Maybe it's just me but two days in and i'm bored of it all already. I trust very few of them and can't say I like many of them either. Can't wait to read the manifesto's that none of them will even remotely stick to......
Labour under it's current leadership will be akin to Roland being in charge. Conservatives more akin to The Spiv's.
For the 1st time since 1992 I can't bare to vote for any of them!
If Labour are Roland, Conservatives are Bechetti
You raise an interesting concept. Why is the Conservative Party routinely called The Conservatives, The Liberal Democrats the, well, Liberal Democrats, The Green Party, The Greens and UKIP as those fecking morons but the Labour Party isn't called The Labours?
I'm still of the view that the Labours need to change their name. Their natural constituency has all but disappeared - apart from those in the underclass and the underclass do not win you general elections.
Anyway, generally, anybody with half a brain cell would take exception at being called an ordinary [insert latest politicians' derogatory phrase to describe the proletariat here] anything. In my view nobody is ordinary we are all especial.
This time round, I'm not voting. I cannot stand the thought of endorsing the party that is responsible for us leaving the EU and gives arsewipes like Boris Johnson a purpose in life; yet cannot stomach the idea of voting for any of the other delusional twonks .
Nigel Farage is ranked 746 out of 751 MEPs for the amount of times he has voted (that includes not voting on Fishing policies). He has been an MEP since 1999 so will have had 20 years of this gravy train by the time we leave.
Annual Salary £80k not including a 12% pay rise as paid in Euros and value of £ dropped after Brexit vote Wife's annual salary (from the EU) £30k UK Office expenses £40k pa £240 per day expenses when in Europe £165k Golden Goodbye when we leave the EU
How the fuck anybody can still defend this charlatan is beyond me.
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
Name these million pound house owning MP's and I think you'll discover most are Tories from privileged backgrounds and personal or family wealth.
Farage is different because he's anti EU and thus a hypocrite for taking the money, and not voting on policies that would back that up - I think that's the inference I believe, and so is worthy of highlighting above others
I believe ex prime ministers also get hundreds of thousands of pounds each year from the civil service coffers after they have left office and that is paid up till the day they die.
Well maria miller the basingstoke MP claims for a house in wimbledon yet she lives in a rented house in Old Basing, yet owns property elsewhere. Hundreds of commuters every day travel from Basingstokand beyond, why does she need a house in wimbledon...You and me are paying her for that privilige.
I believe ex prime ministers also get hundreds of thousands of pounds each year from the civil service coffers after they have left office and that is paid up till the day they die.
Well maria miller the basingstoke MP claims for a house in wimbledon yet she lives in a rented house in Old Basing, yet owns property elsewhere. Hundreds of commuters every day travel from Basingstokand beyond, why does she need a house in wimbledon...You and me are paying her for that privilige.
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
This shows a staggering lack of understanding of what an MP (other than Dennis Skinner) actually does. The last time (2011) Hansard did some work on it, it found MPs were working an average 69 hours a week. Obviously those with ministerial (or shadow ministerial) roles will be working much longer, you know on departmental tasks and the like. That's while Parliament is sitting. When it's not, according to earlier research, an MP still does a 40-hour week on constituency matters. On top of that, many (of the more proficient) MPs are co-opted onto various committees and have a lot of work to do on those. Being in the Chamber is not the be all and end all of an MP's working day by any stretch of the imagination. To suggest otherwise is just plain silly. But is still a depressingly widely-held view.
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
I agree lots of politicians employ family members, I think this is wrong and leaves them open for criticism. The same applies to elected politicians with poor attendance/poor voting records. Apart from Sinn Fein though I don't think any other political party wants to bring down the 'house' they sit in.
I can't be arsed to look but are there any other MPs/MEPs with appalling voting records, high expense claims and who employ their own wife? And who are regularly lauded on here?
I believe ex prime ministers also get hundreds of thousands of pounds each year from the civil service coffers after they have left office and that is paid up till the day they die.
