The General Election Thread

[Bill]

Miliband on Andrew Marr right now. Marr trying his hardest to nail him down on figures, but Miliband is holding his own. Fair play to him, he's said they will reinstate the 50% tax rate, they need to cut spending, they are bringing in the Mansion Tax, and also said supported the cap on welfare spending - he wouldn't be drawn on the £26k figure though. Big talk on the NHS, but nothing really specific - more GPs, but that's easy to say.

They talked about the Conservatives and the strike law, and he said he didn't support that, which is hardly surprising given how he was voted Leader.

Marr raised the question about a deal with the SNP, and he just said he didn't have any plans for that.

I've got to say that every time I see him in a one on one interview, he comes across really well. He's pretty likeable, and his voice doesn't grate as much as I thought!

I watched it too but concluded that he's as evasive as any politician that I've ever seen. However, rather than not playing his hand for tactical reasons, I took his refusal to answer nearly all the questions he was asked (by a very gentle, supportive questioner who is himself, I believe, a member of the Labour Party) as a sign that he really doesn't know what he's talking about. I genuinely believe that he's a bit thick.

I think he's wonderful and should serve the labour party for many years.

 

[malg]

Miliband on Andrew Marr right now. Marr trying his hardest to nail him down on figures, but Miliband is holding his own. Fair play to him, he's said they will reinstate the 50% tax rate, they need to cut spending, they are bringing in the Mansion Tax, and also said supported the cap on welfare spending - he wouldn't be drawn on the £26k figure though. Big talk on the NHS, but nothing really specific - more GPs, but that's easy to say.

They talked about the Conservatives and the strike law, and he said he didn't support that, which is hardly surprising given how he was voted Leader.

Marr raised the question about a deal with the SNP, and he just said he didn't have any plans for that.

I've got to say that every time I see him in a one on one interview, he comes across really well. He's pretty likeable, and his voice doesn't grate as much as I thought!

I watched it too but concluded that he's as evasive as any politician that I've ever seen. However, rather than not playing his hand for tactical reasons, I took his refusal to answer nearly all the questions he was asked (by a very gentle, supportive questioner who is himself, I believe, a member of the Labour Party) as a sign that he really doesn't know what he's talking about. I genuinely believe that he's a bit thick.

Marr is definitely a Leftie. As for dodging questions, he did what every politician would do, and have been doing for a while. I think Miliband will hold his own against Cameron in the TV debates - they should be interesting.

If you genuinely believe he's thick, I'm guessing you've made your mind up about him anyway, as there's no way he came across as thick.

Personally, I've no idea how I'll vote. For one of the first times since I can remember, I'm waiting to see what the Parties are offering before I vote. That said, I live in Manchester, so if I did decide that the Conservatives had the best message I'd be wasting my vote, as I still live in an area where the 'my family have always voted Labour, and I'd never vote for a fucking toff' attitude is still prevalent.

 

[Len Rum]

Miliband on Andrew Marr right now. Marr trying his hardest to nail him down on figures, but Miliband is holding his own. Fair play to him, he's said they will reinstate the 50% tax rate, they need to cut spending, they are bringing in the Mansion Tax, and also said supported the cap on welfare spending - he wouldn't be drawn on the £26k figure though. Big talk on the NHS, but nothing really specific - more GPs, but that's easy to say.

They talked about the Conservatives and the strike law, and he said he didn't support that, which is hardly surprising given how he was voted Leader.

Marr raised the question about a deal with the SNP, and he just said he didn't have any plans for that.

I've got to say that every time I see him in a one on one interview, he comes across really well. He's pretty likeable, and his voice doesn't grate as much as I thought!

I watched it too but concluded that he's as evasive as any politician that I've ever seen. However, rather than not playing his hand for tactical reasons, I took his refusal to answer nearly all the questions he was asked (by a very gentle, supportive questioner who is himself, I believe, a member of the Labour Party) as a sign that he really doesn't know what he's talking about. I genuinely believe that he's a bit thick.

Marr is definitely a Leftie. As for dodging questions, he did what every politician would do, and have been doing for a while. I think Miliband will hold his own against Cameron in the TV debates - they should be interesting.

