[Archived] Election

[Amo]

Damnit - I put half a cross in the wrong box. It was my mother's fault, she didn't bring her glasses and was asking me which box was which. I corrected it with a faint scribble, and the official said it would okay. But the papers do say put NO other mark on the ballot paper.

[den]

The Conservative party is a manifestation of the old feudal order ... power is retained by the wealthy land owners ... and everybody knows their place ... Stagnant.

They have been supported by, and represent the rich as long as they have existed ES. How else could they come to a decision to cut inheritance tax, with the country so much in debt? Beggars belief and Cameron hasn't been able to explain his way out of it.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I can't be bothered reading all the pages I've missed, but I can guess what's been said!

Anyway, I think it's time our colours are put down now and lets have some fun with predictions. So come on, predict the results, the winner gets the prize of being the winner.

Con - 312

Lab - 219

Lib - 82

Ulsterman will take the Tory Whip.

I'd probably go with something like that. I see the Conservatives getting a minimum of 300 seats, Labour no more than 225, Lib Dem's between 80-90. This is all using UNS, there is some belief though that UNS might not work this election.

With the Conservatives usually being understated in polls and Labour overstated (largely due to factoring in Scotland- where Labour have a large advantage over the Conservatives) plus some polls showing bigger swings in the Lab/Con marginal’s we could see an even bigger Con victory.

[broadsword]

Both parties have miscreants (although only one will always be associated with "sleaze"), which is the point I was making but went over the top of your blinkered Tory head.

Congratulations.

Can someone's head be blinkered? I thought only the eyes were blinkered.

Thanks for your tangental point, it's nothing I didn't already know. I've not voted Tory since 1992, sorry if that doesn't fit in with your simplistic little view of the world. I'm worried about your health, Jim. You seem to be losing your grip on reality as the Labour vote rightly goes into meltdown. Try not to take it too personally when your hero gets booted out of number 10.

PS: I know when you're losing it, because you resort to juvenile paraphrasing of somebody else's point. It's quite funny really.

[American]

They have been supported by, and represent the rich as long as they have existed ES. How else could they come to a decision to cut inheritance tax, with the country so much in debt? Beggars belief and Cameron hasn't been able to explain his way out of it.

My only problem with inheritance tax is that it is essentially double-taxation. The money that is being inherited was already taxed when the deceased earned it.

[berkshireblue]

Can someone's head be blinkered? I thought only the eyes were blinkered.

Thanks for your tangental point, it's nothing I didn't already know. I've not voted Tory since 1992, sorry if that doesn't fit in with your simplistic little view of the world. I'm worried about your health, Jim. You seem to be losing your grip on reality as the Labour vote rightly goes into meltdown. Try not to take it too personally when your hero gets booted out of number 10.

PS: I know when you're losing it, because you resort to juvenile paraphrasing of somebody else's point. It's quite funny really.

Bryan - you d get more sense out of my dog than Jim, he's that far left he ll drop off the pacific ocean edge

Here's to sweaty gordon hailing a taxi out of number 10!

[broadsword]

I like to think of him as Gordon Brown's personal knob polisher.

Front page of the Guardian predicts the Tories will get back in.

Gordon Brown 500/1 to be host of The One Show. Worth a cheeky fiver, I think.

[thenodrog]

My only problem with inheritance tax is that it is essentially double-taxation. The money that is being inherited was already taxed when the deceased earned it.

Difficult to argue against isn't it Den?

Funny how everyone always wants somebody else to pay their way through life isn't it?

[broadsword]

Was it on here that I read that in China, if you don't want to work, you're left for dead?

[berkshireblue]

Difficult to argue against isn't it Den?

Funny how everyone always wants somebody else to pay their way through life isn't it?

I think inheritance tax is a real scam

You get taxed on your earnings, you get taxed on your savings and then when you die you get taxed again

Why not be a sponger and live off the system and let me and every other hard working citizen pay for your housing, your sky dish and your fags

[thenodrog]

Have you got more than one bog? You capitalist pig, you make me sick. I bet you're one of these who have one upstairs and downstairs, disgusting. Do you know how cold it is sat on th'outside lav at 5am after eating another of Margaret's stews made with last weeks offal?? I spit on you.

You got two ticks Koi!!! Hang on I'll give you another.

Irony obviously requires too much intelligence for some. It's a sad indictment and a failing of our democracy that their vote is worth as much as anybody elses.

I think inheritance tax is a real scam

You get taxed on your earnings, you get taxed on your savings and then when you die you get taxed again

Why not be a sponger and live off the system and let me and every other hard working citizen pay for your housing, your sky dish, your Carlsberg Special brew and your fags.

edited for you bb.

[only2garners]

Difficult to argue against isn't it Den?

Funny how everyone always wants somebody else to pay their way through life isn't it?

Property makes up a large percentage of most peoples' estate - where is the double taxation on property price appreciation?

