General Election 2017

[wellquickwoody]

It's for their future.

As it happens, I'm not a huge fan of this (it's one of those giveaways you can make when you won't have to be in power).
One 'blemish' on the manifesto compared to the Tories hilarious effort though.

And since when are 'lefties' all labour voters?
That'd be like me calling all right-wingers knuckle-dragging, elitist *****?

So writing off debt from 10 years ago will help your grandchildrens future? Cos that is what Jezza is promising. Feel free to regret at your leisure.

 

[brakespear]

Good luck with someone defending that. Just a pure vote buyer. What's the odds that the first U-turn if they did win!! They are just exploiting simple young minds with that policy!!

Better than doing a U-turn before you've even won.

 

[Seasider78]

Yes, it does seem odd, fully agreed. But it is only fair to assess the capabilities of a future PM, and how he/she would react in a variety of situations, and though the idea of nuclear bombs being thrown about, is highly unlikely, and other issues would indeed seem to be more pressing, it is nonetheless worth pursuing. The public wish to be reassured, and quite frankly, JC's responses were evasive.

Of course it is important any leader knows when to make the right decisions around security but this was a ridiculous line of questioning as the conditions under what circumstances you would launch a nuclear weapon would be incredibly complex and he was right to avoid being drawn into what scenarios he would launch under. At times it felt like people would have been happier with a trump like character reassuring them he would not hesitate to hit the button.

I am by no means a Corbyn fan but was refreshing to see someone who actually showed an understanding of what pressing the button actually means. Would rather have someone with that mentality holding the trigger than a warmonger

 

[Is it PotG?]

Sticking your head in the sand involves not realising where our real vulnerabilities lie like cyber security and these are not hypothetical; just look at recent ransom-ware attacks. Nuclear remains an issue but NATO is hardly short of nuclear capability to provide an appropriate level of deterrence. If we really cared about security we would be investing in making our IT systems much more robust, anticipating future threats, intelligence gathering , overseas investment to prevent instability. This involves investment in infrastructure, research, education, diplomacy and all the stuff that the blowhards really resent.

I agree, May mentioned this live on TV last week when questioned about police numbers on the beat going down. Reassuring that Labour have picked up on this too tonight.

Think it was the Paxman thing.

 

[ozzygull]

Whatever floats your boat I would rather someone stand up and admit that the use of nuclear weapons was an unthinkable last resort than play to the gallery with Hollywood style tubthumping about launching nukes.

Besides is this really a topic that should be the centrepiece of an election campaign?

What, you mean he didn't say something he didn't beleave in just to appease an audience. If we get to the point when we need to do it we are already ducked. Does anybody really think the North Korea or any other country are going to be more scared of May.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Russia, North Korea, potentially Pakistan in the future. Sticking our heads in the sand won't protect us. The world is not filled with nice gentlemen like JC.

It all got a bit Yes Prime Minister with the classic trident sketch. If someone launches a nuclear strike on us, Trident has failed, launching it doesn't change that, its failed it's primary purpose as a deterrent and is simply mutually assured destruction. Doesn't matter which leader says they wouldn't or would - we've still got a nuclear bomb landing on us because the deterrent failed vis-a-vis they weren't deterred!

 

[lawros left foot]

When did he say that?

May probably missed that, she wasn't there.

 

[nicko31]

Well 2 hours ago one bookie was offering 5-1 on JC, there are now five. Odds still tightening

 

[vegster]

Quite astonishing.
In the hypothetical that a rogue nation attacks this country, destroying targets up and down the country with wave after wave Corbyn would just let it happen and not respond to try and protect his own people.
I dont know how any can defend this stance.

Yes, Wouldn't it be a disaster if a rogue nation got to inherit a poisoned, dying world ?

 

[Is it PotG?]

May probably missed that, she wasn't there.

It was me that missed it.

 

[pastafarian]

It's not difficult at all. If nukes are used everyone dies. They are there for posturing and that's it. The sooner the world is rid of them the better.

