[Archived] Election called for 8th June

[DE.]

8 minutes ago, Glenn said:

If Tim comes out, apologises for tuition fees and explains all the good they did and more importantly bad stuff they stopped, when in coalition, this could become very very interesting! 

Unfortunately I don't think the Lib Dems have recovered from the coalition fiasco, and Farron's words alone aren't going to change many perceptions imo. I'll vote for them, as I usually do, but fully expect the Tories to win by a fairly significant margin.

[jim mk2]

Just now, Jbizzle said:

 

Five more years damage to the NHS, Schools, Policing and other services? I can't see many voting for that. It won't take a miracle for the Tory majority to dissipate. Politics isn't the same as it was in the 80s, making such a greedy snatching decision on a poll... foolish! 

Sadly I think you're wrong. Selfishness - which is in essence what a vote for the Tories represents - is the prime motivation of many voters now. 

[JBiz]

Just now, jim mk2 said:

Sadly I think you're wrong. Selfishness - which is in essence what a vote for the Tories represents - is the prime motivation of many voters now. 

Precisely. I can't see how many NHS, other public service employees or anyone in need of benefits could vote for the Conservatives. What about Scotland?

The problem is who to vote for though, it'll be interesting to see what comes out.

[onlyonetugay]

5 minutes ago, Gav said:

Whats happened to Diane Abbott?

I watched her on question time a few weeks back and she came across as aggressive, rude and completely at odds with the audience?

I know shes had a really tough time of it lately, threats of rape, threats to murder the poor woman and kill her kids, which is disgusting by the faceless cowards on social media, but her whole demeanor was out of sync with the Diane Abbott of a few years back.

As for the election, well the people of this country are infatuated with themselves, b0llox to anyone else suffering, so its a Tory landslide I'd imagine and more cuts, more poor and disabled people to suffer, more food banks, and if its an extra £10 a week in the pay packet for the Tory voter all the better.

She's aggressive and rude to the ordinary working man and woman ,  because she's been found out . The audience on Question Time , as do most of the country,  know she's a  hypocrite . Do as I say, follow my socialist principles ,  but I'm still sending my son to  a private school .  The sooner Labour get her and her ilk off the front bench , the sooner they'll become electable again . 

As regards to threats of rape , murder etc, lots of  politicians are now having to put up with that sort of vile hate , be they left , centre or  right . 

[47er]

48 minutes ago, Glenn said:

That is insane. I don't think labour have been less capable of winning an election in my life time! 

Agree with you all the way there! Why would Labour back this when May's miles in front?

Corbyn "welcomes the decision". Jesus wept. 

 

[JohnD]

The one and only chance to avoid Brexit. Only a LibDem vote achieves that irrespective of where you live in the UK.

After propping up a Tory government I said I'd never vote for them again but this is different.

 

[joey_big_nose]

7 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

Shows how desperate this country has become when you're depending on the Lib Dems to kick the Tories out. 

It shows how desperate the country is when we are going through low growth, huge division on Brexit, global insecurity and deteriorating public services yet the governing party will face the easiest election in a century if not more. It is totally unprecedented.

I don't blame May or the Conservatives, despite forcefully disagreeing with virtually all of their policies. They have just acted as any competent party would to further their agenda. On the other hand Labour and the Lib Dems have let the country down through pure nativity and idiotic policy.

 

[K-Hod]

Just now, Jbizzle said:

Precisely. I can't see how many NHS, other public service employees or anyone in need of benefits could vote for the Conservatives. What about Scotland?

The problem is who to vote for though, it'll be interesting to see what comes out.

Yep. It's come to something when the overwhelming favourites to win are a party that's recently cut corporation tax, been done for election fraud, spent more money on legal fees than they've recovered in bedroom tax appeals and voted through cuts to some of the most vulnerable in society. Austerity for the majority, but obviously not the rich Tory backers, don't be silly.

All the comments re selfishness are bang on the money as well, that's how people are these days. How very depressing indeed.

[joey_big_nose]

Just now, JohnD said:

The one and only chance to avoid Brexit. Only a LibDem vote achieves that irrespective of where you live in the UK.

