The General Election Thread

[Damocles]

Nick Clegg has said he'd refuse to join a coalition with any party that didn't agree to raise public sector pay. That puts paid to any Conservative coalition government then! Unless of course they can get the SNP into bed......?

Nick Clegg is going to lose his own seat so wouldn't put much stock in anything that he says

I really hope you are right I would pmsl
The price of his treachery kicked out on his arse seems a fair conclusion to me

Polls show Sheffield Hallam will go from a 30 point majority for Clegg to a Labour win by 3 points.

To be fair this was clever by Labour, they've put a really good candidate up against Clegg and have gone for the jugular with him rather than considering it a safe seat. I'd vote for the guy if I lived there:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.betterforsheffield.co.uk/about" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.betterforsheffield.co.uk/about</a>

"Hi, I’m Oliver and I would like to be your next MP."

I was born and raised in Sheffield Hallam. I grew up off Ecclesall Road. I went to Dobcroft, Silverdale and then High Storrs. As a young boy I played football for Millhouses Juniors, went to the Scouts on Botanical Rd and learnt to swim at King Edward’s pool. I’m proud to call Sheffield my home and to have grown up as part of this community. I still live here.

At the moment I work in the ex-coal mining communities of the Dearne Valley, helping to grow the region’s low carbon economy and transforming the Dearne into one of the most sustainable, low carbon places in the UK. I previously worked on the Olympics, bringing together some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities and delivering a lasting legacy from London 2012 here in the north. Before the Olympics, I was working for a non-profit think tank in Westminster, challenging MPs from across the political spectrum to put innovation at the heart of economic growth.

I want to be the MP for Sheffield Hallam because this is my home and my community. I’m angry and frustrated by Nick Clegg and the way he’s betrayed our trust, let down our city and undermined people’s good faith in the capacity of politics to make their lives better. With your support we can show Nick Clegg that we will not forget his broken promises.

As your MP, my priorities will be clear:

• Fight for Sheffield in Parliament so that we get a fairer share of public sector funding and more control over decisions that affect the future of our city.
  
• Work to build a society that benefits the many and not the few, protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and addressing the cost of living crisis that is causing hardship for so many people in our community.
  
• Support efficient and effective public services and the people who work in them.
  
• Champion more private sector investment in Sheffield, promoting our first class universities and world leading industries, from advanced manufacturing to green technologies.
  
• Be transparent and accountable at all times, and behave in a way that restores your faith in politics and the political system.

If you’d like to know more about me or my priorities for Sheffield Hallam, or if you’re a school, business, community group or local organisation and would like me to come and talk to you, please do get in touch.

I was born and raised in Sheffield Hallam, attending Porter Croft, Silverdale and High Storrs schools, going on to study Politics and Parliamentary Studies at the University of Leeds. I have worked in the US Congress and the UK Parliament, but returned to Sheffield in 2009 to manage a pioneering Olympic project that sought to drive legacy in some of the country’s most deprived communities. Following the successful culmination of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, I am now working in the Dearne Valley on behalf of the local LEP, developing the low carbon economy in the ex-coal mining communities of South Yorkshire and the Sheffield City Region.

Politically, I am particularly interested in the issues of innovation (particularly within SMEs), education, sustainability, poverty and democratic engagement. I am immensely proud to have been selected as the Labour Party’s candidate in my home constituency, and I still live locally. Outside of politics, I am vice-chair of governors at Firth Park school in Sheffield, a keen cyclist and amateur photographer.

 

[kas_tippler]

Went down to Cheadle to meet Dave yesterday, truly inspirational man! I felt pumped after I listened to what he had to say, victory is near!

 

[Damocles]

Went down to Cheadle to meet Dave yesterday, truly inspirational man! I felt pumped after I listened to what he had to say, victory is near!

Err...unless Russia invade the UK tomorrow or something the chance at an outright Tory victory are about the same as Lionel Messi signing for Hyde Women's team.

 

[Cheesy]

The fact that this thread is 450 pages long and so much abuse has bed bandied about tells me that this government have been very very divisive

This is exactly what I was alluding to. In a fucking nutshell.

If you mixed with right-wing people in any meaningful sense you would understand their deep held feelings about the last Labour government in terms of immigration, and financial mismanagement in particular. Many of them are terrified about Labour getting into power. And there's plenty of them, even if you possibly don't encounter them too frequently. In that sense, that government was every bit as "divisive" as this one. You cannot appreciate this because you (seemingly) are incapable of viewing the world outside your own prism.

The notion that this country has ever been united, politically or socially, is utterly farcical. On that basis, every government is very, very divisive.

Absolutley bang on GDM.

 

[urmston]

The fact that this thread is 450 pages long and so much abuse has bed bandied about tells me that this government have been very very divisive

This is exactly what I was alluding to. In a fucking nutshell.

