Dunge

I think there’s a lot of truth there.

I don’t see any point in answering this to be honest. The fact that you’re asking means that you haven’t understood what I’ve written and I don’t think I, personally, can express it any clearer. Perhaps others can.

I feel I’m going to regret replying to this but here we go: For background, I come from a position of not being a trans campaigner or anything like that. I mostly stay away from that conversation when it arises on this forum because I prefer to spend my time reading what people put, judging whether it holds up. In particular, I do have questions myself about whether (or rather what) treatment is right for under 18s on the matter. Some people on here have presented scientific papers on it; I haven’t been convinced by any yet but do acknowledge there are young people who are genuinely exploring and seeking to find out about themselves. Long story short: I’m kind of in the middle here. But Suella Braverman uses the word “mutilate”. Think about that for a moment. She doesn’t use that word by accident. It is an emotive word, just like other quietly emotive words within that speech, but let’s focus on “mutilate” because that’s the crux of it. This is a clearly evocative word. It’s a word that clearly implies that trans treatment is child abuse. We know how people around the country respond to that. This is not treating the issue with sensitivity, this is driving a bus straight through the middle with “child abusers” written on it. I can’t think of any greater emotional call to arms in this country than that. I appreciate there will be people who hold this view in the country. But is it really the role of a Conservative politician - a prospective leadership candidate no less - to stoke the fires in that way? She’ll say she’s standing up for a viewpoint. But at what cost to others - the whole subject needs calming down and reviewing, not having more petrol poured onto the flames. And unfortunately with Braverman, this isn’t an isolated incident. She shows no care for people. She shows no sensitivity. She shows no interest in unity or working together for the common good. She doesn’t try to present a meaningful discussion on an issue, just a black-and-white “We’re this side and people over there are the enemy”. To paraphrase, she would see the world burn if she could be queen of the ashes.

Say what you like, but I think Reform have very cleverly found a candidate without a history of overt racism.

While I agree in part, people felt able to give the Conservatives a kicking. Labour’s voters in this election aren’t as inspired by Starmer as many of Labour’s voters were inspired by Corbyn at the last election, but they have picked up votes off the Conservatives that wouldn’t have gone there otherwise (including mine) * and they haven’t had people actively voting against them to keep their leader out (which I would have done). Corbyn was polarising. Some loved him and still do. To me he was and remains toxic. *They’ve also lost votes on the left but it hasn’t hurt them overall.

When Liz Truss was voted PM ahead of him.

I always say the same thing about replacing FPTP: Be careful what you wish for. For years it benefited the Conservatives, primarily to the detriment of the left. Now it’s to the detriment of the right. It’ll be interesting to see who changes their mind on it.

I can’t see how anyone can “stop the boats” without promise of either great cruelty or effective murder. Particularly since people are going to keep coming because of political instability and climate change. That isn’t a criticism of any specific party because I don’t think anyone has an answer.

Macron increasingly strikes me as positioning himself as a risk-taker. For whatever reason he felt the need to roll the dice. And it’s backfired on him massively. Right before the Paris Olympics. As for hoping that the far right will come across as useless before 2027, they have a ready-made excuse that Macron’s preventing them from governing the way their supporters want. Which will be true, because his ego won’t allow him to do otherwise. France’s best hope at this point is that someone charismatic and centre-left comes to prominence to eclipse everyone, but there’s a distinct lack of those around in the world right now.

Exactly how well Reform will do feels like the great mystery of this election. We know Labour will win a majority. We know the Conservatives will get hammered. We know the Lib Dems will do moderately well. But how will Reform do? My instinct - which I’m hesitant to say because it’s also what I’d prefer to see - is that they’ll be at the lower end of projections. I just don’t think there’s a “silent” vote for them because most of their voters seem to be queuing up to shout it from the rooftops, much like Corbyn’s supporters five years ago.

I always remember it being said that his main achievement was to somehow make both Jeremy Corbyn not the worst Corbyn and Piers Morgan not the worst Piers.

I think that’s likely technically true but misleading. For instance, Labour have a massive lead in that age group largely because they’re the option to get the Tories out whereas a lot of those Labour voters would likely prefer the Green manifesto. Meanwhile, Reform are a top choice for around 20% but bottom choice for most of the rest.

I agree with this - I believe the Conservatives’ inability to provide younger generations with viable aspiration to own a home is the single biggest damage to their future prospects as a political party.

A Boris is never late. Nor is he early. He always arrives precisely when he can be arsed.

I think there’s a difference between clearing your diary and switching your phone off. Starmer’s just talking about clearing his diary for some family time. Even so, it was a needless thing to say two days before an election.

I thought that support for Reform was relatively uniform across all age ranges, albeit for different reasons. Conservative support meanwhile was definitely different by age range. I’m happy to be shown wrong by polls though.

So, just between us, who are you really voting for?

Voted Conservative last time, easy vote. Will vote Labour this time, easy vote. Have not even come close to changing my mind through the election period.

If Labour get in, there will be no more smell of freshly mown grass. Or cat pictures on the internet. Or Nottingham Forest losing. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Presumably “The country* you love will disappear if you don’t fight** for it.” *Culture **Figuratively speaking

This is a horrific party election broadcast. Just a list of lies and scaremongering presented as a football-style report.

Jeremy Vine: “I don’t even understand that.”

What’s the betting President Trump would offer funding for Ukraine in exchange for a change to the constitution to enable more than two terms and/or immunity from prosecution?

If you don’t know and have no interest in checking, Trump’s words at least sound convincing. Biden sounds weak, feeble and confused. I think it’s stunning negligence from the Democrats that he’s their candidate for the next election.

Nice try, Margaret.