[Archived] Election

[thenodrog]

I thought Gordon handled his resignation speech with great dignity. It's a sad day but the the PM will go down in history as a world leader and statesman who changed Britain for the better.

Even Alastair Campbell would not dare to come out with that much spin.

btw I've really only cut and pasted this so that you cannot edit the original out. It will return to haunt you.

[den]

Dunno Den .... it's been fine and dandy for centuries just the way it is.

I dunno Gord, if you were a supporter of the Lib Dems who got 6m votes this time you might not agree.

I think this last election has also proved that there is abolutely no gateway for any third party to ever enter into British politics in any meaningful way. This FPTP system ensures that any party with a majority can do whatever they want. That can't be right can it?

By the way, I would struggle with a Con/Lib alliance simply because it would reek of two party leaders getting on with each other simply for the opportunity to govern. They have very little in common. I can't see how that could provide any kind of stable government, or be good for the country.

I would prefer the Tories to step into office with a minority, while the others stuck to their natural principles and oppose the government.

[Glenn]

Just watched Alistair Campbell & a SKY news reporter almost come to blows live on SKY news!!

Campbell was churning his usual bucket of spin (on the Brown resignation news) & kept telling the news reporter "what you really mean is..."

The sky guy started losing his temper & went almost face to face with him, shouting "DON`T TELL ME WHAT I THINK!!! "

He was almost in a blind rage & they cut the interview short.

He should`ve head-butted the dingle t#at!!!!

It pains me to say it, but Murdoch's minion was made to look a right twonk by the Dingle.

<===== Short Verison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHuZqyuIS8 <==== Much Longer Version

First Burley, now Boulton. Sky may have revolutionized Sport coverage, but they are making a mockery of impartial news.

[thenodrog]

I dunno Gord, if you were a supporter of the Lib Dems who got 6m votes this time you might not agree.

I think this last election has also proved that there is abolutely no gateway for any third party to ever enter into British politics in any meaningful way. This FPTP system ensures that any party with a majority can do whatever they want. That can't be right can it?

You are against 'majority rule' just cos it is not your choice? Basically more people want a Tory govt than want any other party in power and yet you say that is unfair. Very dodgy sentiments Den.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Wow, I slip off to my local for a quiet pint and look what happens ! I need time to gather my thoughts. My gut instinct is whatever keeps Cameron, Gove, Osbourne, the rest of the Bullingdon Club whose names I've forgotten, Murdoch, SKY, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, Etc, away from the levers of power can only be a good thing.

Wow, I slip off to my local for a quiet pint and look what happens ! I need time to gather my thoughts. My gut instinct is whatever keeps Cameron, Gove, Osbourne, the rest of the Bullingdon Club whose names I've forgotten, Murdoch, SKY, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, Etc, away from the levers of power can only be a good thing.

Oh I forgot to add those two slimy Yorkshire B-----ds Hague and Pickles.

[BuckyRover]

Printing money

The most corruptable election process in the world (say the observers)

Party with most votes and seats kept out of power.

If it wasn't so bloody serious the parallels with Zimbabwe would be amusing

[Majiball]

Sorry but are people now saying that if a deal with tories and the lib dem's cannot be worked out, we'll be having another election? Or are the liberals and labour able to club together with all the minorities until they get this magic 326 seats?

Have to say I agree with Den, I don't understand why the overall number is not in some way taken into consideration.

[den]

It pains me to say it, but Murdoch's minion was made to look a right twonk by the Dingle.

<===== Short Verison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHuZqyuIS8 <==== Much Longer Version

First Burley, now Boulton. Sky may have revolutionized Sport coverage, but they are making a mockery of impartial news.

lol.

There's nothing that makes you angrier than you already were, than someone telling you to "calm down, calm down". Adam Boulton couldn't handle that.

[jim mk2]

Oh I forgot to add those two slimy Yorkshire B-----ds Hague and Pickles.

Pickles is a horrible example of the worst type of Tory. The mere sight of him on TV makes me feel ill.

Horse trading still going on over the voting system. Labour are planning to offer the Lib Dems a bill on bringing in the AV electoral system and a referendum on a fuller system of proportional representation, the Tories are offering a referendum on AV and fixed-term parliaments.

Either way, the voting system appears to be heading for a shake-up.

[den]

You are against 'majority rule' just cos it is not your choice?

No I haven't said that Gord. I've pointed out one big drawback with FPTP. As for PR, I would need to study what the systems are and how they would affect things, because i don't really know how they would work.

