Jon the Hat Posted 27 April 2010 Posted 27 April 2010 One of the Miliband brothers would be a good bet. More likely David. I think the contest will be dependent on whether Ed Balls remains an MP. If he does it will probably be straight fight between him and David Milliband. Alan Johnson has indicated he would support him. Harman would probably run but lose in the first round. If Balls goes next Thursday then probably David Milliband vs Harman which Milliband would win. So the Labour party has a clear choice between and union backed Statist in Balls, or a more liberal leaning Milliband. It will be interesting to see which way they go. Might also depend on the success or otherwise of the numerous Unite backed candidates.
Head Honcho Posted 27 April 2010 Posted 27 April 2010 You could argue the same thing for a Con/Lib coaliton though couldn't you? If the Tories come first in the popular vote, then that would be a larger majority of public support for that Government than a Lib/Lab one. Clegg can decide who to form a Government with, and he is trying to argue that share of the vote = mandate, which should mean he supports the largest party regardless of whether he comes first or second, but in fact he will do what gives him the most power, so he is a hypocrite, and we can be confident that in fact he only wants PR becuase it will give him and his party more power. It doesn't matter what Clegg thinks. The majority of libdem MP's have no interest in tory policies or the right wing politics they stand for and a lib/tory pact would see the demise of the party. More than half their MP's would likely defect to labour and deem any lib/tory pact totally impractical.
FoxyPV Posted 27 April 2010 Posted 27 April 2010 Labour lose big celebrity endorsement. Don't underestimate the power of Peppa ::
Daggers Posted 27 April 2010 Posted 27 April 2010 The Sun's Becky raises a couple of interesting points:
stez Posted 27 April 2010 Posted 27 April 2010 The Sun's Becky raises a couple of interesting points: much as i hate to disagree with becky, hasn't italy had the same prime minister for quite a few years now?
Jimothy Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Just found this article about smaller parties policies on the BBC. Some of the ideas are quite funny and clearly the works of lunatics. I do like Captain Beany of The New Millennium Bean Party's idea of painting all drink drivers cars orange for 5 years after they finish they're bans, or at least some variation on it. Would certainly make people think twice about drink driving if there was some form of visual punishment that made everyone aware of what you had done. Might cause a few problems for people who already own orange cars though.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Don't underestimate the power of Peppa :: The things she's achieved despite having her nose on the side of her head instead of the front make her an example to us all
l444ry Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Brown calls woman Bigoted woman It’d be a funny turn of events for Brown to be ultimately destroyed by saying something that may well have been justified, given the woman’s remarks.
Jon the Hat Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 It’d be a funny turn of events for Brown to be ultimately destroyed by saying something that may well have been justified, given the woman’s remarks. Yes, how dare someone say they feel let down by Labour, are unimpressed with their immigration policy, and think Gordon has saddled us with Debt our grandchildren will be paying.... Clearly a bigot.
l444ry Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Yes, how dare someone say they feel let down by Labour, are unimpressed with their immigration policy, and think Gordon has saddled us with Debt our grandchildren will be paying.... Clearly a bigot. The irony is that this has been an election in which politicians seem to have very rarely challenged by the voters on anything. So perhaps the most disappointing part of the Brown encounter is that any disagreement ought to be expressed in the meeting with the voter, not privately afterwards.
Jon the Hat Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 The irony is that this has been an election in which politicians seem to have very rarely challenged by the voters on anything. So perhaps the most disappointing part of the Brown encounter is that any disagreement ought to be expressed in the meeting with the voter, not privately afterwards. Some might argue that the fact that Gordon has not in fact been meeting voters would make it difficult to challenge him. Personally I would say this highlights the fact that although Labour might present themselves as of the people, the party for the working classes, in fact they have no respect for them whatsoever.
l444ry Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Some might argue that the fact that Gordon has not in fact been meeting voters would make it difficult to challenge him. Personally I would say this highlights the fact that although Labour might present themselves as of the people, the party for the working classes, in fact they have no respect for them whatsoever. Brown's problem is he is having to play the media game. He only said what he really thought when he was challenged by a woman who thought there were too many immigrants and too many people claiming benefits. He called her a bigot. Unfortunately for him his microphone was switched on. . Quite frankly, I am delighted Brown thought the remarks of said woman with Daily Mail politics so offensive. Labour has spent far too much time dog-whistling on benefits and immigration. It doesn't show contempt for ordinary voters, it shows admirable contempt for reactionary rubbish. And Brown should be applauded ......
