[Politics] The General Election Thread

[Notters]

I'd love it if they did an election with "who would you vote for under PR" as well. Mine would be a very different answer.

 

[sparkie]

Quite a few surprises in store I suspect, whatever the overall outcome. Johnson's seat is definitely not safe.

A good chance that Ian Duncan Smith will lose his seat. The Labour candidate, Faiza Shaheen, is great and has already motivated a lot of local support.

What's the feeling from those in Hastings out of interest? Was very tight in 2017.

That makes an election worthwhile in itself.

 

[Lenny Rider]

I did once read that the LibDems would be the country's leading party if enough people thought they could be the country's leading party.

Swinson rather than Johnson?

Certainly be interesting.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Swinson rather than Johnson?

Certainly be interesting.

Swinson will lose her seat.

 

[Trufflehound]

Whilst I could never vote for the Conservative Party in its current guise, I don't think it's surprising in the slightest that many would. If you're of the "leave means leave" inclination, then Boris Johnson is your man, isn't he? I'm not sure it's any more complicated than that.

Precisely my point. Johnson isn't anyone's man but his own. If he was genuinely 'leave means leave' he would be debating his own withdrawal bill in Parliament right now trying to get it through, rather than putting it on hold pending the forthcoming sideshow. For him Brexit is only important as a way of boosting his own status.

He's only calling this election because he thinks (and he is probably right) that he can have another 5 years as PM as a result. He's not doing anything for the benefit of the electorate, but apparently people think he is (and many will be convinced by whatever high-profile but unsustainable tax breaks or other bribes he promises in the manifesto to get him over the line).

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

I cannot vote having been non resident for over 15 years but not sure if I get this accusation.


"Mr Johnson’s spending plans appear to add up to much more than £27bn. He has pledged a hospital-building programme; a new railway line to link northern cities; a £3.6bn fund for deprived towns; and a*plan to fix the crisis in social care."

Austerity*:
A difficult economic situation caused by a government reducing the amount of money it spends:

Since 2010;

Spectacularly missed economic targets
Half of maternity units closed at some point last year
Teaching crisis
The biggest education funding cuts in decades
Nursing crisis
Policing crisis
Armed forces crisis
The longest fall in value of wages since records began
Windrush
Private prison crisis
Private train companies defrauding the state
Private nhs providers defrauding the state
Private academies closing shop
Waiting lists for nhs services at record levels
A/E waiting times at record highs
People dying in hospital corridors
Social care crisis
Food bank useage at record high
Increase in child poverty
Homelessness at a record high
House building at lowest levels since 1920’s

That’s the legacy of the Tory government. We were supposed to ‘all be in this together’ but austerity has seen the most vulnerable in society hit hardest whilst the already wealthy have increased their wealth thanks in part due to Tory tax breaks worth billions. So Johnson can talk big about spending all he likes but, as the old chestnut goes, actions speak louder than words.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I posted up roll call of shame on the Brexit thread , 134 MP's mainly Labour with a few Torys who are not representing their constituents , squeaky Bum time
Regards
DF

 

[A1X]

Do UKIP still exist as anything other than a laughing stock? I don't even know which racist / sexist / bigot (delete as appropriate when they are sacked for one or more) is in charge now.

Isn't it still Dick Braine?

 

[mwrpoole]

Quite a few surprises in store I suspect, whatever the overall outcome. Johnson's seat is definitely not safe.

A good chance that Ian Duncan Smith will lose his seat. The Labour candidate, Faiza Shaheen, is great and has already motivated a lot of local support.

What's the feeling from those in Hastings out of interest? Was very tight in 2017.

There's rumours up here in Sevenoaks that Johnson is going to stand here - Sir Michael Fallon is retiring.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Since 2010;

Spectacularly missed economic targets
Half of maternity units closed at some point last year
Teaching crisis
The biggest education funding cuts in decades
Nursing crisis
Policing crisis
Armed forces crisis
The longest fall in value of wages since records began
Windrush
Private prison crisis
Private train companies defrauding the state
Private nhs providers defrauding the state
Private academies closing shop
Waiting lists for nhs services at record levels
A/E waiting times at record highs
People dying in hospital corridors
Social care crisis
Food bank useage at record high
Increase in child poverty
Homelessness at a record high
House building at lowest levels since 1920’s

That’s the legacy of the Tory government. We were supposed to ‘all be in this together’ but austerity has seen the most vulnerable in society hit hardest whilst the already wealthy have increased their wealth. So Johnson can talk big about spending all he likes but, as the old chestnut goes, actions speak louder than words.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...e-to-exceed-this-years-deficit-target-by-16bn

The government is on course to overshoot its deficit target this year by £16bn after a series of spending pledges, a slowdown in the economy and the spiralling cost of student loans stripped the Treasury of £43bn.

 

[Mellotron]

Whilst I could never vote for the Conservative Party in its current guise, I don't think it's surprising in the slightest that many would. If you're of the "leave means leave" inclination, then Boris Johnson is your man, isn't he? I'm not sure it's any more complicated than that.

That’ll be the same Boris Johnson who just pulled the Brexit deal that FINALLY got voted through to amendments phase..?!

He’s literally stopping Brexit happening.

 

[Bozza]

That’ll be the same Boris Johnson who just pulled the Brexit deal that FINALLY got voted through to amendments phase..?!

He’s literally stopping Brexit happening.

Yet, perversely, still showing more leave intent than anyone else.

 

[highflyer]

That makes an election worthwhile in itself.

Have faith! It will happen.

https://www.theguardian.com/global/...use-of-austerity-he-inflicted-on-my-mum-video

 

[BBassic]

I've no idea who to vote for. Except to say it sure as shit won't be the Conservatives.

 

[Mellotron]

Yet, perversely, still showing more leave intent than anyone else.

No, no he isn’t. He just stopped Brexit happening. He’s categorically showing no intent to “leave”.

 

[Bozza]

No, no he isn’t. He just stopped Brexit happening. He’s categorically showing no intent to “leave”.

OK mate.

 

[Mellotron]

To answer the question - no idea. Anyone but the Conservatives. Absolute shambles of a joke of a party.

 

[Mellotron]

OK mate.

You are arguing that night is day.

 

[highflyer]

I really don't believe any vote is wasted now.

Here in Findon we come under East Worthing and Shoreham for some reason. You'd have always said that is Tory through and through. However, here's how the Labour share of the vote has changed over recent elections:

2010: 16.7%
2015: 19.5%
2017: 39.3%

If people thought "a vote for Labour is wasted" in those previous elections, and put their X somewhere else, then we wouldn't have the position we have today where Labour could have a real chance (if they had a leader of any merit anyway).

In Wealden, Labour did far better in 2017 than I'd expected, doubling their share of the vote, from 11% to 22%. Lib Dems didn't really improve at all (it was votes moving from UKIP to Labour by the looks of it). That said, still nowhere near enough to even DREAM about anything other than a massive Tory majority here (definitely blue rosette on a pig territory). But enough to make me think about where I place my tactical/symbolic vote.

 

[darkwolf666]

Heart says Green but head says Labour. I dread to think how much misery another 5 years of Tory austerity will bring.

Didn’t you hear, the age of austerity is over