Calm down, calm down.

Printing money

The most corruptable election process in the world (say the observers)

Party with most votes and seats kept out of power.

An alliance of the Libs and Labour in Government would represent 15m people Bucky. The Tories got 10m votes.

[jim mk2]

Many Labour MPs still doubt whether a Lib-Lab alliance plus the smaller parties would work, one describing it as a "pantomime horse" that would soon fall apart and "be sent to the knackers' yard." Many say they would prefer to sit back and watch the Lib Dems and Tories create a coalition which would have to push through unpopular cuts before collapsing within 18 months

[BuckyRover]

den:

An alliance of Con/Lib received 17m votes.

So it should be obvious which you would prefer?

[broadsword]

An alliance of the Libs and Labour in Government would represent 15m people Bucky. The Tories got 10m votes.

But people didn't vote for "Liberals and Labour", some voted Liberal, and some voted Labour. You might as well say the Tories and Labour should form a coalition.

As Jim hints, it might be best off actually not being in power at the moment and wait until the coalition govt falls apart at the seams.

I could certainly see the Tories getting in (perhaps as a minority govt), making difficult decisions, then getting binned in a year's time and banished to the wilderness once more.

[koi]

I can't even be bothered to list the many, many reasons why GB has been a disaster, it's simply not worth it on here.

If we do have a coalition that includes the nationals then we HAVE to have an English parliament or we'll simply end up being the whipping boys for the bribes GB will give in return for a few more months of power. Just watch the money flow away....

[Glenn]

The most corruptable election process in the world (say the observers)

Citation Needed (given I worked the election and had contact with some of the international observers)

Sorry but are people now saying that if a deal with tories and the lib dem's cannot be worked out, we'll be having another election? Or are the liberals and labour able to club together with all the minorities until they get this magic 326 seats?

Have to say I agree with Den, I don't understand why the overall number is not in some way taken into consideration.

Exactly that, from memory, Lab+Lib+SNP+Plaid+Green-Sinn Fein (who don't take their seats) would give a majority. But the SNP & PC are believed to be asking a LOT for their support.

[Wiggy]

Banana republic territory now. The Lib Dems are up and down like they are in the student union. The way these self important kn@bs are behaving could see a run on sterling and second nation status for the UK. The electorate would never forgive them (or allow PR.!).

Some dignity left in John Reid and David Blunkett.

[BuckyRover]

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/poll-chaos-throws-spotlight-on-creaking-british-electoral-system/374163

Slightly strange source but I knew I had heard it somewhere. There is also an article on the telegraph website. The full report is released on the 25th May.

I think my original quote is harsh, but it easy to see how abuses could happen.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Many Labour MPs still doubt whether a Lib-Lab alliance plus the smaller parties would work, one describing it as a "pantomime horse" that would soon fall apart and "be sent to the knackers' yard." Many say they would prefer to sit back and watch the Lib Dems and Tories create a coalition which would have to push through unpopular cuts before collapsing within 18 months

This morning that was my view Jim. Step down honourably and watch the un-holy alliance disolve as it certainly would/ will. However that would mean temporarily handing over power to the charlatan Old Etonians with their already stated plans to Gerrymander the election system to their liking. That's a big gamble. Let's keep them out if we can. If they fail again this time there'll be Tory heads on poles in the City.

[Glenn]

Banana republic territory now. The Lib Dems are up and down like they are in the student union. The way these self important kn@bs are behaving could see a run on sterling and second nation status for the UK. The electorate would never forgive them (or allow PR.!).

Some dignity left in John Reid and David Blunkett.

As has been pointed out on every independent news source, the markets have been aware of the possibility of a hung parliament (and the various possible combinations of leadership) for months now, if it had serious worries, it would have pulled the money out weeks ago.

[jim mk2]

I can't even be bothered to list the many, many reasons why GB has been a disaster,

Freely available information on three reasons why Gordon Brown has been a political giant:

1. As chancellor, he gave independence to the Bank of England and kept Britain out of the single European currency when many, including Tony Blair, wanted Britain to enter. As events in the eurozone this week show with the Greek bail-out, many will judge history is on Gordon's side.

2. In 2002 he resurrected the NHS from the chronic Tory underfunding of the late 1990s when patients were being treated in hospital corridors, raising billions in taxation to take health spending to the European average as a proportion of GDP to the modern world-class service it is today.