God help me that I am defending them but, like them or not Cameron, Brown, Blair, Major and Thatcher all put in a shift whilst in office. They could all have been said to have worked hard at their job.
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
Christ Chippy I know the football has been depressing but watching Parliament on TV isn't going to help. I would rather watch Crown Court or The Sullivans.
Assuming you're around 25 years old as the name suggests you have presumably only ever experienced a Tory led administration as an adult.
During that time young people have had a particular poor hand dealt them under a Tory PM in my view. Given that, I'm genuinely interested in why you feel another 5 years of Tory rule are in your (or your peer groups) best interests?
I'm 26 and I'll definitely be voting Conservative. I don't happen to buy into a lot of people's dogmatic preconceptions of the Conservatives... They're just incredibly lazy... A strong economy, as a young person will always be my #1 priority. On top of that I have a belief that I should provide for myself rather than the state handing me everything, it's not their responsibility, its their responsibility to provide me with a safety net should everything go wrong for me or a member of my family, as well as safety on the World Stage (that means nuclear bombs thank you, Mr Corbyn). I believe that The Conservatives are much better placed to do all these things than anyone else over the next 5 years, again though, unlike how many in here are about Conservatives, I'm not dogmatic enough to go "I'll never vote Labour" I probably would have voted for them in 1997, but I was 6 at the time... Since I've been 18 however I have only ever voted Conservative, no to the electoral reform referendum, and to Remain.
I think your problem is that a lot of people today who hate The Tories do so because of Thatcher. My personal view of that era is that if you want to keep producing coal, bring back the steam train... Young people didn't see those times, and a lot of older people need to remember that no government since hers has reversed the things she did. I think the other problem is that, the left more than anyone, fail to understand that people can have views that are not the same as theirs, it seems to massively unsettle them in a way that varies from concerning to hilarious, that people don't mindlessly follow some mantra about Tories wanting the poor poorer and the weak dead, all whilst giving the rich a load of kickbacks.
Oh, and if you want to use the NHS and how much the Tories hate it line, just look at Wales.
You want a strong economy, have you seen the deficit? You want a safety net, have you heard of the bedroom tax and seen the state of the NHS not only in Wales but everywhere else?
Maybe it's just me but two days in and i'm bored of it all already. I trust very few of them and can't say I like many of them either. Can't wait to read the manifesto's that none of them will even remotely stick to......
Labour under it's current leadership will be akin to Roland being in charge. Conservatives more akin to The Spiv's.
For the 1st time since 1992 I can't bare to vote for any of them!
If Labour are Roland, Conservatives are Bechetti
You raise an interesting concept. Why is the Conservative Party routinely called The Conservatives, The Liberal Democrats the, well, Liberal Democrats, The Green Party, The Greens and UKIP as those fecking morons but the Labour Party isn't called The Labours?
I'm still of the view that the Labours need to change their name. Their natural constituency has all but disappeared - apart from those in the underclass and the underclass do not win you general elections.
Anyway, generally, anybody with half a brain cell would take exception at being called an ordinary [insert latest politicians' derogatory phrase to describe the proletariat here] anything. In my view nobody is ordinary we are all especial.
This time round, I'm not voting. I cannot stand the thought of endorsing the party that is responsible for us leaving the EU and gives arsewipes like Boris Johnson a purpose in life; yet cannot stomach the idea of voting for any of the other delusional twonks .
As their voter base is Chav's, Immigrants and Public Sector employees they should rename themselves the Chippy's. I'm fairly sure it would lead to one poster changing his username pdq
Lots of MPs employ their family members, his voting record as youve quoted it is obviously appalling as is lots of members of the house of lords and MPs themselves. If you ever watch parliment TV in late afternoon/evening that would tell you, theres often only a handful of MPs in a debate.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
I agree lots of politicians employ family members, I think this is wrong and leaves them open for criticism. The same applies to elected politicians with poor attendance/poor voting records. Apart from Sinn Fein though I don't think any other political party wants to bring down the 'house' they sit in.
