UK 2010 General Election

[STEED]

May 6th is the big day, and I hope Labour is not re-elected not after what they have done. Will it be close? Will the Liberal Party do a deal if we get a hung Parliament? Will you be voting?

I am voting as staying at home plays right in to there hands, what we must do is a 100% turn out and show them they work for us. I will not be voting for my sitting Conservative MP as they threw common sense out of the window last year by buying a second home. I am not voting for them to endorse there irrepressible actions no way.

I feel we should vote out all those who had there hand in the cookie jar even if you back there party there in.

Make the most of the moment where they got to kiss your ass. :har:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8603591.stm

[mr chris]

The voting system in the UK needs changed before i vote.
You don't get a choice of who is PM.
You dont vote for who you want to be PM you just vote for who you want as your local MP. Who in turn has no say in the running of the country.
It's about time you had a two separate Elections. One for who you want as PM and one who you want as your local MP.

[STEED]

The voting system in the UK needs changed before i vote.
You don't get a choice of who is PM.
You dont vote for who you want to be PM you just vote for who you want as your local MP. Who in turn has no say in the running of the country.
It's about time you had a two separate Elections. One for who you want as PM and one who you want as your local MP.

I would go further than that, half the number of MP's for a start. I was not happy that Gordon Brown slipped in and took over the running of the country, one thing must be done, if such situations comes about, they can only be there for six months and a general election date must be made.

Gordon Brown did not go to the people with a mandate as our PM, he just slid in when Tony (The Barren) Blair stepped down.

[nikimcbee]

Can I vote, I used to be British? I like BBC shows, fishnchips, and I know Mr. Buna.

[mr chris]

If i had to vote on who i wanted to be PM. I would vote for Brown, the safest pair of hands for the economy if you ask me. Clegg is just a nonentity and to wet behind the ears and Cameron is just playing with the people telling them what they want to hear. Without any clear policy on how he is going deliver on the promises he makes.

I like your idea of cutting the Number of MP's, have always thought the was far to many. Why not just have one MP per County? Like Senators in the USA.

[nikimcbee]

So, If I get representation in Parlament, here's what I want changed: Ban roundabouts, drive on the correct side of the street, the correct spelling of words like color, odor, etc. Let me think of some more stuff.

[Sailor Steve]

So, If I get representation in Parlament...
Um, that's the very reason we aren't them anymore. And the reason we drive on the right.:sunny:

And we still spell some words with the 'u': contour, velour, paramour, troubadour. On the other hand Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary had the English using that spelling for words they no longer do: emperour, errour, governour, horrour, tenour, terrour, tremour.

All the above is unapologetically stolen from this page, which has many more interesting differences, and the reasons why.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences

[nikimcbee]

Um, that's the very reason we aren't them anymore. And the reason we drive on the right.:sunny:

And we still haven't changed words like endeavour.

Plus, I'd probably upset past family members that left there and fought in the Rev War. That's all I need is a few ghosts bugging me.:o:haha:

[STEED]

If i had to vote on who i wanted to be PM. I would vote for Brown, the safest pair of hands for the economy if you ask me.

The very man who took the banking regulations away in 97/98? Which resulted in the mess we are in now. Even Brown said he regretted that decision.

Vince cable MP for Twickenham and Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer is the man we need to be chancellor, he saw and predicted this mess long before the dung hit the fan.

[STEED]

Can I vote, I used to be British? I like BBC shows, fishnchips, and I know Mr. Buna.

Were you born here in the UK nik?

[mr chris]

The very man who took the banking regulations away in 97/98? Which resulted in the mess we are in now. Even Brown said he regretted that decision.

Vince cable MP for Twickenham and Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer is the man we need to be chancellor, he saw and predicted this mess long before the dung hit the fan.


At least he has the balls to admit he buggered up.
In my opinion he is the best choice of a very bad lot. :dead:

As for Cable as Chancellor of the Exchequer. If you took my theroy from earlier about the two elections. One for PM the other for MP's. Then he could be Chancellor, as my idea is that whoever got elected as PM could then choose his or hers cabinet from the whole pool of MP's relevant of what party they were. That way you get the best people for the job.

[STEED]

At least he has the balls to admit he buggered up.
In my opinion he is the best choice of a very bad lot. :dead:

And saved the world...;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5stftd5qv3M


Another big problem is the EU passing 75-80% of our laws, makes you wonder if Parliament is nothing more than a big council.

Uncle Brown.
http://www.talkswindon.org/politics/speedcameras/Brown%20is%20stalin.jpg


Joking aside we really do need a massive political shake up but most people sit on the ass watching soaps all day long, bugger.

[mr chris]

That made me chuckle.

Im a little annoyed at the TV coverage of politics in the UK over the last year or so. All the major news shows and channels have been cosing up to the Tories and Cameron. and lining up to bash the Government. Very poor / cheap journalism, it has been kinda sick to watch at times. Can't wait for the backlash after the honeymoon if he wins the election.

People have just become disenfranchised from the political system. Due to the their vote not really counting for as much as it should. Until the is a massive electoral reform along the lines of what posted earlier i don't see much changing.

[STEED]

That made me chuckle.

Im a little annoyed at the TV coverage of politics in the UK over the last year or so.

Media here now is just a joke most part, dumbing down Britain. I no longer watch the news here and I must confess feel better for it. ;)

[Jimbuna]

Somebody wake him up....it's nearly time to vote!!

http://averyhenderson.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/gordon-brown-sleeping-6-17-081.jpg

[Konovalov]

I attained my British citizenship back in January of this year so I am now eligable to vote. Unfortunately I can't say that I am impressed by any of the parties. :down:

[Oberon]

Whoever wins, we lose. :yep:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Whoever wins, we lose. :yep:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2033/avpl.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Whoever wins, we lose. :yep:

You might just be right :hmmm:

[TarJak]

Somebody wake him up....it's nearly time to vote!!

http://averyhenderson.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/gordon-brown-sleeping-6-17-081.jpgWhat makes me LOL about this shot is it looks like he's fallen asleep in the wrong seat.:D

I'm also slightly tickled by the fact that my wife being a British Citizen is able to vote in this election after having lived in Australia for the last 20 years. I wonder who she will stick you guys with?:D

[Jimbuna]

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1056/gordonbrown.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/i/gordonbrown.jpg/)

[badhat17]

I can't wait to help kick the snot eating eejit out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VaP1HB7Vew

[Jimbuna]

I can't wait to help kick the snot eating eejit out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VaP1HB7Vew

You and many others I reckon :DL

[August]

What makes me LOL about this shot is it looks like he's fallen asleep in the wrong seat.:D

I'm also slightly tickled by the fact that my wife being a British Citizen is able to vote in this election after having lived in Australia for the last 20 years. I wonder who she will stick you guys with?:D

Doesn't matter. The Brits said our special relationship was over. Time to hit the dating scene and find a new partner.


Say,... what are you Aussies doing this weekend?

[TarJak]

I think we are going out with the Chinese this weekend. It depends on whether they are paying.:D If that falls through I'm sure we could set something up.

[nikimcbee]

Somebody wake him up....it's nearly time to vote!!

http://averyhenderson.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/gordon-brown-sleeping-6-17-081.jpg
Aren't they supposed to put shavingcream in his hand, then tickle his nose?:haha:

[Jimbuna]

Aren't they supposed to put shavingcream in his hand, then tickle his nose?:haha:

I'd give a lot of money to see that :D

[STEED]

I attained my British citizenship back in January of this year so I am now eligable to vote. Unfortunately I can't say that I am impressed by any of the parties. :down:

This is a good point, Kono do you feel like I there a bunch of kids point scoring off each other? I watch PM Q's and its like a kinda garden at times. I have decided vote for a smaller party only on the grounds to date not seen any of them act like kids.

[STEED]

Whoever wins, we lose. :yep:

Therefore we must change that, problem is as I said to Mr Chris, most people rather sit on there ass watching soap operas and they wonder why we are in the ****. Change will only come about if people get off there butts.

[Jimbuna]

Hmmm, soaps....fancy watching a one with me STEED

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8076/gordonbrown3.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/gordonbrown3.jpg/)

[XabbaRus]

The voting system in the UK needs changed before i vote.
You don't get a choice of who is PM.
You dont vote for who you want to be PM you just vote for who you want as your local MP. Who in turn has no say in the running of the country.
It's about time you had a two separate Elections. One for who you want as PM and one who you want as your local MP.

Well then that is a bit self defeating. The only way to get it changed is by voting for those who might change it.

I have a different dilema. I have to ensure the SNP get as few seats as possible. In my constituency we have a LibDem who is the incumbent and I think he is OK, but will vote for him to ensure that.

Where my folks live is old Alex 'Slippery, hey don't I look like Shrek and yes independence is a fairytale' Salmond's constituency. Now last time the Tories came in second by a not huge margin, and the Tory candidate is a Banff fisherman...soo here's hoping the SNP will lose this westminster seat to the Tories....if just to wipe that smile off of Salmonds face.

[Tribesman]

Any thoughts about the UUP/Conservative electoral alliance up in the 6?
It has already cost the UUP their last remaining MP, will the joint candidates be the death knell of those parties up there.
Its a shame the Make Politicians History isn't standing again this election, then again it is one of the best reasons ever given for the folding of a political party.

[STEED]

http://generalelection2010.timesonline.co.uk/#/Election05/Seats_Won

[Oberon]

Suffolk Coastal...blue

There's a surprise!

They should just build a castle... :har:

Still, to be fair, Gummer hasn't treated us too badly, but I doubt I'd want his party back in power. Nor Gordos for that matter.

Wonder if this year will beat records for lowest voter turnout? :hmmm:

[STEED]

I predict on the big night the BBC will make an ass of themselves like last year with the gunslinger act. :nope:

[Jimbuna]

I predict there'll only be one act worth watching 'on the big night'

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1056/gordonbrown.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/gordonbrown.jpg/)

[STEED]

Good grief! A man who spoke his mind, whats wrong with that?

referred to Jedward as ''odious little s***s

I agree.

I rather have a straight talking MP rather than one which farts about with there answers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7570688/Labour-election-candidate-apologises-over-Twitter-rants.html

[Jimbuna]

I thought I heard today that he'd either resigned or been kicked out of the party :hmmm:

[nikimcbee]

So is the British media (like BBC) pro-Brown, like the relation ship obama has with most of the US media?

[XabbaRus]

I wouldn't say the BBC is pro Brown...I think it is being reasonably neutral.

As I said I am tactical voting based on the circumstances in my area.

[Jimbuna]

So is the British media (like BBC) pro-Brown, like the relation ship obama has with most of the US media?

