[Archived] The General Election 2015

[joey_big_nose]

Tories have massively messed up on tax credits, and its early days on their huge public spending cuts over the next five years. No wonder Tories on the back benches are getting nervous because this battle is going to repeat over and over. NHS reform is also proving a real car crash. Labour just need to pick them off as each cut comes into play and grind down Tories reputation.

It seems that Osbourne, and to a lesser extent Cameron, are of the opinion that they have a mandate to shrink the state aggressively. But I dont think that's at all why they were voted in. It was mostly on the (fallacious) message that Labour are responsible for ballooning national debt (which of course is actually the result of a global financial meltdown and bank bailout, which is completely separate from party policy positions) and the idea that austerity will grow the economy (also totally crazy), combined with some excellent scaremongering about an SNP propped up Labour government. The electorate were not voting in the Tories expecting to see these huge cuts impact themselves. Sure some of the cuts were in the manifesto but the public do not read the small print, nor comprehend in real terms what policies mean for them. When it's spelled out the electorate becomes furious.

It seems a staggering misjudgement. But there it is.

What I suppose Osbourne (who is no mug) is planning is a big dose of medicine now, then turn on the cash taps in three years in line with a global recovery to win the next election, then once that's in the bag go on another austerity spree. However overly aggressive austerity could jeopardise our recovery and stymie the plan.

It's fascinating. Think Labour have quite a lot to work with, however not sure they have the right team or mentality.

Ps. Seamus Milne as communications chief - bloody Nora... That's like the Tories making Richard Littlejohn their head spin doctor. Barmy.

[joey_big_nose]

Just to go back to Seumus Milne. WTF? I mean really WTF?

Labour don't stand a bloody chance. I give Corbyn 2 years absolutely tops before he is potted. Totally and utterly insane. Corbyn already has a very radical front bench who need to try and work their way to connect with the mainstream of the British electorate. So who does he appoint to build those bridges? A hugely divisive, aggressive, media firebrand who has few friends, views that verge on the hysterical and is one of the few people in the political world who is actually to the left of him.

Total and utter idiocy.

[Steve Moss]

Interesting article on the silence on men's issues in the UK (and I expect elsewhere):

http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/whos-really-being-silenced-in-the-gender-debate/17602#.VjvZtLerTIW

[Mike E]

Interesting article on the silence on men's issues in the UK (and I expect elsewhere):

http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/whos-really-being-silenced-in-the-gender-debate/17602#.VjvZtLerTIW

This really strikes a chord with me. Look at the age women are encouraged to get a smear test, while my dad (terminally ill through prostate cancer) had never been offered a PSA test until diagnosis.

In fact the net is full of stories of prostate cancer victims who were actively discouraged by their GPs from being tested for prostate cancer 'because they are too young to get it'.

Men's issues matter as much as women's and men certainly shouldn't be silenced. Feminism is supposed to be about equality, after all.

[Baz]

Interesting article on the silence on men's issues in the UK (and I expect elsewhere):

http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/whos-really-being-silenced-in-the-gender-debate/17602#.VjvZtLerTIW

I think you can easily separate the two, nothing wrong with trying to equal the gender inequality gap, but also nothing to stop some focus on male specific cancer at the same time. I don't think you would have any cancer patient saying there's is the most important type, and needs to be funded more than another.

The action of the female MP is infuriating / immature, but then again when you see what our boorish & yah-yah-ing in the Houses of Parliament do, you can see its still clearly male dominated, so you can also understand it to a small point too.

Males tend not to discuss their health concerns, especially with other men, thats the problem IMO.

[Mike E]

I think you can easily separate the two, nothing wrong with trying to equal the gender inequality gap, but also nothing to stop some focus on male specific cancer at the same time. I don't think you would have any cancer patient saying there's is the most important type, and needs to be funded more than another.

