Cameron v Miliband v Clegg: the official Question Time match thread

[Herr Tubthumper]

Party with most seats would be able to go for a minority govt, but if that was the tories, they'd know they don't have support from Labour or the SNP, and not much from the Lib Dems either, so I doubt they'd want to try. Labour would have more success, as the SNP and Lib Dems would probably agree with them on a lot of issues, so it could be done.

Correct. It all comes down to the Queens speech. In some respect it's not so much who your allies are, more who your enemies are. Cameron has a lot more enemies than friends.

 

[Simster]

No, if cons win by 1 seat over lab, then cons get to decide surely, DC would be PM, ..... getting any bills through would be difficult of course, but Lab couldn't just grab a few minor parties and call it a win......

They could and they will if they can form a government.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No, if cons win by 1 seat over lab, then cons get to decide surely, DC would be PM, ..... getting any bills through would be difficult of course, but Lab couldn't just grab a few minor parties and call it a win......

They will get the first chance for sure. But if he cannot pass a Queens speech through Parliament then Ed will be invited to form a government.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I would personally give up all these luxuries to feed my kids - how about you?

I doubt many would buy phone credit over bread, if their kids were starving, no, but you really are taking a stupidly simplistic viewpoint on this.

Such is modern life, that there are few so vunerable to very real (often short term) hardships than those whose cirumstances change quickly.

Those you probably feel are 'deserving' of the food bank assistance - the long term unemployed, elderly, etc are the ones that the benefits system is designed around, and who hopefully are already cuaght by the safety nets. Someone in work, with their 'own' house, etc tends to have a whole heap more liabilities / outgoings than the afformentioned.

An individual or couple in modest employment, with a mortgage to pay, will very likely have next to no spare cash, and are probably relying on credit cards at the best of times. If they lose their job/s they are at least in the short term, screwed. Yes they need to feed their kids, but they also NEED to pay their mortgage / fuel bills / council tax / etc / etc whilst they desperately search for another job.

Will that job search be helped by them throwing their phone in a bin? Its not as though the phone companies will let them out of their contracts anyway.

 

[Triggaaar]

When labour left government growth was higher then it is today

What are the figures that support that?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No, if cons win by 1 seat over lab, then cons get to decide surely, DC would be PM, ..... getting any bills through would be difficult of course, but Lab couldn't just grab a few minor parties and call it a win......

This YouGov article explains things well

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/04/29/why-its-so-hard-cameron-win/

 

[Mackenzie]

I only heard David Cameron's bit, I thought he did well. My Brecon and Radnorshire constituency is a fairly safe liberal seat with only the conservatives being anywhere close. It'll almost certainly be a liberal hold.

 

[heathgate]

Only if the cons can't or won't. ..

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

HT why not be totally transparent, give an example, circumstance etc. and key in this information into the benefit calculator on YouGov website and lets see the figures, then at least we have some starting position.

I'm not sure what you're asking here.

 

[Triggaaar]

Only if the cons can't or won't. ..

Obviously. But I doubt they'd want to form a minority government, unless they were really close to a majority.

 

[BigGully]

I doubt many would buy phone credit over bread, if their kids were starving, no, but you really are taking a stupidly simplistic viewpoint on this.

Such is modern life, that there are few so vunerable to very real (often short term) hardships than those whose cirumstances change quickly.

Those you probably feel are 'deserving' of the food bank assistance - the long term unemployed, elderly, etc are the ones that the benefits system is designed around, and who hopefully are already cuaght by the safety nets. Someone in work, with their 'own' house, etc tends to have a whole heap more liabilities / outgoings than the afformentioned.

An individual or couple in modest employment, with a mortgage to pay, will very likely have next to no spare cash, and are probably relying on credit cards at the best of times. If they lose their job/s they are at least in the short term, screwed. Yes they need to feed their kids, but they also NEED to pay their mortgage / fuel bills / council tax / etc / etc whilst they desperately search for another job.