I am of the firm belief that the BBC are neutral.

They consider (rightly or wrongly...you decide) that they have a worldwide image/reputation for maintaining such a stance regardless of the news topic, area or subject matter etc.

[STEED]

I thought I heard today that he'd either resigned or been kicked out of the party :hmmm:

Gave him the boot jim, thats what you get when you speak your mind.

[jumpy]

Seems to me that the practical concerns of voting in the UK are flawed.
Both my parents have the following idea regarding how you cast your vote.

You vote for the next strongest contender against the party you do not wish to get in to power.
So, if I don't want another 5 years of labour gravy-training, I should vote tory to ensure that (as the next most likely party) labour do not get another term in office. This completely ignores the question of who I may actually want to cast my vote for.
It's voting by default. To be fair, with the two party system we have now (forget lib-dem) it does seem to be a logical means of voting, but I cannot shake the feeling that something is going wrong somewhere along the line with this method, regardless of how pragmatic it may be.

My personal feeling about this and most other elections since I was old enough to vote is that whoever wins, we lose. One way or another. And the reality is that no matter who is elected everything is going to cost more for the individual/ordinary families. Having struggled with the lack of decent employment and financial pressure being a factor in the breakup of many relationships regarding the recession (which I for one do not believe is 'over') it's all just going to be more of the same, spouted off by people who don't live in the real world of bills and economy food spending and constantly worrying if there's enough money left at the end of the month to pay for everything that the law says you must.

Any fool who tells you minimum wage is enough to live on needs to be kicked out of their ******* ivory tower and given a rude introduction to life without parliamentary expenses and business perks and second homes.

minimum wage = £5.80ph (re-calculate that figure to £4.83 ph if you're under 22 years old or £3.57 ph if you're under 18)
x 40 hrs per week x 4 weeks = £928.00
- 20% income tax/NI (as a rough figure to go by) = £742.40

this has to pay for the following:
rent £450pcm
utilities (gas/elec) £200 per quarter, so that's roughly £50 pcm
council tax £100 pcm
tv license £11 pcm
vehicle insurance £50 pcm
telephone £12.50 pcm
internet £19.46 pcm
house/contents insurance £10 pcm
fuel to travel to work £120 pcm (could be less, but that's what I used to pay last year, so it's probably a lot more by now)

So far I'm not including water rates, road tax, credit card bills, overdrafts, medical/prescription expenses, or feeding myself.

So Already I'm looking at £822.96 before I factor in food, clothes, the occasional pint with a few friends a couple of times a month, and other bills (ie car repairs/mot/road tax/vets bills/pension... the list goes on).
Ok I could get rid of the internet/car or whatever but that still only leaves me with £633.50. Add to that about £25 per week food comes to £733.50.

So, to save for the future/pension etc, or put some money aside for anything else, I'm left with £8.90 disposable income pcm with which to achieve this.

I know I'm not living in some fly-blown dust bowl where the next tribe might machete me or my family to death, or anything like that (so I should count my self lucky), but really, what kind of life is this?

Most of the figures are based on what I'm currently having to pay out and on previous work income (since the construction industry fell over and the halfway decent salary I had as a draughtsman vanished into the banking crisis) in menial jobs. And I'm sure there are those who have it worse off even than that.

So, the illustrative point I'm trying to make is that it will make little or no god-damn difference whatsoever who wins the next election - I will be no better off financially (lets face it; financially is the only real benchmark working stiffs are interested in). Indeed the very real outcome is that it will cost me even more to break even every month.

This is why there is voter apathy and a total lack of faith in politics or the future of this country. Because for Mr average, he may as well piss into the wind for all the real difference it will make to his life in the long or short term; whether he votes labour, tory, lib-dem, snp, green, bnp, monster raving loony party. As such the right and privilege of your democratic obligation serves no real purpose to you or your family in any real tangible way.
It may be a touch cynical for me to say it, but voting only means something to those who are canvassing for your vote.

That is why we have 'politicians' and not statesmen running our country - I know there is some overlap in the following quotations, but I hope my inference is clear (I have not edited the entries, save to remove the audio guide to pronunciation).

pol·i·ti·cian

 –noun
1.a person who is active in party politics.

2.a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favour or retaining power than about maintaining principles.

3.a person who holds a political office.

4.a person skilled in political government or administration; statesman or stateswoman.

5.an expert in politics or political government.

6.a person who seeks to gain power or advancement within an organization in ways that are generally disapproved.



states·man

  –noun,plural-men.
1.a person who is experienced in the art of government or versed in the administration of government affairs.

2.a person who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government or in dealing with important public issues.



Some of you already know of my dislike for labour and the way they have run things for the last 14 years; mainly because of their lies and deception and total lack of decency and the effrontery of their ambition in gaining and holding on to power and for their attitude towards anyone who had any money saved for a rainy day (pension tax anyone?), student fees (they all had the benefit of a free education to get them to where they are today) and many more things which mark them out as generally deplorable as individuals and despicable as a party.

But is my vote really to be wasted on the lesser of two current evils by voting tory in the hope that labour will loose the election, or do I spend it on some idealist fringe party with no hope of influencing anything?

That last sentence is the quintessence of what my vote is worth. Probably yours too.

[STEED]

Jumpy, on another forum I'm on the odd occasion drop in on its full of Labour supporters, you should hear them bleat on about the Thatcher years and please keep the Conservatives down and not in power. They just can not see fault with Labour, welcome to rose tinted glasses. ;)

[Jimbuna]

Seems to me that the practical concerns of voting in the UK are flawed.
Both my parents have the following idea regarding how you cast your vote.

You vote for the next strongest contender against the party you do not wish to get in to power.
So, if I don't want another 5 years of labour gravy-training, I should vote tory to ensure that (as the next most likely party) labour do not get another term in office. This completely ignores the question of who I may actually want to cast my vote for.
It's voting by default. To be fair, with the two party system we have now (forget lib-dem) it does seem to be a logical means of voting, but I cannot shake the feeling that something is going wrong somewhere along the line with this method, regardless of how pragmatic it may be.

My personal feeling about this and most other elections since I was old enough to vote is that whoever wins, we lose. One way or another. And the reality is that no matter who is elected everything is going to cost more for the individual/ordinary families. Having struggled with the lack of decent employment and financial pressure being a factor in the breakup of many relationships regarding the recession (which I for one do not believe is 'over') it's all just going to be more of the same, spouted off by people who don't live in the real world of bills and economy food spending and constantly worrying if there's enough money left at the end of the month to pay for everything that the law says you must.

Any fool who tells you minimum wage is enough to live on needs to be kicked out of their ******* ivory tower and given a rude introduction to life without parliamentary expenses and business perks and second homes.

minimum wage = £5.80ph (re-calculate that figure to £4.83 ph if you're under 22 years old or £3.57 ph if you're under 18)
x 40 hrs per week x 4 weeks = £928.00
- 20% income tax/NI (as a rough figure to go by) = £742.40

this has to pay for the following:
rent £450pcm
utilities (gas/elec) £200 per quarter, so that's roughly £50 pcm
council tax £100 pcm
tv license £11 pcm
vehicle insurance £50 pcm
telephone £12.50 pcm
internet £19.46 pcm
house/contents insurance £10 pcm
fuel to travel to work £120 pcm (could be less, but that's what I used to pay last year, so it's probably a lot more by now)

So far I'm not including water rates, road tax, credit card bills, overdrafts, medical/prescription expenses, or feeding myself.

So Already I'm looking at £822.96 before I factor in food, clothes, the occasional pint with a few friends a couple of times a month, and other bills (ie car repairs/mot/road tax/vets bills/pension... the list goes on).
Ok I could get rid of the internet/car or whatever but that still only leaves me with £633.50. Add to that about £25 per week food comes to £733.50.

So, to save for the future/pension etc, or put some money aside for anything else, I'm left with £8.90 disposable income pcm with which to achieve this.

I know I'm not living in some fly-blown dust bowl where the next tribe might machete me or my family to death, or anything like that (so I should count my self lucky), but really, what kind of life is this?

Most of the figures are based on what I'm currently having to pay out and on previous work income (since the construction industry fell over and the halfway decent salary I had as a draughtsman vanished into the banking crisis) in menial jobs. And I'm sure there are those who have it worse off even than that.

So, the illustrative point I'm trying to make is that it will make little or no god-damn difference whatsoever who wins the next election - I will be no better off financially (lets face it; financially is the only real benchmark working stiffs are interested in). Indeed the very real outcome is that it will cost me even more to break even every month.

This is why there is voter apathy and a total lack of faith in politics or the future of this country. Because for Mr average, he may as well piss into the wind for all the real difference it will make to his life in the long or short term; whether he votes labour, tory, lib-dem, snp, green, bnp, monster raving loony party. As such the right and privilege of your democratic obligation serves no real purpose to you or your family in any real tangible way.
It may be a touch cynical for me to say it, but voting only means something to those who are canvassing for your vote.

That is why we have 'politicians' and not statesmen running our country - I know there is some overlap in the following quotations, but I hope my inference is clear (I have not edited the entries, save to remove the audio guide to pronunciation).

Some of you already know of my dislike for labour and the way they have run things for the last 14 years; mainly because of their lies and deception and total lack of decency and the effrontery of their ambition in gaining and holding on to power and for their attitude towards anyone who had any money saved for a rainy day (pension tax anyone?), student fees (they all had the benefit of a free education to get them to where they are today) and many more things which mark them out as generally deplorable as individuals and despicable as a party.

But is my vote really to be wasted on the lesser of two current evils by voting tory in the hope that labour will loose the election, or do I spend it on some idealist fringe party with no hope of influencing anything?

That last sentence is the quintessence of what my vote is worth. Probably yours too.

****in crackin post and I salute you my friend :rock:

It is highly probable that this disenfranchised Labour party member will be withdrawing his support in the not too distant future :yep:

[jumpy]

political crisps are where it's at tbh
http://www.therealcrisps-election.com/

Having worked for walkers (pepsico) in their warehouse, stacking boxes of crisps on pallets for delivery nationwide, I was always most annoyed at having to lug whole pallet loads of 'nobbys nuts' which must weigh the best part of a tonne.

Seeing the 'political' crisps on the news yesterday, I was struck with the idea of adding peanuts to the 'political foodstuffs'. The result of which would be branded 'Clegg-nuts' :rotfl2:

[CaptainHaplo]

Not being versed in UK politics - I have one suggestion - and its what needs to happen here too in many ways.

R.E.N.O.

Re
Elect
No
One

Do this - and you break all the corruption circles that have dragged down good leaders, allowed bad ones to manipulate the system and dismantles the entire "power broker" establishment in one swoop.