One nuke fired at Britain does not kill everyone. The following waves when the bad guys realise we will not defend ourselves will almost certainly wipe nearly everyone out

 

[Tubby-McFat-Fuc]

Better than doing a U-turn before you've even won.

How is it. I would say the complete opposite. Know you've made a **** up, and have the balls to admit it and change it.

If Labour win, there is no way on this earth that they will keep that policy. Its a vote winner on the vulnerable and easily lead.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

There's some dumb comments on here, but that's up there with them. Well thought out mate.

What the "Tory Boy" actually said was, they are struggling to pay wages now. Costs have gone up with the weak pound, pressures are on small/medium business.

If all of a sudden Labour get you to have pay an extra 9% corporation tax, then increase a lot of your work force pay from £7.20 an hour to £10, how are they going to afford it. Or will Labour open the gate to the money tree orchard for them to use.

You're right with your second sentence. Don't employ people then because you can't afford to. Result, your business goes under.

Labour loose the 19% corporation tax you was paying, on top of the tax from wages you were providing your staff.

So you end up with business going to the wall, and a lot of people paying tax, now all of a sudden, not paying tax, and claiming benefits. And they will drive tens of thousands of small business to the wall. They may as well raise VAT to 50% as well why they are at. I don't see it doing much more damage then their existing plans.

Another great idea from the Labour party!!

I am all for raising corporation tax to 50% for big multinationals like Amazon, ebay, the utility companies, who post billion pound profits and tax dodge, especially those that cannot run overseas and need and supply our nation, but labelling someone like that small business owner on question time, as a Tory Boy, is frankly pathetic.

Except he's just confirmed himself as a Conservative Party activist on the BBC News Channel.

Thanks for your well thought out answer. However, it doesn't change the fact his gripe was having to pay more to his staff in order for them to earn a living wage.

 

[lawros left foot]

Of course it is important any leader knows when to make the right decisions around security but this was a ridiculous line of questioning as the conditions under what circumstances you would launch a nuclear weapon would be incredibly complex and he was right to avoid being drawn into what scenarios he would launch under. At times it felt like people would have been happier with a trump like character reassuring them he would not hesitate to hit the button.

I am by no means a Corbyn fan but was refreshing to see someone who actually showed an understanding of what pressing the button actually means. Would rather have someone with that mentality holding the trigger than a warmonger

Often the ones who have never been too war, are the keenest on it.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Better than doing a U-turn before you've even won.

Is it.......really?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Didn't watch the debate but it seems that the big talking point is Nuclear Bombs?!

Not quite sure what the point of Labour committing to renewing trident is when JC wouldn't ever use it.....

Nobody ever, ever, ever wants to use them, but they are a deterrent, but a deterrent would not work if your enemy knows you would not use it.

 

[Tubby-McFat-Fuc]

One nuke fired at Britain does not kill everyone. The following waves when the bad guys realise we will not defend ourselves will almost certainly wipe nearly everyone out

Exactly. A bit like Brexit. You need to be prepared to say you will use them.

It's a deterrent FFS. How can you deter people with them, if you won't confirm that you are prepared to use them.

 

[seagulls4ever]

So writing off debt from 10 years ago will help your grandchildrens future? Cos that is what Jezza is promising. Feel free to regret at your leisure.

Incorrect, he isn't writing off debt for those who already owe tuition fees.

Your original post on tuition fees was factually incorrect as well. It isn't a quarter of the budget, which is obviously a great deal more substantial than 4x10bn. It'a 700bn+

It's interesting how we are told individual debt is bad and should be avoided, yet we're willing to start people off in life with 50k of debt, that they start paying massive amounts of interest on from their first year at university.

Further, the government has to pay for it anyway. They've just fiddled the books so it's owed to the Student Loans Company so it appears our deficit is less than it actually is.

 

[Tubby-McFat-Fuc]

Is it.......really?

What U-turn are on about flower?

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

One nuke fired at Britain does not kill everyone. The following waves when the bad guys realise we will not defend ourselves will almost certainly wipe nearly everyone out

So your saying 'they'd' only drop a single bomb, just in case we retaliate and it's only a lack of retaliation that would make this hypothetical enemy confident enough to send another?