[Archived] Election

[koi]

Vince Cable would make the best Chancellor out of the three in my opinion but as long as it's not Osbourne I'm not too fussed.

Nope, Clarke by a mile, he should have been leader long a go never mind chancellor.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Don't get my hopes up.

Sky reckon it will be Obsorne, i hope they are wrong...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Haven't much time to comment tonight ,off out to the pub. Just one thought- What happens at the first bye-election ? Does one party stand down ? If so which one, Tory's or Lib-dem ? What happens at next years council elections ?

[JAL]

Most people forget

Some banks did not abuse self regulation

Some banks saw the potential risk in sub prime and stayed away

some banks saw that risking "cheap" money on dodgy investments was still a bad risk

Some banks stayed stable in the face of the economic decline

Some banks did not need bailing out by the government

Some banks turned turn government payments to help them out

Sadly, the whole "all bankers are evil fat cats that are responsible global economic downturns" thing means the people who work at ALL LEVELS of these banks who did the right thing are still likely to see their incomes significantly reduced because everyone is baying for a "bankers tax".

If the government had any sense they'd realise they just bought back some potentially profitable now-nationalised industries for a fraction of what they could be worth, they should bust a gut to pay for the best of best to manage them and actually makes some money from then, rather than selling off the profitable bits and sweeping the rest under the carpet.

Glenn you've gone off on one. My whole point is to reduce the cost of housing by 40% and maintain that it stays that way, thus reducing the amount of money people pay for their property either through purchase, rent, or whatever other means, in order for the public to increase their disposable income.

My inclusion of the banking industry is purely for this purpose and this purpose alone.

[only2garners]

The BBC have had a Labour bias for years - no doubt you feel aggrieved about that as well especially as we have to pay the Licence fee ... It's quite refreshing to hear someone who's a bit more objective.

A bit more objective - you must be joking Mum. That's one of the most appallingly biased interviews I've ever seen. What did Boulton think he was doing. I'm fairly impressed that campbell didn't flatten him. Still no doubt it will please his boss. I hope the Lib Dems have got something in their agreement to protect the BBC from these morons. I heard on 5Live the comment that if the BBC had behaved like that they would have been hung drawn and quartered by the press.

[Guest Kamy100]

The BBC have had a Labour bias for years - no doubt you feel aggrieved about that as well especially as we have to pay the Licence fee ... It's quite refreshing to hear someone who's a bit more objective.

I gave up on the BBC along time ago, and don't even get me started on the Licence fee.

Tories deserve their chance to try and govern as they got the most amount of seats last Thursday, hopefully they have learnt from the mistakes that they made last time they were in power. It will be interesting to see if this coalition can work in the long term.

As for Labour, it is time to go back and take a long hard look at what the Party stands for and how they can be an effective opposition.

[JAL]

I gave up on the BBC along time ago, and don't even get me started on the Licence fee.

Tories deserve their chance to try and govern as they got the most amount of seats last Thursday, hopefully they have learnt from the mistakes that they made last time they were in power. It will be interesting to see if this coalition can work in the long term.

As for Labour, it is time to go back and take a long hard look at what the Party stands for and how they can be an effective opposition.

New labour was the old Tory so whats new now... sweet Fa.

Its just the same shyte but a different day for us suckers of Britian.

[SouthAussieRover]

I hope Nick Clegg will be able to sleep at night.

He should hang his head in shame

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Blue is the colour, David is his name

We're all together and winning is our aim

So cheer us on through the sun and rain

Cos David Cameron is his name.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

God help us all,the 'Bullingdon boy' is in da house.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Blue is the colour, David is his name

We're all together and winning is our aim

So cheer us on through the sun and rain

Cos David Cameron is his name.

Wow, Carol Ann Duffy must be shaking in her shoes !

[sleepyjack]

So does Clegg become Dave's fag now?

[koi]

Well, for the good of the country I wish the new PM and his coalition all the best, it wont be easy but maybe, just maybe they can pull it off.

Disappointed Ken isn't the Chancellor and I hope David Davis gets a good seat in the cabinet.

Signing out from this thread, I'll join in at the next election.

[thenodrog]

Glenn you've gone off on one. My whole point is to reduce the cost of housing by 40% and maintain that it stays that way, thus reducing the amount of money people pay for their property either through purchase, rent, or whatever other means, in order for the public to increase their disposable income.

And you haven't JAL?

[thenodrog]

Tories deserve their chance to try and govern as they got the most amount of seats last Thursday, hopefully they have learnt from the mistakes that they made last time they were in power.

I'm sure they will. Margaret Thatcher had certainly learnt much from the mistakes of the governments of the previous 15 years or so. Namely that the government was democratically elected by the people to govern the country and the unions were not elected to do anything of the sort.

[yoda]

Glenn you've gone off on one. My whole point is to reduce the cost of housing by 40% and maintain that it stays that way, thus reducing the amount of money people pay for their property either through purchase, rent, or whatever other means, in order for the public to increase their disposable income.

My inclusion of the banking industry is purely for this purpose and this purpose alone.

Can I officially offer you 40% less than the market value for your house?

[thenodrog]

New labour was the old Tory so whats new now... sweet Fa.