[Oberon]

It's an idea Cap, but unfortunately the two leading candidates are both as mired in scandal, corruption and other political messes as each other, even the outsider group the Lib Dems aren't particularly on the level but it's less well publicised with them because not many people really care because they have a snowballs chance in hell of getting into power.
Still, I will go and throw my vote into the bin on the big day and watch the Tories win the local seat no matter what I write down because as a co-worker put it today, 'If you don't vote then you don't have a right to complain about it.'

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/Fawkes_Political_Poster.jpg

[jumpy]

Sadly 'None of the Above' is not an option on ballot papers here. Neither is defacing your ballot, as it is not counted as anything then.
So, we have a mediocre voter turnout and voting percentage of said vote at, say... 43% and slippery pricks like tony blair claiming victory over the previous government (this is back in 1997) as a 'landslide victory'. Such a vacuous statement considering those figures reflect one of the lowest voter turnouts ever.

http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm

It's worth noting that since labour have been in power the last two elections have had the lowest voter turnout since WW2!

http://www.ukpolitical.info/ResultsFull97.htm

I'd wager the minimum hourly wage that a lot more people would bother to make their vote if they could say 'none of the above'. You'd certainly see a clearer picture of election results, and if nothing else it would suck the wind out of facile statements made by newly elected parties regarding their sweeping victories.

Still, never mind eh?

[Bubblehead1980]

I feel for the UK, hopefully you guys will take your country back as we in the US are poised to do in November and then in 2012.Despite our crappy President and his recent not so friendly behavior to our allies and practically grabbing his ankles for our enemies,we do value our long standing friendship/alliance with the UK and hope to have a better president soon.

[Jimbuna]

I feel for the UK, hopefully you guys will take your country back as we in the US are poised to do in November and then in 2012.Despite our crappy President and his recent not so friendly behavior to our allies and practically grabbing his ankles for our enemies,we do value our long standing friendship/alliance with the UK and hope to have a better president soon.

Rgr that matey....but politically it looks like we're both on the same boat....the Titanic!!

[Tribesman]

I just came across this piece.
Its funny and good , though some may get upset with the language used.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/09/bottom-feeders-battlefield-cider-potheads

[STEED]

Sadly 'None of the Above' is not an option on ballot papers here.


I think this should be, this should at best reduce the number of non voters even technically your not voting but your saying is I want to vote, I believe in politics but how can I vote for this shambles.

The problem is as I see it, is the EU. On average 70-80% of our laws come out of the EU and our spineless government just rubber stamps the whole lot of them, take the Human Right Act which is nothing more than a big thumbs up for criminals.

Westminster is no longer the true seat of power for our country, it has become a big off shore council for the EU. British politics has been in decline for many years now, and all that lot do is act like spoiled little brats.

So there is only one thing we can do, vote them all out.

[Jimbuna]

http://averyhenderson.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/gordon-brown-sleeping-6-17-081.jpg

Oh look!!....Somebody woke him up :o

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_qRvK29F_J2k/STOKlaOXY0I/AAAAAAAAEKg/CV9sQduLZPw/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800

Looks like his Spiderman comic remained intact :DL

[Tribesman]

So there is only one thing we can do, vote them all out.
Yay, up the revouition.....,until of course you find that the new bunch of bollox are rather identical to the old bunch of bollox you just got rid of.
But please point me to an orgamisation of reformation or revolution where the people havn't ended up getting screwed .

[Cohaagen]

I have to echo Steed's comment - there is a surprisingly large constituency (not in the regional sense) in Britain which is deeply afraid of the Conservatives in the same way Dorothy was afraid of the West Witch. 1979 is over three decades past, the YOP, SPG and all the other acronyms are far distant, Thatcher has long gone Sinatra...I mean, what's the worst they could do? Take us into an illegal, deeply unpopular war (wasting thousands of young lives and cannibalising the Royal Navy budget in the process), create a vast CCTV/ANPR network, amass millions of DNA profiles from people not convicted of any crime, curtail individual freedoms to an extent unthinkable 20 years ago at the height of the worst terrorist campaign in Western Europe, follow a PM who takes direct instruction from "God", licence the assassination of Brazilian plumbers, promote the "advantages" of a surveillance state, ban pop guns, public photography, lawful protest within earshot of uneasy lawmakers, oversee the transformation of British police from (mostly) respected uniformed members of the public into heavily-armed, self-stigmatizing, technology-reliant paragons of arrogance, wreck the principle of constitution by tradition, pass more proscriptive legislation than any Parliament in British history and generally abuse their absurd Commons majority like a child from some Roald Dahl book gone mad in a toy shop?

Personally, I won't vote or care until the never-to-appear day that political parties disappear altogether (preferably outlawed, along with private funding/lobbyists) and candidates can speak honestly and with intellectual independence. About the only positive thing I can say is that it would take at least a decade or two of pure hate before the UK could develop an intolerant, ultra-polarised USA/Latin America style of politics.




Note: I would be happy to see Alec Salmond and his closeted Anglophobe cronies in the Scottish "Government" humiliated, though. I don't care who takes care of those arseholes.

[tater]

To be fair to American politics---assuming you think the polarized nature is new, that is---it's been the same way since the Washington Administration.

We had good teachers. ;)

[Bubblehead1980]

"Personally, I won't vote or care until the never-to-appear day that political parties disappear altogether (preferably outlawed, along with private funding/lobbyists) and candidates can speak honestly and with intellectual independence. About the only positive thing I can say is that it would take at least a decade or two of pure hate before the UK could develop an intolerant, ultra-polarised USA/Latin America style of politics."

American politics is not entirely fueled by hate as some, esp the media has portrayed it.The current President is a very polarzing figure due to his radical, dangerous agenda along with the arrogance and defiance of the American people recently.This has bred much anger but there is a difference between anger and hate.Now, hatred exists in all corners be it liberal or conservative etc but the majority does not hate their countrymen with whom they disagree.Again, the problem is our president is a very polarizing figure due to his policies at home and abroad as well as his attitude.I will admit I dislike the man but do not hate him.Opposing someone's actions esp when they are dangerous does not mean you hate them.Intolerance has grown greatly in obama's era esp from the Left who does not want the regime challenged because the facade has been exposed.Much to their chagrin, his oppostion continues to be heard as his poll numbers drop.Just understand we are in a difficult time and our nation is in danger so there is more anger out there but politics here is not about hatred, the current anger is about preserving our country and not turning into the overtaxed, overregulated, government run hell that the "progressives" want in the name of "social justice" and "equality"

[Oberon]

One has to admit that there is a rather large difference on the view of politics in Europe and in America. In America there is a lot of emotion and a lot of feeling in politics, just take a look at the General Topics board here.
In Europe, no-one really seems to give a monkeys any more because most of our countries have had one ineffective leader after another and see them all as a bunch of lying *bites tongue before infringing swear filter*
Perhaps it's because we've been playing the game for longer, and our history of crooked politics goes back further, I don't know, but if one looks at the American political threads and European political threads one notices a ratio heavily balanced in favour of the former over the latter.
Shades of apathy I dare say, new blood is needed but short of an armed uprising (and could you really see that happening in the UK? :har:) the system will just continue to go around in circles, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

[Jimbuna]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kYIGhELgNYE/SBr2OlJ-QEI/AAAAAAAAAQI/dGwdOjI20hg/s400/GordonBrown.jpg

http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/sickpup.gif

[tater]

Shades of apathy I dare say, new blood is needed but short of an armed uprising (and could you really see that happening in the UK? :har:) the system will just continue to go around in circles, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

To quote a (former) Englishman (a colonial, but a British subject none the less):

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." (to W. S. Smith, B.12.356)



In general, when Americans here in this forum seem stridently in favor of small government at all costs, it dates to the same author as the first above:

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." (to Archibald Stuart, B.22.436)

Gotta love Jefferson.

Adams made observations that match the apathy you see today, actually:

"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress."

[Jimbuna]

To quote a (former) Englishman (a colonial, but a British subject none the less):

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." (to W. S. Smith, B.12.356)



In general, when Americans here in this forum seem stridently in favor of small government at all costs, it dates to the same author as the first above:

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." (to Archibald Stuart, B.22.436)

Gotta love Jefferson.

Adams made observations that match the apathy you see today, actually:

"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress."

Great words of wisdom....I don't see our one eyed goblin echoing :nope:

[UnderseaLcpl]

One has to admit that there is a rather large difference on the view of politics in Europe and in America. In America there is a lot of emotion and a lot of feeling in politics, just take a look at the General Topics board here.


That's true. The idea of a truly representative government and the ideals of the Constitution are very central to American culture, despite the fact that they have been used against us to get us to vote for the same kind of twits that you're so dissatisfied with, and that we still can't seem to come to a consensus on what those ideals are.

In the meantime, I want to call you Brits out for being a terrible parent nation. We based a lot of our national identity on your common law system and your government, and look where we are now! Nobody likes this system!

Quite frankly, you've also been very rude for the past couple of centuries. You never call unless you need our help in a war with Germany, and the last time you visited us you burned our capital down.... back when the thing was actually working. Now, though, I guess you can't be bothered. There was also that very nice civil war we had, and you didn't even attend, despite our invitation.

True, you've been helping us out in the War on Terror, but I feel like you guys are holding back. What happened to the magnificent world-dominating empire that ruled the seas? Yeah, you'll lead the world economically and politically until a bunch of unruly colonists try to follow your example, and then you suddenly can't find the will or means to subjugate a bunch of militant Islamic nations? How convenient......

I'm on to you, Brits. You make us fight all your serious wars and wait for us to falter, at which point you'll build a bunch of boats that are bigger than anyone else's with suitably glorious-sounding names and bring soldiers to our shores so you can tax our tea! It's always about the tea with you imperialist redcoats!

Not on my watch, you filthy loyalists! We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but only as long as these rights are threatened by an oppressive crown! We are perfectly capable of oppressing ourselves, thank you very much! :DL

[Jimbuna]

That's true. The idea of a truly representative government and the ideals of the Constitution are very central to American culture, despite the fact that they have been used against us to get us to vote for the same kind of twits that you're so dissatisfied with, and that we still can't seem to come to a consensus on what those ideals are.

In the meantime, I want to call you Brits out for being a terrible parent nation. We based a lot of our national identity on your common law system and your government, and look where we are now! Nobody likes this system!

Quite frankly, you've also been very rude for the past couple of centuries. You never call unless you need our help in a war with Germany, and the last time you visited us you burned our capital down.... back when the thing was actually working. Now, though, I guess you can't be bothered. There was also that very nice civil war we had, and you didn't even attend, despite our invitation.

