The General Election Thread

[Damocles]

PR seems to work ok in Germany.

Tories would be a show in with Libs and UKIP. That coalition would have a good majority of the popular vote.

To be fair this isn't just in this election but many in the past too.

As I said in an earlier post, I have to see a single intelligent and convincing argument for why FPTP is a better system than PR (or many others). I have literally no idea at all why somebody would vote for it.

Any election system whereby somebody can walk away with 33% of the vote and get 260 seats, 15% of the vote and get 0 seats and 4% of the vote and get 55 seats should be automatically considered invalid and scrapped.

 

[worsleyweb]

Where did I say all of manchester were workshop layabouts? 34 actually not 18. We are going back to an argument on here of a few weeks ago where we debated iq and post code and it did not get resolved and urmston got dogs abuse for taking constant common sense. no point wasting more words on it. I am entitled to my views without being insulted.

But you don't seem to understand how insulting some of your views are. Why are other people not entitled to the same treatment that you want for yourself?

There's having views and understanding how to state potentially offensive views in a rational manner.

Most condescending post I hve ever read. Not worth acknowledging.

 

[Ducado]

Makes me cringe when people go on about personal prosperity and material 'success' as the be all and end all. I've been both skint (and I mean really skint) and financially secure in my adult life. However, some of the best times in my life were not when I had money.
I look for a Government that is inclusive and doesn't define 'aspiration' as simply being how much you earn, or moving into a more acceptable postcode as saying you have 'arrived.' It's ridiculous. Life is short and we should each set our own targets.

I take it that was aimed at me. I was personally upset at ducado calling me idiotic. It was a way of defending myself. I have been here 6 years and not once have I ever revealed my personal wealth. I was that skint in 1995 I lived off a jar of syrup for a week and load of bread. I now live a normal life and the only peronsal possessions I care about is my collection of city programmes. I am as scruffy as can be and spend practically nothing on my self but am generous to my kids, dad and ex wife and my current Mrs. My investments buy my family choices that is all. I am the least materialsitic person you will find and my post was not to boast just to defend someone calling me an idiot. I was equally happy when I was skint - the only thing that matters to me is relationships with friends and family.

I am going to tell you politely now shut the fuck up and talk about the issues, I am not in the mood for your crap tonight

 

[i kne albert davy]

Fewer allies?

Come off it.

UKIP will get around 13% of the vote and no seats.

SNP will get around 4% of the vote and 46 seats give or take.

If it was PR then Dave et al would be a shoe in.

Labour are just lucky that their likely Pyrrhic victory has fortune enough to benefit from a once in a generation twist of fate.

& if the SNP vote wasnt as strong, who do you think would be returned from those Scottish seats? The EDL?
On of the lads I served with moved over to Scotland a number of years ago, he has posted would it be right to vote for a party you disagree with to keep the Nationalists out, every reply (other than mine) was YES vote Labour.
With PR I still cant see how you reckon that the Tories would be a shoe in, but if we did have PR, how many representatives would there be from Northern Ireland?
who would decide what MP was to represent each area?
& there would be an awful lot more pressure on those MP's that were "chosen" not Elected to toe the party line rather than doing what they thought was correct for the country.
Rather than PR which would be IMHO very poor for the nation, perhaps AV for each seat would work better.

PR seems to work ok in Germany.

Tories would be a show in with Libs and UKIP. That coalition would have a good majority of the popular vote.

The Liberals in coalition with UKIP now that would be interesting.

 

[TangerineSteve17]

Makes me cringe when people go on about personal prosperity and material 'success' as the be all and end all. I've been both skint (and I mean really skint) and financially secure in my adult life. However, some of the best times in my life were not when I had money.
I look for a Government that is inclusive and doesn't define 'aspiration' as simply being how much you earn, or moving into a more acceptable postcode as saying you have 'arrived.' It's ridiculous. Life is short and we should each set our own targets.

