[Politics] The General Election Thread

[Biscuit Barrel]

Oh dear, this bloody democracy is so annoying isnt it, what with all these upstart labour members deciding on policy and then voting for leaders who will actually implement them.

They wont implement them because they did not get elected. Bloody democracy.

 

[Hampster Gull]

You haven't noticed the decline and marginalisation of Trade Unions over the last 30 years then?

They have a lot of influence at the Labour Party, from being fund raisers through to the highest single donor (unite) through to having 13+ reps on the NEC through to their influence on their members

 

[BenGarfield]

Fill your boots, impressive uni politics stuff. In the meantime the country will get on with things.

So how do you think democracy should work? Or do you favour benign dictatorships?

 

[Hampster Gull]

Look, I dont even vote labour, because their policies are not radical enough for me, but opinion poll evidence shows their policies were popular, although I agree Corbyn, and their Brexit policies were clearly not popular which swung the vote

And for me that is the danger for Labour, that they fight another election with the same policies but a better version of Corbyn and with Brexit done. I am sure they will lose. I respect your views btw, I don’t agree but I respect them. My input is that in a FPTP system I want two credible political parties otherwise we will let the Tories run unconstrained.

 

[GT49er]

They have a lot of influence at the Labour Party, from being fund raisers through to the highest single donor (unite) through to having 13+ reps on the NEC through to their influence on their members

Yes, but they don't have so many members these days, and they don't have the power or resources to run strikes like they used to. Many firms and many, many workers are not unionised at all.

 

[BenGarfield]

Rich boy playing at hard left policies and ultimately the expense of the poorest. Without power you cannot implement your policies, and this uni students union stuff won’t wash with the U.K. electorate as just shown again. Or Abbott, campaigns to close private schools and sends her kid to one. Joke

So the political systems developed in the successful nordic countries are based on "student" politics?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Oh dear, this bloody democracy is so annoying isnt it, what with all these upstart labour members deciding on policy and then voting for leaders who will actually implement them.

Point of order. Labour is so spectacularly unpopular that no one will be implementing them any time soon.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

It will be a disaster for Labour if they instal another Corbynista as leader. Regardless of your politics, If you want an effective democracy you need an effective opposition. Momentum hijacked Labour and forced out a number of decent centre left MPs. There now needs to be a purge of Momentum if Labour is to become electable again.

You're spot on - but I fear that as Momentum now run the Party they will continue down the same path and push for either Angela Rayner or Rebecca Long-Bailey.

You've already had the likes of Owen Jones blaming Brexit, the MSM, basically anyone or anything that isn't Corbyn or his policies.

 

[Lower West Stander]

So then they should develop unpopular policies, or abandon socialism, give up maybe? What do you suggest? Labours policies were just mainstream democratic socialist ones not at all extreme historically in this country, and commonplace elsewhere in other countries. And why were you scared of Corbyn ? A peace-loving allotment-holding, cycling, jam-maker.

Perhaps more McDonnell actually.....

State ownership in France going very well at the moment

 

[KZNSeagull]

Lisa Nandy talking sense on the BBC as usual. She would make a half decent Labour leader.

 

[Lower West Stander]

So how do you think democracy should work? Or do you favour benign dictatorships?

Like Venezuela you mean?

 

[Beach Hut]

Perhaps more McDonnell actually.....

State ownership in France going very well at the moment

Can we please not mention IRA sympathisers

 

[Wardy's twin]

It was McCluskey's influence via the union UNITE that did for David Miliband and essentially screwed the Labour party turning it into the archaic left wing laughing house under Corbyn etc though really with McCluskey and others pulling the strings. So I would say they had a very strong (negative) influence on the result.

 

[BenGarfield]

Like Venezuela you mean?

I`m no defender of everything that Maduro has done, but I think he did win an election, unlike that bogus chap the Yanks tried to install claiming him to be the new leader.

 

[Lower West Stander]

I`m no defender of everything that Maduro has done, but I think he did win an election, unlike that bogus chap the Yanks tried to install claiming him to be the new leader.

Not sure he did actually....but that's another story.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

I always liked Alan Johnson ..

 

[Si Gull]

And clearly the 'second referendum / remain' parties got considerably more votes that 'leave now' parties. Yet the 'mandate' is for a rapid leave on whatever terms Boris wants.

This is what gives the lie to Boris et al and the 'unarguable decision of the British people' rhetoric. Our voting system is ****ed and unlikely to change anytime soon.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Can we please not mention IRA sympathisers

Of course very little is said about the conservative and UNIONIST party which directly supported the various UNIONIST paramilitaries who were responsible for over 1000 deaths including British servicemen. One could argue that the root cause of the 'troubles ' lay with that grouping of power which denied civil rights to the Catholic minority . The IRA was a nonentity in 1969.

 

[nicko31]

10% swing to LD's in my seat, a Tory 10k majority in 2015 is now a Lib Dem 10k majority. The lies worked on the many, we're the few

 

[Grombleton]

Doesn’t mean she isn’t a complete and utter hypocrite. One rule for the rest, another rule for the leaders

Leaders? She isn't a leader.