The Independant's little sister The "I" said Yesterday;
YOU DECIDE.
Since when did we Treat Adult's like Adults in this Country ?
They then gave the views of every party on 20 Issues: Business,Children,Crime, Democracy,Devolution,Defence,Education,Enviroment,Europe,Foreign policy, Health,Housing,Immigation,Jobs,Science,Social Care,Tax,Transport,Welfare and any other policy,
They didn't tell me to vote early and vote often ! They didn't tell to turn the lights out if Red ED the son of a Marxist get's in. They didn't tell me to not get ill if the Eton toff PR man get's in again. That Nigel is a closet Palace fan and Racist. Or that the Green's leader will bring this country to it's knees because we sent her great,great,great Grandfather to Australia for stealing a loaf of bread. They didn't tell me that the SNP leader will change her name to Wallace and storm Wembley and take the Goalposts back again. That Clegg is a serial Pledge breaker.
What a shame I have work in the morning. 5 years ago I was a student. I remember it well, voted pretty early and avoided the scandal of students being turned away from polling stations because they were rocking up at 9.55pm en masse.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
What a shame I have work in the morning. 5 years ago I was a student. I remember it well, voted pretty early and avoided the scandal of students being turned away from polling stations because they were rocking up at 9.55pm en masse.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
What a shame I have work in the morning. 5 years ago I was a student. I remember it well, voted pretty early and avoided the scandal of students being turned away from polling stations because they were rocking up at 9.55pm en masse.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
What a shame I have work in the morning. 5 years ago I was a student. I remember it well, voted pretty early and avoided the scandal of students being turned away from polling stations because they were rocking up at 9.55pm en masse.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
And what a great future it turned out to be. Still no work for me. Must be stupid or lazy.
What a shame I have work in the morning. 5 years ago I was a student. I remember it well, voted pretty early and avoided the scandal of students being turned away from polling stations because they were rocking up at 9.55pm en masse.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
Never ever been closer to putting "none of the above" on my voting paper. I resisted. Mind you I have no excuse as my front door is 20 yards from the polling station!
I am tending to agree with Red_in_SE8 for slightly different reasons that the key to this election is starting to look like how the Lib Dems do. If they can retain more seats than was previously thought then we might well see another Tory / Lib Dem coalition. I don't think Labour have done enough to persuade Lib Dem voters in enough numbers to switch. I think natural Lib Dem voters might see it as their "duty" to return Liberal Democrat MP's in enough numbers to temper the rabid right.
The Dems polling has halved, Labours has also dropped suggesting they are polling to the Greens, and or some to Labour while UKIP have taken some Labour. The Dems vote may still hold up tho for their incumbents, or the Tories may be split over to UKIP...
My office is 7 people. I'm the only Labour voter 4 tories, 1 not voting and 1 green. I quite enjoy all the generic nonsense they are all spouting about the evil Labour party. They're talking to me as if I've got leprosy
Lol @cabbles my office, although much bigger, is much the same with me as the lone Labour man. So I sorted out my postal vote & booked a late, cheap villa in the Algarve! No champagne, but a Super Bock or two to get through the day. COYR!!!
For me I'm very detached from these conversations because you can go round in circles. I just find it amazing how people could look at you just because who you vote for. Maybe the last Labour government was so bad and they abused trust so badly that it is justified. I guess with the Tories you know what you get. Maybe Labour could've been a bit more honest with their social core??? Deep down my reasons for going with them are I believe they are still a socialist party who will help those that really need help. Grapevine posted a good post about how the have nots suffered under the last labour regime and I respect his views so maybe again I am wrong, but I think the wealth divide is now beyond the government of the day. I still think Labour can do (although not much) a better job than the conservatives at helping those that need it the most.
The difficulty I have on this thread is that I'm not as well read as some of the other more consistent posters. In actual fact I have found those that are voting Tory such as @Fiiish and @Dippenhall as some of the most articulate and factual posts on here, but I'm still going Labour.
I would never get into a full on debate because I don't have facts to back up my arguments fully, just opinions and experiences I have picked up as a result of my upbringing and where I am in my life to date.