I can't be arsed to look but are there any other MPs/MEPs with appalling voting records, high expense claims and who employ their own wife? And who are regularly lauded on here?
As abstentionists, Sinn Fein don't actually sit in Westminster - though they do act fairly effectively on the constituency level.
And, while there may be a argument that they would (prior to the Good Friday Agreement) have happily seen the Houses of Parliament go up in flames, I'd suggest that they have no particular feelings about bringing down the House. They just want to make it irrelevant (in Northern Ireland), replacing it with the Dail.
Assuming you're around 25 years old as the name suggests you have presumably only ever experienced a Tory led administration as an adult.
During that time young people have had a particular poor hand dealt them under a Tory PM in my view. Given that, I'm genuinely interested in why you feel another 5 years of Tory rule are in your (or your peer groups) best interests?
I'm 26 and I'll definitely be voting Conservative. I don't happen to buy into a lot of people's dogmatic preconceptions of the Conservatives... They're just incredibly lazy... A strong economy, as a young person will always be my #1 priority. On top of that I have a belief that I should provide for myself rather than the state handing me everything, it's not their responsibility, its their responsibility to provide me with a safety net should everything go wrong for me or a member of my family, as well as safety on the World Stage (that means nuclear bombs thank you, Mr Corbyn). I believe that The Conservatives are much better placed to do all these things than anyone else over the next 5 years, again though, unlike how many in here are about Conservatives, I'm not dogmatic enough to go "I'll never vote Labour" I probably would have voted for them in 1997, but I was 6 at the time... Since I've been 18 however I have only ever voted Conservative, no to the electoral reform referendum, and to Remain.
I think your problem is that a lot of people today who hate The Tories do so because of Thatcher. My personal view of that era is that if you want to keep producing coal, bring back the steam train... Young people didn't see those times, and a lot of older people need to remember that no government since hers has reversed the things she did. I think the other problem is that, the left more than anyone, fail to understand that people can have views that are not the same as theirs, it seems to massively unsettle them in a way that varies from concerning to hilarious, that people don't mindlessly follow some mantra about Tories wanting the poor poorer and the weak dead, all whilst giving the rich a load of kickbacks.
Oh, and if you want to use the NHS and how much the Tories hate it line, just look at Wales.
Like this safety net?
Changes to the widowed parents’ allowance mean a benefit of about £112 a week until the youngest child leaves full-time education, which could be 20 years, has been replaced by £350 a month (£80 a week) for a maximum period of just a year and a half.
I know you probably haven't got kids yet, but I am sure you agree it takes longer than 18 months to recover from the loss of a parent/spouse.
And you do know that in Wales the UK Government set the overall budget for the devolved assembly, which means the Welsh NHS is as (if not more) starved of resources as everywhere else.
Assuming you're around 25 years old as the name suggests you have presumably only ever experienced a Tory led administration as an adult.
During that time young people have had a particular poor hand dealt them under a Tory PM in my view. Given that, I'm genuinely interested in why you feel another 5 years of Tory rule are in your (or your peer groups) best interests?
I'm 26 and I'll definitely be voting Conservative. I don't happen to buy into a lot of people's dogmatic preconceptions of the Conservatives... They're just incredibly lazy... A strong economy, as a young person will always be my #1 priority. On top of that I have a belief that I should provide for myself rather than the state handing me everything, it's not their responsibility, its their responsibility to provide me with a safety net should everything go wrong for me or a member of my family, as well as safety on the World Stage (that means nuclear bombs thank you, Mr Corbyn). I believe that The Conservatives are much better placed to do all these things than anyone else over the next 5 years, again though, unlike how many in here are about Conservatives, I'm not dogmatic enough to go "I'll never vote Labour" I probably would have voted for them in 1997, but I was 6 at the time... Since I've been 18 however I have only ever voted Conservative, no to the electoral reform referendum, and to Remain.