Benji Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Something similar was happening to Cameron the other day. Some female student collared him as he was walking through the building and she just wouldn't give him a chance, I thought at one point she was going to cry when she realised she wasn't actually being that clever . She kept asking questions and even when DC gave very competent answers she shook his hand and said "i don't believe you". His response was to smile and say "we'll i've tried". I bet the moment he got into another room he'd have thought/said sometihng along the lines of what a dick. Everyone does it all the time, only we don't walk around with microphones on our jacket Still, anything to make people stop voting him I'll enjoy.
Guest Bilo Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 I don't think anyone who isn't hopelessly biased towards the Labour party will be able to see anything but negativity in Brown's comments. Like it or not Gordon; immigration, the national debt and taxation are issues that ordinary voters are concerned about and will have questions for you to answer about them. Her phraseology about immigrants may have been clumsy but the sentiment is one shared by thousands of people who you consider your core vote. The overwhelming majority are NOT bigots and it's offensive to characterise them as such. The amount of debt we have as a nation is genuinely scary, and as always, it's the people who can ill afford to pay who are expected to while the wealthy bankers who got us into this mess take home six figure salaries. This concerns core Labour voters. It just goes to show how out of touch Gordon Brown really is with ordinary voters.
breadandcheese Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Brown's problem is he is having to play the media game. He only said what he really thought when he was challenged by a woman who thought there were too many immigrants and too many people claiming benefits. He called her a bigot. Unfortunately for him his microphone was switched on. . Quite frankly, I am delighted Brown thought the remarks of said woman with Daily Mail politics so offensive. Labour has spent far too much time dog-whistling on benefits and immigration. It doesn't show contempt for ordinary voters, it shows admirable contempt for reactionary rubbish. And Brown should be applauded ...... Firstly, Brown has just provided me with what is an absolutely hilarious election moment. I love the Thick Of It, so this was brilliant. Now, if he can send an email to an 8 year old girl calling her a ****, it would be perfect. Secondly, his attempt at an apology on radio 2 was so awful, even Cameron probably felt for him. To start his apology with "if I said that..." before having the recording played out to him and he realised he couldn't cast doubt on what he said. He still didn't properly apologise, with the classic line "If I caused offence, then I apologise." Not really an apology, just remorse for someone getting upset at his comment, before then blaming the media for the gaff, as they hadn't kept his private bigot conversation in the car private. I'm not sure if he's now changed it to a full apology, but it all adds to the brilliance of this. Seriously, I don't know why Gordon brown doesn't help write a few epsiodes for the Thick Of it. Thirdly, the lady's views were not that offensive and it's wrong to apply a label which shuts off any discussion on the issues. This is how the BNP have flourished, exploiting the silence of the debate. You can't even call her bigoted as if we look at public spending records, particularly in the light of forthcoming cuts by all the major parties, our public services will struggle with any new influxes of immigration.