I also find this thread difficult to contribute too, due to the volume of information and contradictions I pick up when I do try and read up. A great example today. Anthony Hilton in the Standard (good columnist I think), said is the economic recovery due to the coalition (conservative) gvt of the day, or is it due to the temporary 'sugar high' of QE???? Now with the BoE being separate from the gvt and being able to set monetary policy, surely we can't argue that the Tories and us have benefitted from this shot in the arm that at some point (say a Labour gvt might be in charge), we will have to pay back. We will then all be saying 'oh Labour have fucked up the economy again etc etc', when all they are doing is presiding over the period they are picking the can up off the road that has been continually kicked.
I'm just musing probably over simplistically here and I'm sure one of our esteemed Tory lifers will prob have a rebuttal for the above to which I won't have a come back.
@TelMc32 you sound like you're in the best spot anyhow to escape from it all.
My office is 7 people. I'm the only Labour voter 4 tories, 1 not voting and 1 green. I quite enjoy all the generic nonsense they are all spouting about the evil Labour party. They're talking to me as if I've got leprosy
Lol @cabbles my office, although much bigger, is much the same with me as the lone Labour man. So I sorted out my postal vote & booked a late, cheap villa in the Algarve! No champagne, but a Super Bock or two to get through the day. COYR!!!
For me I'm very detached from these conversations because you can go round in circles. I just find it amazing how people could look at you just because who you vote for. Maybe the last Labour government was so bad and they abused trust so badly that it is justified. I guess with the Tories you know what you get. Maybe Labour could've been a bit more honest with their social core??? Deep down my reasons for going with them are I believe they are still a socialist party who will help those that really need help. Grapevine posted a good post about how the have nots suffered under the last labour regime and I respect his views so maybe again I am wrong, but I think the wealth divide is now beyond the government of the day. I still think Labour can do (although not much) a better job than the conservatives at helping those that need it the most.
The difficulty I have on this thread is that I'm not as well read as some of the other more consistent posters. In actual fact I have found those that are voting Tory such as @Fiiish and @Dippenhall as some of the most articulate and factual posts on here, but I'm still going Labour.
I would never get into a full on debate because I don't have facts to back up my arguments fully, just opinions and experiences I have picked up as a result of my upbringing and where I am in my life to date.
I also find this thread difficult to contribute too, due to the volume of information and contradictions I pick up when I do try and read up. A great example today. Anthony Hilton in the Standard (good columnist I think), said is the economic recovery due to the coalition (conservative) gvt of the day, or is it due to the temporary 'sugar high' of QE???? Now with the BoE being separate from the gvt and being able to set monetary policy, surely we can't argue that the Tories and us have benefitted from this shot in the arm that at some point (say a Labour gvt might be in charge), we will have to pay back. We will then all be saying 'oh Labour have fucked up the economy again etc etc', when all they are doing is presiding over the period they are picking the can up off the road that has been continually kicked.
I'm just musing probably over simplistically here and I'm sure one of our esteemed Tory lifers will prob have a rebuttal for the above to which I won't have a come back.
@TelMc32 you sound like you're in the best spot anyhow to escape from it all.
That's among the best comments on here. But, if I may, let me give you a bit of advice. If you claim something as a "fact", and someone challenges it, you have to be prepared to back it up or to rescind it. But if you espouse your opinion - which you have - no-one has the right to contradict you on it. So, if you have an opinion and someone wants to tell you you're wrong, ignore them. You're as entitled to your opinion as they are of theirs.
Tomorrow we will decide on who will govern us for the next five years, and it will be the first general election that I actively participate in. In previous elections I felt that by voting I was condoning a broken system, the illusion of democracy, and I didn’t want any part of the whole sordid affair. What’s the bloody point? They’re all the same aren’t they?
And then the Tories got in.
I have to say I was reticent to speak up at all. I don’t seek to be the target of trolls and my objective isn’t to upset anyone. My opinions are no more valid than anyone elses, but I have a platform that most don’t, and I ‘m regularly told that I should use it. I should be clear that I am not a Labour party member, and I find it easier to get behind the full-blooded policies of the more progressive fringe parties (among which UKIP are certainly not counted).
However, the first past the post system leaves me with little choice. In the constituency I live the Tories have held a marginal seat since 2010. The potential damage that another 5 years of Tory rule would do to our public services, the structure of our economy, our relationships with other countries around the world, and most importantly to the general wellbeing of the British people, is utterly intolerable.
