General Election 2015

[eFestivals]

I see that new-ish shadow transport secretary Michael Dugher has come out in favour of returning at least some of the railways to public ownership.

It's a positive step in the right direction, tho doesn't go far enough. Even tory voters support full renationalisation as a majority.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/18/public-control-more-rail-network-promises-labour-dugher

In that article, there's this brilliant line (in bold, below)....

He poured scorn on the prospect of a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, saying he did not foresee a hung parliament after the election and that he was relishing the prospect of Labour defeating Nick Clegg.

“I don’t really regard beating Nick Clegg as work. It’s something you’d happily do on your day off

[LJS]

I was going to post this is the dirty Indy thread but, as with much of our discussion on there recently, it is much more relevant here. It sums up my views on the austerity/deficit reduction/Labour & SNP proposals for slower deficit reduction proposals

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/22/general-election-better-lucky-right-coalition

[lazyred]

William Keegan has been the lone voice of reason since the eighties.

Did you also read Andrew Rawnsley today?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/22/snp-labour-general-election-cameron-miliband

"For their very different reasons, the Tories and SNP suggest that a vote for the nationalists will be a vote for a Labour government. The reverse is much more likely to be the case. What a mighty irony it would be if voting SNP were to put David Cameron back in Downing Street. That outcome might secretly delight the leadership of the SNP. It is rather more doubtful that it would please many of the Scots currently saying they plan to vote nationalist."

[Jackmypie]

I reckon UKIP have lost a few voters after 'Meet the Kippers' on BBC2 The programme was trending number 1 worldwide for a while after it showed the UKIP councillor having a rant about her problems with *ahem* 'Neg***s'. For those that didn't see it, the video is here..

I've read so many posts online from kippers saying how 'shocked' they are... was this not in the news?!

[gary1979666]

To many Kippers though, they have no problem with that language - "it was ok to say it in the 60's or whenever, so why not now?!"

[gary1979666]

You know things are bad in the Labour camp when Prezza's been brought in to help with couple couselling!

[gary1979666]

Apparently Cleggy's throwing his toys out the pram because of the debate format. He doesn't like the idea of the final debate being just Cameron/Milliband and he is, in effect, given the same footing as the Greens, UKIP, etc.

Cameron still playing funny buggers re DUP too. Though reckon he's got enough his own way to stop protesting.

[eFestivals]

Apparently Cleggy's throwing his toys out the pram because of the debate format. He doesn't like the idea of the final debate being just Cameron/Milliband and he is, in effect, given the same footing as the Greens, UKIP, etc.

Cameron still playing funny buggers re DUP too. Though reckon he's got enough his own way to stop protesting.

you do know that Cameron has been told by his strategist that he's not to do the debates under any circumstances, don't you?

His "playing funny buggers" isn't him trying to get the format he wants, it's about screwing things so that everything about it breaks down and the debates don't happen.

He's bottled it, because he knows that Miliband will have him on toast.

[grumpyhack]

you do know that Cameron has been told by his strategist that he's not to do the debates under any circumstances, don't you?

His "playing funny buggers" isn't him trying to get the format he wants, it's about screwing things so that everything about it breaks down and the debates don't happen.

He's bottled it, because he knows that Miliband will have him on toast.

I wish I could share your confidence. I'm still betting on a Conservative victory, even after the latest Cash for Questions and the Green Party interview from hell.

[eFestivals]

I wish I could share your confidence. I'm still betting on a Conservative victory, even after the latest Cash for Questions and the Green Party interview from hell.

the "have him on toast" was in relation to the debates, nowt more. Miliband has Fat Dave at QT each week without much difficulty, so it won't be any different in the debates. The only line Fat Dave has is "everything is Labour's fault", but that doesn't work after 5 years of Fat Dave in control.

But outside of the debates, I'm about with you. While I think Labour might just perhaps finish up as the party with the most seats and so form the govt, I think the tories having more seats is more likely.

Which might have something to do with why I've spent the last 5 months suggesting to those in Scotland that there's better ideas for their vote than to punch themselves in the face.... and perhaps actually looking at some policies might be a good idea, too.

[TheGayTent]

the "have him on toast" was in relation to the debates, nowt more. Miliband has Fat Dave at QT each week without much difficulty, so it won't be any different in the debates.

I think someone needs to lay off the weed for a while

The only line Fat Dave has is "everything is Labour's fault", but that doesn't work after 5 years of Fat Dave in control.

The same line was trotted out by dear Tone for 10 years and Labour for 13.

Then along came the loon that sold off all the golden eggs at record low prices and came out with the "no more boom and bust"...and that as they say, was that.

Thankfully.

Edited February 24, 2015 by TheGayTent

[zahidf]

I reckon Labour will get more seats: they are up in the polls, Govt generally do not increase their voting share/seats captured in a relection, and the way the system is rigged boundaries wise give Labour an inherent advantage.

[eFestivals]

I think someone needs to lay off the weed for a while

yeah, cos that constant "it's all Labour's fault" is fooling loads of people.