After propping up a Tory government I said I'd never vote for them again but this is different.

 

This will be the most interesting element of the election. Its possible that a huge swing to Lib Dems could be seen in relatively wealthy suburbs and cities. I will vote Lib Dem personally over Corbyn, sad as I am to say that. It really is that bad.

On the other hand even if there is a big swing there is absolutely no chance the Conservatives will weaken their grip on government. They are likely to extend it as most of the switchers will be Labour rather than Tories.

Shambolic.

[onlyonetugay]

It's a pity none of you Rovers loving,  Labour guys appear to  live in Blackburn  . Reading the posts this morning , please correct me if I'm  wrong , some  might be considering switching their allegiances to  the Liberal Democrats . If enough switch in  Blackburn, we  might see a non - Labour MP  for first time since it became a single member constituency in 1955 . Since then we've had the largely competent ( but with a large sprinkling  of hypocrisy ) Barbara Castle and Jack Straw  and the totally incompetent Kate Hollern  -  seriously is she a Shadow Minister in  Corbyn's cabinet  ?  The mind boggles. 

As Dave Birch says " interesting times " 

 

[Gav]

44 minutes ago, onlyonetugay said:

She's aggressive and rude to the ordinary working man and woman ,  because she's been found out . The audience on Question Time , as do most of the country,  know she's a  hypocrite . Do as I say, follow my socialist principles ,  but I'm still sending my son to  a private school .  The sooner Labour get her and her ilk off the front bench , the sooner they'll become electable again . 

As regards to threats of rape , murder etc, lots of  politicians are now having to put up with that sort of vile hate , be they left , centre or  right . 

Most politicians are hypocrites, goes with the territory, I don't think its confined to Abbott alone.

As for private school, so what? if she lives in a tough area and its the best option for her kids many would argue nothing wrong with that.

Not sure what you're getting at with the last sentence, i mentioned it as a possible reason for her aggressive demeanor, could be contributing.  

 

[onlyonetugay]

Just now, Gav said:

Most politicians are hypocrites, goes with the territory, I don't think its confined to Abbott alone.

As for private school, so what? if she lives in a tough area and its the best option for her kids many would argue nothing wrong with that.

Not sure what you're getting at with the last sentence, i mentioned it as a possible reason for her aggressive demeanor, could be contributing.  

 

I'm ambivalent as far as  private schools go , but I do see them as  divisive  .  I guess it's all about choice and having the money or making sacrifices - Dianne Abbott probably had and did a bit of both . The problem is, for most working class parents they're out of reach. For an MP from a  party that champions equality of opportunity and the comprehensive system , I still find it intensely hypocritical . I take your point though - for  the vast majority of people ( and for Dianne Abbott  for that matter )  it's all about "me and my family" and to quote your earlier post  " b0llox to anyone else suffering "  

With regard to the last sentence, I was just making the point that lots of MPs from each side of the political spectrum are getting vile abuse , so in her senior position as  Shadow Home Secretary  she shouldn't let it affect or contribute to  her demeanor on national television  - although I accept any such abuse is unacceptable.  I suspect her rudeness and aggression that night  was down to her hopeless political position and her " outing " by a questioner ,  with regard to her son's schooling. 

 

 

[Mike E]

Hypothetically speaking:

If the LibDems gain control on the back of an anti-Brexit manifesto, is that a mandate from the public to remain in the EU?

[jim mk2]

I wonder if the Tory election bus will  have a poster promising £350m extra a week to the NHS? 

June 8 will be,  in effect, a second referendum, only this time the choice is between a hard and soft Brexit.

Personally, if any of the following lose their seats it will all be worthwhile:

Duncan Smith, Rees-Mogg, Osborne, Hoey, Davis, Fox, Redwood, Carswell, Johnson, Gove

.

[onlyonetugay]

Just now, Mike E said:

Hypothetically speaking:

If the LibDems gain control on the back of an anti-Brexit manifesto, is that a mandate from the public to remain in the EU?