I would like to vote Plaid or Green. But no matter how much I’ve been told not to vote tactically, these other parties simply have no chance of winning this seat. Additionally I feel that if I do vote Plaid or Green, and the Tories hold the seat, then I will have been instrumental in securing it for them.
What if the Tories get in? What if they get in a coalition with UKIP and the DUP? Jesus! UKIP say they want to close down our borders to immigrants. The rhetoric I’ve heard in my community by those who are planning to vote UKIP is “I wan’em all out”. Who are exactly are “they all”? Is it black people, is it muslims, eastern europeans, Is it the Spanish, is it the LGBT community, is this about gender, is it about being able bodied? Where do they draw the line? The end point of their way of thinking is terrifying.
Nigel Farage has got a romanticised view of the past, that he wants to turn our future into: some Postman Pat paradise, where you know the name of the milkman; where you HAVE a milkman! It’s 2015, Nige! Trying to turn back time is as futile as trying to get an energy company to lower its prices.
This country needs change. We need to sort out our house. The people are being ripped off and exploited by multinational companies, by the media, by our own elected officials, and all of this has got to stop.
Whether Ed Miliband and the Labour party are the right people to sort it all out is a moot point. David Cameron has presided over the most capricious, shambolic government that there has been in my lifetime. They are scandalous, and they cannot be the right people for the job.
So much of the electioneering that those on the right have done has been based upon fear. Fear of immigration, fear of economic instability, fear of welfare claimants and the unemployed. The politics of fear is the politics of control. If we allow ourselves to be scared of the bogeyman we will find ourselves isolated internationally, without a welfare system, and with an even more pronounced poverty gap than we already have. If the economic definitions of Left and Right are that the Left want to increase taxes and spend on public services, and the Right want to lower taxes and reduce spending on public services, then never has it been more glaringly obvious that the Rightwing getting their own way. Multi-national companies are paying less tax than ever before, whilst the NHS has already been carved up and is primed to be sold off. The trickle-down economics that we have unwillingly propped up since the 60s is so far from functioning as to make it farcical.
This election is important. Mostly it’s important in that it can get lots of people engaging with politics. But it’s also a massive distraction from the issues that really matter. With our short-termist outlook, how are we going to prepare ourselves for the oncoming challenges: climate change, future economic crashes that will be deeper and more painful than this last one, the way we help to sort out instability in foreign regions, the way we deal with foreign aggressors, global overpopulation, sustainability, and how we take to task those who have ripped us off financially for decades, those who have pilfered public money, those who have consistently failed to contribute (despite being the highest earners in society), those who run media monopolies and dictate government policy through the intimidating power of their influence, and those who’ve ve protected them all. What we all need to do is start engaging in serious discourse about these matters, before we really do go to hell in a hand-basket.
Mr. Miliband, incremental changes in tax policy are not going to change anything. If you are the right man for the job then when you get into Downing Street you should show the world that the United Kingdom can be a trailblazer in progressive politics, by implementing systemic reformand by fighting the excessive power of capitalism and putting that power back where it rightly belongs, in the hands of the people.
You can vote or not vote, that is your right. But please for the good of us all, engage.
Well, although this thread has been dominated by Labour supporters, the secret CL exit poll is not reflecting this.
You really think so? Dominated by Labour supporters? I would say at best neutral and probably slightly in favour of the Tories (spoke with a scouse accent).
My office is 7 people. I'm the only Labour voter 4 tories, 1 not voting and 1 green. I quite enjoy all the generic nonsense they are all spouting about the evil Labour party. They're talking to me as if I've got leprosy
Lol @cabbles my office, although much bigger, is much the same with me as the lone Labour man. So I sorted out my postal vote & booked a late, cheap villa in the Algarve! No champagne, but a Super Bock or two to get through the day. COYR!!!
For me I'm very detached from these conversations because you can go round in circles. I just find it amazing how people could look at you just because who you vote for. Maybe the last Labour government was so bad and they abused trust so badly that it is justified. I guess with the Tories you know what you get. Maybe Labour could've been a bit more honest with their social core??? Deep down my reasons for going with them are I believe they are still a socialist party who will help those that really need help. Grapevine posted a good post about how the have nots suffered under the last labour regime and I respect his views so maybe again I am wrong, but I think the wealth divide is now beyond the government of the day. I still think Labour can do (although not much) a better job than the conservatives at helping those that need it the most.
