General Election 2015

[aquarius moon]

a) because they didn't respond to my original dc post

b) because I've been here long enough to know that most people who post are not in that situation. They eat out most nights!!!

ETA This is a reply to the post by Henry

[Loz]

aquarius moon Wrote:

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> If there are only two choices (which there are), would it be Labour or Conservative?

I've said it before and I'll say it again... there is really sweet FA difference.

> Oh, and isn't it strange that so many people here have so many opinions about things that don't

> really concern them?

> And then there's the fox hunting ban........

Surely by your definition, you'd have to be a fox to be allowed an opinion on that one?

[Otta]

Haha, touche Loz.

[Loz]

Anyone else watching QT?

So far, Cameron has pretty much failed to answer any questions, but done it rather brilliantly. Miliband was savaged and pretty much has ruled out deals with anyone bar the Lib Dems. So unless he's going to u-turn on those pledges, his chances of PM are going to be practicably nil.

[david_carnell]

Pampered home-counties boy? Wow, why not tell me what you really think Dave. I think making it personal is a bit unnecessary.

I also don't see why, whatever your background, you cannot have an opinion on Conservative party policies for those at the bottom of society.

I think your idea that the disabled should simply become "consumers" to help themselves is frankly laughable. Thousands rely on state financial support to simply get by. And yet you belittle that.

And I'm not an Ft subscriber either but if that's their leader comment on how Cameron is committed to tackling inequality you might want to check out who the chief leader writer is for the FT. Hint: he went to oxford and was in the bullingdon club at the same time as someone with my initials.

[miga]

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[miga]

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[????]

I can read the FT article perfectly well and it makes a lot of sense....but maybe I in some facist posh boy conspiracy too *sighs. Back in the real world the article actually critics the Tories and is saying it supports a continuation of the Current coalition (as I do). If it mattered here, as in it was a marginal I would vote Tory (for the first time in my life) over Labour but it isn't and I'll either not vote or vote LD.

I think Milliband has run by far the most effective campaign but I think the Labour Party's tone on wealthcreation, the Rich and big business is at best naive thinking from a man and party that really wants to try what France has and take us back to the 70s or at worst populist rubbish...a bit of both. sadly in a global world which is pulling millions out of poverty we have to compete unless we think we can run a modern health service with an ageing population as some sort of pop up option funded by craft beer sales we need global investment and an enterprise culture. Labour increasingly looks more left wing - intervention, politics of envy, business bashing. Also many 'progressives, claim to liberal is quite frankly laughable it( the left) is by nature authoritarian, interventionist and top down on economics and social issues and smearing and shouty at opponents or pretending things aren't true if they go against the 'progressive' bible - see Rotherham or more recently Tower Hamlets...open minded my arse. I'd have them over UKIP but that's all.

[????]

Ps left wing pin ups like Krugman and Pinkerty. Krugman back in 2010'was ranting on about the sure to come mass unemployment in the UK. Still waiting. I think Pinkerty (Sp?) book is good and interesting but very western orientated in terms of the effect of globalisation and wealth and also carries the implicit assumption that wealth equality is morally right end of. Interestingly Pinkerty in the Observer a few weeks back was completely honest about the failure of the high tax rate in France in increasing revenue......so look forward to that Ed. the top 1% of earners in the UK contribute 12% of income tax revenue by the way so we do genuinely need to be a bit careful with that particular ' not pulling their weight' ,not in it together' populist nonsense .....

[Loz]

I think you mean Thomas Piketty, quids.

[????]

That's the fella

[miga]

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[Loz]

Anyone just see the mid-30's 'yoof' bloke on This Week. Finest crash and burn I've seen on TV in a long while.

[MrBen]

Finally...The gloves are off on this thread with some proper political debate.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Didn't catch question time debates last night but hear Milliband ruled out coallition with SNP. That's the end of his chances of being PM then.

[JohnL]

Loz Wrote:

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> Anyone else watching QT?

>

> So far, Cameron has pretty much failed to answer

> any questions, but done it rather brilliantly.

> Miliband was savaged and pretty much has ruled out

> deals with anyone bar the Lib Dems. So unless

> he's going to u-turn on those pledges, his chances

> of PM are going to be practicably nil.

It would be done on a vote by vote basis.

That's not an agreement - and is pretty democratic.

[JohnL]

rahrahrah Wrote:

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> Didn't catch question time debates last night but

> hear Milliband ruled out coallition with SNP.

> That's the end of his chances of being PM then.

It's panning out for Miliband as I expected

Minority government leader - no agreements

Even if Cameron forms the first government - Milliband puts

vote of no confidence on a free vote and then set up as PM

with all small parties voting as they want.

[miga]

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[adonirum]

Loz Wrote:

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> Anyone just see the mid-30's 'yoof' bloke on This

> Week. Finest crash and burn I've seen on TV in a

> long while.

Do you mean his Iraq and Suez blunder?

Superb the way they all had to correct him on the facts and then he got all truculent with "I've not come here for a history lesson".

Seems like a true aspiring politician as in why would you ever let the truth get in the way.

[JohnL]

adonirum Wrote:

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> Loz Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Anyone just see the mid-30's 'yoof' bloke on

> This

> > Week. Finest crash and burn I've seen on TV in

> a

> > long while.

>

> Do you mean his Iraq and Suez blunder?

>

> Superb the way they all had to correct him on the

> facts and then he got all truculent with "I've not

> come here for a history lesson".

>

> Seems like a true aspiring politician as in why

> would you ever let the truth get in the way.

Why did the idiot think this generation is special because of Iraq/Afghanistan

In the 80s we had the Cold war, numerous proxy wars and the Falklands.

and as someone on Twitter told me .. The Cod War.

He got a kick up the arse as he left (verbally) :)

[????]

Miga I think you're confusing Marxist theory with marxist practice.

To be completely clear I think large parts of Tory policy on welfare especially is pretty unpleasant and am very uncomfortable with the demonisation of benefit claimants whilst plenty of affluent pensioners ( and that,s the majority of them presently) get mass state subsidies they don't need but in the modern world the welfare state and provision of health and education need reforming or we will go bust. The Tories at least acknowledge this even if their execution isn't always right? If labour wins by the way they will either break their supporters hearts or the country...or maybe both. I completely support the Tories education policies a continuation of the excellent initiatives started by New Labour and which are finally turning our state education standards round quite dramaticallyand yet Red ED is going to reverse much of these as his union backers oppose reform.

Miles away from its working class origins, The Labour Party is increasingly a niche party for the public sector unions, the client state and , of course, the 'useful idiots' of Hampstead and Islington - discuss

[Louisa]

Interestingly some bookies now narrowly back Conervative minority government over Labour one in latest odds. Maybe reflective of recent polling averages.

Louisa.

[david_carnell]

If that's the case ????, why are they still voted for by northern, working class communities across the north-west (Manc, 'Pool etc) and the north-east (Newcastle, Sunderland, etc) and midlands (Brum, Notts, Derby etc).

I think those folk might object to being lumped in with your mythical Hamstead/Islington dinner party crowd.

[????]

Lower turnout rates and defections to other parties aside ( see also Scotland) it's just tribal loyalty. Their great grandfathers founded the Labour Party in the face of horrendous social inequality, living conditions and employment practices. That Labour Party helped right those wrongs and was stacked full of these same people.This labor party? A bunch of white collar public sector union apparatiks and North London policy wonks with naive lefty ideas about patronising hand me down 'progressiveness'. You think it truly represents them in a meaningful way?

[miga]

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