Will that job search be helped by them throwing their phone in a bin? Its not as though the phone companies will let them out of their contracts anyway.

I agree to a point and your example is sometimes overlooked, but those ongoing liabilities that then cannot be covered usually command some leniency by their recovery departments, even moreso the utility companies and mortgage companies, similarly it would be pretty poor to try to maintain any viable assets rather than feed you family, this is an example of tough times (I have been there) but not an obvious visit to get free food.

If I had a choice between feeding my family and a demand for my monthly mobile phone bill then I would default on my mobile phone contract.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I agree to a point and your example is sometimes overlooked, but those ongoing liabilities that then cannot be covered usually command some leniency by their recovery departments, even moreso the utility companies and mortgage companies, similarly it would be pretty poor to try to maintain any viable assets rather than feed you family, this is an example of tough times (I have been there) but not an obvious visit to get free food.

If I had a choice between feeding my family and a demand for my monthly mobile phone bill then I would default on my mobile phone contract.

But Hans points out that if you're looking for a job then cutting off your phone is a bit daft. Hans clearly points out the real dilemmas people are enduring.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Latest odds, certainly some cash to be made here

 

[peterward]

HIs face when he tripped on the step!!!! Priceless

Verified Twitter account ‏@GaryLineker

"Thought Ed Miliband did well to stay on his feet. Many would have gone down under those circumstances, especially on the box."

 

[BigGully]

But Hans points out that if you're looking for a job then cutting off your phone is a bit daft. Hans clearly points out the real dilemmas people are enduring.

Well it would depend on how important and the cost of the contract, there are dilemmas no doubt, uncomfortable yes but perhaps part of life, sometimes.

You also seem to overlook that examples access to benefits too, a quick look at the Gov website confirms that a family of 4 with 2 young children will be in receipts £117.00 tax credits, Council Tax covered @ £113.23 per week, Child Benefit £20.70 and their rent covered @ £300.00 per week ( based on a house rental ), totalling a net income of £477.18 or £24.820 per annum net.

They have £190.00 per week and the children access to Free School Meals, Breakfast club, ongoing liabilities might well eat into this amount, but they would need to reposition those liabilities, the food bank would be helpful, but not necessarily for nutritional reasons.

 

[BensGrandad]

The Sun, probably because of its wide spread and extensive readership, usually back the winner and they are firmly in the Tory and anti SNP camp. As they point out Nicola Sturgeon could run and break up the UK having failed to win Independance for Scotland will attack the goal from another angle.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Well it would depend on how important and the cost of the contract, there are dilemmas no doubt, uncomfortable yes but perhaps part of life, sometimes.

You also seem to overlook that examples access to benefits too, a quick look at the Gov website confirms that a family of 4 with 2 young children will be in receipts £117.00 tax credits, Council Tax covered @ £113.23 per week, Child Benefit £20.70 and their rent covered @ £300.00 per week ( based on a house rental ), totalling a net income of £477.18 or £24.820 per annum net.

They have £190.00 per week and the children access to Free School Meals, Breakfast club, ongoing liabilities might well eat into this amount, but they would need to reposition those liabilities, the food bank would be helpful, but not necessarily for nutritional reasons.

None of this is, bar the child benefit and tax credits, are relevant to my example, is it?

 

[Rod Marsh]

Verified Twitter account ‏@GaryLineker

"Thought Ed Miliband did well to stay on his feet. Many would have gone down under those circumstances, especially on the box."

Lineker is excellent on Tw@tter. Well worth a follow.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Wow. Appears Dave might not have been as good as he smugly came across. There's a shock.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ampp3d/7-things-david-cameron-said-5612813

 

[Bozza]

Despite all the earlier criticism, it looks like the Tories played an absolute blinder with their strategy on the TV debates with last night's Question Time really shaking up prospects.

It still might not be enough for them to form the next government, but it's certainly increased their chances significantly from where we were 24 hours ago.