The General Election Thread

[masterwig]

Scots need to realise a vote for the SNP is a vote against Labour and therefore a vote for a Tory government. Ed should be telling them this at every opportunity.

The Sun has backed the SNP in Scotland for this very reason. They know a strong SNP will help the Tories into number 10.

 

[Len Rum]

Scots need to realise a vote for the SNP is a vote against Labour and therefore a vote for a Tory government. Ed should be telling them this at every opportunity.

The Sun has backed the SNP in Scotland for this very reason. They know a strong SNP will help the Tories into number 10.

I think you'll find Ed is already on the case mate.
This is a perfect end of campaign issue for him to appear strong on.

 

[Cheesy]

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.

Dreading that outcome as are all my clients and fellow small business owners.

 

[mcfc1632]

So many a politician went to Scotland to beg them to stay in the union but god forbid any Scot has a say in the running of the country?

It shows politicians cannot be trusted and people should be allowed 'occasionally' a referendum on key issues.

I wonder what would be the outcome of a referendum in England that there should be separation from Scotland in all economic matters, i.e. there should not be an imbalance to England's detriment in terms of taxes raised and paned committed.

 

[Len Rum]

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.

He needs at least 280 seats and to beat the Tories to establish some kind of legitimacy as a minority government. At this number he improves on Labour's showing last time and if it wasn't for the SNP would have got a majority ( just).
The problem is that 280 seats looks to be at top end of the range for Labour.
At 270 Labour seats and SNP at 50, a minority Labour Government is still possible. But if the Tories come in at say 280 ( and a greater share of the national vote), what credibility would such an administration have and how long would it last?
The frightening thing is that this latter scenario is a strong possibility.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

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.

Dreading that outcome as are all my clients and fellow small business owners.

Are your fellow small business owners happy to see companies like Amazon and Vodafone pay no tax on profits they make in the UK while they pay their full whack?

 

[Cheesy]

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.

He needs at least 280 seats and to beat the Tories to establish some kind of legitimacy as a minority government. At this number he improves on Labour's showing last time and if it wasn't for the SNP would have got a majority ( just).
The problem is that 280 seats looks to be at top end of the range for Labour.
At 270 Labour seats and SNP at 50, a minority Labour Government is still possible. But if the Tories come in at say 280 ( and a greater share of the national vote), what credibility would such an administration have and how long would it last?
The frightening thing is that this latter scenario is a strong possibility.

I think it's nailed on that the Tories will get around the 280 mark and the bigger share of the vote. Many of the undecided will, on polling day, decide change is too risky.

However, I can't see how they will then possibly be able to form a working coalition. Then it will be over to Labour to try to form one and they'll probably be more successful in at least being able to form a government (not a real coalition). However, the legitimacy of this arrangement wil be questioned and the first time an important vote is lost then we're in for another general election within 6 months.

 

[Cheesy]

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

Dreading that outcome as are all my clients and fellow small business owners.

Are your fellow small business owners happy to see companies like Amazon and Vodafone pay no tax on profits they make in the UK while they pay their full whack?

The general concensus is that whilst they should pay more, they are doing what every business does which is to pay the least amount of tax they legally have to. This is the job of every accountant in the country. Morally, this view can be questioned of course, but the fault is with the system really. What Labour will inevitably do is to increase Corporation Tax across the board without tightening the tax laws meaning the pain of this increase is felt by us small business owners.

 

[mcfc1632]

I want the public sector to be leaner permanently - what is wrong with that?

If that's what you want then can fully understand why you want the Conservatives or UKIP.

Thankyou.

Tell you what - there could be an entirely separate thread to discuss the level to which the public sector is in many way hideously bloated and the source of so many wasted £billions that if made efficient it Wold go a long way to balancing the books.

The big lie put out by so many is that cuts to the Public Sector = less nurses, doctors, police etc. This is bollocks, put out there for political sound bytes and believe by the gullible masses.

In fact there is such a massive volume of bureaucracy and admin which is what needs shaving - and the increase in the pay in that sector over the past 20 years is, I think I would be proven in saying, way above that in the private sector.

But as I say this is the stuff probably of a different thread.

 

[The Northern Baptist]

Dreading that outcome as are all my clients and fellow small business owners.

Are your fellow small business owners happy to see companies like Amazon and Vodafone pay no tax on profits they make in the UK while they pay their full whack?