The difficulty I have on this thread is that I'm not as well read as some of the other more consistent posters. In actual fact I have found those that are voting Tory such as @Fiiish and @Dippenhall as some of the most articulate and factual posts on here, but I'm still going Labour.
I would never get into a full on debate because I don't have facts to back up my arguments fully, just opinions and experiences I have picked up as a result of my upbringing and where I am in my life to date.
I also find this thread difficult to contribute too, due to the volume of information and contradictions I pick up when I do try and read up. A great example today. Anthony Hilton in the Standard (good columnist I think), said is the economic recovery due to the coalition (conservative) gvt of the day, or is it due to the temporary 'sugar high' of QE???? Now with the BoE being separate from the gvt and being able to set monetary policy, surely we can't argue that the Tories and us have benefitted from this shot in the arm that at some point (say a Labour gvt might be in charge), we will have to pay back. We will then all be saying 'oh Labour have fucked up the economy again etc etc', when all they are doing is presiding over the period they are picking the can up off the road that has been continually kicked.
I'm just musing probably over simplistically here and I'm sure one of our esteemed Tory lifers will prob have a rebuttal for the above to which I won't have a come back.
@TelMc32 you sound like you're in the best spot anyhow to escape from it all.
I have really enjoyed reading all the comments on here over the last few days. I got very politicised in 6th form at school and was, again, one of the few Labour supporters then. This was 84/85 and I was vehemently anti-Thatcher for many reasons.
I have to say @cabbles this post sums up my own thoughts pretty much spot on.
My dad worked production line at Fords in Woolwich and my mum worked in a playgroup. I have always been a "Labour" man and, although I can say I have done well for myself after almost 30 years in banking (old style bank management, not investment, although I hope I would still have my same views on how society should work and look after each other, even if I had been), I still feel that they (Labour) will have the best interests at heart for those least likely to be able to manage in this world alone.
My best friend in the bank in those early years, sadly passed away at 30, was a rabid Tory Boy (would have made Hague look like Bob Crow) who loved all things Maggie. We also had some of the best political debates (usually over 4 pints of snakebite & black at lunchtime).
Although neither of us persuaded the other then, I suspect he would have been voting UKIP today.
At the end of the day, whoever is in government, we all have to get on with it as best we can. Help others where you can and enjoy your lives and look after your families.
My office is 7 people. I'm the only Labour voter 4 tories, 1 not voting and 1 green. I quite enjoy all the generic nonsense they are all spouting about the evil Labour party. They're talking to me as if I've got leprosy
Lol @cabbles my office, although much bigger, is much the same with me as the lone Labour man. So I sorted out my postal vote & booked a late, cheap villa in the Algarve! No champagne, but a Super Bock or two to get through the day. COYR!!!
For me I'm very detached from these conversations because you can go round in circles. I just find it amazing how people could look at you just because who you vote for. Maybe the last Labour government was so bad and they abused trust so badly that it is justified. I guess with the Tories you know what you get. Maybe Labour could've been a bit more honest with their social core??? Deep down my reasons for going with them are I believe they are still a socialist party who will help those that really need help. Grapevine posted a good post about how the have nots suffered under the last labour regime and I respect his views so maybe again I am wrong, but I think the wealth divide is now beyond the government of the day. I still think Labour can do (although not much) a better job than the conservatives at helping those that need it the most.
The difficulty I have on this thread is that I'm not as well read as some of the other more consistent posters. In actual fact I have found those that are voting Tory such as @Fiiish and @Dippenhall as some of the most articulate and factual posts on here, but I'm still going Labour.
I would never get into a full on debate because I don't have facts to back up my arguments fully, just opinions and experiences I have picked up as a result of my upbringing and where I am in my life to date.
I also find this thread difficult to contribute too, due to the volume of information and contradictions I pick up when I do try and read up. A great example today. Anthony Hilton in the Standard (good columnist I think), said is the economic recovery due to the coalition (conservative) gvt of the day, or is it due to the temporary 'sugar high' of QE???? Now with the BoE being separate from the gvt and being able to set monetary policy, surely we can't argue that the Tories and us have benefitted from this shot in the arm that at some point (say a Labour gvt might be in charge), we will have to pay back. We will then all be saying 'oh Labour have fucked up the economy again etc etc', when all they are doing is presiding over the period they are picking the can up off the road that has been continually kicked.
