General Election, June 8th

Strokes · 9 May 2017

7 minutes ago, LiberalFox said:

I used to post under "ADK", can't remember the password to that account and don't have the email I used to create it either.

Welcome back.

sphericalfox · 9 May 2017

31 minutes ago, LiberalFox said:

I used to post under "ADK", can't remember the password to that account and don't have the email I used to create it either.

Fair enough.

Izzy · 9 May 2017

3 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

It isn't an energy price freeze I don't think, it is saying to the energy companies "if you can sell at £600 a quid a year on your new customer tariffs you cant charge people who are not in a position to negotiate (the elderly, stupid etc) £300 more than that just because they are not paying attention. On the basis that the market is not really working. Still not sure how practical it is.

Excellent.

I fall into both of those categories :thumbup:

lgfualol · 9 May 2017

Unsurprisingly May wants to bring back Fox Hunting

yorkie1999 · 9 May 2017

2 minutes ago, lgfualol said:

Unsurprisingly May wants to bring back Fox Hunting

Good, i'm sick of em eating my chickens.

Strokes · 9 May 2017

9 minutes ago, lgfualol said:

Unsurprisingly May wants to bring back Fox Hunting

I doubt it would pass through parliament in any case, plenty of Tory MPs are against it too.

leicsmac · 9 May 2017

24 minutes ago, yorkie1999 said:

Good, i'm sick of em eating my chickens.

That's what shotguns are for. You know, quick and painless death.

yorkie1999 · 9 May 2017

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

That's what shotguns are for. You know, quick and painless death.

Or a fox running about for a couple of days squealing in pain with a load of shot stuck in its arse, and i don't think the neighbors in the flat above would be too happy with a shotgun going off in the middle of the night.

leicsmac · 9 May 2017

1 minute ago, yorkie1999 said:

Or a fox running about for a couple of days squealing in pain with a load of shot stuck in its arse.

True. In that case, perhaps the individuals wanting the fox gone might take the responsibility of becoming a good shot so such matters don't often arise...or paying someone who is.

There are so many ways that fox incursions can be kept manageable and livelihoods remain intact without the need for organised hunts.

sphericalfox · 9 May 2017

1st couple stably gurning and swooning on BBC One currently. Feel queasy and sick now.

LiberalFox · 9 May 2017

Fox hunting is the sort of thing that could be brought back by a huge Conservative majority but I doubt Theresa May wants it brought back as it would be used as ammunition by the opposition.

I'd be more worried about her views on selective schools and her plans to repeal the human rights act and implement a hard brexit.

Jimothy · 9 May 2017

19 minutes ago, sphericalfox said:

1st couple stably gurning and swooning on BBC One currently. Feel queasy and sick now.

Noticed she couldn't even get through a segment on talking about her family without using the words "strong" and "stable" lol

davieG · 9 May 2017

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39844115

General election 2017: Policy pledge tracker

By Richard WarryBBC News

4 hours ago

From the sectionElection 2017

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The manifestos are not out yet - so, while we wait, here's a rundown of significant policy commitments made so far during the election campaign. It will be updated as new pledges are made.

Europe:

The Lib Dem manifesto will include a commitment to another EU referendum on the final Brexit deal, in which the party would campaign for Remain. Tim Farron has said campaigning against "hard" Brexit will be "front and centre" of the party's election campaign. The party says the UK should remain in the single market and a vote should take place on the "final deal" between the UK and the European Union.

Labour's shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out a second referendum, but said there would have to be transitional arrangements at the end of the two-year Article 50 process. He said Labour would prioritise trade with the EU; it might stay in the customs union; it would give EU citizens a unilateral guarantee that they could stay on in Britain, and replace the government's proposed Great Repeal Bill - which would scrap the 1972 European Communities Act and incorporate many existing EU laws applying to the UK into domestic law - with an EU Rights and Protections Bill.