If you genuinely believe he's thick, I'm guessing you've made your mind up about him anyway, as there's no way he came across as thick.

Personally, I've no idea how I'll vote. For one of the first times since I can remember, I'm waiting to see what the Parties are offering before I vote. That said, I live in Manchester, so if I did decide that the Conservatives had the best message I'd be wasting my vote, as I still live in an area where the 'my family have always voted Labour, and I'd never vote for a fucking toff' attitude is still prevalent.

And unless you live in marginal Manchester Withington, your vote is a waste of time anyway, so I wouldn't think too long about it.
As for the TV debates, Ed would wipe the floor with Cameron, but of course 'call me Dave ' is running scared and so it's possible the debates may not happen.

 

[Chancy Termites]

I am far from a fan of new-labour which imho is a slightly lighter shade of blue than the tory's were then, but for torys to blame them for the de-regulation when at the time they complained and ridiculed it for not going far enough is typical hypocrisy

You have missed the boat. They are back to old labour again.

that i will believe if after the election they get serious about tax evasion and set about to properly fund public services, and start to return services to public ownership (like the railways for instance)

If he was remotely bothered about tax evasion, beyond the sound bite level, why does he never take his party's own tax evaders to task?

What good cause did he spend the inheritance tax he himself didn't pay on his father's estate? Obviously, being so anti-evasion he must have been forced into not paying it against his will, so I'm sure he put the money to worthwhile use instad of just spending it on himself. Didn't he?

 

[Rascal]

If he was remotely bothered about tax evasion, beyond the sound bite level, why does he never take his party's own tax evaders to task?

What good cause did he spend the inheritance tax he himself didn't pay on his father's estate? Obviously, being so anti-evasion he must have been forced into not paying it against his will, so I'm sure he put the money to worthwhile use instad of just spending it on himself. Didn't he?

Are you accusing Ed of tax avoidance?

Just that im sure the Mail would have had it as front page news every day last year if he had

 

[Chancy Termites]

If he was remotely bothered about tax evasion, beyond the sound bite level, why does he never take his party's own tax evaders to task?

What good cause did he spend the inheritance tax he himself didn't pay on his father's estate? Obviously, being so anti-evasion he must have been forced into not paying it against his will, so I'm sure he put the money to worthwhile use instad of just spending it on himself. Didn't he?

Are you accusing Ed of tax avoidance?

Just that im sure the Mail would have had it as front page news every day last year if he had

Yes.

 

[Rascal]

If he was remotely bothered about tax evasion, beyond the sound bite level, why does he never take his party's own tax evaders to task?

What good cause did he spend the inheritance tax he himself didn't pay on his father's estate? Obviously, being so anti-evasion he must have been forced into not paying it against his will, so I'm sure he put the money to worthwhile use instad of just spending it on himself. Didn't he?

Are you accusing Ed of tax avoidance?

Just that im sure the Mail would have had it as front page news every day last year if he had

Yes.

I would love to see the evidence pal.

If you can produce it i cannot vote Labour at the forthcoming election

 

[cibaman]

Are you accusing Ed of tax avoidance?

Just that im sure the Mail would have had it as front page news every day last year if he had

Yes.

I would love to see the evidence pal.

If you can produce it i cannot vote Labour at the forthcoming election

Would you not vote for him if it turned out he had £10k in a cash ISA?

 

[Rascal]

Yes.

I would love to see the evidence pal.

If you can produce it i cannot vote Labour at the forthcoming election

Would you not vote for him if it turned out he had £10k in a cash ISA?

I have no idea what the current rules on cash ISAs are to be honest. I dont have one.

 

[law74]

You have missed the boat. They are back to old labour again.

that i will believe if after the election they get serious about tax evasion and set about to properly fund public services, and start to return services to public ownership (like the railways for instance)

If he was remotely bothered about tax evasion, beyond the sound bite level, why does he never take his party's own tax evaders to task?

What good cause did he spend the inheritance tax he himself didn't pay on his father's estate? Obviously, being so anti-evasion he must have been forced into not paying it against his will, so I'm sure he put the money to worthwhile use instad of just spending it on himself. Didn't he?

As I said, i will believe Labour have returned to their traditional values when we see them tackling these issues after they win the election, in a coalition or with an overall majority