General Election, June 8th

[The Fox Covert]

Think most of us vote for the party based on personal conviction. Col's logic that 'there is no point in my voting anything other than Conservative...' is faulty.

The Tories did get more votes in South Leicestershire in 2015 than the other three parties combined, but not overwhelmingly so.

Alberto Costa (no relation to the footballer) was elected with 28,700 votes. The other three parties combined got 25,226 votes between them.

I also live in a constituency which normally returns a Tory, however it does sometimes happen that the strongest anti-Tory candidate is able to get enough support from people who normally vote for the other anti-Tory parties and is elected.

So it did in 2010 when the Liberal Tessa Munt gained a lot of support from normally Labour voters like myself and succeeded in ousting the sitting Tory, who was deeply mired in the parliamentary expenses scandal over his claim for a trailer load of horse manure.

Quite likely I shall cast a tactical vote for the Liberal again in the general election, although I did vote Labour in the county council elections today.

True Blue seat Wells may be as the Tories have only twice failed to be elected in the last century but no way will I accept Col's logic.

Even if I held my nose and stuck the fingers of my other hand down my throat while I cast my vote no way could I put a cross in the Tory box.

I suppose if I tried I would probably throw up and the ballot paper would count as a spoiled vote.

I do agree with Col however about the thought of Corbyn running the country ... nah from me as well.

It is also a nah from me to Teresa May, who has demanded "unity in Westminster", stating that any opposition risks "instability and (would) weaken her Government's position".

This is the most dictatorial and undemocratic statement I have ever heard from a British Prime Minister.

Is she Kim Jong-Un in disguise?

[Strokes]

12 minutes ago, The Fox Covert said:

 

Is she Kim Jong-Un in disguise?

It'd be one hell of a disguise, fitting that chubby little fukker into the frame of skeletor would take some doing. Probably would deserve world domination.

[theessexfox]

4 hours ago, Col city fan said:

No you arent.

My constituency is Blaby. Thus, there is no point in my voting anything other than Conservative. It's a true blue area and will stay so. 

I probably won't vote Tory but it won't matter. 

Most people I suspect are either quite ignorant of politics or apathetic. This forum is not representative of the electorate per se I wouldn't have thought. I'm pretty sure most people still vote based upon who they think can best 'run a country', on issues (such as the NHS) or based upon how their parents vote (or voted).

So yes, for me who is in the Cabinet does matter. And the thought of Corbyn running the country.... nah

The fact that your constituency is a nailed on Tory one means that you're going to have even less of an influence on who is in the Cabinet than who is your local MP, I think that was his point. 

[The Doctor]

Well, Labour are truly buggered for next month - 113 local seats gained for the cons. 5 more years of typical Tory fiscal and social incompetence.

[Strokes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39810488

The tories  make significant gains in the local elections, Labour, LDs and UKIP all down. How reflective will this be in the General Election?

[Innovindil]

34 minutes ago, Strokes said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39810488

The tories  make significant gains in the local elections, Labour, LDs and UKIP all down. How reflective will this be in the General Election?

Pretty much what everyone is expecting. UKIP absorbed by tories, lib dems relatively unscathed and labour taking heavy losses. 

[DJ Barry Hammond]

 

[Parafox]

15 hours ago, Col city fan said:

No you arent.

My constituency is Blaby. Thus, there is no point in my voting anything other than Conservative. It's a true blue area and will stay so. 

I probably won't vote Tory but it won't matter. 

Most people I suspect are either quite ignorant of politics or apathetic. This forum is not representative of the electorate per se I wouldn't have thought. I'm pretty sure most people still vote based upon who they think can best 'run a country', on issues (such as the NHS) or based upon how their parents vote (or voted).

So yes, for me who is in the Cabinet does matter. And the thought of Corbyn running the country.... nah

I don't understand Col, you aren't voting for MP's but for local councillors. The outcome of yesterday will have no bearing on the current HoC and no MPs will change.

[Alf Bentley]

1 hour ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

 

 

.....and some say that it doesn't matter whether or not you vote...

 

An individual vote is rarely as crucial as this, as we are all grains of sand on the beach. But without any grains of sand, there is no beach (well, unless it's a pebble beach).. 

(I think it was Confucius who said that). 

[Nick]

17 hours ago, Buce said:

 

OK. I get it as far as LGBTI... who or what is Q and A? What new term do I have to remember now to avoid offending somebody?

 

Queer and Asexual...

 

So the latter being self explanatory the former word has kinda been reclaimed... Queer theory/theorists go back to the works of Foucault and have their roots in questions being asked about both gender identity and sexuality both simultaneously and singularly. I take the current meaning of the word as relating to those people who despite physiology perhaps are uncertain or are exploring personal issues both about their gender and possibly also the nature of attraction in terms of sexuality.

 

Hope that helps.