I'm just musing probably over simplistically here and I'm sure one of our esteemed Tory lifers will prob have a rebuttal for the above to which I won't have a come back.
@TelMc32 you sound like you're in the best spot anyhow to escape from it all.
That's among the best comments on here. But, if I may, let me give you a bit of advice. If you claim something as a "fact", and someone challenges it, you have to be prepared to back it up or to rescind it. But if you espouse your opinion - which you have - no-one has the right to contradict you on it. So, if you have an opinion and someone wants to tell you you're wrong, ignore them. You're as entitled to your opinion as they are of theirs.
And I think for the most part, yourself included, all sides have put their views across passionately but respectfully. It will always spill over a tad but on the whole we've got some posters on here you can learn from. Will be glad when it's over though and I won't keep starting, deleting and starting posts again. Such a tough a thread to keep up with
Yangtse Kiang. The Great Yellow River. Which, from time immemorial, has fascinated and tantalized the hearts and minds of men from all corners of the earth...
"A wondrous river; Her broad banks a-swelling; Home to a race Of fish." ~ Bob Wilson: Arsenal
"Oh Yangtse! Oh Yangtse! Beautiful river! River full Of fish!" ~ Peter Shilton: Leicester
"Yangtse Kiang River of the Eastern dream; Teeming with carp, and perch, And trout, and Bream." ~ Sprake: Leeds United
"Why is it that so many of Britains' top goalies feel moved to write about the Yangtse? Brian Clough?"
Brian Clough:
"Well, you must remember, David, er, that these, er, goalies -- especially Wilson, and on occasion Gorden West of Everton -- are romantics, er, they're dreamers, er, the Yangtse's a symbol for them, er, for them it evokes, er, David, a temple as well as a, er, spiritual continuity."
Bill shankly
"Oi, it's a... a river of many moods! To a young goalie like Peter Shilton of Leicester, the Yangtse is a beautiful river; but to a more seasoned goalie, like Phil Parkes of Wolves, it's a river of regret, of disillusioned ambition... and I think this is good."
We love the Yangtse, Yangtse-Kiang, Flowing from Yushu down to Ching-Kiang, Passing through Chung King, Wuhan and Hoo-Kow Three thousand miles, but it gets there somehow. Oh! Szechuan's the province and Shanghai is the port, And the Yangtse is the river that we all support.
We love the Yangtse, Yangtse-Kiang, Flowing from Yushu down to Ching-Kiang, Passing through Chung King, Wuhan and Hoo-Kow Three thousand miles, but it gets there somehow. Oh! Szechuan's the province and Shanghai is the port, And the Yangtse is the river that we all support.
I hope the Tories aren't seriously considering a coalition with the DUP.
Why not? They are, after all, the Conservative & Unionist Party! Not something I would ever want to see, but they have a common background.
Because they are extreme religious nut jobs.
The Tories aren't.
Anyway, I've since found an article suggesting that the DUP have ruled out a coalition deal, but would support a government, "dependent on securing the best deal". Expensive is probably better than actually in power though.
Someone should probably tell the Tory supporters though that the DUP don't want to join a coalition...
I think feasibly speaking unless some kind of supply & confidence agreement is obtained in advance, only the largest party can realistically form a minority government.
I don't agree with this bit. It's perfectly possibly for the second-largest party to form a minority government. This is, in fact, one of the (less likely) options that Gordon Brown considered after the last election. The supporters of the larger party would, of course, bleat that it's unconstitutional. But, the last (current) coalition could be described in the same way, as it ignores the second-largest party, but includes the third-largest. So, "feasibly speaking", it is perfectly within the bounds of possibility for a party other than the largest party to form a minority government.
... a minority government calling a snap election because it has lost the ability to govern effectively...
This can't happen any more as the Royal Prerogative (which is what this type of snap election was based on) is no longer constitutional for the dissolution of a Parliament. This is the first election that is impacted by the Fixed Term Parliament Act and it's already causing constitutional questions. And it's not due to have any kind of review until after the *next* election, due on 7 May 2020.
1. I said feasible and I only meant in this case because if the polls are correct Labour are still due to fall convincingly short of overtaking the Tories as the largest party. If the Tories are unlikely to govern alone on the current numbers, it is even less likely that Labour will be able to also govern alone unless it is able to get some kind of deal, no matter how wafer-thin, from the SNP.
