The General Election Thread

[r.soleofsalford]

My biggest concern is that this country will become even more London centric than it already is. Billions upon billions are spent on Greater London while the rest of the country get the crumbs.

 

[Danamy]

Then its the job of any government to create meaningful, paid employment is it not?

Not zero hours, minimum wage jobs that still means folk have to rely on the welfare state to top up wages, companies cant be arsed paying.

Again though, it would help this country enormously if everyone paid their tax yes?

Once again Zero Hour contracts are being banded about I have never even seen a Zero Hours contract and neither has any of the small business owners I had breakfast with! I actually asked this exact question this morning

And a non socialist Government is responsible to create the environment where private business can create meaningful paid employment

I know 2 people on zero hour contracts - my missus little brother works at a garden centre (young lad, just rented his first house, got engaged) and a mate of mine who works as a chef (30s, previously employed at a large restaurant but took a job in a pub kitchen for personal reasons)

I know a few people in the catering business and it's very common

 

[Pam]

I've studied British politics and I know for a fact that the difficulties of trying to govern with such a small majority is a nightmare. It's something that hasn't been seen since the 70's so peopledon't realise and the media is too thick to. They will cotton on shortly. Cameron will be the captive of by-election results in no time and mark my words, he will repeatedly come over as a twat. Even if he weren't a twat, this would be true. Even if he didn't have a shiny face, this would be true. Even if he wasn't an arrogant arse-hole who is hated by 60 of his own disruptive, bat shit right-wing MP's, it would be true. And then there's Scotland and the Euro Referendum to negotiate and the inevitable mid-term descent into minority government and deals done in secret with Ulster fucking Unionist loonies.

This will make John Major's poisoned chalice of an election victory look like the best thing that ever happened to the Tory Party I am getting my popcorn out. It's going to be great fun.

 

[baildon blue]

Not a fan of the Tories .
But well done to Cameron .
He's made Ed Miliband look a really poor leader
Ed Miliband reminded me a lot of Micheal Foot .
He was too left wing and was pro the unions .
Back to the drawing board for Labour .
They need a strong leader now .

 

[st. blue]

Villa v West Ham tomorrow
Dave just can't lose this week

Brilliant!

 

[dickie davies]

My biggest concern is that this country will become even more London centric than it already is. Billions upon billions are spent on Greater London while the rest of the country get the crumbs.

Gorgeous George said in his BBC interview this morning that he will push ahead with his Northern powerhouse to re balance the wealth of the economy
That train track that's planned to be finished in 2050 should help!!

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

"give her a kiss"

no, but Boris will.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

nothing about protecting public services, jobs, spending etc.

time for the lefties to panic.

 

[Ronnie the Rep]

Just listened to Dave's speech. He has played an absolute blinder. He said that he will make Scotland the strongest devolved country and that will include fiscal freedom whilst being fair to England (I paraphrase)

This means the jocks will raise their own taxes but lose the Barnett Formula. So they will have to spend within their means.

Serves them right.

 

[BigJoe#1]

So given we have the "word" of an honest politician that there will be a law created to prevent me from raising income Tax, VAT and NI contributions, anyone have any thoughts on where the £12bn savings will come from?

Won't be the NHS, anywhere else, Police, Education, Defence are all fair game. The only certainty is that it won't come off the bottom line of the mega wealthy few at the top of society.. you know those people who are amongst the few that could genuinely afford it.

 

[Pam]

Scotland needs to leave the Union.

 

[Damocles]

The Conservatives will deliver an In/Out referendum on membership of the European Union, says the PM.

UKIP dead. Told you, the guy is an absolute killer.

Not sure why people are panicking about this Tory small majority.

Lab + SNP + LD = 296

Tory = 327

He hasn't got a small majority, he already has a massive working majority and the entire Parliament would have to unite against a single piece of legislation without any rebellions to stop him.

 

[Ducado]

Just listened to Dave's speech. He has played an absolute blinder. He said that he will make Scotland the strongest devolved country and that will include fiscal freedom whilst being fair to England (I paraphrase)

This means the jocks will raise their own taxes but lose the Barnett Formula. So they will have to spend within their means.

Serves them right.