Bryan - you d get more sense out of my dog than Jim, he's that far left he ll drop off the pacific ocean edge

Here's to sweaty gordon hailing a taxi out of number 10!

Eh? He supports Labour - what have they got to do with the far left?

[jim mk2]

. I'm worried about your health, Jim.

PS: I know when you're losing it, because you resort to juvenile paraphrasing of somebody else's point.

I like to think of him as Gordon Brown's personal knob polisher.

My health is fine thank you but I appreciate your concern.

I think juvenile refers to your response about Gordon Brown.

Moving on, with regards to inheritance tax Cameron claims his party is committed to reducing poverty but his pledge to raise the tax threshold to £1m will help the already wealthy transfer their wealth down the generations, increasing inequality. The Tories can never be trusted.

[koi]

Let's have a reminder of Tory morals 1979 - 1997.

Lets have a reminder of Labour morals 1997 - 2010.

[broadsword]

Now, now Jim. After all of your asinine little snipes, I feel I'm entitled to have just a little return of fire.

You are the biggest wind-up merchant on here.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Sounds like we could see a higher turnout than 2005, some of these polling stations really busy according to reports. Not sure who which party benefits most from it really? I suspect a lot of young people will have been inspired by the TV debates to vote (probably for Clegg), perhaps the Conservative vote is up as they sense they can push them over the line and towards a majority? Maybe Labour are flocking to the polling stations to tactically vote as encouraged by Balls, Hain and Jowell?

I guess we shall see tonight/tomorrow.

[berkshireblue]

The foresight of a great cricketer

Asked recently what was the worst thing anyone had ever said to him health secretary Andy Burnham cited an encounter with David Gower. He had asked Gower for his hat after a victory at Old Trafford. "why dont you just fu ck off you little tw at?" Gower supposedly replied. The cricketer has no recollection of any such incident. "though given the state the country is in after all these years of Labour rule it is the sort of phrase i might well be tempted to say to Burnham if i came across him today"

Bless Him

Mr Brown, wearing a suit and red tie, was welcomed by half a dozen Labour activists standing in the drizzle.

"Prime Minister - are you still going to be prime minister tonight?," a television journalist yelled as he went in. Mr Brown merely smiled.

Three minutes later he departed in his official Jaguar having said nothing. A political era seems to be ending in a whimper.

[koi]

My health is fine thank you but I appreciate your concern.

I think juvenile refers to your response about Gordon Brown.

Moving on, with regards to inheritance tax Cameron claims his party is committed to reducing poverty but his pledge to raise the tax threshold to £1m will help the already wealthy transfer their wealth down the generations, increasing inequality. The Tories can never be trusted.

Dam right. Benefiting from your parents hard work is a disgrace.

[den]

My only problem with inheritance tax is that it is essentially double-taxation. The money that is being inherited was already taxed when the deceased earned it.

The question was, how does Cameron, in the current climate, justify making the richest people in this country even richer?

[thenodrog]

Moving on, with regards to inheritance tax Cameron claims his party is committed to reducing poverty but his pledge to raise the tax threshold to £1m will help the already wealthy transfer their wealth down the generations, increasing inequality. The Tories can never be trusted.

Would a true socialist suggest that inheritence tax threshold be dispensed with altogether so that all wealth is subject to it? If it is to stay in place it is probably the fairest option.

As far as I am concerned the level of tax grieves me but what I see it getting spent on grieves me a whole lot more.

[RibbleValleyRover]

The question was, how does Cameron, in the current climate, justify making the richest people in this country even richer?

Den have you thought about it this way? Say a person leaves a substantial amount of money to their children. These children then spend the money on a house, maybe a brand new car, perhaps a new kitchen or decide to start a new business.

This is the sort of thing the economy needs to recover and get us out of the financial mess we are in. I think new 'wealth creators' pumping money into the economy is far better than taxing it.

[koi]

The question was, how does Cameron, in the current climate, justify making the richest people in this country even richer?

Someone has been spun me thinks. 4 million people currently pay inheritance tax, lifting the threshold removes that tax for these people plus many more in the future. It actually means that for most people they'll keep what they inherit, that's a fair society. By the way, those above £1m will be no better off and non-doms will pay levy to cover the costs. By the way, I only know this because I actually read manifestos.

[thenodrog]

The question was, how does Cameron, in the current climate, justify making the richest people in this country even richer?

1. He can't do that they are dead!

2. Maybe cos they have earned it in their lifetime paid tax on it and are shuffling off their mortal coil in credit as opposed to many many takers who leave this life in the red.

Speaking as somebody who has benefitted very very little from inherited wealth I must ask just what do you hold against people who through their own graft and endeavour have made a few bob and want to use it to give their kids a leg up in life? Hopefully Den your attitude is not rooted in jealousy.

[koi]

By the way, for those who don't like inheritances would you offer to pay a voluntary tax on any inheritance you receive? If you say yes, then your lying.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Final Mori Poll:

Mori/ ES Poll

Con 36

Lab 29

LD 27

Others 8

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...oints-ahead.do