2. I already covered this bit earlier, yes snap elections can no longer be called but in reality if the party of government wants to dissolve Parliament on the basis it is no longer able to govern effectively, I doubt the other parties would seriously vote to keep that party IN office.
A vote of no confidence in the government doesn't lead to an election. It leads to another attempt to form a government. Perfectly possible for a minority government to survive no confidence votes by smaller parties abstaining if they don't want an election. Happened frequently in 1978/9 until the nationalists decided to pull the plug on Uncle Jim.
It's all changed now though, thanks to the meddling at the start of the last Parliament designed to hold the coalition together. The Government losing a vote of no confidence triggers a new election date to be set automatically.
The new rules prevent the PM from choosing the election date, or even year to suit themselves (remember Cameron bleating at Brown, trying to goad him into going to the country early?). But they also make a minority government more stable, precisely because they don't need the type of deal (ie a confidence and supply; as opposed to coalition) that Miliband has ruled out with SNP.
Ironically, the behind-the-scenes, backroom agreements that Cameron and Clegg conjured up, prior to the Rose Garden press conference in 2010 could be precisely what is needed to ensure that neither of them gets a whiff of government office ever again!
Yes, When you look into it with an understanding, the Conservatives plus Lib Dems need to be a majority. The polls make this look unlikely, but it is possible if polls are wrong. Doubt they can be so wrong that the Conservatives can win a majority on their own. The votes for SNP mean that it is unlikely Labour can win a majority and are just as unlikely as teh Conservatives to win a majority coalition with the Lib Dems. What people have to factor in though is the 40-50 SNP seats. They would never vote with the Conservatives and any scenario that makes a Conservative government more likely would be political suicide for them. Miliband knows this so he can use that without doing any deals. I think if Labour get a small number of seats more than the conservatives he'll try to go it alone with a minority government, but the closer he is to them, or if he has less seats a minority Labour, Lib Dem coalition would be likely. This would give him a comfortable left leaning majority which can only be scuppered by an even more left wing party and a right wing one teaming up.
But basically, rather than check the polls, look at the odds. Paddy Power at this moment have Miliband at 4/5 to be prime minister and Cameron evens. People mention 1992, but the polling companies have adjusted the way they do their polls and say that cannot happen again! Where it gets more complicated is there are now more parties so cats can always be put amongst the pigeons.
Comments
YOU DECIDE.
Since when did we Treat Adult's like Adults in this Country ?
They then gave the views of every party on 20 Issues: Business,Children,Crime,
Democracy,Devolution,Defence,Education,Enviroment,Europe,Foreign policy, Health,Housing,Immigation,Jobs,Science,Social Care,Tax,Transport,Welfare and any other policy,
They didn't tell me to vote early and vote often !
They didn't tell to turn the lights out if Red ED the son of a Marxist get's in.
They didn't tell me to not get ill if the Eton toff PR man get's in again.
That Nigel is a closet Palace fan and Racist.
Or that the Green's leader will bring this country to it's knees because we sent her
great,great,great Grandfather to Australia for stealing a loaf of bread.
They didn't tell me that the SNP leader will change her name to Wallace and storm Wembley and take the Goalposts back again.
That Clegg is a serial Pledge breaker.
YOU DECIDE.
Maybe people didn't die in vain.
Got down to the Student Union in time to get a good view of the big screen with my mates, plenty of drink promotions based on the colour of the drink and the colour of the party. Lots of cheering every time Labour was scalped. A group of young Labour supporters sat in the corner with their heads in their hands as it became apparent that there was no 11th hour swing for Labour and didn't take well to the light-hearted ribbing they were receiving. Boos rang out when our seat was announced as a Labour hold. Much drinking and looking forward to the post-New Labour future.
Have two bets on to keep me interested
£25 at 2-1 SNP 46-50 seats
£75 at 9-4 Labour 276-300 seats
The difficulty I have on this thread is that I'm not as well read as some of the other more consistent posters. In actual fact I have found those that are voting Tory such as @Fiiish and @Dippenhall as some of the most articulate and factual posts on here, but I'm still going Labour.
I would never get into a full on debate because I don't have facts to back up my arguments fully, just opinions and experiences I have picked up as a result of my upbringing and where I am in my life to date.