Conservative leader Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain part of the single market as it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". She also says the UK must seek a new customs agreement as its current membership of the customs union prevents it from striking trade deals around the world. She says voters need to give a strong message that they back her to boost her UK's negotiating position in the talks with the rest of the EU.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has been pushing for Scotland - which voted to remain in the EU - to have a special status after Brexit, including remaining in the single market. She has called for a second independence referendum before the Brexit package has been finalised.

The Green Party would offer a second referendum on the details of any Brexit deal.

Read more: Where the parties stand on Brexit

Tax and the economy:

Labour has pledged not to raise income tax for those earning less than £80,000 a year as part of an election "personal tax guarantee" for 95% of taxpayers - the top 5% of earners would pay more to fund public services. Recent cuts to capital gains tax would be reversed. Corporation tax would be raised, but not VAT. The party plans to create one million new jobs by pumping £250bn directly into the economy over ten years. Another £100bn would be spent to set up a publicly-owned national investment bank, which would be expected to raise another £150bn. Banks would be required in law to keep high street branches open. Any company bidding for a public sector contract would be required to pay its own suppliers within 30 days, and fines might be introduced for private firms who persistently pay late.

The Conservatives have ruled out a VAT rise. Theresa May has also said she has "no plans" to raise other taxes after the election, but has so far not repeated a 2015 pledge that also ruled out rises in income tax and National Insurance. There are plans to press ahead with increases to the effective Inheritance Tax threshold for married couples and civil partners to £1m, with a new transferable main residence allowance of £175,000 per person. This will be paid for by reducing the tax relief on pension contributions for people earning more than £150,000.

The Lib Dems pledge to put 1p on income tax to pay for increased health spending. The money raised would primarily be invested in social care which will get £2bn a year, and care outside of hospital, mental health and public health.

The Green Party is expected to unveil plans to raise corporation tax for big businesses, and income tax for the better off, and changes to inheritance tax.

Scotland has powers to set its own rate of income tax. However, SNP first minister Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed the idea of raising the top rate of income tax for those earning more than £150,000 from 45% to 50%, as has been proposed by Scottish Labour.

Immigration:

The Conservatives will once again aim to cut net migration to the "tens of thousands" in their election manifesto. The target, set by David Cameron in 2010, has so far not been met.

Labour says it accepts that the principle of the free movement of people - which EU leaders say goes hand-in-hand with single market membership - would have to end after Brexit but that new immigration controls should not be the "overarching priority" as the UK leaves.

For the Lib Dems, Tim Farron has said fixed migration target hurt UK businesses, hospitals and universities.

UKIP say they would cut net migration levels to zero within five years by almost halving immigration into the UK. They want to align the number of people coming to the UK with those leaving. Unskilled and low-skilled labour would be banned for five years while skilled workers and students would need visas.

Health: (in England)

Labour plans to ban adverts for junk food and sweets from all TV shows broadcast before 9pm as part of a planned child health bill to tackle childhood obesity. The aim is to halve the number of overweight youngsters within 10 years, and cut the £6bn annual cost to the NHS of obesity. Public health budgets would be ring-fenced to allow councils to invest in leisure activities and health awareness campaigns. A planned programme of hospital services closures would be suspended across England, the current 1% cap on pay rises for NHS workers would be scrapped, tuition free for student nurses and midwives would be protected, and safe NHS staffing levels enshrined in law. Car parking charges at NHS England hospitals would be scrapped by raising insurance tax on private healthcare to 20%.

The Conservatives' childhood obesity plan announced last August set out the action local communities, the food industry, schools and the NHS should be taking over the next 10 years. The 1983 Mental Health Act would be replaced with new laws tackling "unnecessary detention" in England and Wales, and 10,000 more NHS mental health staff recruited in England by 2020.

The Lib Dems support the introduction of a regulated cannabis market in the UK, arguing legalising and regulating cannabis delivers significant benefits to public health and takes pressure off the criminal justice system.

The Green Party would remove the involvement of the private sector in the health service, and increase spending.

Pensions:

The Lib Dems have pledged to protect the "triple lock" on state pensions. This guarantee, introduced by the 2010 coalition government, sees the state pension rise in line with wages, inflation or by 2.5% - whichever is highest. The party would scrap annual winter fuel payments for retired people in the 40% tax bracket to pay for it.