I think your problem is that a lot of people today who hate The Tories do so because of Thatcher. My personal view of that era is that if you want to keep producing coal, bring back the steam train... Young people didn't see those times, and a lot of older people need to remember that no government since hers has reversed the things she did. I think the other problem is that, the left more than anyone, fail to understand that people can have views that are not the same as theirs, it seems to massively unsettle them in a way that varies from concerning to hilarious, that people don't mindlessly follow some mantra about Tories wanting the poor poorer and the weak dead, all whilst giving the rich a load of kickbacks.
Ok, there's a lot of stuff in there about dogma and entrenched views that could just as easily be turned around and labelled at those on the right. (Btw I'm in no way a leftie, in many areas my views are definitely right of centre but we'll ignore that and your presumption about who I might hate, "what my problem" is or what my "line" might be).
You're right that I hold the policies under Thatcher for a lot of the problems we are still facing as a society. Therefore I do not wish to continue down that road. That's not a preconception that's applying my own experience and I've seen nothing in the ethos and policies of the Tory party since that points towards a different approach. They still want to pursue policies of privatisation, they are still intent on running down our public services, our housing market is still messed up beyond any sensible repair, there's still massive wealth inequality, etc, etc. The reason why the policies brought in under Thatcher haven't been reversed? Because it would be prohibitively expensive to do so and political suicide.
Right to buy for example...should have gone decades ago but no party is going to touch it because it will be spun by the Tories as an attack on "ordinary working people". Surely you would agree with that given your view we should provide for ourselves rather than the state handing us everything?
I could point out that you were lucky that you didn't experience state education under Thatcher for example. I did and it was shit and I don't want others to go through the same. Others may disagree.
You experienced your education under Blair government and I guarantee it was of a better quality, better funded and with better facilities than mine was. Yet you don't seem to want to put a tick in the credit column, why not? Do you want your children to have worse educational opportunities than you did, because everything is pointing towards that at the moment?
Addressing some of the reasons you state you will be voting Tory on. Your main reason is you want a "strong economy". That means different things to different people. Are you refering to growth in GDP? Numbers of new jobs? Wage growth? Household debt levels? Public debt levels? If you expand on what you mean it'll be a more informed debate because there will be statistics available that may support your view. Or not.
Similarly with your views on benefits. I don't want to put words into your mouth but you seem to be pursuing the benefits as a lifestyle choice view? If that is the case one would expect there to be significant differences in the levels of long term unemployed between the parties. Yet since 1992 the lowest levels of long term unemployment were achieved under Labour, which would be counterintuitive to the view that Labour breeds a benefits culture.
On defence I agree. We need a nuclear deterrent and I fundamentally disagree with Corbyn's views on that. As do many, many Labour MP's. Maintaining a deterrent remains Labour policy as far as I know. That might change but I doubt it tbh as it would be such a massive turn off for the electorate.
Perhaps a more relevant example would be the Tory's defence review of conventional forces, leading to ongoing and massive cuts to all our armed services. The services that we DO rely on rather than those that we could hypothetically call on.
Corbyn has spoken out against those cuts on occasion btw...
Assuming you're around 25 years old as the name suggests you have presumably only ever experienced a Tory led administration as an adult.
During that time young people have had a particular poor hand dealt them under a Tory PM in my view. Given that, I'm genuinely interested in why you feel another 5 years of Tory rule are in your (or your peer groups) best interests?
I'm 26 and I'll definitely be voting Conservative. I don't happen to buy into a lot of people's dogmatic preconceptions of the Conservatives... They're just incredibly lazy... A strong economy, as a young person will always be my #1 priority. On top of that I have a belief that I should provide for myself rather than the state handing me everything, it's not their responsibility, its their responsibility to provide me with a safety net should everything go wrong for me or a member of my family, as well as safety on the World Stage (that means nuclear bombs thank you, Mr Corbyn). I believe that The Conservatives are much better placed to do all these things than anyone else over the next 5 years, again though, unlike how many in here are about Conservatives, I'm not dogmatic enough to go "I'll never vote Labour" I probably would have voted for them in 1997, but I was 6 at the time... Since I've been 18 however I have only ever voted Conservative, no to the electoral reform referendum, and to Remain.
