General Election, June 8th

[ramboacdc]

49 minutes ago, MattP said:

Wow. That's a pretty incredible website.

 

Time to me to vote UKIP in Charnwood in exchange for someone willing to vote Tory in a Conservative/Labour marginal I think. I'll do it honest.

 

you're a very fickle person aren't you. 

[Buce]

20 minutes ago, MattP said:

It's the proper name of the party.

 

I was delighted to see May using the official name on the steps of Downing Street when she was elected.

 

Thanks, Matt.

 

Is there any association with the Ulster Unionists in that?

 

 

[RobHawk]

26 minutes ago, RoboFox said:

Gosh... Theresa is very naughty, isn't she?

 

I would say she's done things that are a bit naughtier...

 

How about the systematic privatisation of the NHS?

Devastating cuts to our police and security services?

What about that time thousands died because employment and support allowances were stopped as a direct result of government welfare reforms stating they were totally fine to work!?

That time she flogged arms to the bankrolling Saudi fountainhead of militant Islamism? 
Presiding over the government that saw a record 1.2m food parcels handed out to families and individuals in the last year alone?

The continuing austerity policy that is doing nothing to alleviate a desperate social care crisis? 

 

In fact I'd say she's been downright mischievous! 

**** me! How anyone can vote for that i don't know! 

 

Even Cam ****ed a dead pigs face! 

[LiberalFox]

2 minutes ago, Buce said:

 

Thanks, Matt.

 

Is there any association with the Ulster Unionists in that?

 

 

"The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington (later the Duke of Devonshire) and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule."[Wikipedia]

 

That's where the unionist bit comes from. 

[ramboacdc]

43 minutes ago, Buce said:

Latest YouGov poll has May short of a majority:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2017/may/08/general-election-2017-poll-tracker-who-is-in-the-lead

the poll came out yesterday and shows her 22 short. if you go onto the yougov election centre though there are a lot of marginals that if they all swing blue she pisses over the line. 

[Buce]

1 minute ago, ramboacdc said:

the poll came out yesterday and shows her 22 short. if you go onto the yougov election centre though there are a lot of marginals that if they all swing blue she pisses over the line. 

 

Sure, I'll only believe it if I see it on Friday morning, and the polls are all over the place, I know, but still.... I can't help feeling a little hope.

[Rincewind]

1 hour ago, Captain... said:

It is turning into an absolute shower, there must be better people out there, especially those in safe seats, stop going through the motions. The lying, the expense claims, the scandals in the personal life are one thing, but they all just seem absolutely incompetent. Surely we can find 650 decent human beings with a reasonable level of intelligence and enough professional pride to actual do the job of running this country.

 

 

You would think so wouldn't you? Problem is you have to be a special (if thats the right word) to be a politician. You have to be vocal, good with words answeing questions without answering them and sometimes downright dishonest Most are career politicians so it is a matter of getting to know people. I would expect that outside HOP there is a lot of friendship across the parties and agreement.

I think it was Giles Brantreth I saw who said that at election time a lot of MP's do not read any or very little of the manifesto. Explains why some are unprepared when asked questions.

A lot of people aceoss the country have become fed up with politicians of all parties seeing little difference or change over the years which is a shame because if done right it is a good thing for democracy.

I am afraid we are in for 5-7 years of the same thing which is frightening. The alternative is unknown. So little choice or hope..

[davieG]

650 is too many anyway. Let's see some cuts.

[ramboacdc]

4 minutes ago, davieG said:

650 is too many anyway. Let's see some cuts.

isn't their boundary changes coming in in 2018?

 

http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/boundaries2018.html

 

[Captain...]

Just now, davieG said:

650 is too many anyway. Let's see some cuts.

Why is it too many? if they actually did what they were supposed to do and represent the views of their constituents then it would be fine, but so many seem to do fvck all for their constituents just turn up at the HoC (when they can be bothered) bray and jeer at the opposition and vote the way they are  told and just collect their £70k  a year + generous expenses.  Then pop up at election time to some kiss some babies and try not to embarrass themselves too much.

 

As it is 21 MPs make up the Cabinet another 21 the shadow Cabinet the other  600+ are just bloatware.

[Guest MattP]

30 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

you're a very fickle person aren't you. 

I was taking the piss.

 

26 minutes ago, Buce said:

Thanks, Matt.

 

Is there any association with the Ulster Unionists in that?

Not officially, but the DUP would be the first party these days that the Conservatives would bring into a coalition if they had too.

[Rincewind]

That seems to be the general view from many of the public. I do not see the MPs rushing to improve things. Corbyn has said that MP's should be more active. Perhaps that is why some of his own party dislike him. Just a thought.

[matty98]

 

[Benguin]

Can't believe I missed that clip of Abbot talking about the terror report. How are people feeling about her potentially heading up the fight against terrorism in the UK?

[davieG]

34 minutes ago, Captain... said:

Why is it too many? if they actually did what they were supposed to do and represent the views of their constituents then it would be fine, but so many seem to do fvck all for their constituents just turn up at the HoC (when they can be bothered) bray and jeer at the opposition and vote the way they are  told and just collect their £70k  a year + generous expenses.  Then pop up at election time to some kiss some babies and try not to embarrass themselves too much.

 

As it is 21 MPs make up the Cabinet another 21 the shadow Cabinet the other  600+ are just bloatware.

That we now have Scottish, Welsh, NI devolution and Mayors of major regions means they should have less to do. 

