General Election 2015

ballysmate

Ballysmate wrote:

Update for the election poster.

And lo, it came to pass...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... apped.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 88021.html


Edit: Load of Tory bollox eh, Frank?

ballysmate

Saddens me to think that we may be sailing towards some socialist utopia with Miliband at the helm but Sturgeon on the bridge, giving directions.

In 2005 Labour had a lead of 3 points over the Conservatives, and got a majority of over 60 seats; in 2010 the Conservatives had a lead of 7 points over Labour, but did not have an overall majority at all.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/electoral-bias/

With the polls as they are, I can't see the Tories gaining 8 points.

Man the lifeboats! Iceberg ahead!

rick_chasey

Ultimately Cameron's fault that SNP are doing so well in the first place, so he shouldn't whinge too much .

slowmart

Rick Chasey wrote:

Ultimately Cameron's fault that SNP are doing so well in the first place, so he shouldn't whinge too much .

Now I thought it was Maggie who alienated those scroungers north of the border?

I think Cameron may thank you for suggesting labours demise was on his shoulders even though that view is la la land politics

rick_chasey

Meant more the in/out vote has galvanised the SNP vote, hence the success of the SNP at the moment.

slowmart

No doubt as the election date grows closer the politics of desperation will become louder which is the only certainty.

It's the most negative campaigning in an election i care to remember although I do think the Tories will start to pull ahead in the polls simply due to the rhetoric from the SNP and the leverage they will exert and self serving nationalist agenda.

Then again we will get the government we deserve....... :shock:

RideOnTime

Slowmart wrote:

No doubt as the election date grows closer the politics of desperation will become louder which is the only certainty.

It's the most negative campaigning in an election i care to remember although I do think the Tories will start to pull ahead in the polls simply due to the rhetoric from the SNP and the leverage they will exert and self serving nationalist agenda.

Then again we will get the government we deserve....... :shock:

Lang may yer lum reek!

"Och aye the noo"

pblakeney

I am curious that an application for a postal vote must be submitted by 5:00 pm, Wednesday 21st April.

:? :?:

Stevo_666

Ballysmate wrote:

Saddens me to think that we may be sailing towards some socialist utopia with Miliband at the helm but Sturgeon on the bridge, giving directions.

In 2005 Labour had a lead of 3 points over the Conservatives, and got a majority of over 60 seats; in 2010 the Conservatives had a lead of 7 points over Labour, but did not have an overall majority at all.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/electoral-bias/

With the polls as they are, I can't see the Tories gaining 8 points.

Man the lifeboats! Iceberg ahead!

Hmmm - at this rate may soon need to see if there are any decent tax jobs going in HK or Singapore...anyone know a decent recruitment consultant?

mamba80

Stevo 666 wrote:

Ballysmate wrote:

Saddens me to think that we may be sailing towards some socialist utopia with Miliband at the helm but Sturgeon on the bridge, giving directions.

In 2005 Labour had a lead of 3 points over the Conservatives, and got a majority of over 60 seats; in 2010 the Conservatives had a lead of 7 points over Labour, but did not have an overall majority at all.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/electoral-bias/

With the polls as they are, I can't see the Tories gaining 8 points.

Man the lifeboats! Iceberg ahead!

Hmmm - at this rate may soon need to see if there are any decent tax jobs going in HK or Singapore...anyone know a decent recruitment consultant?

Given this decision was made by a Conservative run Devon county council it ll be me moving should the tories get back in

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ities.html

ballysmate

mamba80 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Ballysmate wrote:

Saddens me to think that we may be sailing towards some socialist utopia with Miliband at the helm but Sturgeon on the bridge, giving directions.

In 2005 Labour had a lead of 3 points over the Conservatives, and got a majority of over 60 seats; in 2010 the Conservatives had a lead of 7 points over Labour, but did not have an overall majority at all.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/electoral-bias/

With the polls as they are, I can't see the Tories gaining 8 points.

Man the lifeboats! Iceberg ahead!

Hmmm - at this rate may soon need to see if there are any decent tax jobs going in HK or Singapore...anyone know a decent recruitment consultant?