True, you've been helping us out in the War on Terror, but I feel like you guys are holding back. What happened to the magnificent world-dominating empire that ruled the seas? Yeah, you'll lead the world economically and politically until a bunch of unruly colonists try to follow your example, and then you suddenly can't find the will or means to subjugate a bunch of militant Islamic nations? How convenient......

I'm on to you, Brits. You make us fight all your serious wars and wait for us to falter, at which point you'll build a bunch of boats that are bigger than anyone else's with suitably glorious-sounding names and bring soldiers to our shores so you can tax our tea! It's always about the tea with you imperialist redcoats!

Not on my watch, you filthy loyalists! We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but only as long as these rights are threatened by an oppressive crown! We are perfectly capable of oppressing ourselves, thank you very much! :DL


Nice one James...you nearly had me 'going' during the course of your post on more than one occasion :DL

[Cohaagen]

Well, this used to be an interesting thread...

[tater]

I'm actually interested in your take on the elections since like most Americans I find the parliamentary system you have more confusing than direct elections. Feel free to post substance to keep us n track. Sorry if I took it OT.

<S>

tater

[Oberon]

:har: Well said UnderseaLcpl, still, it was us or the French I guess :haha:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/img_400/foh22.jpg

The war of Tea Liberation will come...don't you worry... :03:

And tater, those quotes are spot on mate, and I dare say there will come a time in the future when something will give and the British system will receive a well needed kick up the backside, but I can't see it taking place unless something particularly drastic occurs. :03:

[Jimbuna]

Vote for me...at least you'll know who your voting for.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8076/gordonbrown3.jpg

[STEED]

I heard on the radio today a German study of EU laws & regulations is now 80% throughout Europe! We give £40 million a day to the EU and its walks over us, get out of the EU I say.

Another sad fact folks 70% of the new candidates are career politicians, that means they don't give a stuff about you and I.

The way things are going the masses are going to sit on there asses and let them ride rush shot over us. :nope:

Time for the 3rd civil war?

[CaptainHaplo]

Jim - pretend for a second that I could vote in the elections.

Tell me - and everyone else - why you should get our vote instead someone else.

Doesn't matter who the someone else is - or their views - convince us on the merits of your own ideas of where your government should go. Speak issues instead of being worried about the twits there now.

What issues do you think are most pressing for your country?

What solutions would you support in solving them?

[Jimbuna]

Jim - pretend for a second that I could vote in the elections.

Tell me - and everyone else - why you should get our vote instead someone else.

Doesn't matter who the someone else is - or their views - convince us on the merits of your own ideas of where your government should go. Speak issues instead of being worried about the twits there now.

What issues do you think are most pressing for your country?

What solutions would you support in solving them?

Good question but difficult to answer comprehensively because of all the problems in todays society.

I'll attempt to scratch the surface on a few.

EU: Britain is one of the biggest financial contributors yet is in the lower half of the league table when it comes to financial returns.......Time to either pro rata/balance the inequality or better still, pull out of the EU seeing as how we have always been an island state/nation. The EU would always have to trade with us or see its position considerably weakened and face a strengthened/bullying position from the other two big players, namely France and Germany. Britain has always been a counterbalance/irritant to them in the eyes of the smaller countries.

Give the British people what they were promised, a referendum on continuing our EU membership or otherwise. Any party doing that will gain considerably at the ballot box.

It is noticeable that neither party are that keen on the idea because it is a well known fact that the British people would vote to withdraw our membership.

Make of that what you will 'both parties'

Immigration: For too long we have allowed almost unlimited access to our country. We are now in recession and I think it is time to replicate something similar to the Australian system....you can enter if you have a job and a skill that is in demand. You must be self supporting financially.

Benefits System: This needs a massive overhaul, it is not right that people paying into the system are denied any help purely on 'means tested' grounds. Contributions should also be considered.

Many never have and never will pay anything into the system and receive the help they are rightfully entitled to, but surely a token amount for those who have helped fill the pot is more equitable.

Central Goverment Funding: How can it be right that public services are being closed down due to lack of funding whilst billions sre being lavished on some of the top earners in the country after they have failed miserably in their jobs.

As an example....the government now holds an 83% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland and 43% in Lloyds Bank et al. Millions continue to be payed out in bonuses out of that tax payers money at the expense of vitally needed public services.

Better to have nationalised the banks that were failing and let the people (through the exchequor) reap the dividends of future profits.

I think I'll stop there....after all, politics and religion have caused many a wr in the past :DL

[STEED]

Some good points there jim.

Who is to blame for the recession? Gordon Brown for taking the banking regulations away when he was chancellor which resulted in banks doing as they will. Alan Sugar said before the bubble burst this is ridicules and it just can not keep going on. Vince Cable Liberal MP predicted this mess and no one bat a eye. Should the banks who caused this mess gone to the wall? I say yes they should have, the result would have shown the rest you had your day and we the people are not standing for it anymore.


The problem we have is too few people in this country can see what is going on, the rest don't give a toss or just plain lazy.

[STEED]

NETWORK

A great scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIY5Vyj4YM

[Jimbuna]

NETWORK

A great scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIY5Vyj4YM

Yep...remember it well :yeah:

[STEED]

Yep...remember it well :yeah:

When you put that in the cold light of today the news reader has a damn good point, if people can not do one simple thing then Parliament will do what it pleases.

[CaptainHaplo]

Excellent start Jim. :yeah:

One question on the "banking" side - obviously the governmental ownership of such large portions of the institutions means that a "bailout" of sorts was done - similiar to what was done here in the US. Were you faced with the same decision - would you support such a governmental "purchase" of such to stabilize the financial entities in question?

[Jimbuna]

Excellent start Jim. :yeah:

One question on the "banking" side - obviously the governmental ownership of such large portions of the institutions means that a "bailout" of sorts was done - similiar to what was done here in the US. Were you faced with the same decision - would you support such a governmental "purchase" of such to stabilize the financial entities in question?

I would resort back to the old Labour Party values pf 'Nationalisation'-the public ownership of valuable industries such as electricity, rail and water etc etc.

Instead what we have seen over recent decades is a selling off of the family silverware to big businesses (often foreign based) who cream off the profits for the select few who own large shareholdings.

Back to your question...my answer would have to be yes if it safeguarded jobs, but once they return to making a profit (which almost all of the banks in the UK already have) I would hang onto the investment and use said profits to maintain hospitals, schools and other essential services.

[CaptainHaplo]

Well we differ on our views there, but I do recognize where your intent is and that is an honorable one. The mechanics I would disagree, but that is a personal decision.

This leads to another question - say you are able to partially fund some of those programs you mentioned with the profits - what do you do with the savings?

[Jimbuna]

You continue to pump it back into the countries infrastructure to improve the health and wellbeing of the population by improving such things as medical and housing provision.

A bit utopian I agree but well worth trying to achieve.

[STEED]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8616261.stm

Well isn't that dandy. :nope:

[Jimbuna]

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said the news was a "slap in the face for every decent taxpayer in this country".


Just cost you another couple of seats 'One Blank' :nope:

[nikimcbee]

Jim, you should run for PM. You'd look smashing in the wig!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yC8NyLhJnQU/SOP3NyzaUiI/AAAAAAAAGw4/bspWqEppOB4/s400/Full+bottomed+wig+2.jpg

[nikimcbee]

...maybe Steed could run?

http://www.partykiosk.co.uk/ekmps/shops/domestix/images/white-rococo-baroque-french-court-style-wig-2779-p.jpg

[Jimbuna]

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1056/gordonbrown.jpg

[jumpy]

Instead what we have seen over recent decades is a selling off of the family silverware to big businesses (often foreign based) who cream off the profits for the select few who own large shareholdings.



This seems to be the accepted face of profit-making these days. You can extend the model to practically every area of life now.
It's all about the short term cash in the bank (possibly somebody else's bank, who promise a great return with only a moderate risk... seriously, it's a done deal, nothing to worry about). Forget about the long term interests of keeping the business alive for the future...

It's why I was made redundant from my last full time job - the company I worked for bought out a competitor who was making a massive loss. So when we subsumed their debt, and the cost of buying the company and all of its employees, naturally our company books showed a significant loss that fiscal year.
So all of our drawing office staff were 'let go' because "we've only made £800,000 this year in profft instead of the 2 million we made last year."
The irony is the company we bought out had a clause in the contract to buy them that said we couldn't fire any of their employees and replace them with our workers... So they gave us the boot instead.
Go figure. Yay for managing directors with degrees in business management, they're worth their weight in gold, I mean sh!t...



The only trouble with nationalisation is what caused the move to privatisation in the first place (apart from the money... well ok, the money) - it was all of the government workers sitting about on their backsides doing FA, knowing damn well they would get paid regardless of how crappy a job they did. You can see this in most council offices in the UK today. Private companies were brought in with their funds, who wouldn't tolerate a lazy workforce.
I can see the merits of doing it that way - look at British Leyland, Rover and most of the motor manufacturing industry back in the 70's and beyond - but the pendulum has swung too far the other way. There has to be some sort of happy medium somewhere, though I haven't a clue where it could be found.

I do know that it's a big mistake to farm out a nations essential utility providers to foreign powers/business interests, just like it's a bad idea to do the same with your countries armaments industry.
What happens when you fall out with your erstwhile bedfellows and they refuse to supply you with gas and electricity? You cannot impose your will by force of arms, because a third party, who manufactures your military kit, is good mates with or doesn't want to get involved with a war between two of its allied business interests.
Perhaps an over simplification, but I'm sure you get the point.

[Jimbuna]

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix//2007/12_02/gordonbrownAP1312_468x351.jpg

Soon I will be King

[STEED]

Last nights first of three political debates was so sterile. What is the point of vetting the questions first and getting the answers ready before it goes out live? Political control with 76 rules & regulations resulting in a load of tripe.

[Jimbuna]

Oh, I found it quite entertaining....if nothing else it showed the failings of the one eyed monster and the futile attempts of Cameron trying to engage in a black is white debate between the big two and actually catapulted Nick Cleggs stock rating to a never seen before level.

It will be interesting to see the other two come out trying to recover their credibility with a vengeance.

Personally, I thought Clegg won by a mile, Cameron just pipped Brown but has to find an answer to the repeated accusations that the Tories have yet to detail/itmise how they will shave £6 billion off the budget.

http://www.free-animations.co.uk/animals/monkeys/images/monkey_31.gif

[STEED]

Do any of them have an answer for this...

http://www.debtbombshell.com/

[Jimbuna]

Of course...they all have.