Labour has also pledge to retain the "triple lock". It would also amend company takeover rules to protect employees' pensions.

Theresa May has declined opportunities to confirm the Conservatives would guarantee the "triple lock", so far. The Tories have pledged to increase the powers of regulators over company pensions, including fines for employers who deliberately underfund schemes.

Law and order: (in England and Wales)

Labour has pledged to recruit 10,000 new police officers in England and Wales.

The Lib Dems plan a move away from short sentences, which they claim are ineffective, to non-custodial alternatives.

Education: (in England)

Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour plans to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils in England, proposing that the cost would be covered by introducing VAT on private school fees. Scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance grants would be reinstated. These were means-tested payments of between £10 and £30 per week intended to encourage 16- to 18-year-olds to stay in sixth forms and further education colleges.

The Green Party would scrap tuition fees.

UKIP would block the opening of new Muslim schools until, it says, more progress has been made integrating Muslims into mainstream society, and close any school where there is evidence of Islamist ideology being taught or imposed on children.

Housing: (in England)

Labour would build a million new homes over five years. Half would be council and housing association homes which would be "for rent and totally affordable". There would also be new legal standards for rented homes, with landlords who fail to meet minimum standards facing fines of up to £100,000.

The Lib Dems would introduce a Housing Investment Bank to generate funding for new homes.

Workers' rights:

Labour has a 20-point plan to end the "rigged economy" in the workplace, which includes giving all workers equal rights from day one, a ban on zero-hours contracts; guaranteeing trade unions a right to access workplaces, ending the public sector pay cap, raising the minimum wage, banning unpaid internships, abolishing employment tribunal fees, and increasing and extending paternity pay. It also plans to introduce a "real living wage" of at least £10 an hour, and to introduce four new UK-wide bank holidays.

The Lib Dems plan to introduce mandatory reporting on the ethnicity pay gap for organisations with 250 employees or more.

Welfare: (In England)

Labour plans to reduce the number of people sleeping rough by doubling the number of homes available for use by homeless people. Four thousand new flats and homes would be ring-fenced for rough sleepers in cities such as Bristol, Liverpool and Birmingham. The carer's allowance would be increased by an extra £10 a week - a 17% increase. The two-child limit on child benefit would be scrapped. The Winter Fuel Allowance and free bus passes for pensioners would be retained.

The Lib Dems want to end rough sleeping in Britain by placing long-term homeless people straight into independent homes rather than emergency shelters, and increasing grants to local authorities to fund homelessness prevention services more effectively. The party would also reverse cuts to universal credit, and abolish the work capability assessment. The party would also introduce civil partnerships for heterosexual couples.

Defence:

The Lib Dems would "maintain a credible nuclear deterrent", but Tim Farron has advocated replacing the current system of continuous-at-sea deterrence with more irregular patrolling patterns.

Jeremy Corbyn has said "all aspects" of defence would be reviewed if Labour won power.

There is no indication that the Conservatives are about to abandon their commitment to go ahead with building replacements for the UK's Vanguard fleet of four submarines carrying Trident nuclear missiles.

Society:

UKIP would ban Sharia courts and the wearing of face coverings in public places, which it argues are "a deliberate barrier to integration and in many contexts, a security risk too". It would also introduce annual school-based medical checks on girls from groups at high risk of suffering female genital mutilation.

Living costs:

The Conservatives plan a cap on gas and electricity bills for households that pay standard variable tariffs.

Analysis: How might an energy cap work?

Foreign aid:

Theresa May has ruled out cuts to the UK foreign aid budget under the Conservatives, saying the commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on aid "will remain".

Constitutional affairs:

The Lib Dems would replace the first-past-the-post electoral system with a proportional voting system, extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, and introduce a democratically-elected upper chamber.

The Green Party would also extend the vote to 16-year-olds.

UKIP want to scrap postal voting on demand to be scrapped, with applicants having to demonstrate a genuine need before a postal vote is granted.