l444ry Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Firstly, Brown has just provided me with what is an absolutely hilarious election moment. I love the Thick Of It, so this was brilliant. Now, if he can send an email to an 8 year old girl calling her a ****, it would be perfect. Secondly, his attempt at an apology on radio 2 was so awful, even Cameron probably felt for him. To start his apology with "if I said that..." before having the recording played out to him and he realised he couldn't cast doubt on what he said. He still didn't properly apologise, with the classic line "If I caused offence, then I apologise." Not really an apology, just remorse for someone getting upset at his comment, before then blaming the media for the gaff, as they hadn't kept his private bigot conversation in the car private. I'm not sure if he's now changed it to a full apology, but it all adds to the brilliance of this. Seriously, I don't know why Gordon brown doesn't help write a few epsiodes for the Thick Of it. Thirdly, the lady's views were not that offensive and it's wrong to apply a label which shuts off any discussion on the issues. This is how the BNP have flourished, exploiting the silence of the debate. You can't even call her bigoted as if we look at public spending records, particularly in the light of forthcoming cuts by all the major parties, our public services will struggle with any new influxes of immigration. Gordon Brown made a difficult situation worse today with his grovelling apologies. In reply to the woman who asked, "All these eastern Europeans – where are they coming from?" , the Prime Minister might have settled for a simple reply: ...."Er … eastern Europe." Instead, he let slip that he thought her a "bigoted woman". Given that she also said: "You can't say anything about immigrants (flooding in)," he may have had a point. Why shouldn't he speak his mind for a change? Better, surely, than following John Prescott's example and giving her a thump.
Ford Super Sunday Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Something similar was happening to Cameron the other day. Some female student collared him as he was walking through the building and she just wouldn't give him a chance, I thought at one point she was going to cry when she realised she wasn't actually being that clever . She kept asking questions and even when DC gave very competent answers she shook his hand and said "i don't believe you". His response was to smile and say "we'll i've tried". I bet the moment he got into another room he'd have thought/said sometihng along the lines of what a dick. Everyone does it all the time, only we don't walk around with microphones on our jacket Still, anything to make people stop voting him I'll enjoy. Exactly. It's like he's the first politician to say something after the microphones and cameras have been turned off (even though they were on of course) I don't give a rats that he called her a bigot, i'd have preferred it if he'd have called her a ****ing imbecile, it would have made this media overreaction an even bigger hilarity. Leader of our country, head of state, yadda yadda yadda, he's human, he was irritated, he said something when no-one else other than the people in the car were meant to hear it. The man feels emotions, deal with it and move on. Anyone who decided to change parties based on this comment is, for me, a bit of a moron. EDIT: and no, i'm not a Labour fanboy and neither will I be voting for them.
breadandcheese Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Gordon Brown made a difficult situation worse today with his grovelling apologies. In reply to the woman who asked, "All these eastern Europeans – where are they coming from?" , the Prime Minister might have settled for a simple reply: ...."Er … eastern Europe." Instead, he let slip that he thought her a "bigoted woman". Given that she also said: "You can't say anything about immigrants (flooding in)," he may have had a point. Why shouldn't he speak his mind for a change? Better, surely, than following John Prescott's example and giving her a thump. It's the way it all links together. if you watch the whole video, you see Gordon Brown telling the lady what a good family she comes from, talking about her grandchildren and whether they're going to university when they're older, all lovely things. Then the moment he gets in the car, he turns very quickly and calls her bigotted. it is being caught with your pants dow Now if Gordon thought she was being bigotted (which I disagree that she was. I think there are concerns for the pressure on public services caused by the mass immigration over the past few years), he should have challenged her there and then. Our politicians always tell us they would challenge racist behaviour any place any where. Well, Gordon didn't, he had a nice chat and then made comments behind her back.
l444ry Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 It's the way it all links together. if you watch the whole video, you see Gordon Brown telling the lady what a good family she comes from, talking about her grandchildren and whether they're going to university when they're older, all lovely things. Then the moment he gets in the car, he turns very quickly and calls her bigotted. it is being caught with your pants dow Now if Gordon thought she was being bigotted (which I disagree that she was. I think there are concerns for the pressure on public services caused by the mass immigration over the past few years), he should have challenged her there and then. Our politicians always tell us they would challenge racist behaviour any place any where. Well, Gordon didn't, he had a nice chat and then made comments behind her back. I agree. That's why I made this point earlier in Post 414.
Jon the Hat Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 I agree. That's why I made this point earlier in Post 414. We are in danger of agreeing here, I feel the need to throw a spanner in the works. Quote of the Day: Mandelson to Adam Boutlon " you are not running for election!" Boulton to Mandy "Neither are you"...
davieG Posted 28 April 2010 Posted 28 April 2010 Does it warrant nearly 15 mins of the half hour main BBC News and people reckon it's biased towards Labour?
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