UK 2015 General election

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by STEED

Greens seem to me vanished into the woods smoking pot.

I hear they have made the consideration of banning the Grand National horse race a central plank in their platform. Good to know they have their priorities straight.

[bertieck476]

Originally Posted by MGR1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32194320

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2...tland-32146800

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...itics-32202273

https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchp...-Scotland.aspx

An interesting summary of public opinion in Scotland on what the important issues are in this election.

A rating of one being bad, ten good:

8.2 - Increase the minimum wage for over 21's from £6.50 to £7.85.

7.9 - Guarantee that old age pensions will rise over the next five years.

7.7 - Stop energy companies from raising prices for the next 20 months.

7.4 - Introduce a tax on homes worth more than two million pounds, i.e. the Mansion Tax.

7.2 - Increase the top rate of tax to 50p in the pound for those earning more than £150,000 a year.

6.3 - Increase spending on public services even if it means the deficit isn't eliminated by 2020.

6.3 - Put a cap on the total amount paid in welfare benefits to a household.

5.7 - Reduce the amount the government borrows by cutting spending rather than increasing taxes.

5.2 - Charge better-off older people for some things which are currently free.

4.6 - Eliminate the deficit by the end of the next parliament in 2020 even if it means reducing spending on public services.

4.0 - Reduce taxes even if it means cutting public services.

Very nuanced, as Brian Taylor said on Reporting Scotland.

Mike.

Hang on a minute, am I the only one that thinks the highlighted points are contradictory ??

[STEED]

"ON GUARD"

Looks Nigel is in a spot of trouble...

Polish Prince challenges Ukip's Nigel Farage to 18th Century-style duel with swords

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londo...-10172088.html

Tell you what this should put some life into this boring election.


Moving on to my area I see the Cons/Lab/UKIP candidates for the GE are now posted.

[MGR1]

Originally Posted by bertieck476

Hang on a minute, am I the only one that thinks the highlighted points are contradictory ??

At first glance, yes, but the survey consisted of X number of policies and people were asked how important they were on a scale of one to ten.

Hence "Increase spending on public services even if it means the deficit isn't eliminated by 2020" has a rating of 6.3, fairly important, whilst "Eliminate the deficit by the end of the next parliament in 2020 even if it means reducing spending on public services" has a rating of 4.6, much less important.

Hence the comment that Scots would rather see higher public spending and aren't that concerned about the deficit.

Or at least the 1000 or so who were surveyed thought that way.

Mike.

[bertieck476]

Originally Posted by MGR1

At first glance, yes, but the survey consisted of X number of policies and people were asked how important they were on a scale of one to ten.

Hence "Increase spending on public services even if it means the deficit isn't eliminated by 2020" has a rating of 6.3, fairly important, whilst "Eliminate the deficit by the end of the next parliament in 2020 even if it means reducing spending on public services" has a rating of 4.6, much less important.

Hence the comment that Scots would rather see higher public spending and aren't that concerned about the deficit.

Or at least the 1000 or so who were surveyed thought that way.

Mike.

Ahh, apologies I misread your original post, thanks for explaining.

[Jimbuna]

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised at the UKIP manifesto this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32313965

Policy guide: Where the parties stand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide

[STEED]

I shall be reading all the manifesto's over the weekend online and seeing which party suits me. All I will say the chances of me voting Tory are not good.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised at the UKIP manifesto this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32313965

Policy guide: Where the parties stand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide

No matter what Farage may say his policies are, his parties members and their policies will undermine any sincere message he has:
http://shouldyouvoteukip.tumblr.com/...t-so-bad#notes

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

No matter what Farage may say his policies are, his parties members and their policies will undermine any sincere message he has:
http://shouldyouvoteukip.tumblr.com/...t-so-bad#notes

Yeah, those are boils that will need to be lanced at some point sooner rather than later but I honestly don't believe he condones or welcomes them, rather puts up with them until they find another sewer to live in.

[STEED]

I have been told I missed the funny high light of the campaign so far, Cameron eating a hot dog with a silver knife and fork.

My only regret is I missed that.

Any how moving on, I have been out and about today and I noticed something and that something was not one party poster in the window not one party poll in a garden not one bill board poster. Too sum up a big fat zero unlike back in 2010 when you could not miss seeing these.

Whats your area like where you live?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by STEED

I have been told I missed the funny high light of the campaign so far, Cameron eating a hot dog with a silver knife and fork.

My only regret is I missed that.

Any how moving on, I have been out and about today and I noticed something and that something was not one party poster in the window not one party poll in a garden not one bill board poster. Too sum up a big fat zero unlike back in 2010 when you could not miss seeing these.

Whats your area like where you live?

I've seen, so far, one UKIP flag (unfortunately flying too high for me to set fire to it) and two Labour posters...in the same window.

Rather odd really considering this will be the first election my wife has voted in, and the first in a long while that my mother will vote in, although she's doing it through proxy via me since she can't get to the polling station.

[ExFishermanBob]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I've seen, so far, one UKIP flag (unfortunately flying too high for me to set fire to it) and two Labour posters...in the same window.

Rather odd really considering this will be the first election my wife has voted in, and the first in a long while that my mother will vote in, although she's doing it through proxy via me since she can't get to the polling station.

Nothing here at all although one chap was flying a Union flag yesterday - I was wondering why but I now suspect it was for the release of a (Unionist) manifesto (UKIP's perhaps?). Or was there a royal birth or something?

[ExFishermanBob]

Originally Posted by MGR1

Personally, I think a fully federalised UK with England having it's own parliament is the only practicable solution to the current constitutional mess.

The question is, do the people of England really want one and all the extra bureaucracy that goes with it?

Mike.

Indeed - I don't see why not, really: Westminster can be trimmed right down to as small as necessary. There would not be that much extra bureaucracy plus there could finally be a focus on England itself, rather than the often UK / English confusion. Still, simple and obvious rarely seems to triumph.

[MGR1]

Originally Posted by STEED

Any how moving on, I have been out and about today and I noticed something and that something was not one party poster in the window not one party poll in a garden not one bill board poster. Too sum up a big fat zero unlike back in 2010 when you could not miss seeing these.

Whats your area like where you live?

I've seen one SNP poster so far and a few "Yes" stickers of referendum vintage re-appearing, but nothing else.

I haven't even seen any canvassers at all, either, though that might change nearer the date.

Mike.

[MGR1]

Originally Posted by ExFishermanBob

Still, simple and obvious rarely seems to triumph.

Agreed.

However, too many snouts in troughs, methinks.

I'd actually make a complete change and have a completely new location for an English Parliament. Perhaps a clean break is what's needed, especially considering the state of the current building.

I keep seeing either Winchester or York being mentioned.

Mike.