As Maggie once said " No, no, no " 

[perthblue02]

2 hours ago, onlyonetugay said:

It's a pity none of you Rovers loving,  Labour guys appear to  live in Blackburn  . Reading the posts this morning , please correct me if I'm  wrong , some  might be considering switching their allegiances to  the Liberal Democrats . If enough switch in  Blackburn, we  might see a non - Labour MP  for first time since it became a single member constituency in 1955 . Since then we've had the largely competent ( but with a large sprinkling  of hypocrisy ) Barbara Castle and Jack Straw  and the totally incompetent Kate Hollern  -  seriously is she a Shadow Minister in  Corbyn's cabinet  ?  The mind boggles. 

As Dave Birch says " interesting times " 

 

 

If there is the urge for change amongst the other parties then the three other main parties need to come to an agreement that only one of them runs against Labour, then maybe a closer race than in 2015. Doubt it will happen and whatever sack of spuds with the red rosette that Labour put up will yet again win.

 

[only2garners]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

Hypothetically speaking:

If the LibDems gain control on the back of an anti-Brexit manifesto, is that a mandate from the public to remain in the EU?

Of course it would be if that happened - clearly any vote which produced a majority for a party against Brexit would take priority over last year's referendum.

But that's not going to happen. It's inconceivable that the Lib Dems can go from a very small base to an overall majority.

But then, there are all sorts of imponderables right now. Clearly May has decided that she can't ignore the opinion polls and the huge majority the Tories currently have. She believes she can get an increased majority and a stronger mandate. It's a huge u-turn and blatantly a pure political decision but then that's politics. I can imagine that the UKIP vote will collapse as Brexit supporters realise that the best option of achieving that will be to vote for the Tories.

But then again, whilst the Lib Dems aren't going to suddenly win, they will go into the election with a strong argument for Remain voters. There are swathes of constituencies particularly in the south that voted for Remain and those voters might well decide that a vote for a Remain candidate and party might be better on this occasion - look what happened in the Richmond by-election. They have strong local organisations in many seats, especially those that they lost in 2015 and I expect they will win a good few of them back and maybe some more.

[Mike Graham]

I have voted Labour for the last 40 years.  I will not vote for the Corbyn Party so a change to the Lib Dems this time.

[perthblue02]

 As I am reading it, the Liberal campaign is for a soft Brexit not to stop Britex happening

http://www.libdems.org.uk/general-election-2017-tim-farron#

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lib-dems-general-election-staying-in-eu-fighting-brexit-a7689666.html

[Hasta]

I imagine the Tories are going to pick up UKIP voters who always wanted us out of Europe and will switch the the tories from UKIP to ensure it goes through.

[Baz]

This could well be the end of UKIP, and the end of the Labour party as a major political party.

It's very opportunistic, coming days after the yougov poll showing Corbyns approval rating at an all time low of 17%. 

I wonder what would happen if the Tories lost their majority? The terms of any coalition could be very interesting- would the SNP go for it if they where given a second referendum? Would the libdems go in if there was a option of their idea of a second referendum, would the northern Irish parties join?

[J*B]

Tims my man. I have given it as much thought as I will do - a whole 8 hours now. He's a Rover, therefore he's had a @#/? crap time of it and deserves a smile. 

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you vote. 

[Hasta]

Just now, J*B said:

Tims my man. I have given it as much thought as I will do - a whole 8 hours now. He's a Rover, therefore he's had a @#/? crap time of it and deserves a smile. 

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you vote. 

"If I get elected I will investigate and remove Venkys."

That's 1 extra seat for the lib dems straight away.

[only2garners]

51 minutes ago, perthblue02 said:

 As I am reading it, the Liberal campaign is for a soft Brexit not to stop Britex happening

http://www.libdems.org.uk/general-election-2017-tim-farron#

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lib-dems-general-election-staying-in-eu-fighting-brexit-a7689666.html

That's true but in the hypothetical situation that Mike E was proposing the realpolitik would be that we would not leave. But, as i pointed out, it won't happen anyway.

[JohnD]

4 hours ago, Mike E said:

Hypothetically speaking:

If the LibDems gain control on the back of an anti-Brexit manifesto, is that a mandate from the public to remain in the EU?

It won't happen but YES without doubt