Given this decision was made by a Conservative run Devon county council it ll be me moving should the tories get back in

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ities.html

A truly shocking decision, but I dare say not endorsed by "Call me Dave"

mr_goo

Sturgeon and the SNP should be a massive worry to anyone in England. Every sentence uttered by her is to get a better deal for Scotland. As if they haven't already.... free prescriptions, free eye tests...... NO UNIVERSITY FEES!!!!! All subsidised by those that don't benefit from this. She is now spouting off about a better deal for BBC Scotland.
This will all be at the expense of the English tax payer. I can see her aligning herself with the Plaid Cymru to exert even more leverage on Millipede.

Nationalism is on the rise in UK. The surprise is that it's not happening in England.

An old article, but CJ Sansom does have a valid point.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-author-condemns-dangerous-snp-in-book.19134105

thegreatdivide

Mr Goo wrote:

Nationalism is on the rise in UK. The surprise is that it's not happening in England.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-author-condemns-dangerous-snp-in-book.19134105

Right, so UKIP is looking out for those outwith England? Are they bollox. They're the acceptable face of Britain First albeit waving a flag of St George.

Stevo_666

thegreatdivide wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Nationalism is on the rise in UK. The surprise is that it's not happening in England.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-author-condemns-dangerous-snp-in-book.19134105

Right, so UKIP is looking out for those outwith England? Are they bollox. They're the acceptable face of Britain First albeit waving a flag of St George.

Which brings me back to my point made a while back that the SNP are no better than a regional version of UKIP, and are clearly out to get what they can for Scotland at England's expense. So I agree with the sentiment above that the SNP are dangerous.

rick_chasey

Stevo 666 wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Nationalism is on the rise in UK. The surprise is that it's not happening in England.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-author-condemns-dangerous-snp-in-book.19134105

Right, so UKIP is looking out for those outwith England? Are they bollox. They're the acceptable face of Britain First albeit waving a flag of St George.

Which brings me back to my point made a while back that the SNP are no better than a regional version of UKIP, and are clearly out to get what they can for Scotland at England's expense. So I agree with the sentiment above that the SNP are dangerous.

Only because it's FPTP.

pblakeney

Mr Goo wrote:

Sturgeon and the SNP should be a massive worry to anyone in England. Every sentence uttered by her is to get a better deal for Scotland. As if they haven't already.... free prescriptions, free eye tests...... NO UNIVERSITY FEES!!!!! All subsidised by those that don't benefit from this. She is now spouting off about a better deal for BBC Scotland.
This will all be at the expense of the English tax payer. I can see her aligning herself with the Plaid Cymru to exert even more leverage on Millipede.

Nationalism is on the rise in UK. The surprise is that it's not happening in England.

An old article, but CJ Sansom does have a valid point.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-author-condemns-dangerous-snp-in-book.19134105

An MP trying to get the best possible deal for their constituents?
We could do with some of that!

finchy

More or Less (the BBC's stats show) is doing some election specials, checking politicians' statements on a range of issues. Should be interesting listening.

mr_goo

I'm off to a hustings (New Forest West) tonight at the local village hall. Should be fun. Get to see the current Tory incumbent up against the others. I am intrigued to find out why this MP has been deafening in his silence over the planned mega wind farm in the Solent. Yet on his campaign flyers he states he is a vociferous opponent of it. Anything to get a vote I guess.

BelgianBeerGeek

Mr Goo wrote:

I'm off to a hustings (New Forest West) tonight at the local village hall. Should be fun. Get to see the current Tory incumbent up against the others. I am intrigued to find out why this MP has been deafening in his silence over the planned mega wind farm in the Solent. Yet on his campaign flyers he states he is a vociferous opponent of it. Anything to get a vote I guess.

Good luck. We had our hustings here last week. We are having a Conservative parachuted in to replace our incumbent who can earn squillions more in the city. Apparently the prospective candidate has been a ratepayer here for a while. Who knew? Anyway, she said she was against useless renewables and was an advocate of fracking. Cue tumbleweeds rolling through the hall...