If you mixed with right-wing people in any meaningful sense you would understand their deep held feelings about the last Labour government in terms of immigration, and financial mismanagement in particular. Many of them are terrified about Labour getting into power. And there's plenty of them, even if you possibly don't encounter them too frequently. In that sense, that government was every bit as "divisive" as this one. You cannot appreciate this because you (seemingly) are incapable of viewing the world outside your own prism.

The notion that this country has ever been united, politically or socially, is utterly farcical. On that basis, every government is very, very divisive.

Absolutley bang on GDM.

New Labour was very divisive.

It widened the gap between rich and poor, an incredible feat for a Labour government elected with naïve hope and enthusiasm by a load of gullible fools.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Nick Clegg is going to lose his own seat so wouldn't put much stock in anything that he says

I really hope you are right I would pmsl
The price of his treachery kicked out on his arse seems a fair conclusion to me

Polls show Sheffield Hallam will go from a 30 point majority for Clegg to a Labour win by 3 points.

To be fair this was clever by Labour, they've put a really good candidate up against Clegg and have gone for the jugular with him rather than considering it a safe seat. I'd vote for the guy if I lived there:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.betterforsheffield.co.uk/about" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.betterforsheffield.co.uk/about</a>

"Hi, I’m Oliver and I would like to be your next MP."

I was born and raised in Sheffield Hallam. I grew up off Ecclesall Road. I went to Dobcroft, Silverdale and then High Storrs. As a young boy I played football for Millhouses Juniors, went to the Scouts on Botanical Rd and learnt to swim at King Edward’s pool. I’m proud to call Sheffield my home and to have grown up as part of this community. I still live here.

At the moment I work in the ex-coal mining communities of the Dearne Valley, helping to grow the region’s low carbon economy and transforming the Dearne into one of the most sustainable, low carbon places in the UK. I previously worked on the Olympics, bringing together some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities and delivering a lasting legacy from London 2012 here in the north. Before the Olympics, I was working for a non-profit think tank in Westminster, challenging MPs from across the political spectrum to put innovation at the heart of economic growth.

I want to be the MP for Sheffield Hallam because this is my home and my community. I’m angry and frustrated by Nick Clegg and the way he’s betrayed our trust, let down our city and undermined people’s good faith in the capacity of politics to make their lives better. With your support we can show Nick Clegg that we will not forget his broken promises.

As your MP, my priorities will be clear:

• Fight for Sheffield in Parliament so that we get a fairer share of public sector funding and more control over decisions that affect the future of our city.
  
• Work to build a society that benefits the many and not the few, protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and addressing the cost of living crisis that is causing hardship for so many people in our community.
  
• Support efficient and effective public services and the people who work in them.
  
• Champion more private sector investment in Sheffield, promoting our first class universities and world leading industries, from advanced manufacturing to green technologies.
  
• Be transparent and accountable at all times, and behave in a way that restores your faith in politics and the political system.

If you’d like to know more about me or my priorities for Sheffield Hallam, or if you’re a school, business, community group or local organisation and would like me to come and talk to you, please do get in touch.

I was born and raised in Sheffield Hallam, attending Porter Croft, Silverdale and High Storrs schools, going on to study Politics and Parliamentary Studies at the University of Leeds. I have worked in the US Congress and the UK Parliament, but returned to Sheffield in 2009 to manage a pioneering Olympic project that sought to drive legacy in some of the country’s most deprived communities. Following the successful culmination of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, I am now working in the Dearne Valley on behalf of the local LEP, developing the low carbon economy in the ex-coal mining communities of South Yorkshire and the Sheffield City Region.

Politically, I am particularly interested in the issues of innovation (particularly within SMEs), education, sustainability, poverty and democratic engagement. I am immensely proud to have been selected as the Labour Party’s candidate in my home constituency, and I still live locally. Outside of politics, I am vice-chair of governors at Firth Park school in Sheffield, a keen cyclist and amateur photographer.

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the cunts.

 

[whp.blue]

Nick Clegg is going to lose his own seat so wouldn't put much stock in anything that he says

I really hope you are right I would pmsl
The price of his treachery kicked out on his arse seems a fair conclusion to me

What treachery is this? Are you on about him going into a coalition with the party that won most seats?

Lots of liberal voters only voted liberal to keep the Conservatives out of office only to see Clegg jump into bed with them and sell out his principles on day one.

 

[scotty123]

Went down to Cheadle to meet Dave yesterday, truly inspirational man! I felt pumped after I listened to what he had to say, victory is near!

Err...unless Russia invade the UK tomorrow or something the chance at an outright Tory victory are about the same as Lionel Messi signing for Hyde Women's team.

I think Labour will have a 1 seat majority and the bun fight will start immediately, as predicted the SNP will hold the balance of power, there will be another election within 14 months

 

[Damocles]

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the cunts.

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I really hope you are right I would pmsl
The price of his treachery kicked out on his arse seems a fair conclusion to me

What treachery is this? Are you on about him going into a coalition with the party that won most seats?

Lots of liberal voters only voted liberal to keep the Conservatives out of office only to see Clegg jump into bed with them and sell out his principles on day one.