You sure the cringe isn't born out of resentment though? :)

No, nicely put. I find it pretty vulgar also. Misplaced pride really.

 

[worsleyweb]

I have voted Labour today, mainly because I fear what is coming next from the Tories, it appears that the lessons of the last time they went on an idealogical cutting spree has not been learnt, the state started to collapse and they had to go into reverse gear pretty fast which ended up putting up public spending far more than would have been the case, if you think the last few years have been tough wait to see what they have planned for the next five.

There are many issues that I disagree with Labour about, and a certainley don't want to go back to the excess of the Brown years, however I don't want to see the North laid waste by a Southern Dominated Tory Government

The last 5 years have seen a continued improvement in the private sector.

 

[malg]

Makes me cringe when people go on about personal prosperity and material 'success' as the be all and end all. I've been both skint (and I mean really skint) and financially secure in my adult life. However, some of the best times in my life were not when I had money.
I look for a Government that is inclusive and doesn't define 'aspiration' as simply being how much you earn, or moving into a more acceptable postcode as saying you have 'arrived.' It's ridiculous. Life is short and we should each set our own targets.

I take it that was aimed at me. I was personally upset at ducado calling me idiotic. It was a way of defending myself. I have been here 6 years and not once have I ever revealed my personal wealth. I was that skint in 1995 I lived off a jar of syrup for a week and load of bread. I now live a normal life and the only peronsal possessions I care about is my collection of city programmes. I am as scruffy as can be and spend practically nothing on my self but am generous to my kids, dad and ex wife and my current Mrs. My investments buy my family choices that is all. I am the least materialsitic person you will find and my post was not to boast just to defend someone calling me an idiot. I was equally happy when I was skint - the only thing that matters to me is relationships with friends and family.

Alright fella, time to let it go and get back onto the general election stuff.

I voted UKIP because I just couldn't be arsed with any of the other 3. I'm fucking bored with it all, and therefore decided to piss around with my vote. I feel good about myself!

 

[Damocles]

Where did I say all of manchester were workshop layabouts? 34 actually not 18. We are going back to an argument on here of a few weeks ago where we debated iq and post code and it did not get resolved and urmston got dogs abuse for taking constant common sense. no point wasting more words on it. I am entitled to my views without being insulted.

But you don't seem to understand how insulting some of your views are. Why are other people not entitled to the same treatment that you want for yourself?

There's having views and understanding how to state potentially offensive views in a rational manner.

Most condescending post I hve ever read. Not worth acknowledging.

I am entitled to my views without being insulted. I'll have you know that I own 6 Matchbox Lamborghinis and a copy of Readers Wifes.

In all seriousness, congratulations on all of your success. It sounds like you worked hard for it and you should be proud to have done so well. This doesn't make you immune from being insulted when you say insulting things to others.

 

[Lucky13]

I have voted Labour today, mainly because I fear what is coming next from the Tories, it appears that the lessons of the last time they went on an idealogical cutting spree has not been learnt, the state started to collapse and they had to go into reverse gear pretty fast which ended up putting up public spending far more than would have been the case, if you think the last few years have been tough wait to see what they have planned for the next five.

There are many issues that I disagree with Labour about, and a certainley don't want to go back to the excess of the Brown years, however I don't want to see the North laid waste by a Southern Dominated Tory Government

The North lays waste to its self with its Labour Councils.

 

[Damocles]

I have voted Labour today, mainly because I fear what is coming next from the Tories, it appears that the lessons of the last time they went on an idealogical cutting spree has not been learnt, the state started to collapse and they had to go into reverse gear pretty fast which ended up putting up public spending far more than would have been the case, if you think the last few years have been tough wait to see what they have planned for the next five.

There are many issues that I disagree with Labour about, and a certainley don't want to go back to the excess of the Brown years, however I don't want to see the North laid waste by a Southern Dominated Tory Government

The North lays waste to its self with its Labour Councils.