Trouble is which one, if any, do you believe? :hmmm:

I've recently invested a tidy sum in Gilts...so I like to think I'm doing my bit....for myself :DL

[STEED]

Of course...they all have.

Trouble is which one, if any, do you believe? :hmmm:



None.

All I know jim, is this, the sh*t going to blow up the fan when the general election is done.

[Jimbuna]

None.

All I know jim, is this, the sh*t going to blow up the fan when the general election is done.

Of that let there be no doubt.....whoever has the reigns of power will have some very tough and unpopular decisions to make. :yep:

[nikimcbee]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a8_JJ.88zHqs

Who's Clegg?

[STEED]

Of that let there be no doubt.....whoever has the reigns of power will have some very tough and unpopular decisions to make. :yep:

Its going hit a lot of people who are in cloud cuckoo land. There all hinting at it, but not spelling outright how bad its going to be, fear of loosing votes.

[Jimbuna]

Its going hit a lot of people who are in cloud cuckoo land. There all hinting at it, but not spelling outright how bad its going to be, fear of loosing votes.

But hasn't that always been the case in politics? :hmmm:

Ever known a politician answer a question in a straightforward easily understandable way? :DL

[Jimbuna]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a8_JJ.88zHqs

Who's Clegg?

He's the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party....the third largest after Labour and Conservative.

[OneToughHerring]

I'm watching the live coverage of the elections on BBC's site, my shoddy net connection is actually rotating the live television feed.

The candidates, especially Cameron just seem so smug and vacuous, no grand visions, everyone just grasping for power and seats. They only have to beat other similar individuals to win. No real stars or options available, it seems.

[STEED]

But hasn't that always been the case in politics? :hmmm:

Ever known a politician answer a question in a straightforward easily understandable way? :DL

Indeed if you follow politics you can always spot it. :up:

[STEED]

I'm watching the live coverage of the elections on BBC's site, my shoddy net connection is actually rotating the live television feed.

The candidates, especially Cameron just seem so smug and vacuous, no grand visions, everyone just grasping for power and seats. They only have to beat other similar individuals to win. No real stars or options available, it seems.

Yep we're boned...:damn:

[Jimbuna]

I'm watching the live coverage of the elections on BBC's site, my shoddy net connection is actually rotating the live television feed.

The candidates, especially Cameron just seem so smug and vacuous, no grand visions, everyone just grasping for power and seats. They only have to beat other similar individuals to win. No real stars or options available, it seems.

You could be right but Clegg has seen his party ratings climb massively as a result of his performance.

[STEED]

Liberals will never win due to the two party system that suites lab/con.

Hung Parliament will never work, lets say Labour win but need the help of the Liberals, Brown will have to give them two top jobs...Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Can you see Gordon Brown giving them to the liberals? And Clegg is not going to settled for lower order positions is he?

[Jimbuna]

Then he returns to the Queen and seeks permission for an early re-election.

I'd like to see the Lib Dems given a chance....the other two have never done nowt for decades.

[STEED]

Yep more of our money down the drain on a re-election.

I like the Greens manifesto about a living wage...£8.10ph. ;)

[Oberon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWbfvZF7-WQ

[Jimbuna]

Yep more of our money down the drain on a re-election.

I like the Greens manifesto about a living wage...£8.10ph. ;)

So do I, but lets face it.....it's never going to happen.

Tis very easy to make statements about things you are never going to have to materialise.

[STEED]

So do I, but lets face it.....it's never going to happen.

Tis very easy to make statements about things you are never going to have to materialise.

Ten times worst coming from a party that wins then goes back on what they said.

Note of interest...Listening to LBC Radio this morning and a interesting snip it came up, while under the labour government there has been a number of borderer changes favouring...yes you got, labour.

[Oberon]

It's good to see the Lib Dems muscling up to the front, of course, you'd be daft to think that it'll translate into much of a victory for them on the night, a handful more seats perhaps but nothing major. Bit of a shame really, but at least it's not just a two horse race any more.

[OneToughHerring]

It's good to see the Lib Dems muscling up to the front, of course, you'd be daft to think that it'll translate into much of a victory for them on the night, a handful more seats perhaps but nothing major. Bit of a shame really, but at least it's not just a two horse race any more.

And out of the two the Tories right? Cause it's 'their turn'. Also Brown has received so much venom from the right that I can't see him continuing. I have known to be wrong about these things, mind you. ;)

[Oberon]

I think it's a pretty much done deal that Brown is on the way out, I should imagine even if he should (by some amazing stretch) win the election, he'll probably stand down, he has to, even his own party can't stand him now.
Trouble is, it's the devil or the deep blue sea, Labour is bad, yes, but are the Tories that much better? :hmmm: Perhaps a Hung Parliament could be our only hope.

[Jimbuna]

Good posts and speaking as a current Labour Party member I would like to see a leader who has been elected, not one who sneaked in via the back door.

If a currently elected leader (Blair for example) stands down for any reason then the party in power (via its own rules and constitution) should continue to have the right to appoint a successor.

However, said successor should be made to go to the people (election/ballot) within 6 months of said appointment.

This did not happen with Brown and that is the major credibility issue I have with him under my rights as a voting party member.

No government after having served 13 continuous years in power should deny the right of the eloctorate to have their say on the state this once proud country of ours now finds itself in.

[STEED]

However, said successor should be made to go to the people (election/ballot) within 6 months of said appointment.

This did not happen with Brown and that is the major credibility issue I have with him under my rights as a voting party member.



Well Brown was while was riding high in the polls and Labour was gearing up for a snap general election but the polls started to move against Brown so he bottled out.

[Tribesman]

And out of the two the Tories right? Cause it's 'their turn'.

As far as I can see its one bunch of bollox standing against another bunch of bollox.
OK its the UK so I can see a party standing as "we ain't the dodgy thiev ing republican/not republican party...but you wil stil,geta bunchof victims voting to be victims in the relativeky vainhope that one day they will be a dream non-victim.
bloody simple solution , the government will screw you no matter what.
You is buggered no matter what.
Work within the system to get round the buggery as you can be sure that the people that are screwing you have left a get out clause for themselves.




OK bit of a dilema
some nice Casino classics kicking in on vinyl or some crazy Marrakessh ****e ontape?



Peoples revolution..my arse

[Tribesman]

OK Wigan took it:yeah:

[Tribesman]

OK Wigan took it
Alright , Joe 90 came up, but that ain't really a measure .

[Oberon]

You having a good chat with yourself there Tribesman? :hmmm:

[STEED]

:-?:-?:-?

[Jimbuna]

Our right honourable Constituency MP and Foreign Secretary, David Miliband gave up an hour of his time for some of my colleagues and myself (four in total) two weeks ago.

Nothing too unusual in that you might think, but this time it was at his request.

Me being the usual commoner, outspoken mouthpiece walked in and said "Good to see you David, to what do we owe this pleasure?......is somebody up for election?"

His response "Jim, there have been fourteen meetings you've been invited to since the last election and you've never turned up for any of them"

My response "David all the previous meetings have been via written invites, half of which get lost on my desk and the other half I often open too late because of my busy schedule. This invite was via a telephone call from one of your office staff which intimated to me that it was probably important to you"

His response "Are you available any evening to do some door-to-door canvassing?" :stare:

Don't vote...it only encourages the bastids :nope:

[Tribesman]

You having a good chat with yourself there Tribesman?
Well at least it makes more sense than the bollox the candidates are spouting

[Oberon]

Well at least it makes more sense than the bollox the candidates are spouting

http://www.bgassociates.com/images/GMDC%20TOUCHE.jpg

[Tribesman]

Wound my heart with a monotonous coathanger

[jumpy]

lol Jim, that was good, very good. :yeah:

[Oberon]

Wound my heart with a monotonous coathanger

http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/film/l3.jpg

"Die invasion! Sie Kommt!"

[Jimbuna]

lol Jim, that was good, very good. :yeah:

Very true and accurate......unfortunately :yep:

[nikimcbee]

More election coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FFTx6AKmU

[STEED]

More election coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FFTx6AKmU

Can't beat Python. :rotfl2::up:

And now the Conservatives are back...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-4ATrE8n0&feature=related

[Jimbuna]

Don't vote!!...It only encourages the bastids!! :know:

[STEED]

Round two debate on Sky...BOOO...I got no Sky...lucky its on the radio. I suspect Nick Clegg is going to come unstuck on foreign affairs.


Can anyone here who is voting or voted for labour why is it I keep hearing labour voters bang on about Thatcher, the women left office 19 years ago and yet these people go on about it like it was only yesterday! :doh:

[Jimbuna]

Round two debate on Sky...BOOO...I got no Sky...lucky its on the radio. I suspect Nick Clegg is going to come unstuck on foreign affairs.


So many say...but they would, considering he raced into an early lead.

Tonight will show us if his advisors are worth tehey're wage packet.

I'll be sur to let you know what you've missed http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2772/thumbsupgv0.gif

[STEED]

I'll be sur to let you know what you've missed http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2772/thumbsupgv0.gif

I think the radio will be better as I will not have to full on Gordon Brown. :rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

I think the radio will be better as I will not have to full on Gordon Brown. :rotfl2:

Simply put this next to your radio :DL


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kYIGhELgNYE/SBr2OlJ-QEI/AAAAAAAAAQI/dGwdOjI20hg/s400/GordonBrown.jpg

[STEED]

Someone told me that was Gordon giving the thumbs up to a very hardcore porn film. :o :rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

Someone told me that was Gordon giving the thumbs up to a very hardcore porn film. :o :rotfl2:

Nothing would supriseme....but it can't be...it's on his blind side :D

[STEED]

http://mylabourposter.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a8abc3e4970b01347fdfc091970c-pi

http://mylabourposter.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a8abc3e4970b0133ecaff4b2970b-pi

[Jimbuna]

I should imagine you admire this woman very much :DL

Any idea who she is?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/images/tile/2009/0309/1224242516596_1.jpg

[STEED]

PASS...:-?

[ABBAFAN]

I'm a UKIP member and I advise you all to vote UKIP to save Britian from the evil of the EU. A latter day Hitlerite empire.

United
Kingdom
Independence
Party

[Jimbuna]

PASS...:-?

Aw come on....this would have made your day perfect (at the time) give it some thought.

I will post the damning pictures tomorrow.

Think of someone who believes themselves to be even more powerful than 'one blank'...

[Jimbuna]

I'm a UKIP member and I advise you all to vote UKIP to save Britian from the evil of the EU. A latter day Hitlerite empire.