We might have a thick electorate, but not one that is that thick.

Then along came the loon that sold off all the golden eggs at record low prices

such a much bigger crime than selling of gas, water. leccy, railways, nukes, airports, airlines, mail, the world's 2nd biggest computer business, and a thousand other things on the very cheap .. and to their corrupt cronies.

[eFestivals]

I reckon Labour will get more seats: they are up in the polls,

it depends what polls you look at.

Labour have a 4 point lead in the latest Ashcroft polls - but everyone knows the Ashcroft polls are the most shit polls.

Meanwhile, in the latest ComRes poll, the tories have a 2 point lead over Labour.

The one consistent thing across all polls is that the UKIP share is going down and the tory share is going up. It don't look good.

Govt generally do not increase their voting share/seats captured in a relection, and the way the system is rigged boundaries wise give Labour an inherent advantage.

It's very likely that the tory share of the vote will have fallen - but with Labour likely to lose 30+ seats in Scotland that tory fall looks like being small enough for them to be the party with the most seats.

It's too close and voting looks too different for anyone to make a sure assessment on who'll win, unless the polling companies do full 1000-respondant polls in every seat.

Edited February 24, 2015 by eFestivals

[TheGayTent]

such a much bigger crime than selling of gas, water. leccy, railways, nukes, airports, airlines, mail, the world's 2nd biggest computer business, and a thousand other things on the very cheap .. and to their corrupt cronies.

Oh look...there's a squirrel...

[TheGayTent]

Can you correct your last quote? Thanks

[eFestivals]

Oh look...there's a squirrel...

When you've used a diversion yourself, you're living in the squirrel's nest yourself.

I think you need a lesson on how it works.

[eFestivals]

Can you correct your last quote? Thanks

apols for the cock-up, now corrected.

[TheGayTent]

I think you need a lesson on how it works.

On how to sound like a politician? On how to sound like Neil?

No ta.

[eFestivals]

On how to sound like a politician? On how to sound like Neil?

No ta.

PMSL.

I directly addressed what was said.

It was you who went all politician, by chucking in an irrelevance for what was under discussion. But you just pretend you're smart and clever, and not everything you're condemning.

[TheGayTent]

I directly addressed what was said.

No you didn't.

[eFestivals]

very well done TGT for turning this into a pile of shit with your usual mindless tory-idiot trolling. You should be proud.

[russycarps]

I think he's great. He just highlights what sort a massive c**t you have to be to vote tory.

The funny thing is, he is so thick he doesnt even realise him and his family are being raped by the torys.

It's pretty obvious he isn't their sort.

Edited February 25, 2015 by russycarps

[t8yman]

I'm amazed that Neil thinks EM "has" camoron at QT every week?

I listen to QT most weeks, in full. And IMHO camoron buries him most weeks.

Milliband is the worst thing to happen to the labour party for generations. Most people I speak to think he is creepy, weird and totally out of his depth. and tbh, I have never gotten over this.

in fact I cant even bring myself to watch it now as I link it.

The man is a disaster, and labour dont stand a hope while he is in charge. The tories are going to romp the election imho.

[eFestivals]

I'm amazed that Neil thinks EM "has" camoron at QT every week?

I listen to QT most weeks, in full. And IMHO camoron buries him most weeks.

It might be that's because you're listening and not seeing?

Cameron is only 'convincing' those who would suck up his every word anyway. He doesn't address his replies to Miliband, but instead is talking turned around and talking to his own side, like it's them that needs convincing. It looks absolutely dreadful, and the content is completely empty.

I'm not trying to claim Miliband is a star performer, but he's far more likely to win the undecided's over than Cameron is in a lengthy debate where substance will matter for who comes out best.

Milliband is the worst thing to happen to the labour party for generations. Most people I speak to think he is creepy, weird and totally out of his depth.

I dunno about "most", but yeah, those who think looks matters more than substance won't vote for him (hello Barry Fish) - but that says more about those people than it does Miliband.

And yet, polls are continually showing that plenty who aren't much taken by him will vote Labour anyway, on the basis they find the tories far more repulsive.

The man is a disaster, and labour dont stand a hope while he is in charge. The tories are going to romp the election imho.

Labour have plenty of hope, no matter how he is or how he's thought of. As the polls prove.

The tories had an open goal in 2010, and still managed to only hit the post; they just don't have the same base support as they used to have, as their failure to win an election for over 20 years shows. And their result would have been even worse if a noticeable proportion of potential Labour voters hadn't stayed at home (as the votes cast gets to show).

It's far less likely those people will stay at home this time, which will see the Labour vote rise but which isn't accounted for within similar-ish opinion polling figures for this time compared to last time. I'm not trying to claim any massive significance to this, but it is something which will nudge Labour's share up a tad in some places (if not all places), and tip things a little more their way than some people are thinking.

The tories might still win, but there's not a hope in hell they'll "romp" home. They certainly won't get a majority.

Edited February 25, 2015 by eFestivals