When I was 26 the monthly statistic on the economy that used to generate headlines and be pored over by politicians and ‘commentators’ was the ‘UK Balance of Payments’ - the difference between what the UK receives in income from exports and services and what leaves the country to pay for imports and services from abroad.
It still published – but not commented on in the mainstream media. The UK has had one of the worst Balance of Payments deficit of any developed economy for sometime – as shown in detail in the article linked below:
To describe the UK economy as ‘strong’ is a bit like believing that someone you know who has a a new car and a big house stuffed with the latest consumer goods must be financially well off when it’s all bought on credit.
My issue with the Tories is not with all of them. Some I respect. The problem with the Tories is that they have a moderate side and an extreme side. People like John Major, Ken Clarke and even David Cameron were to me, as politicians go, thoroughly decent people. Margaret Thatcher was an evil vindicative person who damaged the lives of many. She was born out of the left taking the power they had too far, and people got fed up with it. From one extreme to another.
I have no time for the hard left. The Conservatives and Labour are better when the extreme of their parties do not have control IMO. Unfortunately, at this time, it is a vote for hard left or hard right, either of which would be damaging for this country. But the most damaging thing for this country is to cut ourselves adrift from a single market. We do business with Europe and free trade is fantastic compared to the issues with dealing with China for instance - we, my business, has tried that and it is so much more problematic and difficult.
I can see the potential disaster ahead for many entrepeneurs, which in turn will be a disaster for the country.If May wins with a reduced majority, I will see that as a victory. For too many people it isn't about wealth and prosperity, but entrenched dogma. Somebody can easily find and quote an example of something clearly wrong with the EU, but this country has blossomed within the single market and to risk all of that is madness. Stopping a hard Brexit is more imprtant than the personalities or party colour. Realistically May will win it so as many of us who can see the danger of her winning with a landslide has to vote who for who is the main challenger to her plan in their constituency - and that could well be a Conservative. Let's be frank, she has a majority, but knows there are people in her own party who won't let her sell the country short!
Assuming you're around 25 years old as the name suggests you have presumably only ever experienced a Tory led administration as an adult.
During that time young people have had a particular poor hand dealt them under a Tory PM in my view. Given that, I'm genuinely interested in why you feel another 5 years of Tory rule are in your (or your peer groups) best interests?
I'm 26 and I'll definitely be voting Conservative. I don't happen to buy into a lot of people's dogmatic preconceptions of the Conservatives... They're just incredibly lazy... A strong economy, as a young person will always be my #1 priority. On top of that I have a belief that I should provide for myself rather than the state handing me everything, it's not their responsibility, its their responsibility to provide me with a safety net should everything go wrong for me or a member of my family, as well as safety on the World Stage (that means nuclear bombs thank you, Mr Corbyn). I believe that The Conservatives are much better placed to do all these things than anyone else over the next 5 years, again though, unlike how many in here are about Conservatives, I'm not dogmatic enough to go "I'll never vote Labour" I probably would have voted for them in 1997, but I was 6 at the time... Since I've been 18 however I have only ever voted Conservative, no to the electoral reform referendum, and to Remain.
When I was 26 the monthly statistic on the economy that used to generate headlines and be pored over by politicians and ‘commentators’ was the ‘UK Balance of Payments’ - the difference between what the UK receives in income from exports and services and what leaves the country to pay for imports and services from abroad.
It still published – but not commented on in the mainstream media. The UK has had one of the worst Balance of Payments deficit of any developed economy for sometime – as shown in detail in the article linked below:
To describe the UK economy as ‘strong’ is a bit like believing that someone you know who has a a new car and a big house stuffed with the latest consumer goods must be financially well off when it’s all bought on credit.