United
Kingdom
Independence
Party

I'd rather vote for a party that has a chance of actually winning and therefore capable of making a measureable contribution/difference. :hmmm:

[STEED]

I'd rather vote for a party that has a chance of actually winning and therefore capable of making a measureable contribution/difference. :hmmm:

Really...Heard on the radio a Germany study of the EU is now passing 80% of the laws in the EU Zone. :nope:

I'm also voting UKIP...Yes I know they will not get power but when the day comes when the EU monster shows its teeth I will have the satisfaction of knowing my vote was the right vote.

[STEED]

Round two debate is over and Clegg is top again! :o

Looking like a hung Parliament at the moment. :hmmm:

[ABBAFAN]

Well Cmeron seemed to have improved alot on the previous one. Brown is onto a loser I think.

[OneToughHerring]

UKIP? I think I actually walked into a UKIP meeting once. These really old geezers were kind of eyeing me, the foreigner, in an angry fashion. One tried to swing at me with his walking stick. Missed.

No but really, they were old, like 80 +. Just can't imagine young people in that crowd.

But hey vote whoever you want. I'm just a foreigner, a member of the Axis powers, trying to influence UK politics. :D

[Jimbuna]

Round two debate is over and Clegg is top again! :o

Looking like a hung Parliament at the moment. :hmmm:

I beg to differ....3 of the top 4 polls have Cameron coming out slightly ahead of Clegg.

Still awaiting your guess on my earlier post regarding the female picture I posted......YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF :DL

[Jimbuna]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/images/tile/2009/0309/1224242516596_1.jpg

I beg to differ....3 of the top 4 polls have Cameron coming out slightly ahead of Clegg.

Still awaiting your guess on my earlier post regarding the female picture I posted......YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF :DL

Come on shy boy....I left you a golden clue elsewhere :DL

Whilst your Googling for the answer, try to answer this one as well...

Do you think Gordon Brown's ar$e gets jealous about the amount of sh!t that constantly comes out of his mouth? :hmmm:

[STEED]

To be honest jim the polls are making me....:rotfl2:....Just can not take them seriously.

What clue? :doh:

If GB's ass is jealous then the labour voters wearing rose tinted glasses are lapping it up. :shifty:

[jumpy]

Hung Parliament = disaster imo.

I've had some long chats with my mum about this. She was born in 1942 so has seen quite a lot when it comes to politics in this country, including a hung parliament.
The example of 'success' of a hung parliament is the scots. I'm not convinced that it is a success for a number of reasons. But principally it doesn't really matter as such because they are only really playing at self governance - after all, devolution is one thing, self sufficiency is another. The last time I checked the scots made a big song and dance about independent governance, but they still expected to have seats in our parliament and a hand in the treasury.

The very idea of a government made from even more fractious interests than we currently have can only lead to one thing: endless debates and bargaining, the end result of which will be watered down, conciliatory bills and a total lack of any firm leadership in any direction. Next to another 5 years of labour, a hung parliament is the next worst thing that could happen to the UK in a long time.

As ma describes it "There's not too many people as a majority of the electorate who have been alive for long enough to actually remember what it was like to live under a hung parliament, so they have no conception of what it really means for the future of the country."

I'm inclined to agree... 'too many cooks' and all of that stuff. Too many voices shouting in discord. Nothing will get done and much time will be wasted by the various factions striving to have their point counted. Anything to come from such a government will surely have 'compromise' written all over it and as such will have no clarity of purpose or design.
We already have too many badly thought out laws thanks to the likes of tony blair and gordon brown, lets not have any more.

[Jimbuna]

What clue? :doh:



That post we exchanged earlier over at BtS.

That must have sparked something surely.

@jumpy.....Have you any idea who that female is in my post a few up?

I know both you and STEED would be very appreciative of what she was responsible for?

Cast your minds back....no tricks, honestly....just a woman who wasn't afraid to do something both of you would like to have done.

A major clue there :03:

[jumpy]

? nope.

I'm sure the face is familiar from somewhere. Can't say where though.
Never was any good at 'Guess Who'.

[Letum]

I would like to see a leader who has been elected, not one who sneaked in via the back door.


Prime ministers are never elected by the populace. That's why they are
Prime ministers and not Presidents.

[STEED]

That post we exchanged earlier over at BtS.

That must have sparked something surely.

@jumpy.....Have you any idea who that female is in my post a few up?

I know both you and STEED would be very appreciative of what she was responsible for?

Cast your minds back....no tricks, honestly....just a woman who wasn't afraid to do something both of you would like to have done.

A major clue there :03:

Come on jim my who would you like to see dead book runs in volumes you know. :rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

Come on jim my who would you like to see dead book runs in volumes you know. :rotfl2:

Okay....don't want this to go on forever so think of the politicians whose picture I posted this morning and your response (heavily censored of course) :DL

That's one big mother ********r of a w****r who p****s me off, that man is a *********g corrupt a*s slimy dipstick of a...... http://www.btsmods.com/Smileys/classic/33enfadados.gif
I think you can tell I hate that b*****d. http://www.btsmods.com/Smileys/classic/26enfadados.gif



Edit: In fact, I'm suprised Letum doesn't recognise her :hmmm:

[STEED]

Mandy before his sex change?

Or

She bit off his tackle?

Or

Egged him?

Or

:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Your getting closer....the womans name is Leila Deen and she threw green custard in his face....remember this :DL

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4947136/Green-custard-thrown-in-face-of-Peter-Mandelson-by-environmental-protester.html

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/3/6/1236328251373/Climate-change-protester--001.jpg http://thesietch.org/mysietch/keith/files/2009/03/mandelson.jpg

[STEED]

Yea that women! :rotfl2:

Didn't she get a fine for that?

[Jimbuna]

Yea that women! :rotfl2:

Didn't she get a fine for that?

**** knows......should have been a medal :DL

[STEED]

**** knows......should have been a medal :DL

The OBE & MBE as well. :)

[Jimbuna]

The OBE & MBE as well. :)

Might as well throw in the CBE as well for good measure :sunny:

[STEED]

Forgot about that one...and make her a Dame as well.

[Jimbuna]

Forgot about that one...and make her a Dame as well.

What with the balls she had to do that....we'll Knight her as well :DL

[OneToughHerring]

Nice seeing so much support from you guys for an environmental cause. :salute:

[STEED]

Nice seeing so much support from you guys for an environmental cause. :salute:

Errr....yea. ;)

Mainly that snake in the grass is a......

Due to forum rules I can not post my full feeling, but over on BtS I can say it all, right jim. ;) :rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

Errr....yea. ;)

Mainly that snake in the grass is a......

Due to forum rules I can not post my full feeling, but over on BtS I can say it all, right jim. ;) :rotfl2:

Apparently so :DL

[OneToughHerring]

Errr....yea. ;)

Mainly that snake in the grass is a......

Due to forum rules I can not post my full feeling, but over on BtS I can say it all, right jim. ;) :rotfl2:

Ooh, I'm sooo scared. :DL

[STEED]

Ooh, I'm sooo scared. :DL

;):rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:

[STEED]

Ok, folks of the UK, we are now on the final full week of the campaign so has anyone knocked on your door?

The only one so far was the Liberals but that was for the council elections, not one candidate or there supporters has, in fact I ask a few other folk in my area and they to have not one person knocking on the door!

This is a bad show and very poor showing. :nope:

[Jimbuna]

The window cleaner knocked for his fortnightly £5...does that count? :DL

[STEED]

Only if hes standing. ;)

[Oberon]

We've had a Tory canvasser, the dog saw him off.
I don't know why he bothers, to be honest, this place has been a safe Tory seat since...well...since the Tories were founded I suppose! :haha:

[STEED]

We've had a Tory canvasser, the dog saw him off.
I don't know why he bothers, to be honest, this place has been a safe Tory seat since...well...since the Tories were founded I suppose! :haha:

Hang on he did try...talking of safe seats the sitting MP in most cases dose sweet all, as to say I'm all right I can rely on the numpties to vote for me, wrong attitude but if people wear rose tinted glasses gives them the OK to relax.

[Oberon]

HMS Brown scuttles itself and the Labour fleet:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649853.stm

[Tchocky]

This is straight out of The Thick Of It.

Gordon you silly, silly man.

[Jimbuna]

Possibly the biggest/best political 'own goal' in British politics :rotfl2:

[STEED]

Trouble is on the ITV News last night on there poll about that blunder most people will still vote for labour.

Rose tinted glasses on...
Got to keep that Tory scum out of office, remember Thatcher!

Rose tinted glasses off..
Ermm...Thatcher left office 19 years ago. :doh:

[STEED]

Well the final debate is over and to sum up, just look at the way they dodge that very first question. Why will they not tell us how bad the situation is? All three side stepped the question knowing full well its bad, real bad...Experts say we are going to be where Greece is now.

[Jimbuna]

Problem being....whoever ends up in power will make an entire generation turn against them for the rest of their lives because of the difficult decisions/actions that need taking if we're ever going to get out of the mess we are currently in.

Watch out for a hung Parliament....then in twelve months time they'll all be blaming one another :yep:

[STEED]

Watch out for a hung Parliament....then in twelve months time they'll all be blaming one another :yep:

Twelve months jim, thats very generous. I would not give it three months, Gordon Brown has more to loose than the Labour Party.

I see the SNP & Plaid Cymru will not work with Labour in a hung Parliament, anyone told Tony Blair this? He bought off the Scots and Welsh and now they stab Labour in the back. ;)

[Jimbuna]

Twelve months jim, thats very generous. I would not give it three months, Gordon Brown has more to loose than the Labour Party.

I see the SNP & Plaid Cymru will not work with Labour in a hung Parliament, anyone told Tony Blair this? He bought off the Scots and Welsh and now they stab Labour in the back. ;)

No suprises there then :DL

[Oberon]

Gordon Browns debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXK0TSFYl5o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WpQXISAeD0

David Camerons debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99wBpXsL7xM

Nick Cleggs debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8CeYPTfZ10

[Jimbuna]

Gordon Brown has promised to keep one eye on the Economy and one eye on the Immigration problem.

I can't help but notice a major flaw in your plan there, Gordon. :hmmm:

[STEED]

Gordon Brown has promised to keep one eye on the Economy and one eye on the Immigration problem.

I can't help but notice a major flaw in your plan there, Gordon. :hmmm:

Remind me if I'm standing next to him in the gents. ;)

[Happy Times]

Gordon Brown has promised to keep one eye on the Economy and one eye on the Immigration problem.

I can't help but notice a major flaw in your plan there, Gordon. :hmmm:

Little late isnt it?:dead:

Your economy resembles Greece and London looks like Islamabad.