Its just the same shyte but a different day for us suckers of Britian.

Never mind JAL. Why don't you convert your garage for yourself and and rent the rest of your house on Oakdale out? You'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

btw Just as an aside JAL .... when Oakdale was planned why did the planners not realise that most families possess 2-3 cars?

[thenodrog]

I hope Nick Clegg will be able to sleep at night.

He should hang his head in shame

Not if he really believes that it is for the good of the country and that he is putting the good of the country before himself and the party. Anything else in his motivation and I agree.

Can I officially offer you 40% less than the market value for your house?

41% offer over here JAL.

[JAL]

Cheers chaps, just providing an economic solution which accepted, is, and would be, extremely difficult to implement but for the greed of man.

How else can the country bring down the horrendous levels of borrowings whilst maintaining that there are many pound notes left in everybodys pocket ?

[LeChuck]

Did the Lib Dems manage to push the amount on which you can earn before paying tax up to £10,000? I can't see it mentioned anywhere this morning.

If we're going to have a Conservative government then I'd much rather it was one with the Lib Dems involved. They've managed to prevent the Tories from raising the inheritance threshold at least.

I'm nervously excited about it actually. We wanted change and we've got it.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Did the Lib Dems manage to push the amount on which you can earn before paying tax up to £10,000? I can't see it mentioned anywhere this morning.

If we're going to have a Conservative government then I'd much rather it was one with the Lib Dems involved. They've managed to prevent the Tories from raising the inheritance threshold at least.

I'm nervously excited about it actually. We wanted change and we've got it.

Details so far:

* Five Lib Dems (not six) will get Cabinet jobs, including Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister;

* The bill to have a referendum on AV will be subject to a three line whip, although Conservatives will be free to campaign against AV in the ensuing referendum;

* There will be five-year fixed term parliaments, starting with this one, meaning the next election is scheduled for May 2015;

* Elsewhere on political reform, the second chamber will be wholly or mainly elected and there will be a commission to review party funding;

* There will be £6 billion in cuts this financial year and a reversal of some planned rises in national insurance contributions, but Conservative plans to reduce inheritance tax have been sacrificed. The Conservative plan to introduce a tax break for marriage is in tact, although Lib Dems will abstain on this measure;

* A new pupil premium to be introduced, steering more funding to schools for every child they take from poor homes to help close class gap in school results, whilst the Conservative plans for Swedish-style free schools will be introduced;

* There will be a cap on immigration and, as reported previously, the Lib Dems' proposed amnesty on illegal immigration has been dropped;

* The Lib Dems have committed to maintaining Britain's nuclear deterrent;

* The Lib Dems have accepted that Britain will not join the euro in this parliament and have accepted the Conservative proposal for a referendum lock to ensure that any proposal to transfer new powers to the EU must by law be put to a referendum.

Robert Peston reports that "The Tories will adopt the Lib Dem plan to increase the tax-free allowance on income tax to £10,000. A meaningful initial rise in the allowance would come quickly, with a clear timetable announced to get to the full £10,000."

[jim mk2]

Although I am depressed and appalled that the Tories are back in power a Lib - Lab coalition was not a realistic proposition and and the country must learn to live with the a squeeze on the most vulnerable in society and inevitable cuts to vital public services that the Tories will no doubt slash with their customary relish while giving tax handouts to their rich friends and corporate supporters. Thankfully the planned rise in the IHT threshold to £1m has been dropped after pressure from Clegg.

Labour election campaigners say the constant message on the hustings was that the public had no problem with the government but were intent on removing Gordon Brown from office. Politics is a brutal business and it was sad to see a man who has devoted his lifetime to public service removing his belongings from Downing St last night. Gordon did many fine things for this country but a hostile right-wing media ensures that history is unlikely to be kind to him. One term out of office will give the Labour party the chance to renew itself. The party is still brimming with vigour and contains within its ranks outstanding young men of stature and talent who will be standing for the forthcoming leadership battle and likely to become the next prime minister.

[LeChuck]

Thanks RVR.

In my opinion, it seems like having two parties negotiating like this has shaved off their relatively extreme views; no cut in inheritance tax for the Tories, no joining the Euro for Lib Dems. Lib Dems immigrant amnesty dropped, lower tax threshold raised.

I don't mind saying I voted Lib Dem, but I didn't agree with everything they proposed - two being the Euro and the amnesty. They've managed to push through a couple that I did agree with in return. I'm also hoping university fees are dropped, as I think that's very important.

I know it's VERY early doors yet, but on paper this kind of trade off is quite a refreshing change to our political system. I'm not 100% sure of the motives for either party yet, so I'm not completely at ease with it, but it has potential.

I know some have used this kind of hung parliament discussion/coalition as an argument against PR, but I'm inclined to think it's a positive thing so far.

[Paul]

Details so far:

* There will be a cap on immigration and, as reported previously, the Lib Dems' proposed amnesty on illegal immigration has been dropped

There will be a cap on non-EU immigration which is an important difference as I believe about 80% of immigration is from EU countries, though I could be wrong on the exact figure. Anyway EU migration, i.e free movement of labour, is the larger portion of migration in to the UK.

[den]

There will be a cap on non-EU immigration which is an important difference

and which is a very strange policy.