Environment, Food and Rural affairs: (in England)

The Lib Dems would clamp down on illegal imports of pets and introduce mandatory licensing of puppy breeding.

The Guvnor · 9 May 2017

6 hours ago, LiberalFox said:

I find it amusing that Hammond stole Ed Balls' economic policy and now May is stealing Ed Miliband's energy policy too. Meanwhile our negotiating tactic with Europe is to be "bloody difficult", but it's okay really because it's a strong and stable government putting hard working families first in the national interest.

I believe this is happening as TM want's to implement her 'Party for all' and as the LP are so far to the left she can slide over that way a little and it's a win win in her eyes, getting a few LP supporters on board and not overly pissing off too many mainstream Tory supporters.

Boooom.

yorkie1999 · 9 May 2017

I'm starting a political party. If I get elected into power I will give every British person 1 million pounds. That's 60 million million or 60 billion in old school. This time next year we'll all be millionaires

sphericalfox · 9 May 2017

1 minute ago, yorkie1999 said:

I'm starting a political party. If I get elected into power I will give every British person 1 million pounds. That's 60 million million or 60 billion in old school

That certainly would get the economy going and probably save the high street. Consider my vote considered. Though I'm not British, would that count against me?

yorkie1999 · 9 May 2017

4 minutes ago, sphericalfox said:

That certainly would get the economy going and probably save the high street. Consider my vote considered. Though I'm not British, would that count against me?

Other policies include a complete ban on anything French because any country that allows cars to be built with 3 wheel nuts needs shagging. No electric cars, because they actually carry a bigger carbon footprint than their petrol equivalent. Morris dancing to be part of the school curriculum because it is excellent excersize for fat kids and retains a British heritage and anyone being done for racism, car theft, burglary or any offence that affects another person to be sentenced to 2 years on a treadmill that has an electric generator attached connected to the national grid. This will become the backbone of our energy requirements and because there's always some cvnt trying to nick someone's car we will never have to rely on Europe for our energy needs.

sphericalfox · 9 May 2017

4 minutes ago, yorkie1999 said:

Other policies include a complete ban on anything French because any country that allows cars to be built with 3 wheel nuts needs shagging. No electric cars, because they actually carry a bigger carbon footprint than their petrol equivalent. Morris dancing to be part of the school curriculum because it is excellent excersize for fat kids and retains a British heritage and anyone being done for racism, car theft, burglary or any offence that affects another person to be sentenced to 2 years on a treadmill that has an electric generator attached connected to the national grid. This will become the backbone of our energy requirements and because there's always some cvnt trying to nick someone's car we will never have to rely on Europe for our energy needs.

Shit, my OH is French, now I'm going to have a think about your vote and whether I am still applicable to receive this million squids, and consider the consequences of your 'French policy'. Conflicted.

yorkie1999 · 9 May 2017

40 minutes ago, sphericalfox said:

Shit, my OH is French, now I'm going to have a think about your vote and whether I am still applicable to receive this million squids, and consider the consequences of your 'French policy'. Conflicted.

Obviously French ladies are not included in any bans. That goes without question. Silly as it sounds though, I wonder how hard it would be to create an online political party, surely it wouldn't be much different to this forum, just a ballot for every idea.

Foxxed · 10 May 2017

4 hours ago, yorkie1999 said:

Obviously French ladies are not included in any bans. That goes without question. Silly as it sounds though, I wonder how hard it would be to create an online political party, surely it wouldn't be much different to this forum, just a ballot for every idea.

I don't want to derail this thread but, although I'm not against a ballot for every idea, if I were voting for let's say nuclear power policies I would have absolutely no clue and would vote quasi-randomly, but I guess if I were asked to vote based on true and faithful research written by impartial high quality researchers which was understandable without being misleading and I also had the time to read all that then maybe it could work. But you'd need some shit hot researchers and only allow people who've read all the research to vote. Parliamentary representatives should be these people in theory.

Foxxed · 10 May 2017

.

On 07/05/2017 at 19:45, leicsmac said:

There is a point where those two have to collide though IMO, unless the idea of mutual self-interest can really be spread out and then you're getting close to collectivism anyway.