The action of the female MP is infuriating / immature, but then again when you see what our boorish & yah-yah-ing in the Houses of Parliament do, you can see its still clearly male dominated, so you can also understand it to a small point too.

Males tend not to discuss their health concerns, especially with other men, thats the problem IMO.

I agree with your last bit tbh. I've often left coughs and sniffles go and they've turned out to be infections :/

I think it's fear more than anything. 'If I ignore it, it'll go away' kind of thing.

[Mike E]

What is it with people trying to discredit Corbyn just because his politics are compassionate?

'He didn't bow low enough', for pity's sake!

[Baz]

What is it with people trying to discredit Corbyn just because his politics are compassionate?

'He didn't bow low enough', for pity's sake!

They started with he didnt bow, until evidence was given.

They missed the fact he skipped the VIP meal to meet veterans.

Then again the founder of the mail was a friend of Hitler, a fascist sympathiser, and Mosley advocate.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Harmsworth,_1st_Viscount_Rothermere

[Mike E]

They started with he didnt bow, until evidence was given.

They missed the fact he skipped the VIP meal to meet veterans.

Then again the founder of the mail was a friend of Hitler, a fascist sympathiser, and Mosley advocate.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Harmsworth,_1st_Viscount_Rothermere

Not just meet them, actually mingle a take photos for them.

[Paul]

What is it with people trying to discredit Corbyn just because his politics are compassionate?

'He didn't bow low enough', for pity's sake!

I suppose if one needs to divert attention from:

Tax credits

The financial needs of the NHS

Taking us out of the EU

Cuts to local authorities

Cuts to social services

National infrastructure crumbling

Broken election promises

It might seem a good move to criticise a man for not bowing correctly............ Of course one might be running scared.

[Mike E]

I suppose if one needs to divert attention from:

Tax credits

The financial needs of the NHS

Taking us out of the EU

Cuts to local authorities

Cuts to social services

National infrastructure crumbling

Broken election promises

It might seem a good move to criticise a man for not bowing correctly............ Of course one might be running scared.

Not to mention they've completely ignored the fact Corbyn actually hung around taking pictures for veterans and talking about their experiences and memories. All the while the other 'leaders' were lording it up at a VIP lunch!

[Norbert Rassragr]

The current Lord Rothermere is just like his ancestors. Criticised Corbyn over not wanting to bow to the queen, the hatchet job on Ed Milliband's dad............And yet he loves Britain so much he took over his dad's adopted nationality (French) for tax reasons and uses all sort of off shore schemes to avoid paying for the armed forces and monarchy he demands we should idolise.

https://beastrabban.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/from-private-eye-lord-rothermeres-non-dom-tax-scam/

As for Labour, they'll be damaged by the fact so many MPs spat their dummies out and flounced off because the voters upset the gravy train and dared to elect a Socialist. They should have accepted the result, and tried to form a consensus. Corbyn is a fair bit more left wing than me, but I'd rather have him than some right wing non-entity like Kendall agreeing with the tories and treating the public like idiots.

[Gav]

As for Labour, they'll be damaged by the fact so many MPs spat their dummies out and flounced off because the voters upset the gravy train and dared to elect a Socialist. They should have accepted the result, and tried to form a consensus. Corbyn is a fair bit more left wing than me, but I'd rather have him than some right wing non-entity like Kendall agreeing with the tories and treating the public like idiots.

What really irritates me is the ones who have spat the dummy out are public servants, elected to serve the public, they shouldn't be allowed to moan, bitch and complain from the back benches. They should be supporting the leader and serving their constituents not positioning themselves in such a way that doesn't harm future career prospects, it's a disgrace.

I thought Chuka Umunna had great potential for a future leader, but after his online assault on poor people and his disappearing act in recent months he's gone right down in my estimations, he's just a another new labour (Tory) MP with flash suites and nothing much to say.