The balance of payments has always had the ability to confuse (me at least). But you make it sound as if we are not paying our way! We do actually pay for our imports you know! If someone in the UK buys, say, a Mercedes they either pay cash or get it on some form of credit deal. Either way, the dealer gets his money and pays Daimler AG's subsidiary their cut. Daimler doesn't care whether it gets dollars, yen, euros or pounds. It's all hard currency. And they'll have hedged Sterling's value to make sure they don't lose out too much on any currency fluctuations. I suspect that realisation - post globalisation and following the removal of exchange control restrictions (thank you Maggie) - is why the figures are never headline news these days.
Surely, a problem only arises if GBP ceases to have a value and no one will accept it anymore? Then you end up with an economy like Venezuela or Zimbabwe. I seem to remember some on here extolling the virtues of the Venezuelan economy and its left wing handouts subsidised by its industry not so many years ago and it's not looking quite so good now for the poor there now is it?
So, as long as we broadly don't pay ourselves too much without earning it and don't therefore devalue the currency too much there shouldn't be a problem regarding the BoP. Of course, that's exactly the sort of problem Corbyn's tax the rich and give it to the poor concepts would lead to if he ever got into power.
Comments
I'm still of the view that the Labours need to change their name. Their natural constituency has all but disappeared - apart from those in the underclass and the underclass do not win you general elections.
Anyway, generally, anybody with half a brain cell would take exception at being called an ordinary [insert latest politicians' derogatory phrase to describe the proletariat here] anything. In my view nobody is ordinary we are all especial.
This time round, I'm not voting. I cannot stand the thought of endorsing the party that is responsible for us leaving the EU and gives arsewipes like Boris Johnson a purpose in life; yet cannot stomach the idea of voting for any of the other delusional twonks .
Annual Salary £80k not including a 12% pay rise as paid in Euros and value of £ dropped after Brexit vote
Wife's annual salary (from the EU) £30k
UK Office expenses £40k pa
£240 per day expenses when in Europe
£165k Golden Goodbye when we leave the EU
How the fuck anybody can still defend this charlatan is beyond me.
Pointing out one MEP when there are loads of other MPs/MEPs on the gravy train is unfair in my view. Its like picking out Sergio Aguero and complaing about the money he is on.
How does an MP on 74k a year own million pound house's in london and the suburbs, unless they extra income either disclosed or undisclosed - they cant.
I can't be arsed to look but are there any other MPs/MEPs with appalling voting records, high expense claims and who employ their own wife? And who are regularly lauded on here?
You want a safety net, have you heard of the bedroom tax and seen the state of the NHS not only in Wales but everywhere else?
And, while there may be a argument that they would (prior to the Good Friday Agreement) have happily seen the Houses of Parliament go up in flames, I'd suggest that they have no particular feelings about bringing down the House. They just want to make it irrelevant (in Northern Ireland), replacing it with the Dail.
Like this safety net?
Changes to the widowed parents’ allowance mean a benefit of about £112 a week until the youngest child leaves full-time education, which could be 20 years, has been replaced by £350 a month (£80 a week) for a maximum period of just a year and a half.
I know you probably haven't got kids yet, but I am sure you agree it takes longer than 18 months to recover from the loss of a parent/spouse.
And you do know that in Wales the UK Government set the overall budget for the devolved assembly, which means the Welsh NHS is as (if not more) starved of resources as everywhere else.
You're right that I hold the policies under Thatcher for a lot of the problems we are still facing as a society. Therefore I do not wish to continue down that road. That's not a preconception that's applying my own experience and I've seen nothing in the ethos and policies of the Tory party since that points towards a different approach. They still want to pursue policies of privatisation, they are still intent on running down our public services, our housing market is still messed up beyond any sensible repair, there's still massive wealth inequality, etc, etc. The reason why the policies brought in under Thatcher haven't been reversed? Because it would be prohibitively expensive to do so and political suicide.
