General Election 2015

[Guinness Boy]

And minute one of my research in to Graham Cox shows this is going to be an interesting exercise. He supports a redeveloped King Alfred as a top class sports venue (support 100%) but also support for the Kings School (the faith school that tried to steal BHASVICs playing fields so 100% against). But are those my prejudices or genuinely one good / one bad for the community (writes a sports loving atheist). Hmmm.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

And minute one of my research in to Graham Cox shows this is going to be an interesting exercise. He supports a redeveloped King Alfred as a top class sports venue (support 100%) but also support for the Kings School (the faith school that tried to steal BHASVICs playing fields so 100% against). But are those my prejudices or genuinely one good / one bad for the community (writes a sports loving atheist). Hmmm.

Peter Kyle it is then!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Peter Kyle it is then!

Ha! Not yet. I'm even going to look as far as I can in to the fringe candidates. No point saying you're going to do something and not doing it.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Did you mean to say that, a tory / labour coalition?

Doh. Tory lib dem

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I held the same view as you then I spoke with some party members I know and the universal opinion is Eds awesome. Bearing in mind you cant get a group of labour activists to agree on anything I was shocked.

Just heard Tony Blair's public communications bloke from the 90's on radio 5, speaking on all the political leaders strengths and weaknesses in public speaking. Funnily enough, although a socialist, he does not hold Ed in high regard in this area. Hardly universal.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Pre Hereford, ie election night 1997, I stayed up to watch the coverage, back then both my kids were under 5 years of age, and I watched Tony Blair on TV that night and thought he was really going to make a difference to me but more importantly that of my young family.

He turned out to be one of the biggests shysters this country has ever produced, not only did he go back on most of what he promised, but he let all those young people go out and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and in a lot of cases lose their lives, for what?

In short whatever rossette they wear, are they all as bad as each other?

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Pre Hereford, ie election night 1997, I stayed up to watch the coverage, back then both my kids were under 5 years of age, and I watched Tony Blair on TV that night and thought he was really going to make a difference to me but more importantly that of my young family.

He turned out to be one of the biggests shysters this country has ever produced, not only did he go back on most of what he promised, but he let all those young people go out and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and in a lot of cases lose their lives, for what?

In short whatever rossette they wear, are they all as bad as each other?

I think in a nutshell, you are right. I am now of a certain age where I am jaded by my experience of the politicians, and whatever party they represent and whichever political persuasion I may be, I can't help but react with disbelief and cynicism to their claims.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Politicians can only do so much. Those right at the too have a period of time to shape direction and some make a better go of it than others but they all have vested interests and come under huge pressure from others. I trust little of what they say and form opinions on what i have seen their parties do in the past

 

[Camicus]

Just heard Tony Blair's public communications bloke from the 90's on radio 5, speaking on all the political leaders strengths and weaknesses in public speaking. Funnily enough, although a socialist, he does not hold Ed in high regard in this area. Hardly universal.

Universal among the people I spoke with. Alister Campbell is NOT a socialist he was the author of new labour so its not really a surprise he dosnt like Ed

 

[somerset]

Universal among the people I spoke with. Alister Campbell is NOT a socialist he was the author of new labour so its not really a surprise he dosnt like Ed

He is employed by him, why would he run him down?

 

[Pavilionaire]

Pre Hereford, ie election night 1997, I stayed up to watch the coverage, back then both my kids were under 5 years of age, and I watched Tony Blair on TV that night and thought he was really going to make a difference to me but more importantly that of my young family.

He turned out to be one of the biggests shysters this country has ever produced, not only did he go back on most of what he promised, but he let all those young people go out and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and in a lot of cases lose their lives, for what?

In short whatever rossette they wear, are they all as bad as each other?

I think people expect too much of their politicians. Instead of hoping for a messiah the quality I look for in a leader is simply someone who won't fvck it up. No politician is going to improve my life much, the main thing is they don't bankrupt the country. From that viewpoint I hope this coalition gets another 5 years.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Universal among the people I spoke with. Alister Campbell is NOT a socialist he was the author of new labour so its not really a surprise he dosnt like Ed

Sorry, it wasn't Alistair Campbell, I missed the start of the interview but heard a good few minutes. He wasn't impressed by any of the top politicians to be fair.

