whatever happens on thurday friday on here will be fucking funny.

As Business Owners maybe not quite so funny for us de niro
Worst case scenario is a Labour Majority then a SNP Minority Government (Labour biggest party)

These both are Likely and both would be devastating for small businesses like ours.

the country wouldn't be that thick would they? surely they know the liars will simply repeat in bankrupting the country. they always have.

It does seem to be the only predictable thing about a labour term of office,at the end of it the country will be in a mess

 

[cibaman]

whatever happens on thurday friday on here will be fucking funny.

As Business Owners maybe not quite so funny for us de niro
Worst case scenario is a Labour Majority then a SNP Minority Government (Labour biggest party)

These both are Likely and both would be devastating for small businesses like ours.

the country wouldn't be that thick would they? surely they know the liars will simply repeat in bankrupting the country. they always have.

I disagree with the worst case scenario being a Labour majority. If Labour are to be in government I hope they get a 50 seat majority. Enough to take them out of the clutches of the SNP and extreme left.

 

[Len Rum]

Erm, not so sure now mate.
Last week I would have agreed with you but now I think Ed has been totally unequivocal on this issue AND it has given him an issue on which he can be seen to be strong and decisive.

He will climb into bed with the SNP, guaranteed.

He'll find ways of justifying it to himself. I'm all for a Labour/SNP coalition. The comedic possibilities are almost endless.

You can't seriously believe a Lab/SNP coalition is still on the cards.
Even the Tories and their friends in the media have stopped harping on about that one, preferring to talk instead of pacts/agreements/deals/ confidence & supply whatever.

 

[Bill]

He will climb into bed with the SNP, guaranteed.

He'll find ways of justifying it to himself. I'm all for a Labour/SNP coalition. The comedic possibilities are almost endless.

You can't seriously believe a Lab/SNP coalition is still on the cards.
Even the Tories and their friends in the media have stopped harping on about that one, preferring to talk instead of pacts/agreements/deals/ confidence & supply whatever.

er they are politians, they usually lie, lets face it labour are renowned for it.

 

[Len Rum]

The DUP with their (probable) nine seats could play a key role in any potential coalition deal.
Traditionally they align with the Tories but now they're closer to Labour on the two big constitutional issues for them of EU ( DUP are pro EU) and preserving the Union ( they do not support an English parliament).
I can't see them entering into any coalition/pact with the Tories but I can see them doing a deal with Labour.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Miliband is acually playing a clever game here. If he forms a minority government then the SNP know that they have to back him or risk another election at which they will be significantly less popular if they bring him down. I'm sure he'll throw them a bone or two but he'll push his own agenda rather than having to sacrifice some of his principles to form a coalition.

 

[law74]

I find it hard to believe how insular a lot of the tories seem to be on here, they just don't seem to realise just how hard very many of the electorate are having it as a result of this government's economic policies.
NONE of them have answered how, if as the tories claim, thousands more are in full time work, the coffers are not overflowing with the resulting rise in tax revenue, national insurance contributions and the i crease in VAT returns as the newly employed spend their wages.
the fact is, if the tories had been nearly as successful as they claim, they would be far ahead in the polls, the fact they will not gain enough seats to form a government says that for many, the tory led coalition has failed them.

 

[Len Rum]

He'll find ways of justifying it to himself. I'm all for a Labour/SNP coalition. The comedic possibilities are almost endless.

You can't seriously believe a Lab/SNP coalition is still on the cards.
Even the Tories and their friends in the media have stopped harping on about that one, preferring to talk instead of pacts/agreements/deals/ confidence & supply whatever.

er they are politians, they usually lie, lets face it labour are renowned for it.

Err.., I think you'll find Maggie (1979) and Dave (2010) were somewhat economical with the truth on VAT.