[LiberalFox]

33 minutes ago, Captain... said:

Why is it too many? if they actually did what they were supposed to do and represent the views of their constituents then it would be fine, but so many seem to do fvck all for their constituents just turn up at the HoC (when they can be bothered) bray and jeer at the opposition and vote the way they are  told and just collect their £70k  a year + generous expenses.  Then pop up at election time to some kiss some babies and try not to embarrass themselves too much.

 

As it is 21 MPs make up the Cabinet another 21 the shadow Cabinet the other  600+ are just bloatware.

We need proper electoral reform but I don't see when it will happen. There's no incentive for the Conservatives to do anything as they get more power than their support deserves under the present system. Labour have made noises about doing it but when they get into power they lose their incentive to do anything.

 

I don't think people will demand change either because the body politic isn't really engaged or informed enough to do so. 

[Guest MattP]

7 minutes ago, Benguin said:

Can't believe I missed that clip of Abbot talking about the terror report. How are people feeling about her potentially heading up the fight against terrorism in the UK?

Genuinely terrified.

[Guest MattP]

Just now, LiberalFox said:

We need proper electoral reform but I don't see when it will happen. There's no incentive for the Conservatives to do anything as they get more power than their support deserves under the present system. Labour have made noises about doing it but when they get into power they lose their incentive to do anything.

 

I don't think people will demand change either because the body politic isn't really engaged or informed enough to do so. 

If the Tories and Labour poll over 80% between them the case for PR dies at least for 5 years.

[LiberalFox]

1 minute ago, MattP said:

If the Tories and Labour poll over 80% between them the case for PR dies at least for 5 years.

 

I don't see how, so many people I know think the two main parties are terrible. I think there is a more pronounced difference between the two and none of the minority parties have had a great campaign. It's actually not surprising because minority parties often struggle to deal with snap elections. The issue is making people feel their vote counts. It's a nonsense that the majority of the country is totally ignored. Just because the main parties are going to poll lots of the cast votes can't be taken as an indicator of support for a two-party system.

 

 

[Matt]

28 minutes ago, Benguin said:

Can't believe I missed that clip of Abbot talking about the terror report. How are people feeling about her potentially heading up the fight against terrorism in the UK?

I am getting pissed of with all the politics talk (I realise this is a politics thread, but I make that comment in terms of every day life), they're all liars, a few years ago I got involved with political debates, whether my views were right or wrong is another question but nowadays - what's the point, nothing suggests anything will change, whatever changes nothing changes, disillusioned is the word that best describes it I think.

 

Either way i've just seen that clip myself and despite what i've just wrote I have to have a say on it, she is genuinely clueless and these people are high up to possibly running the country?

 

If it wasn't such a serious, current problem it'd be laughable, you could take the piss but it's scary.

 

 

[Guest MattP]

18 minutes ago, LiberalFox said:

 

I don't see how, so many people I know think the two main parties are terrible. I think there is a more pronounced difference between the two and none of the minority parties have had a great campaign. It's actually not surprising because minority parties often struggle to deal with snap elections. The issue is making people feel their vote counts. It's a nonsense that the majority of the country is totally ignored. Just because the main parties are going to poll lots of the cast votes can't be taken as an indicator of support for a two-party system.

But to offer up a serious argument for PR you need evidence. 

 

If the Tories and Labour both poll high and the Liberals, UKIP and Greens tank you can't really argue that people don't want them.

 

Everything I've seen from the last 5 weeks hints at a return to two party politics. 

[Captain...]

23 minutes ago, LiberalFox said:

 

I don't see how, so many people I know think the two main parties are terrible. I think there is a more pronounced difference between the two and none of the minority parties have had a great campaign. It's actually not surprising because minority parties often struggle to deal with snap elections. The issue is making people feel their vote counts. It's a nonsense that the majority of the country is totally ignored. Just because the main parties are going to poll lots of the cast votes can't be taken as an indicator of support for a two-party system.

 

 

The 2 main parties are pretty poor at the moment, but there is no point voting for anyone else in most of the seats. Lib Dems threw a spanner in the works 2010 but blew it by selling their promise on tuition and failed to get a proper agreement on electoral reforms in return.

 

Last election SNP looked like they were going to start having an impact, but it looks like their influence is already waning. UKIP took a big share of the popular vote but didn't get the seats to show for it and are now irrelevant. There is clearly a will for an alternative, but not a way.

 

Whilst Labour and Tory  poll 70-80% of the votes they will do everything to maintain the status quo. So many votes for the main parties are cast reluctantly/tactically because they don't want the other guys.

 

A completely free vote with proportional representation would mean every vote counts and I would predict a swell in support for the greens and Lib Dems and a drop off for the main parties.

[ramboacdc]

1 hour ago, Buce said:

 

Sure, I'll only believe it if I see it on Friday morning, and the polls are all over the place, I know, but still.... I can't help feeling a little hope.

the yougov margin of error shows in theory labour could be the biggest party if it all goes wrong for the tories come polling day. 

[Guest MattP]

Speaking of the Greens is it still party policy after recent events to legalise being a member or joining Islamic state? 

[MPH]

7 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

the yougov margin of error shows in theory labour could be the biggest party if it all goes wrong for the tories come polling day. 

 

 

Most Polls have a much greater margin between the two main parties than what the yougov one does...

 

 

https://ig.ft.com/elections/uk/2017/polls/?segmentId=c6cab8d9-034a-af2e-ca8d-f1f670f1f6c9&gclid=CjwKEAjwpdnJBRC4hcTFtc6fwEkSJABwupNiwKO5rkbgnqGH8vxGF5S9dwTOP2da2UO3OlLJRRRdixoCqbvw_wcB