Right to buy for example...should have gone decades ago but no party is going to touch it because it will be spun by the Tories as an attack on "ordinary working people". Surely you would agree with that given your view we should provide for ourselves rather than the state handing us everything?
I could point out that you were lucky that you didn't experience state education under Thatcher for example. I did and it was shit and I don't want others to go through the same. Others may disagree.
You experienced your education under Blair government and I guarantee it was of a better quality, better funded and with better facilities than mine was. Yet you don't seem to want to put a tick in the credit column, why not? Do you want your children to have worse educational opportunities than you did, because everything is pointing towards that at the moment?
Addressing some of the reasons you state you will be voting Tory on. Your main reason is you want a "strong economy". That means different things to different people. Are you refering to growth in GDP? Numbers of new jobs? Wage growth? Household debt levels? Public debt levels? If you expand on what you mean it'll be a more informed debate because there will be statistics available that may support your view. Or not.
Similarly with your views on benefits. I don't want to put words into your mouth but you seem to be pursuing the benefits as a lifestyle choice view? If that is the case one would expect there to be significant differences in the levels of long term unemployed between the parties. Yet since 1992 the lowest levels of long term unemployment were achieved under Labour, which would be counterintuitive to the view that Labour breeds a benefits culture.
On defence I agree. We need a nuclear deterrent and I fundamentally disagree with Corbyn's views on that. As do many, many Labour MP's. Maintaining a deterrent remains Labour policy as far as I know. That might change but I doubt it tbh as it would be such a massive turn off for the electorate.
Perhaps a more relevant example would be the Tory's defence review of conventional forces, leading to ongoing and massive cuts to all our armed services. The services that we DO rely on rather than those that we could hypothetically call on.
Corbyn has spoken out against those cuts on occasion btw...
It still published – but not commented on in the mainstream media. The UK has had one of the worst Balance of Payments deficit of any developed economy for sometime – as shown in detail in the article linked below:
http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5776/trade/uk-balance-of-payments/
To describe the UK economy as ‘strong’ is a bit like believing that someone you know who has a a new car and a big house stuffed with the latest consumer goods must be financially well off when it’s all bought on credit.
I have no time for the hard left. The Conservatives and Labour are better when the extreme of their parties do not have control IMO. Unfortunately, at this time, it is a vote for hard left or hard right, either of which would be damaging for this country. But the most damaging thing for this country is to cut ourselves adrift from a single market. We do business with Europe and free trade is fantastic compared to the issues with dealing with China for instance - we, my business, has tried that and it is so much more problematic and difficult.
I can see the potential disaster ahead for many entrepeneurs, which in turn will be a disaster for the country.If May wins with a reduced majority, I will see that as a victory. For too many people it isn't about wealth and prosperity, but entrenched dogma. Somebody can easily find and quote an example of something clearly wrong with the EU, but this country has blossomed within the single market and to risk all of that is madness. Stopping a hard Brexit is more imprtant than the personalities or party colour. Realistically May will win it so as many of us who can see the danger of her winning with a landslide has to vote who for who is the main challenger to her plan in their constituency - and that could well be a Conservative. Let's be frank, she has a majority, but knows there are people in her own party who won't let her sell the country short!
Surely, a problem only arises if GBP ceases to have a value and no one will accept it anymore? Then you end up with an economy like Venezuela or Zimbabwe. I seem to remember some on here extolling the virtues of the Venezuelan economy and its left wing handouts subsidised by its industry not so many years ago and it's not looking quite so good now for the poor there now is it?
So, as long as we broadly don't pay ourselves too much without earning it and don't therefore devalue the currency too much there shouldn't be a problem regarding the BoP. Of course, that's exactly the sort of problem Corbyn's tax the rich and give it to the poor concepts would lead to if he ever got into power.