If i where a Brit i dont know what i would do, only peaceful solution being getting the fack out.

Anyone that is honest and hard working is welcome to move here.:salute:

The climate isnt worse than yours, or the language more difficult than Cockney, just different.:D

You can bring the Royal Family if you want, the Finns are sometimes jealous about the Swedish one.
We can ship our President in exchange happily.:yep:

[Tribesman]

I can't help but notice a major flaw in your plan there, Gordon.
Thats funny, cruel but very funny

[KL-alfman]

having read the full thread I only can say that I wish you to get a government which stays on course in relations to the E.U.-super-monster of bureaucracy as you did in the past.

once (I was much younger and more illusionistic which sums up to having been left) I supported the idea of a united Europe and couldn't understand why the U.K. didn't like to fully participate.
now I understand:
you had no interest to spend your taxes on countries which either bloated up their social-security-nets and based their economy on making debts or tricked the heads of E.U. in Brussels with faked statistics.
today everyone has to consider this move as a very wise one.

I for one would go for the Liberals (founded by the experience I have got in my country with the two big parties and the way they divided the country into different areas of influence), but with your system of majority voting to elect the conservatives wouldn't be bad, imho.

just hope the people of the UK don't find themselves screwed after the elections. :cry:

[Jimbuna]

Too late I fear!

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7705/sinking.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/i/sinking.jpg/)

[KL-alfman]

Too late I fear!

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7705/sinking.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/i/sinking.jpg/)


you guess Labour will dabble in governing again?? :cry:

edit:
this should be enough for getting the votes: *LOL*

http://diepresse.com/images/uploads_425/e/f/f/560895/kaetzchen20100426145311.jpg

[Jimbuna]

I see rats leaving a sinking ship (both varieties) :DL

[STEED]

Put Gordon Brown back in, why?

Firstly he will have to put the screws on and he knows it, and secondly the measures will be so harsh it will spell the end of Gordon Brown and Labour for a good 15 odd years.

If old Dave wins he better release everything to the public about Labour's mess and the time bomb they created, if he fails to do that, labour will return and next time it will be 20 years! :damn:

If by sum miracle Clegg wins...HELLO IMMIGRATES THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN! :damn::damn:

[Tribesman]

HELLO IMMIGRATES THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN!
Caps Lock strikes again:yeah:
"STEED" aparently is talking bollox

[STEED]

Caps Lock strikes again:yeah:
"STEED" aparently is talking bollox

Did you see the last leaders debate?

I heard it from the horses mouth...Mr Clegg leader of the Liberal Party. :yep:

[Tribesman]

Did you see the last leaders debate?

I heard it from the horses mouth...Mr Clegg leader of the Liberal Party.
Come along darling , treat me rough.

Repeat to me baby exactly what was said to exactly what question about exactly what subject.:rotfl2:

[STEED]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/nick-clegg/7633466/Nick-Cleggs-amnesty-folly.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-23826633-generals-and-imf-back-nick-clegg-on-trident-and-banks-tax.do

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/172830/Lib-Dem-voters-say-no-to-Nick-Clegg-s-migrants-amnesty-

http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefingPaper/document/131

[KL-alfman]

I must take back my (imaginary) vote for the Liberals immediately! :o
(they are worse than our Green Party, what hardly can be accomplished)

[Jimbuna]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/nick-clegg/7633466/Nick-Cleggs-amnesty-folly.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-23826633-generals-and-imf-back-nick-clegg-on-trident-and-banks-tax.do

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/172830/Lib-Dem-voters-say-no-to-Nick-Clegg-s-migrants-amnesty-

http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefingPaper/document/131


http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4074/mugabeepa2102400x346xj5.jpg

:rotfl2:

[caspofungin]

@happy times

being a brit, brown, and muslim, am i welcome in finland?

then again, the weather is probably worse :DL

[Tribesman]

So then Steed how does what he said relate in anyway whasoever to your statement?

[Happy Times]

@happy times

being a brit, brown, and muslim, am i welcome in finland?

then again, the weather is probably worse :DL

Il bite, yes you are.

I am assuming you dont require to be catered for in any special way.

[caspofungin]

no, no special requirements, just asking given your comment about London looking like Islamabad -- i happen to think London is a pretty cool city. Of course, I haven't been to Helsinki. And no, I'm not Pakistani.

mr chris said it best -- "People have just become disenfranchised from the political system. Due to the their vote not really counting for as much as it should. Until the is a massive electoral reform along the lines of what posted earlier i don't see much changing."

[Sammi79]

Arguments about immigrants are B*****X what harm do they actually do worse than the criminals/lazy gitz that abide within our own nationalized population? most of the foreigners I know work very very hard to exist here they see it as a matter of pride and personal value. They are very grateful that they can exist here, and they pay all the ridiculous taxes that we are subjected to. If I was unfortunate enough to end up in a warzone these are the people I would prefer to have at my side - I know I can trust them and that they will work as hard as they possibly can. Can you say that about the majority of the caucasian 'pure' british kids? NO because we have become complacent, decadent, and are lacking proper morals and discipline. We (as a nation) have become LAZY and there is no excuse for it.

As a child I grew up with the stories of the war, that my grandfather was a lancaster bomber pilot etc. He never spoke about it with me or my siblings, not once, and I never pressed him, much as I thought I would've liked to hear the gritty truth. The closest he ever got was telling me about a birdstrike just after takeoff which was horrific enough for me at age 5 years, as he explained that he had to fly the entire mission with no glass in his windows. Now I got no problem working HARD I believe they call it beasting in the forces well it ain't unfamiliar to me, and I think part of school/college/uni should be devoted to that maybe 4 weeks or so? teach every kid what a days WORK is. Immigrants are a vital part of our economy, not to mention the cultural expansion that we have because of it. What people, governments and ranting knowitalls forget is that no-one actually owns the land/sea/air, that's an abstract concept. The land owns you is more close to the truth. It will be here after we're gone and it was here before we arrived.

Immigration laws, foreign policies, monetary dictations. These are the tools by which the powerful manipulate the powerless. The current government here in the Uk is a puppeteers mess but it's the only one we got. Vote with your heart, vote with your mind and be grateful you have this small opportunity to have your say, cos people before you died fighting for it.

[caspofungin]

:sign_yeah:

[mr chris]

Heard this gem today.

"Voting Conservative because you're angry with Labour is like sawing your balls off because your trousers are too tight."

[Bilge_Rat]

Heard this gem today.

"Voting Conservative because you're angry with Labour is like sawing your balls off because your trousers are too tight."


Is'nt that what happened in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election? Look where that got us...:D

[TarJak]

Best of British to all poms voting today. I'm sure you will get the government you deserve.:D

[Q3ark]

I'm sure you will get the government you deserve.:D


That sounds rather menacing :hmmm: :)

[TarJak]

Not meant to be menacing just honest, with a fair amount of tongue in cheek as well.:D

Most countries do get the government they deserve. If you the people are slack about who you allow to come to power, then you the people are the only ones who can get off their ar$es and change things.

[Jimbuna]

Not meant to be menacing just honest, with a fair amount of tongue in cheek as well.:D

Most countries do get the government they deserve. If you the people are slack about who you allow to come to power, then you the people are the only ones who can get off their ar$es and change things.

And knowing you to be the honest/truthful person I know you are......written from personal experience garnered from your own political experiences :DL

[TarJak]

And knowing you to be the honest/truthful person I know you are......written from personal experience garnered from your own political experiences :DL:yep: :haha:

[Jimbuna]

:yep: :haha:

LOL :DL

Well I can truthfully say as a card carrying member of the Labour Party......I'm not sure which way I'll be voting today :hmmm:

[TarJak]

I'm sure you'll make the right call. Just make sure your vote counts. Any early exit polls showing any indication of the swing?

[Jimbuna]

I think we'll see the two big parties failing to get a sizeable enough majority to form a government outright.

What will happen next will be a series of meetings with the Lib Dems and a large amount of bartering.

Question is...which one of the big two is the most desparate to gain power and therefore willing to concede sufficient ground to the Lib Dems to form a majority alliance?

The probable aftermath (anything between 3 and 12 months) will see the inevitable falling out of said alliance and a further election.

Recipe for disater IMHO.

[OneToughHerring]

no, no special requirements, just asking given your comment about London looking like Islamabad -- i happen to think London is a pretty cool city. Of course, I haven't been to Helsinki. And no, I'm not Pakistani.

mr chris said it best -- "People have just become disenfranchised from the political system. Due to the their vote not really counting for as much as it should. Until the is a massive electoral reform along the lines of what posted earlier i don't see much changing."

Some Finns like to think that masses of people are just clamouring to get into Finland, a mosquito-addled cold wretch of a nation. Sure, who wouldn't want to live there. :-?

In the early -90's some expected a huge influx of ex-soviet people to come to Finland, didn't really happen in any great numbers. I think a much tougher thing for Finns to accept is that Finland just isn't that popular destination for, well, anyone.

But on topic, the tories might just win but Cameron just seems very bland to me, and lame. Just the name, "Cameron", bit like "Camelot". Camelot! :D William Hague was more a typical tory, sort of openly evil-looking.

[Jimbuna]

The last ComRes daily poll had the Tories unchanged on 37 per cent and Labour and the Lib Dems tied on 28 per cent each, with Labour down one and the Lib Dems up two.

[mr chris]

I think we'll see the two big parties failing to get a sizeable enough majority to form a government outright.

What will happen next will be a series of meetings with the Lib Dems and a large amount of bartering.

Question is...which one of the big two is the most desparate to gain power and therefore willing to concede sufficient ground to the Lib Dems to form a majority alliance?

The probable aftermath (anything between 3 and 12 months) will see the inevitable falling out of said alliance and a further election.

Recipe for disater IMHO.

Nail on the head. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Nail on the head. :yep:


http://www.moneytoday.co.uk/files/imagecache/full/files/images/articles/nail%20hammer_0.jpg

[ajrimmer42]

just voted for the first time! Funny thing is, I was more interested in the polling station - it's my old nursery and I don't think I've been in there for about 14 years lol. Don't think it's changed much, just got a lot smaller. Or maybe that was just me...

[KL-alfman]

from DailyMail:

"All three parties reported high turnout at polling stations across the country, as the final opinion polls pointed towards a possible hung parliament. Observers predicted turnout could be the highest since 1992, when it hit 77.7 per cent as John Major confounded the polls to cling to office."

seems, Britains themselves consider these elections as highly important.

[Bilge_Rat]

I think we'll see the two big parties failing to get a sizeable enough majority to form a government outright.

What will happen next will be a series of meetings with the Lib Dems and a large amount of bartering.