Previewed this and the ******** word is a way to extract gas from the ground using drills and waterjets

mr_goo

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

I'm off to a hustings (New Forest West) tonight at the local village hall. Should be fun. Get to see the current Tory incumbent up against the others. I am intrigued to find out why this MP has been deafening in his silence over the planned mega wind farm in the Solent. Yet on his campaign flyers he states he is a vociferous opponent of it. Anything to get a vote I guess.

Good luck. We had our hustings here last week. We are having a Conservative parachuted in to replace our incumbent who can earn squillions more in the city. Apparently the prospective candidate has been a ratepayer here for a while. Who knew? Anyway, she said she was against useless renewables and was an advocate of *******. Cue tumbleweeds rolling through the hall...

Previewed this and the ******** word is a way to extract gas from the ground using drills and waterjets

That will be fracking dissasterous if she gets elected.
I just read up on the 5 candidates for NF West. The Greens have put up a candidate who is opposed to fracking in the Forest. Well it's a National Park and unlikely to be touched (famous last words). Plus she has experience of opening a community grocery shop in a village. Excellent!!
The current Tory MP is trying to move up the greasy political ladder and is more interested in his morning swim in the Serpentine, and only ends comes to the area to open the odd summer fair.
The Lib Dem has hardly any biography available other than having worked in Local Authority in Berkshire. So looks like a parachute job.
The Labour candidate to be fair has lived in the area for 22 years. But appears to work education, nhs, police, business and community. Not sure what anyone would make of that. Perhaps she is a cleaning contractor! Nowt wrong with that, but cannot work out how you can work in 5 sectors all at once.
The UKIP chappie (I have met) is originally from Manchester. Lived in area for years. Employs nearly a hundred people, does business with Africa, is opposed to Navitus Bay and a proponent of the Arts.

BelgianBeerGeek

I wonder which way you're leaning, Mr Goo?
The truly annoying thing about our hustings was the independents (we have two) were not allowed to speak. The local Tories were out in force to applaud any yapping from their woman though. One of the independents is a local independent councillor. I've seen him in action at council meetings putting up with the Conservatives. Bunch of geriatrics behaving like five year olds instead of giving him the space to speak. Who says the system isn't fair?

mr_goo

Reporting in from the NF West Hustings. It was hosted at local Baptist church and chaired by the church minister and a born again christian layman. Therefore they decided that some of the questions should be on Christianity in the UK and how it links to education, society, values, etc, etc. As a born again atheist, I nearly walked out before it started, but I endured.

I can honestly say that so long as my current Tory MP is on the ballot paper he will not be getting my vote, even if I was a staunch Conservative. Never have I seen such a display of arrogance in my life. All the other candidates had the good grace to stand up and speak into the microphone in front of them. The Rt Hon Desmond Swayne strutted around the stage like Caesar at the Forum. He really got my back up when he said that everyone should be able to save for a 'rainy day' when referring to the costs of care in old age.

The UKIP chap was okay. Does what it says on the tin. I'm not sure about their policy on cutting foreign aid, especially given current crisis. I believe it should be doubled/tripled for next few years in order to bring stability to the north African regions, stop the pull of UK/Europe, which in a way is investing in our future.
The Green Candidate. Poor lady, was out of her depth and very poorly prepared. When I questioned her after the debate she didn't even know much about the Navitus Bay wind farm scheme which is the biggest single issue facing the New Forest/Christchurch/Bournemouth/Poole/Isle of Purbeck and Isle of Wight.
The Labour Candidate. Was very good indeed. Eloquent without talking down. Knowledgeable about current problems in society. But unfortunately is Labour. If only Labour could run an economy.
Lib Dem didn't even show up.

On the whole very disappointing. Only national issues discussed, when really it should have been about the problems facing the area ie; 200 giant wind turbines, housing for the youngsters, job creation in the local communities.... sorry Mrs Green Party, but a community farm shop in a village of under 100 population is not the panacea of job creation nor is it a glowing reference on a CV for candidacy.