3. His role in the global financial crisis. In October 2008, he was hailed for his recapitalisation plan for British banks, a move followed by Germany, France, Italy and a further 12 European countries. Both this, and his pioneering role in launching the G20 to deal with the crisis, are recognised by world leaders.

Moving on, further signs senior Labour figures not happy with a prospective Lib - Lab alliance. Former home secretary John Reid says a pact would be "pretty disastrous" and not welcomed by the country.

As has been pointed out on every independent news source, the markets have been aware of the possibility of a hung parliament (and the various possible combinations of leadership) for months now, if it had serious worries, it would have pulled the money out weeks ago.

Not sure about that Glenn. The pound dipped sharply in late trading.

[thenodrog]

This morning that was my view Jim. Step down honourably and watch the un-holy alliance disolve as it certainly would/ will. However that would mean temporarily handing over power to the charlatan Old Etonians with their already stated plans to Gerrymander the election system to their liking. That's a big gamble. Let's keep them out if we can. If they fail again this time there'll be Tory heads on poles in the City.

You need to look into a mirror Tyrone.

[Glenn]

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/poll-chaos-throws-spotlight-on-creaking-british-electoral-system/374163

Slightly strange source but I knew I had heard it somewhere. There is also an article on the telegraph website. The full report is released on the 25th May.

I think my original quote is harsh, but it easy to see how abuses could happen.

Thanks. I have to admit I misread corruptible as corrupt. Whilst the election office I worked for followed the electoral commissions rules to the letter and everything went very very smoothly, I did think of several ways of "gaming the system", but I can't discuss them for a while yet (my blog post is embargoed until the weekend).

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Freely available information on three reasons why Gordon Brown has been a political giant:

1. As chancellor, he gave independence to the Bank of England and kept Britain out of the single European currency when many, including Tony Blair, wanted Britain to enter. As events in the eurozone this week show with the Greek bail-out, many will judge history is on Gordon's side.

2. In 2002 he resurrected the NHS from the chronic Tory underfunding of the late 1990s when patients were being treated in hospital corridors, raising billions in taxation to take health spending to the European average as a proportion of GDP to the modern world-class service it is today.

3. His role in the global financial crisis. In October 2008, he was hailed for his recapitalisation plan for British banks, a move followed by Germany, France, Italy and a further 12 European countries. Both this, and his pioneering role in launching the G20 to deal with the crisis, are recognised by world leaders.

Moving on, further signs senior Labour figures not happy with a prospective Lib - Lab alliance. Former home secretary John Reid says a pact would be "pretty disastrous" and not welcomed by the country.

Not sure about that Glenn. The pound dipped sharply in late trading.

How can anyone say a Lab/Lib pact would be disasterous before the event. I thought John Reid was a Labour Party figure ? Does he mean more disasterous than a Tory Government ? He needs to get a grip.

[Wiggy]

As has been pointed out on every independent news source, the markets have been aware of the possibility of a hung parliament (and the various possible combinations of leadership) for months now, if it had serious worries, it would have pulled the money out weeks ago.

The markets have been euphoric with the massive euro rescue package last night. Traders will be looking for a new victim to get there claws into. If big budget cuts are not imminent there could be big bucks to be made and lost in sterling.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Freely available information on three reasons why Gordon Brown has been a political giant:

1. As chancellor, he gave independence to the Bank of England and kept Britain out of the single European currency when many, including Tony Blair, wanted Britain to enter. As events in the eurozone this week show with the Greek bail-out, many will judge history is on Gordon's side.

2. In 2002 he resurrected the NHS from the chronic Tory underfunding of the late 1990s when patients were being treated in hospital corridors, raising billions in taxation to take health spending to the European average as a proportion of GDP to the modern world-class service it is today.

3. His role in the global financial crisis. In October 2008, he was hailed for his recapitalisation plan for British banks, a move followed by Germany, France, Italy and a further 12 European countries. Both this, and his pioneering role in launching the G20 to deal with the crisis, are recognised by world leaders.

Moving on, further signs senior Labour figures not happy with a prospective Lib - Lab alliance. Former home secretary John Reid says a pact would be "pretty disastrous" and not welcomed by the country.

Not sure about that Glenn. The pound dipped sharply in late trading.

How can anyone say a Lab/Lib pact would be disasterous before the event. I thought John Reid was a Labour Party figure ? Does he mean more disasterous than a Tory Government ? He needs to get a grip.