[RibbleValleyRover]

What really irritates me is the ones who have spat the dummy out are public servants, elected to serve the public, they shouldn't be allowed to moan, bitch and complain from the back benches. They should be supporting the leader and serving their constituents not positioning themselves in such a way that doesn't harm future career prospects, it's a disgrace.

I thought Chuka Umunna had great potential for a future leader, but after his online assault on poor people and his disappearing act in recent months he's gone right down in my estimations, he's just a another new labour (Tory) MP with flash suites and nothing much to say.

Self preservation, they want to keep their jobs. The Labour party might have moved leftwards but the country sure hasn't, I would argue that these MP's know they are doomed under Corbyn. The country isn't going to put a Marxist into government.

[K-Hod]

I suspect it's a temporary shift to the left. I'll be astounded if Corbyn reaches the next election as leader, I'll be honest. He's certainly not getting any younger....

[Gav]

I don't think anyone expects Corbyn to become prime minister but he's got people interested in the party again, he's got compassion and humility which in my book counts for a lot.

You only have to listen to those t0ssers on the opposition bench barracking him when putting tax credit questions to Cameron to know they couldn't give a t0ss about hard working people/families.

I'm just stunned people voted them in! Or at least some did.

[K-Hod]

Pretty much how I see it Gav tbh.

Though the last part isn't that surprising, they were well-organised and got their act together when it mattered, Labour weren't (and still aren't) well-organised enough to mount a strong enough opposition.

Fundamentally, a lot of what the Tories are doing is fair enough, just the execution is all wrong (i.e. cutting tax credits, rather than chasing up tax avoiders/evaders). In fairness though, successive governments before them including Labour haven't done that either. It's all gone quiet on the non-dom front as well.....how odd.

[Mike E]

Agree with the above. Politically I don't agree with Corbyn on several things, but he seems compassionate, forthright, honest, principled and dignified in the face of opposition harassment.

In other words, a decent guy. Something missing from front-of-house politics for a long time.

He may not get the political vote but I know plenty of people who 'would' vote for him or Farage over anyone else simply for saying what they think and meaning it.

[Baz]

What is Cameron on? Berating his local council for cutting services.

He lives on a different planet.

[Baz]

I see the chancellor has had two more embarrassing climbdowns over his policies today.

More money found down the back of the sofa when it's really needed, except this time its based on a higher than expected forecast by the 'independent' OBR. God knows what our national debt will be when this guy finally leaves.

[yoda]

I see the chancellor has had two more embarrassing climbdowns over his policies today.

More money found down the back of the sofa when it's really needed, except this time its based on a higher than expected forecast by the 'independent' OBR. God knows what our national debt will be when this guy finally leaves.

Debt as a share of GDP forecast to fall to 82.5% in 2015-16, before dropping to 81.7%, 79.9%, 77.3%, 74.3% and 71.3% in subsequent years,

according to OBR

[Baz]

Debt as a share of GDP forecast to fall to 82.5% in 2015-16, before dropping to 81.7%, 79.9%, 77.3%, 74.3% and 71.3% in subsequent years,

according to OBR

Well thats as a % of gdp, not total debt. What is the total national debt now, and what is it forecast to be in 2020?

Bear in mind as a % of gdp in 2009 when the chancellor was appointed, it was 58%

[Paul]

% mean absolutely nothing. It's the amount owing that counts. If I owed 82.5% of my personal GDP - salary - I'd be totally screwed and unable to repay.

Same for the country

[Baz]

Treasury minister on Ch4 news - £27.5bn 'found' in extra predicted tax revenues and drop in debt repayments over the next 5 years, by the OBR, and they notified the treasury in the past couple of weeks.

Thats a lot of money to find, and suspicious timing being just a couple of weeks after a defeat in the House of Lords.

[yoda]

% mean absolutely nothing. It's the amount owing that counts. If I owed 82.5% of my personal GDP - salary - I'd be totally screwed and unable to repay.

Same for the country

So you would reign in your spending or find ways to earn more so you could pay the debt down