The general concensus is that whilst they should pay more, they are doing what every business does which is to pay the least amount of tax they legally have to. This is the job of every accountant in the country. Morally, this view can be questioned of course, but the fault is with the system really. What Labour will inevitably do is to increase Corporation Tax across the board without tightening the tax laws meaning the pain of this increase is felt by us small business owners.

Labour have said they won't increase corporation tax but will close the loopholes that allow people to abuse the system.

 

[Cheesy]

Are your fellow small business owners happy to see companies like Amazon and Vodafone pay no tax on profits they make in the UK while they pay their full whack?

The general concensus is that whilst they should pay more, they are doing what every business does which is to pay the least amount of tax they legally have to. This is the job of every accountant in the country. Morally, this view can be questioned of course, but the fault is with the system really. What Labour will inevitably do is to increase Corporation Tax across the board without tightening the tax laws meaning the pain of this increase is felt by us small business owners.

Labour have said they won't increase corporation tax but will close the loopholes that allow people to abuse the system.

Hmmmm.....

They have pledged to keep it lower than the rest of the G7. Which gives them a bit of room to increase it seeing as the next lowest is 27% I think.

Edit - I was wrong, the next lowest is 26.5%.

From Ed Balls' own website...

DM: But you have been explicit, haven’t you, about things like VAT and basic rate tax, are you going to be explicit about corporation tax, that it will stay at 21% or could it go higher?

ED BALLS: I’ve made a commitment which is that we will keep the corporation tax rate, the main one, at the lowest level of any of the big G7 countries …

DM: And there is the wriggle room because we know that Canada, the next lowest, is on 26.5%, so you could put it up to 24 or 25 pence.

ED BALLS: But as I’ve said, I’ve supported the cuts from 28 down to 21 and my plan is not to do the next one and to do that for small business rates. Now the thing which we need in this recovery, look, at the moment our business investment performance is weak, our exporting performance is weak, businesses are really worried about Europe. We need to make sure that we back businesses and start investing for the future, the last thing that I want to do is start deterring that investment by hiking up corporation tax so therefore that is not something that I have made any commitment to do at all, we will keep our rates low.

 

[Paulpowersleftfoot]

Scots need to realise a vote for the SNP is a vote against Labour and therefore a vote for a Tory government. Ed should be telling them this at every opportunity.

The Sun has backed the SNP in Scotland for this very reason. They know a strong SNP will help the Tories into number 10.

I think you'll find Ed is already on the case mate.
This is a perfect end of campaign issue for him to appear strong on.

To appear strong is as much as he can aspire to be
And that's all it would be,an illusion
Vote Dave,to do anything else is utterly ridiculous

 

[law74]

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.

Can't see the DUP joining with Labour, they have negotiated a deal were they cull 20,000 public sector jobs in return for being allowed to offer reduced corporation tax and there are plans to privitise water,public transport and Belfast Harbour, all core tory economic principles, though there stance on abortion and LGBT issues (amongst others) will not sit easily with any national party

 

[cibaman]

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.

He needs at least 280 seats and to beat the Tories to establish some kind of legitimacy as a minority government. At this number he improves on Labour's showing last time and if it wasn't for the SNP would have got a majority ( just).
The problem is that 280 seats looks to be at top end of the range for Labour.
At 270 Labour seats and SNP at 50, a minority Labour Government is still possible. But if the Tories come in at say 280 ( and a greater share of the national vote), what credibility would such an administration have and how long would it last?
The frightening thing is that this latter scenario is a strong possibility.

I think the SNP factor will give the Tories a few more seats, possibly over 300. With about 25 Lib Dems and 9 DUP's they might arithmetically be able to form a coalition. But I dont think Clegg (if he's re-elected) will get the support from his party. The rump LIb Dems are likely to be more left wing than the current 57 and the EU referendum will probably be a deal breaker.

I wouldnt be surprised if they're still wrangling over who becomes PM in June.

 

[yerwot?]

best outcome for me would be a series of re-elections due to no party having a working majority.
Genuine proportional representation might then have a chance to drag politics into the 21st century.
Cons and labour would fight it tooth and nail, the media would hate it, the lobby industry would be in melt-down, the cosseted dinosaurs in the house of lords would be apoplectic.
All the more reason to hope it happens, the present system is archaic, sleaze-ridden and not fit for purpose. Given the British public's fear of change, the chance of it happening are infinitesimal, but even a tiny hope is better than no hope at all which the present system guarantees.