BelgianBeerGeek

Interesting. Apart from a few swaps between rosette colours, ours was the same (our LibDem was pretty good, the Labour guy useless).
I want an MP who will represent me. There seems to be a misconception that this is some kind of presidential election. I am not voting for Cameron or Miliband - just someone who seems like they will do a good job for their constituency.

chris_bass

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Interesting. Apart from a few swaps between rosette colours, ours was the same (our LibDem was pretty good, the Labour guy useless).
I want an MP who will represent me. There seems to be a misconception that this is some kind of presidential election. I am not voting for Cameron or Miliband - just someone who seems like they will do a good job for their constituency.

I agree, I think that is lost on a lot of people, I bet a lot of people voting for a certain party wouldn't even know who there local representative is.

Lookyhere

Chris Bass wrote:

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Interesting. Apart from a few swaps between rosette colours, ours was the same (our LibDem was pretty good, the Labour guy useless).
I want an MP who will represent me. There seems to be a misconception that this is some kind of presidential election. I am not voting for Cameron or Miliband - just someone who seems like they will do a good job for their constituency.

I agree, I think that is lost on a lot of people, I bet a lot of people voting for a certain party wouldn't even know who there local representative is.

but what does it really matter? ime your MP isnt really interested, outside of their narrow interests and wields not much power unless he/she is a member of the incumbent party.

in a national election, i will vote for the party i want in goverment, in a by election it would different, i think most people think the same way, that or voting is a complete waste of time.

mr_goo

Forgot to mention that our arrogant SoB of an MP is the Minister of State for International Development. Little wonder then that he is hardly ever in his constituency. Used to be CaMoron's aide de camp before climbing the greasy self serving political ladder. Wouldn't be surprised to see him retire by next term and take up a few directorships with companies that export to the countries where he has been most active.

The only thing he said that did make sense was that foreign aid is an investment in our future in trying to reduce the pull of economic migrants by boosting 3rd world economies with job creation. As discussed elsewhere on other threads perhaps all the EU and western nations should double/triple foreign aid for a few years in order to stop the mass movement of people.

ballysmate

Never has been difficult to distinguish a Scot holding a grievance from a ray of sunshine.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... tmare.html

Working for the benefit of the UK indeed.

CYCLESPORT1

tangled_metal

One of my neighbouring constituencies was a staunch Tory area but switched to Liberals a couple of terms ago. Now I know a bit about the MP and what he really is like before he got the candidature and won the seat (just but then got a decent majority the next term). I think he is nailed on to stay there. As well as rising up the Liberal party's heirarchy (you have to if only 20 odd MPs) he is now chairman IIRC and he still does a decent job of being a constituency MP.

Another neighbouring constituency is a true Labour area. Back in the day it was held by one of "Blair's Babes" (I say held only because the previous male candidate had a big majority but disappeared or retired in the favour of the female candidate list and this female MP got her first term in 97). She was initially into the fastrack "New Labour" rise up the greasy pole in the party but developed a conscience that slowed her progress. She is still there but is now a campaigning type I think.

My constituency IIRC was a new MP in 2010 and probably a cert to stay on. A permanent backbencher if ever I saw one. He'll be around for a long time I think, but he tries to make out he is a constituency MP out for us. However sending out random letters saying how he asked the transport minister about a local train station in an attempt at "helping" the local area. Seriously who thinks a minor town 8 minutes from a small regional city deserves to get a main line station on the west coast line from London to Scotland?? However it is aimed to preserve the image that he is a constituency MP out for us. He has a history of these letters.

I have given these examples as I do believe there is a false image that MPs are even interested in their consituents and the consituencies they represent. I feel there are many types of MPs from the old timers in the backbench to campaigning types (that labour Eagles woman for example) then there are those greasy pole climbers/PR types (Nigel Evans was the classic from my old area, TIm Fallon - Liberal chair IIRC, etc). I feel we have a system based on matters other than representation of their constituencies. What a surprise!!!

RideOnTime

Ballysmate wrote:

Never has been difficult to distinguish a Scot holding a grievance from a ray of sunshine.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... tmare.html

Working for the benefit of the UK indeed.

Looks like she's balancing on Hadrian's wall. Well I say balancing...

Hadrian's Wall of course marks where the real boundary of England should be.