To be fair to The Floyd, to believe in free market capitalism but also believe you should tax profits to reinvest in society to help people more healthily add to economy seems to, roughly, be the social democrat consensus.

I do think unfettered free market capitalism can wreck society though: if there's no quick profit in retraining 40 year old miners so goodbye your middle age, your old age and your families future unless the government invests in you over a long period.

Equally a completely state controlled market could easily mismanage industry to the point where what it manufactures doesn't sell. Or government manages industry so badly that its workers strike and bring the country to a standstill.

That said, East Coast rail when nationalised returned 209 million profit to the tax payer before it was again privitised.

Neither free market capitalism or state controlled capitalism works in all situations. There should be a balance. The state should delegate responsibility only where the market damages or has little motivation to improve someone's life - health care, probably rail, quality television all fit.

I don't mind the licence fee because the BBC produces great content, employs loads of people and makes loads of money from the commercial arm - attenborough and licencing british comedy around the world makes the bbc loads of money and also gives us a great international reputation.

But the BBC is economically fairly well managed. And if we do nationalise anything, which may be a great idea, you'd have to be sure its delegated well, such as whoever managed each coast rail, since nationalisation alone isn't a magic wand.

If we do nationalise rail at any point I wouldn't mind nationalising one line to prove it works, is profitable (either directly or indirectly) and has improved the service. And then give whomever has done that the right to nationalise another line.

I don't want the government to delegate all economic activity but, instead, be a safe guard when free market capitalism has failed society either through nationalisation or regulation to ensure we aren't, for example. feeding cattle their dead offspring again.

But the debate when that has happened and if government can do any better and if the regulation really helps seems to be one of the central arguments in centre-left and centre-right politics.

davieG · 10 May 2017

No Tory politicians will face charges for breaches of expenses rules during the 2015 general election.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had examined files from 14 police forces and while there was evidence of inaccurate spending returns it did not "meet the test" for further action.

It is still investigating the Conservative campaign in South Thanet.

The Conservatives said the allegations had been "politically motivated" and a "waste of police time".

The inquiry related to claims some "battle bus" campaigning costs in the 2015 election were wrongly recorded.

It was alleged the party spent tens of thousands of pounds on local campaigns - including on "battle bus" visits by activists - which were either not declared or were wrongly registered as national spending.

Under complex election spending rules, parties must disclose national spending separately from money used to promote each candidate, and separate national and local limits apply.

Q&A: Conservative election expenses row

No charges over 2015 battle bus cases

In March the Tories were fined a record £70,000 by the Electoral Commission, which criticised the party for resisting its investigation although it was unable to prove any intention to make false declarations.

But following a lengthy investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would take no further action against either candidates or party officials.

It said a file from Kent Police on the South Thanet campaign was recently received and was "under consideration".

'Insufficient evidence'

In a statement, it said it was an offence to knowingly make a false declaration but in order to bring charges it must be proved that suspects knew the return was inaccurate and acted dishonestly in signing the declaration.

"Although there is evidence to suggest the returns may have been inaccurate, there is insufficient evidence to prove to the criminal standard that any candidate or agent was dishonest," said its head of special crime Nick Vamos.

"We reviewed the files in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and have concluded the tests in the Code are not met and no criminal charges have been authorised."

The Conservative Party, which has always insisted administrative errors were to blame rather than any intention to deceive, said they were glad the matter had been "finally resolved" but said it regretted that the police had become involved.

"After a very thorough investigation, we are pleased that the legal authorities have confirmed what we believed was the case all along: that these Conservative candidates did nothing wrong," said party chair Patrick McLoughlin.

"These were politically motivated and unfounded complaints that have wasted police time."

The allegations came to light following an investigation by Channel 4 News and the Daily Mirror.

davieG · 10 May 2017

The problem with corporation tax

Kamal AhmedEconomics editor

20 minutes ago

From the sectionBusiness

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Image captionThe Labour party has said it will raise corporation tax to spend £4.8bn on improving education

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