 

[Lenny Rider]

I think people expect too much of their politicians. Instead of hoping for a messiah the quality I look for in a leader is simply someone who won't fvck it up. No politician is going to improve my life much, the main thing is they don't bankrupt the country. From that viewpoint I hope this coalition gets another 5 years.

I wasn't looking for a messiah, but like a lot of people on here, my circumstances changed. In 1997 with young children for the first time I was interested in the NHS (my lad had health issues at that time) and education. I didn't want loaves and fishes but I really thought Blair was different after over a decade of Tory rule, and all their apparent mistakes.

Maybe at 50 I've become ultimately cynical because we haven't even got a 'Tony Blair' figure to get excited and inspired about amongst the party leaders this time around.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I wasn't looking for a messiah, but like a lot of people on here, my circumstances changed. In 1997 with young children for the first time I was interested in the NHS (my lad had health issues at that time) and education. I didn't want loaves and fishes but I really thought Blair was different after over a decade of Tory rule, and all their apparent mistakes.

Maybe at 50 I've become ultimately cynical because we haven't even got a 'Tony Blair' figure to get excited and inspired about amongst the party leaders this time around.

IMO exactly why it's important to have a decent constituency MP. Whoever's at the top, running the country is likely to have to a) be a massive CJTC who'd sell his/her granny for a bit of power and b) be prepared to go back on their own principles in the name of pragmatism (see B-liar, Tony and Clegg, Nick).

It's also why Green and UKIP as a party vote - as opposed to a personal one - will only ever be a protest. In reality most of their policies would be unimplementable.

 

[Lenny Rider]

IMO exactly why it's important to have a decent constituency MP. Whoever's at the top, running the country is likely to have to a) be a massive CJTC who'd sell his/her granny for a bit of power and b) be prepared to go back on their own principles in the name of pragmatism (see B-liar, Tony and Clegg, Nick).

It's also why Green and UKIP as a party vote - as opposed to a personal one - will only ever be a protest. In reality most of their policies would be unimplementable.

Case in point for the western part of Worthing as Sir Peter Bottomley is an excellent constituency MP.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I wasn't looking for a messiah, but like a lot of people on here, my circumstances changed. In 1997 with young children for the first time I was interested in the NHS (my lad had health issues at that time) and education. I didn't want loaves and fishes but I really thought Blair was different after over a decade of Tory rule, and all their apparent mistakes.

Maybe at 50 I've become ultimately cynical because we haven't even got a 'Tony Blair' figure to get excited and inspired about amongst the party leaders this time around.

I take your point, and I can see a lot of younger voters feel cheated because of Clegg's U-turn on tuition fees. When there's a personal issue at the fore the disappointment is more acutely felt. But how many countries do have charismatic leaders that enthuse their electorate with a vision? Not many. I'm sure if the Tories were led by Boris Johnson a good many UKIP voters wouldn't think twice about switching back to the Conservatives, but he has great potential to really mess things up.

Tony Bloom clearly wasn't inspired to appoint Chris Hughton over the summer. He's not the most charismatic bloke but he makes good choices and conducts himself in the right manner.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Ashcroft national poll out 20 mins ago
Tories 34, Mr Bean 30, yellows obliterated (5)
If it gets to 7 after the budget can get have the old thread title back please!?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I still think that it's far too difficult to call, as the 12-16% UKIP vote is crucial. They won't win many MPs, but they could really hurt the Tories in key marginals.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ashcroft national poll out 20 mins ago
Tories 34, Mr Bean 30, yellows obliterated (5)
If it gets to 7 after the budget can get have the old thread title back please!?

Ha ha. Does this one factor in "shy Tories" and the 110% youth vote from yesterday

 

[Machiavelli]

Ashcroft national poll out 20 mins ago
Tories 34, Mr Bean 30, yellows obliterated (5)
If it gets to 7 after the budget can get have the old thread title back please!?

You're becoming like Titanic. Perhaps this is down to your 'selective' schooling. Some comments from Mike Smithson of Political Betting relating to this:
Big driver of CON position in latest Ashcroft poll is higher certainty to vote. Before turnout filter LAB & CON almost level pegging
Only 2 of @LordAscroft polls this year have had LAB leads. This compares with 16 of the 2*weekly Populus polls

Also on Political Betting:
Latest Populus VI: Lab 33 (=), Con 32 (+1), LD 9 (+1), UKIP 15 (-1), GRN 6 (+1),