Day one? He said before the election he would look at forming a government with the party with the most seats. Was that too difficult a proposal for voters to comprehend?

 

[masterwig]

Cameron changed the rules so we have fixed 5-year terms. Once a government is formed that's it for five years isn't it?

If there's to be a second election it would surely only happen if a government couldn't be formed and would happen almost immediately.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the cunts.

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

 

[Lucky13]

Should have used crayons.

 

[Damocles]

Cameron changed the rules so we have fixed 5-year terms. Once a government is formed that's it for five years isn't it?

If there's to be a second election it would surely only happen if a government couldn't be formed and would happen almost immediately.

I remember this happening and there was some confusion over it.

In previous years, the length of an term was officially decided by the Queen who could dissolve Parliament whenever they so chose usually at the advice of a Prime Minister. So Cameron could have called an election 6 months after being in office if he fancied it (and the Queen went along which she would do).

This law meant that Parliament would be a fixed 5 year term UNLESS it was dissolved by a vote of no confidence. It removes the power of both the Prime Minister and Monarch to dissolve Parliament at any point, and MPs (representatives of the people) must vote for its early dissolution otherwise the 5 year term will apply.

 

[dobobobo]

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the cunts.

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

Totally agree!

 

[Damocles]

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the cunts.

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

Why?

What benefits does having a bunch of 50 year old people deciding the current and future legislation of the people? How is this in anyway representative of the populace? How do when then get a Prime Minister under the age of 60? Unless you think a Prime Minister who has no experience in Parliament is a good idea?

You don't know if this man is power hungry, unprincipled or anodyne nor whether his path to becoming an MP was thrust upon him or a long term career plan. You've made up traits that he holds then have gotten angry about him holding those traits.

 

[dobobobo]

Cameron changed the rules so we have fixed 5-year terms. Once a government is formed that's it for five years isn't it?

If there's to be a second election it would surely only happen if a government couldn't be formed and would happen almost immediately.

Liberal Democrats wanted it.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11286879" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11286879</a>

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

Why?

What benefits does having a bunch of 50 year old people deciding the current and future legislation of the people? How is this in anyway representative of the populace? How do when then get a Prime Minister under the age of 60? Unless you think a Prime Minister who has no experience in Parliament is a good idea?

You don't know if this man is power hungry, unprincipled or anodyne nor whether his path to becoming an MP was thrust upon him or a long term career plan. You've made up traits that he holds then have gotten angry about him holding those traits.

Not quite sure how having twenty years experience of the real world makes you 50.

I believe those who govern us should have a meaningful degree of experience of the lives we all lead. That way politicians can make decisions about the way laws are made with a sufficient degree of context. For that reason I would make the minimum age for an MP to be 40. It would put off significant numbers of those who are in it merely for its own ends, as the barriers to entry would be much more exacting.

My assessment of his character in terms of him being power hungry is based on the fact he's standing for parliament without any discernible life extraneous that aspiration, other than being an amateur photographer, which makes him sinfully anodyne.

Perhaps it was 'thrust upon him' when he was studying politics at university.

 

[Rascal]

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

No mate.

We need politicians with principle. They must hold the power of their convictions sincerly and honestly and there are people on all sides who do that. I dont particularly care about a persons age, background or experience of the world, i want them to be true to thereselves.

My problem with todays politics is the negativity that surrounds it. I hear daily scare stories, lies and myths propogated by all sides and then magnified by the corresponding supporting media. This clouds debate and harms democracy.

Just now Andrea Leadsom has been on 5live propogating the myth that you run the countries finances like you would a household and its a fucking nonsense. She is better than that and a Tory i quite admire as being a very bright female mind in a party of mostly male dullards, yet she has to toe the party line. For balance Chuka was on before her and he was also propogating myth from the Labour side and he is also better than that. It makes me feel as though they think we are all stupid cunts, albeit with the caveat that a large number of the UK electorate are stupid cunts.

 

[whp.blue]

Oliver studied politics at university and has done work at Parliament and the US Congress. Just another career politician with insufficient experience of the real world. Political today is full of the c**ts.

He studied politics, did some work at the US Congress and Parliament then spent 6 years outside of politics supporting his local community and getting new business schemes off of the ground.

We need more young people with a passion for public service in politics, not less.

No. We need politicians with at least 20 years experience of the real world, rather than the collection of power hungry, unprincipled, anodyne wankers we see in parliament today. You seriously think his ancillary work 'supporting his local community' was designed with anything else other than becoming an MP in mind? In any event, six years isn't nearly enough experience of the real world. As I said, it's wholly insufficient. Why can't he do another ten years 'supporting his local community' before standing for parliament?

The answer to that question demonstrates where his true priorities lie.

What we need is MP's of the right Calibre and unlike Labour policies not just because the are female or Black or whatever the latest in vogue minority happens to be.

As for the twenty years in the real world what a crock!
Most of us on here have twenty years experience in the real world and look what a bunch of misguided and opinionated knobs we are.

Obviously I didn't mean Rascal.