[Strokes]

7 minutes ago, Swan Lesta said:

 

Queer and Asexual...

 

So the latter being self explanatory the former word has kinda been reclaimed... Queer theory/theorists go back to the works of Foucault and have their roots in questions being asked about both gender identity and sexuality both simultaneously and singularly. I take the current meaning of the word as relating to those people who despite physiology perhaps are uncertain or are exploring personal issues both about their gender and possibly also the nature of attraction in terms of sexuality.

 

Hope that helps.

Come again.

sorry re read, I get it now. I think. A queer is a gay Tranny hybrid?

[Nick]

Just now, Strokes said:

Come again.

 

Okay so basically some people are not certain whether or not they are a bloke or a woman and as a byproduct, some of them are unsure if they are attracted to men, women, neither or sometimes both....

 

So they are not really gay and not really transgender or transsexual .... so 'Queer'

 

Hows that?

[Alf Bentley]

2 hours ago, Strokes said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39810488

The tories  make significant gains in the local elections, Labour, LDs and UKIP all down. How reflective will this be in the General Election?

 

2 hours ago, Innovindil said:

Pretty much what everyone is expecting. UKIP absorbed by tories, lib dems relatively unscathed and labour taking heavy losses. 

 

What Innovindil said, but with a couple of caveats....

- It seems as if Labour are doing (comparatively) much better in big cities than elsewhere

- I'd guess that UKIP won't do quite so badly at a national election focused on Brexit (unless Nuttall makes an utter arse of himself, which is quite possible)

 

I've always reckoned that, as with the referendum, the general election results could vary wildly depending on the type of area. These local election results seem to support that theory so far.

- I'd expect Labour to lose a lot of seats, even seats with quite big majorities, in deprived working-class areas, provincial towns, struggling former industrial areas/coastal towns & strongly pro-Brexit areas

- However, Labour might hold quite marginal seats in big cities and university towns where there is little Lib Dem presence; they might even win a few Tory marginals in such areas

- It seems as if the Lib Dems are unlikely to have a big resurgence in their old South-West heartland (also quite pro-Brexit), but might win seats in SE suburbs, Home Counties, Remain-voting university/prosperous provincial towns etc.

- UKIP might not do so badly at the general election, but it looks as if they have no chance of winning any seats....will they hold it together for their opportunity in 2 years time, when the outcome of Brexit negotiations 

- Greens seem to be picking up a scattering of seats. They might hold Brighton & perhaps win their second target seat in Bristol West?

- Lab results in Wales a mixed bag, but not as bad as anticipated - decent in Cardiff, Swansea & Newport, poor in Bridgend & the Valleys...likely to lose a few seats, but not loads?

 

Interesting early analysis here: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/05/tories-are-reaping-rewards-of-tough-brexit-position-in-local-elections

 

"Not that the strategy being pursued by May is without its longer-term risks. The perceived shift to the right to sweep up Ukip votes will ultimately leave space to her left for parties to mine progressive and liberal votes that may have previously backed the Tories. It is telling, for example, that while the Conservatives have done well in the Welsh valleys (taking control of Bridgend, for instance), Labour has performed better in the cities.The fact that Labour held on to Cardiff and increased its majority in Swansea shows that May’s message is not necessarily going to resonate in all parts of the country,and particularly in the cities. However, Labour knows that any recovery must go far beyond these urban centres and instead see significant gains in towns as well".

 

The really big long-term risk for May is what happens to her strong support in working-class Brexit areas if the Brexit negotiations don't yield what voters there expect: e.g. if she has to make major concessions to get an acceptable deal or if we bomb out with no deal and there is a seriously adverse economic impact and/or if high immigration is perceived to be continuing as before. Depending on events during the rest of the campaign, it seems pretty clear that the Tories will get a significantly bigger majority, but maybe not quite the landslide/Labour wipe-out anticipated............what then happens to support for the political parties in 2 years time is massively unpredictable, but likely to be turbulent.

[Nick]

8 minutes ago, Strokes said:

Come again.

sorry re read, I get it now. I think. A queer is a gay Tranny hybrid?

 

Good luck at the 'Sensitivity and Understanding Awards' next week......

[Alf Bentley]

13 minutes ago, Strokes said:

Come again.

sorry re read, I get it now. I think. A queer is a gay Tranny hybrid?

 

Reminded me of a song from yesteryear.

 

Specially for you, Strokes.... 

 

 

[The Doctor]

21 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

- I'd guess that UKIP won't do quite so badly at a national election focused on Brexit (unless Nuttall makes an utter arse of himself, which is quite possible).

Aren't they making noises about not standing against pro-brexit MPs to avoid splitting the vote? If they're only planning to challenge the likes of Lammy then they'll not make up much ground

[Alf Bentley]

6 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

Aren't they making noises about not standing against pro-brexit MPs to avoid splitting the vote? If they're only planning to challenge the likes of Lammy then they'll not make up much ground

 

Yep, they've said that - and have already named a few pro-Brexit Tories they won't stand against (plus Kate Hoey, I think).