Revolutionary thought; perhaps socio-economic circumstances both historical and contemporary MIGHT be a little more complicated than what colour tie their council members are wearing?

I know, I know, an ivory tower assessment. It's all in the tie.

 

[Paulpowersleftfoot]

Has Karen got any spare handbags,could come in use tonight

 

[kaz7]

Has Karen got any spare handbags,could come in use tonight

There are going to be some major tantrums on here when the exit polls come out,i don't think handbags will cover it

 

[scotty123]

Bit off topic.............but any chicks on this thread need to get onto ITV4 for the Sevilla v Fiorentina game. Bit of eye candy for you, the Fiorentina manager makes Mancini look like Harry Rednapp!

Already there lol
No-one can out handsome bobby though

My Mrs disagrees, shes making funny noises every time his face is on screen

 

[mackenzie]

Makes me cringe when people go on about personal prosperity and material 'success' as the be all and end all. I've been both skint (and I mean really skint) and financially secure in my adult life. However, some of the best times in my life were not when I had money.
I look for a Government that is inclusive and doesn't define 'aspiration' as simply being how much you earn, or moving into a more acceptable postcode as saying you have 'arrived.' It's ridiculous. Life is short and we should each set our own targets.

You sure the cringe isn't born out of resentment though? :)

No, nicely put. I find it pretty vulgar also. Misplaced pride really.

No resentment; just tired of people generally defining 'success' by their own, sometimes very narrow, barometer.
It wasn't a go at worsleyweb either, despite what he thinks.
We are all individuals, with experiences and backgrounds that are very diverse. I judge 'success' by how content I am, nothing else.

 

[Paulpowersleftfoot]

My prediction for the outcome ( last election in brackets)

Conservative 302 (310)
Labour 256 (234)
Liberal Democrat 56 (31)
Democratic Unionist 8 (8)
Scottish National 6 (50)
Independent 5 (3)
Sinn Fein 5 (5)
Plaid Cymru 3 (3)
Social Democratic & Labour Party 3 (0)
UK Independence Party 2 (2)
Alliance 1 (1)
Green 1 (1)
Respect 1 (1)
Speaker 1 (1)
Total number of seats 650

 

[Damocles]

Think the SNP will probably get more than 6 seats mate. And no chance of Tories not losing seats, the question is how many they will lose

 

[malg]

My prediction for the outcome ( last election in brackets)

Conservative 302 (310)
Labour 256 (234)
Liberal Democrat 56 (31)
Democratic Unionist 8 (8)
Scottish National 6 (50)
Independent 5 (3)
Sinn Fein 5 (5)
Plaid Cymru 3 (3)
Social Democratic & Labour Party 3 (0)
UK Independence Party 2 (2)
Alliance 1 (1)
Green 1 (1)
Respect 1 (1)
Speaker 1 (1)
Total number of seats 650

Did you proof read that?

 

[scotty123]

Has Karen got any spare handbags,could come in use tonight

There are going to be some major tantrums on here when the exit polls come out,i don't think handbags will cover it

Labour will have a single figure majority, the handbags will be flying then, there might even be some self harm

 

[Ducado]

Has Karen got any spare handbags,could come in use tonight

There are going to be some major tantrums on here when the exit polls come out,i don't think handbags will cover it

I suspect the Tories will edge it, but not have enough to form a Government or to get legislation through (let alone a Queens Speech or budget) or they could romp it as in 92, interestingly enough they have been getting advice off Likud who were also written off in the Israeli elections, and you can see the similarities in both campaigns

 

[stony]

I know some previously die hard socialists who have now switched to UKIP. Which is ironic really, considering how UKIP are considered more right wing than the Tories.

That's the only thing which dragged me to the polls. Where I live it's classed as an ultra-safe(didn't even know they had that level) Labour seat. A quick visit to the local spoons is enough to give you an indication of how immigrants are getting blamed for everything. So even though the local UKIP candidate is humorously called Wayne Kerr, I suspect he will pick up a few votes.