Question is...which one of the big two is the most desparate to gain power and therefore willing to concede sufficient ground to the Lib Dems to form a majority alliance?

The probable aftermath (anything between 3 and 12 months) will see the inevitable falling out of said alliance and a further election.

Recipe for disater IMHO.

Canada has had a minority (or "Hung" for our British Friends) Parliament since 2004, through 3 general elections. The current Conservative government has been in power for 4 years. There are 4 parties, including the Bloc Québécois which has as its principal platform to pull Quebec out of Canada...and yet the whole thing works.

Minority Parliaments can work quite well, if parties are willing to compromise.

[OneToughHerring]

If the tories don't win with a pretty clear margin it has to be seen as a defeat to them. I mean, the labour has been in power like, forever and there has to be a swing the other way eventually. So if the win is only slight it will make the tory regime rather shaky.

Edit. 30 mins for the exit polls etc.

[KL-alfman]

first exit-polls:
seems, there will be no clear decision.
Conservatives are some 20seats short of absolute majority.

[OneToughHerring]

People standing in lines to vote and driven off from the polls by police? :stare: Not very good from the 'home of parlamentarism'.

I see the vote counting is moving at a lightning speed, might have to call it night. Seems like they're headed for a cluster**** of epic proportions. :03:

[Jimbuna]

First 3 results are in....Labour hold seats.

Don't take that as a reflection of the final outcome.

Over 600 more results awaited.

[KL-alfman]

first foretellings of a Lab/Lib-coalition appear ...... :o

[Oberon]

Sounds like the Afghan elections went smoother than this :har:

[Oberon]

Aaah crap...things are looking up for the Tories...please...no... :damn:

[ajrimmer42]

Aaah crap...things are looking up for the Tories...please...no... :damn:

Oh God... Looks like a hung parliament too

Things seem to have been a bit of a shambles in Sheffield, people queing for 3hrs to vote, queues of people being turned away at 10pm. However it seems that our loacal constituencies have stayed the same, Labour for the most part, and old Cleggy still has his Hallam.

[Oberon]

I don't know, a Hung parliament might just be what we need. A majority victory by Labour or the Tories would give both of them too much confidence and make them lazy, at least now they have to fight and work for their power. Perhaps not so good for the country at whole, but good for the people who have lost all faith in the political system.
I can see a lot of spin in the Tory Media (Murdoch land) at the dangers of a Lib-Lab alliance and how only Cameron can save Britain.

This is going to be a rather interesting day... :hmmm:

[KL-alfman]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/5/7/1273191682753/07.05.2010-Steve-Bell-on--005.jpg


(personally I guess 13y of the same party in power is more than enough)

[severniae]

Well, with only 35 results left to come in, it looks like a hung parliament.

I must confess to being disappointed, I was looking forward to the change and decisiveness a new Conservative government could bring the country. Cameron's promises of trimming the 'waste' really rung a bell with me.

Now we have to wait until probably next week to find out who will actually govern us. I think it would be wrong for Brown to stay in office, for the Labour party to lose the election and the popular vote, but stay in office, seems incredibly foolish, an insult to British voters.

But who is to come in? Historicaly the conservatives are quite quick to sack a leader who doesn't perform as he was expected, so have we seen the back of Cameron? Will Clegg keep his position after woefully worse than expected results? (they actually lost 6 seats, complete opposite to the overtaking labour everyone thought they'd do) And I personally can't see Brown being able to keep his position for much longer.

So, who do we think will be living in No10 next week?

[XabbaRus]

Why would the Tories want to sack Cameron?

They have the biggest party but not an overall majority. It is now confirmed we have a hung parliament.

What I think sucks is that it is Gordon Brown who gets first dibs at trying to form a coalition government.

I think it should be the leader of the biggest party who tries to form one.

You look at the amount of votes Labour lost and it IS clear they are not wanted. Brown should do the honourable thing and step down and let Cameron have a go. But he won't. He is deluded and will try to hang on for as long as possible.

[severniae]

Its because he's convinced that he's the 'Saviour of the Economy' - And as you said, the British voters all seem to disagree, yet he gets to stick it out a while longer. And probably knowing him, he'll hang on with his fingertips if he has to.

It seems wrong to me, that a party that actually, in literal terms, lost the election, can stay in power. Something needs to change.

[Oberon]

For TF2 players...

This situation makes me think of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7inMu9KtVM

[Jimbuna]

Why would the Tories want to sack Cameron?

They have the biggest party but not an overall majority. It is now confirmed we have a hung parliament.

What I think sucks is that it is Gordon Brown who gets first dibs at trying to form a coalition government.

I think it should be the leader of the biggest party who tries to form one.

You look at the amount of votes Labour lost and it IS clear they are not wanted. Brown should do the honourable thing and step down and let Cameron have a go. But he won't. He is deluded and will try to hang on for as long as possible.

Can't argue with any of the above but what is amusing me right now is the Nick Clegg quote....he is of the opinion the largest single seat winner should have first opportunity at forming the government, so I can't see him being too interested in what One Blank is going to say to him :DL

[Bilge_Rat]

The problem with the unwritten British type constitution is that so much depends on custom and traditions.

In Canada, which follows the British tradition and has more experience with minority parliaments, a custom has developped that the party which wins the most seats gets first crack at forming a government. However, Brown is perfectly within his right to try to get the Lib-Dems's support and try to govern.

We had a similar situation in Ontario in 1985, the Tories won the most seats (52), but the liberals (48) were able to form a governement with the support of the NDP which came in third (25). Everyone agreed that this was perfectly valid under British parliamentary tradition. However, one big difference in that case was that the liberals had actually received more votes than the Tories which gave them an additional moral advantage.

If however, Brown does not get the Lib-Dems's support and loses the first non-confidence vote in the House, he would have no choice but to resign, at which point the Queen would ask Cameron to try to form a government.

[jumpy]

Anything but another five years of Labour....

I'm in favour of a not hung parliament on the basis that there will otherwise be far too much appeasing of differing views to govern decisively one way or another.

As for the reality; it's early days yet and the news are spamming it up as usual, telling everyone exactly nothing we didn't already know or guess. All of the election night coverage on the bbc was so full of idle speculation I found myself wondering why I was surprised that it was half past five in the morning, and they were still knocking out random bs on the 'swingometer' and all of the rest of the flashy graphics. Information that amounted to exactly nothing.
Like some of the acceptance speeches last night, they ought to have kept their mouths shut until the actual results are finally in and accounted for.

One thing that doesn't seems to be getting all that much coverage is the 'voters turned away from polling stations' fail. Honestly... lack of staff...insufficient ballot papers...too many voters wanting to vote... That's the sort of incompetence I'd expect from some tin-pan third world democracy. Not one of the oldest democratic states in the world.
It says a great deal about how far we have fallen that we cannot even organise an election without ****ing it up.

It also begs the question of a possible recount or legal challenge to the results if it is found that incompetence of the election officials caused voters to be turned away in sufficient numbers to have an effect on the result.

3/10
see me.

[KL-alfman]

one journalist of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" meant sarcastically:
"it's not definite at all who has won the elections, but clear is: Labour lost."

[STEED]

Conservatives are now in talks with the liberals and judging the leaders both have had a gut full of labour, let's hope these talks workout.

My verdict on the party's...

Conservatives a good night, but the hill was one hill too many, still they did well.

Labour has without question had a bad night, Gordon Brown could be on his way out.

Liberals have had a poor night, so will Nick Clegg grab the olive branch from Cameron?

1 seats to come today, 1 seat latter in the month due to death of the candidate.

So Far...

Con 305...36%
Lab 258...29%
Lib 57...23%
Oth 28...12%

[Jimbuna]

I'll stick my neck out first and reckon it'll be a Conservative/Lib Dem coalition.

[STEED]

I agree Jim, and this could work out well for Cameron as those rose tinted labour loons will not be able to bang the drum "remember the tories" as with hope there will be a coalition. And they can not blame it all on the Conservatives anymore.

[Jimbuna]

What a turn up for the books if Cameron and One Blank decide to form a coalition between themselves :DL

[Oberon]

Now you're just smoking the special stuff Jim :O:

I reckon that Labour might offer Brown up in the bargain, Brown stands down if the Libs join a coalition. Might sweeten the deal a bit, and Brown knows that he's on his way out, his speech last night/this morning proves as much and the main obstacle of a Lib/Lab alliance would be the fact that Brown would remain in government.

[XabbaRus]

But Brown won't step down will he? He will have to be pushed.

[STEED]

FROM THE BBC NEWS...

BREAKING NEWS
Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are to meet this evening for face-to-face talks, says the BBC's Nick Robinson. But neither David Cameron or Nick Clegg will be present.


Well there off...:yeah:

[nikimcbee]

I voted Buna on my ballot.:D

[Oberon]

But Brown won't step down will he? He will have to be pushed.

The lynch mob have been gathering for some time now, all it needs is the right incentive for them to strike. Clegg hinting that he'd work with Labour if Brown was out of the picture would be one of them.

But, I suspect it will be Clegg-Cam, which will be...interesting... :hmmm:

[Egan]

I don't care about anything else today except this: the hideous George Galloway and his vile Respect party did very, very badly. Galloway never even bothered turning up to the count - Probably too busy drawing his salary from the antisemitic, anti western, Hamas and Hezzbollah supporting, Iranian backed Press TV.

Everything else is obviously important but this is birthday present stuff. Made my day.

[KL-alfman]

does someone happen to know who's the guy with the sun-glasses??

http://images.derstandard.at/t/12/2010/05/07/1271440947536.jpg

[STEED]

does someone happen to know who's the guy with the sun-glasses??

http://images.derstandard.at/t/12/2010/05/07/1271440947536.jpg

Candidate, not sure which one...

Donald MacLaren of MacLaren…Independent

Derek Jackson…Land is power

[KL-alfman]

thx STEED for clarifying.
first I thought he's a body-guard of GB.
but then I saw his gesture and supposed it's a certain political sign ....

[STEED]

thx STEED for clarifying.
first I thought he's a body-guard of GB.
but then I saw his gesture and supposed it's a certain sign ....

I noticed when Gordon Brown turned up for the count these guys making that gesture did not shake hands with Gordon Brown unlike the other candidates. :hmmm:

[Snestorm]

Bill Clinton used that gesture on occasion too.
As have many others.

[OneToughHerring]

Well like I wrote earlier, ol' Brownie managed to get at least a defensive victory of some type. For the tories not to really even come close to a full majority just speaks in favour of them not being really seen as a good option. And on the other had new labour took UK to two wars that didn't really work out.

So a tie, really. Now it's coin flipping time.