 

I suppose there are pro-Remain MPs (of all parties) in pro-Brexit seats, so they'd stand a chance there, in theory.....but if they didn't get any MPs in 2015, I can't imagine them getting any this time, given how much of their 2015 support seems to be haemorrhaging to the Tories now that May is the Brexit poster girl (having been a mild Remainer)..

[Rincewind]

Jeremy Corbyn is in Leicester Saturday speaking at a rally

I am not going btw. I think it clashes with City playing.. From what I heard it was booked up very quickly.

Dont know where it is. You have phone a number to book. I know some people that will be going.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Rincewind said:

Jeremy Corbyn is in Leicester Saturday speaking at a rally

I am not going btw. I think it clashes with City playing.. From what I heard it was booked up very quickly.

Dont know where it is. You have phone a number to book. I know some people that will be going.

MattP & DT?

[Sharpe's Fox]

3 minutes ago, Emilio Lestavez said:

MattP & DT?

I think Matt did actually did go to one last year in the leadership election.

[Rincewind]

1 minute ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

I think Matt did actually did go to one last year in the leadership election.

Only to heckle and shout abuse. His heckling rates are quite reasonable.

[The Fox Covert]

Heckling politicians is quite an art form if practiced successfully, but I must admit I haven't done it for years. Success is causing the politician to hesitate or stumble, or lose the thread of their speech, or provoking a section of the crowd to laugh and jeer. 

[Jon the Hat]

1 hour ago, Rincewind said:

Jeremy Corbyn is in Leicester Saturday speaking at a rally

I am not going btw. I think it clashes with City playing.. From what I heard it was booked up very quickly.

Dont know where it is. You have phone a number to book. I know some people that will be going.

Well he does like a friendly crowd doesn't he

Not that TMay is facing any crowds at the moment  

[DJ Barry Hammond]

2 hours ago, Rincewind said:

Jeremy Corbyn is in Leicester Saturday speaking at a rally

I am not going btw. I think it clashes with City playing.. From what I heard it was booked up very quickly.

Dont know where it is. You have phone a number to book. I know some people that will be going.

 

He'll do well to still be leader by then... let's face it, he should resign immediately. It's over.

[Foxxed]

On 04/26/2017 at 22:01, Foxxed said:

Overall, I suspect the stench of death that wafts over Labour's old economic and geographic heartlands of Middleborough and Copeland will be blown over the whole country by the government wishing either to protect its 2015 majority against election fraud seat rerun losses, fight against its own unpersuaded hard destructive brexit MPs with fresh Tory MPs of loyalty unknown, bank its electoral support before further high prices and low spending indicators pop up, or simply to deal a death blow to the dying opposition.

 

The highest ever and lowest ever polls for the Tories and Labour respectively don't help me think differently. And the explosion of the high turnout, highly Tory over 65s electorate neither. Nor the fact the much smaller younger electorate consistently fail to vote significantly. Nor the fact the siphoner of Tory votes, UKIP, have agreed not to contest tight Tory seats. Nor the how Corbyn is polling worse than 50 years of failed Labour and Tory leaders. Nor how Labour have lost their old Welsh and Scottish support. Nor the movement of bremain Labour votes to the Libs in Labour-Tory marginals. Nor the Corbyn fans who say it is not about winning elections and it'll forever be the media's fault (mimicking the deranged false consciousness marxist excuse) and only the complete destruction of absolutely everything that blair touched will lead to a better tomorrow.

 

The Tories should totally clean up, a bigger majority than ever before, with the Tories directing government policy, with the Tories and rifts within being the only effective opposition, with the Tories claiming dominion of popular political thought. Tory legislation occasionally opposed by Tory factions then ultimately approved by Tories. Some Tories sometimes hear a Corbynite claim it's about the movement and fighting blair rather than elections and power but soon turn back to a law being passed by another Tory. One state. One party. Scattered fragments of the rest.

 

Can I add the local election results to my 'nors' up there.

 

Heading towards one party rule, boi!

 

When rising prices and falling spending futher eat into our already declined growth, and when one third of our economy in the City of London continue to move inland, and when our firms continue complaining about shortages of eu factory workers, and when leaving nurses and other workers continue to take their spending power elsewhere

 

And when firms needing Single Market access continue to move staff abroad, and when the US and China continue to tell us trade with us is not as important as before, and when our territory disputes worsen, and when our glasses are not rose coloured but sobering transparent, when we continue to blame allies we willingly voted into adversaries?

 

Who will the country - angry and frustrated - turn to then? It's likely that Labour will still be filled with ranks of Corbyn fans making excuses, wanking to their theories and leaders and overwhelming the membership election.

 

The country may turn to another idea. And that idea may not be pretty.