 

[Len Rum]

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.

He needs at least 280 seats and to beat the Tories to establish some kind of legitimacy as a minority government. At this number he improves on Labour's showing last time and if it wasn't for the SNP would have got a majority ( just).
The problem is that 280 seats looks to be at top end of the range for Labour.
At 270 Labour seats and SNP at 50, a minority Labour Government is still possible. But if the Tories come in at say 280 ( and a greater share of the national vote), what credibility would such an administration have and how long would it last?
The frightening thing is that this latter scenario is a strong possibility.

I think the SNP factor will give the Tories a few more seats, possibly over 300. With about 25 Lib Dems and 9 DUP's they might arithmetically be able to form a coalition. But I dont think Clegg (if he's re-elected) will get the support from his party. The rump LIb Dems are likely to be more left wing than the current 57 and the EU referendum will probably be a deal breaker.

I wouldnt be surprised if they're still wrangling over who becomes PM in June.

True. Although I think you are overestimating the SNP factor ( which could now work in Labour's favour)
My best guess is 290 'ish for the Tories, which is actually at the extremity of all the pundit"s forecast.
But I think they might struggle to form a coalition with either the Libs or the DUP.
Tricky Nicky could well be out, and the Lib party are definitely anti EU referendum ( a Tory red line). The DUP are pro Europe and not happy with English votes English legislation.

 

[Bill]

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.

they did well to set the level they did once they saw what a mess they had been left with.

 

[Chancy Termites]

Labour’s Hodge accused of tax hypocrisy
Vanessa Houlder, Jim Pickard and George Parker
A prominent Labour politician and a fierce critic of tax avoidance has been accused of hypocrisy after receiving shares in a family company from a foundation based in a tax haven.
Margaret Hodge, former head of Britain’s parliamentary public accounts committee, was among the beneficiaries in 2011 of the winding-up of a Liechtenstein foundation that held shares in Stemcor, the private steel-trading business set up by Hans Oppenheimer, her father.
The shares were brought onshore using a scheme, known as the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility, that offered reduced penalties and no risk of prosecution for Britons moving undeclared assets back to the UK.

<a class="postlink" href="http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d9e16b4-ee3d-11e4-98f9-00144feab7de.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d9e16b4-ee3d-1 ... ab7de.html</a>

What an odious shitbag this People's Party multimillionaire is. Obviously I'm never going to vote for Lapaedobour but will one of you please explain why anyone does?

 

[EalingBlue2]

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

Dreading that outcome as are all my clients and fellow small business owners.

Are your fellow small business owners happy to see companies like Amazon and Vodafone pay no tax on profits they make in the UK while they pay their full whack?

I am sure those two companies would have a very sound legal position confirming they do not make their profit in the UK. It's time the US and Europe together supported the OECD and genuinely reformed but no doubt it won't happen and then companies will continue to not pay tax.

International transfer pricing rules are very complex and I suspect both companies would have a different view on the source and drivers of their income.

 

[EalingBlue2]

Labour’s Hodge accused of tax hypocrisy
Vanessa Houlder, Jim Pickard and George Parker
A prominent Labour politician and a fierce critic of tax avoidance has been accused of hypocrisy after receiving shares in a family company from a foundation based in a tax haven.
Margaret Hodge, former head of Britain’s parliamentary public accounts committee, was among the beneficiaries in 2011 of the winding-up of a Liechtenstein foundation that held shares in Stemcor, the private steel-trading business set up by Hans Oppenheimer, her father.
The shares were brought onshore using a scheme, known as the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility, that offered reduced penalties and no risk of prosecution for Britons moving undeclared assets back to the UK.

<a class="postlink" href="http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d9e16b4-ee3d-11e4-98f9-00144feab7de.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d9e16b4-ee3d-1 ... ab7de.html</a>

What an odious shitbag this People's Party multimillionaire is. Obviously I'm never going to vote for Lapaedobour but will one of you please explain why anyone does?

Because some people care about more than just themselves and their immediate family. Because some people believe that a population should be judged by how it treats its poorest and most vulnerable not on wealth and celebrity. Because some people believe in the state, the NHs, education for all etc. also a lot of people can see the likes of the mail , sun, etc owned by billionaires who pay no tax and lecture the people with their lies