Don't hold your breath, but it's needed

 

[Wilf Wild 1937]

One thing I've not noticed mentioned today. Everyone had a go at Dave for being a chicken and ducking further debates etc but it worked in his favour when the SNP copied up to Ed and begged for power to shut the Tories out.

It scared plenty south of the border and will have turned many votes to the Conservatives.

The real truth of this election in my opinion is that Miliband, Clegg and the like are very decent men but are absolutely nowhere near Cameron's talent as a politician. Cameron killed the Lib Dem vote about a week after the Coalition Agreement. He gave the Scots a referendum an destroyed Labour's traditional power base.

He has obliterated every party with decisive and well planned decisions that made them both do something that they thought they wanted but would ultimately kill them in the long term. Potentially the finest political operator we've had in the top seat in the modern era. He's a killer.

Good post. In a highly competitive and very dangerous world he's exactly the type of person you want as PM.
Jimmy Carter was probably the nicest ever US president and also one of the worst.
Would you want Miliband or Clegg sat across a table from Putin negotiating on behalf of Britain?

 

[Happy Feet]

Scotland needs to leave the Union.

They had the chance

 

[Pam]

The Conservatives will deliver an In/Out referendum on membership of the European Union, says the PM.

UKIP dead. Told you, the guy is an absolute killer.

Not sure why people are panicking about this Tory small majority.

Lab + SNP + LD = 296

Tory = 327

He hasn't got a small majority, he already has a massive working majority and the entire Parliament would have to unite against a single piece of legislation without any rebellions to stop him.

The trouble with "working" majorities is how often they stop "working". You need to go and have a look at the Heath/Wilson/Callaghan era and you'll see. Calamitous for the small majority/biggest minority Labour Party, it was.

They'll be wishing they lost in no time.

 

[the god Gerry Gow]

nothing about protecting public services, jobs, spending etc.

time for the lefties to panic.

Not for another couple of hours yet. They won't be up yet.






Before anyone gets a hammer out it was a joke

 

[Bluemanc100]

Well that's me fucked then.

I'm a full time carer for my wife,dependent on benefits.

My missus is a full time carer now for my disabled Mum. I wouldn't worry about this type of thing, again the Tories aren't James Bond villains and they tend to focus on the "fringes" of benefits. Actually now that I think of it, my Mum's benefits went UP under the coalition rather than down.

Stop talking sense.

Where were all these comments in the build up is my question, the Tory party were demonised when in reality people with real experience could argue differently........... there was no damage done it turns out but it does make me wonder

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I've studied British politics and I know for a fact that the difficulties of trying to govern with such a small majority is a nightmare. It's something that hasn't been seen since the 70's so peopledon't realise and the media is too thick to. They will cotton on shortly. Cameron will be the captive of by-election results in no time and mark my words, he will repeatedly come over as a twat. Even if he weren't a twat, this would be true. Even if he didn't have a shiny face, this would be true. Even if he wasn't an arrogant arsehole who is hated by 60 of his own disruptive, bat shit right-wing MP's, it would be true. And then there's Scotland and the Euro Referendum to negotiate and the inevitable mid-term descent into minority government and deals done in secret with Ulster fucking Unionist loonies.

I am getting the popcorn out. This will make John Major's problems with his right flank look like a picnic. It's going to be great fun.

Spot on there Pam. I said this before but not many in the media have twigged. The Tories are effectively a coalition of a left, centrist and right wing and the right will be very vocal.

Cameron looks at his worst when pandering to his right wing and he's going to be doing a lot of that. He's publicly ruled out a third term so he's fair game now. The next leadership hopefuls are going to be making their pitches behind his back and over his head. It's going to be mayhem on the government benches.

I wouldn't be shocked to see him stand down before the 5 years are up.

 

[Damocles]

The Conservatives will deliver an In/Out referendum on membership of the European Union, says the PM.

UKIP dead. Told you, the guy is an absolute killer.

Not sure why people are panicking about this Tory small majority.

Lab + SNP + LD = 296

Tory = 327

He hasn't got a small majority, he already has a massive working majority and the entire Parliament would have to unite against a single piece of legislation without any rebellions to stop him.

The trouble with "working" majorities is how often they stop "working". They'll be wishing they lost in no time.

Not a 30-odd seat working majority. That's 5% of the entire Parliament