I also find this thread difficult to contribute too, due to the volume of information and contradictions I pick up when I do try and read up. A great example today. Anthony Hilton in the Standard (good columnist I think), said is the economic recovery due to the coalition (conservative) gvt of the day, or is it due to the temporary 'sugar high' of QE???? Now with the BoE being separate from the gvt and being able to set monetary policy, surely we can't argue that the Tories and us have benefitted from this shot in the arm that at some point (say a Labour gvt might be in charge), we will have to pay back. We will then all be saying 'oh Labour have fucked up the economy again etc etc', when all they are doing is presiding over the period they are picking the can up off the road that has been continually kicked.
I'm just musing probably over simplistically here and I'm sure one of our esteemed Tory lifers will prob have a rebuttal for the above to which I won't have a come back.
@TelMc32 you sound like you're in the best spot anyhow to escape from it all.
I have to say @cabbles this post sums up my own thoughts pretty much spot on.
My dad worked production line at Fords in Woolwich and my mum worked in a playgroup. I have always been a "Labour" man and, although I can say I have done well for myself after almost 30 years in banking (old style bank management, not investment, although I hope I would still have my same views on how society should work and look after each other, even if I had been), I still feel that they (Labour) will have the best interests at heart for those least likely to be able to manage in this world alone.
My best friend in the bank in those early years, sadly passed away at 30, was a rabid Tory Boy (would have made Hague look like Bob Crow) who loved all things Maggie. We also had some of the best political debates (usually over 4 pints of snakebite & black at lunchtime).
Although neither of us persuaded the other then, I suspect he would have been voting UKIP today.
At the end of the day, whoever is in government, we all have to get on with it as best we can. Help others where you can and enjoy your lives and look after your families.
Cheers
Tel
I'm amazed that with all the fuss about the SNP, the country could sleepwalk into giving power to that crowd.
Time for some classic Python......
Yangtse Kiang. The Great Yellow River. Which, from time immemorial, has fascinated and tantalized the hearts and minds of men from all corners of the earth...
"A wondrous river;
Her broad banks a-swelling;
Home to a race
Of fish."
~ Bob Wilson: Arsenal
"Oh Yangtse!
Oh Yangtse!
Beautiful river!
River full
Of fish!"
~ Peter Shilton: Leicester
"Yangtse Kiang
River of the Eastern dream;
Teeming with carp, and perch,
And trout, and
Bream."
~ Sprake: Leeds United
"Why is it that so many of Britains' top goalies feel moved to write about the Yangtse? Brian Clough?"
Brian Clough:
"Well, you must remember, David, er, that these, er, goalies -- especially Wilson, and on occasion Gorden West of Everton -- are romantics, er, they're dreamers, er, the Yangtse's a symbol for them, er, for them it evokes, er, David, a temple as well as a, er, spiritual continuity."
Bill shankly
"Oi, it's a... a river of many moods! To a young goalie like Peter Shilton of Leicester, the Yangtse is a beautiful river; but to a more seasoned goalie, like Phil Parkes of Wolves, it's a river of regret, of disillusioned ambition... and I think this is good."
We love the Yangtse, Yangtse-Kiang,
Flowing from Yushu down to Ching-Kiang,
Passing through Chung King, Wuhan and Hoo-Kow
Three thousand miles, but it gets there somehow.
Oh! Szechuan's the province and Shanghai is the port,
And the Yangtse is the river that we all support.
We love the Yangtse, Yangtse-Kiang,
Flowing from Yushu down to Ching-Kiang,
Passing through Chung King, Wuhan and Hoo-Kow
Three thousand miles, but it gets there somehow.
Oh! Szechuan's the province and Shanghai is the port,
And the Yangtse is the river that we all support.
Anyway, I've since found an article suggesting that the DUP have ruled out a coalition deal, but would support a government, "dependent on securing the best deal". Expensive is probably better than actually in power though.
Someone should probably tell the Tory supporters though that the DUP don't want to join a coalition...
But basically, rather than check the polls, look at the odds. Paddy Power at this moment have Miliband at 4/5 to be prime minister and Cameron evens. People mention 1992, but the polling companies have adjusted the way they do their polls and say that cannot happen again! Where it gets more complicated is there are now more parties so cats can always be put amongst the pigeons.