General Election 2015

[Triggaaar]

Oh behave. I've spent plenty of my life in the UK thank you.

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[Herr Tubthumper]

That bucks the trend. Normally people get wiser as they get older.

The older I got, the more I saw of the UK (and the world), and the more I realised the inequalities and lack of opportunity people are offered. My politics boil down to fairness, this is all. I do not see the Tories as a party which offers this.

 

[larus]

Interesting, you don't appear to be a selfish buffoon.

Going back to one of my original points regarding politics. It's idiotic point scoring like this which undermines the whole point of the debate. One minute you want to come across as an intelligent, reasonable person, then you come out with cheap, snide comments which inflame the argument. It's crap like this which ruins sensible debate.

I don't think you posted in jest. I think you really believe it, which says more about you than it does about the 'Tory voters' who you want to sneer at.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

On a related point going back to the Scots referendum of 6 months or so ago....Do you think Alex Salmond et al stirred up hatred (your terminology) between those whom wanted to leave the Union and those whom wanted to stay?

Viewing it as an Englishman (and not being affiliated to any political party) I actually do.

I do too. That's why I have (postal) voted against the Tories to prevent their EU Referendum.... it'll be exactly the same again, but this time against Europeans.

To be honest, I don't think Cameron has done an awful job. Unfortunately he's full of these cheap political gimmicks that may well backfire

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Going back to one of my original points regarding politics. It's idiotic point scoring like this which undermines the whole point of the debate. One minute you want to come across as an intelligent, reasonable person, then you come out with cheap, snide comments which inflame the argument. It's crap like this which ruins sensible debate.

I don't think you posted in jest. I think you really believe it, which says more about you than it does about the 'Tory voters' who you want to sneer at.

Oh come on. Lighten-up. I've taken a lot of stick in the past few days; Piltdown suggested I was getting less-wise just a few posts up.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Maybe you'd like to give up your UK citizenship in favour of a German one given you appear to hate the UK so much.

This is a bit harsh. I hate the government for sure. I like a lot of other stuff though.

 

[Gwylan]

Oh come on. Lighten-up. I've taken a lot of stick in the past few days; Piltdown suggested I was getting less-wise just a few posts up.

Quite. Larus should tell us why it's OK for those on the right to make sneering, personal remarks but why it's not OK for those on the left to do so. What it means is that it's not cheap political point scoring he objects to, but lefties

 

[ROSM]

On a related point going back to the Scots referendum of 6 months or so ago....Do you think Alex Salmond et al stirred up hatred (your terminology) between those whom wanted to leave the Union and those whom wanted to stay?

Viewing it as an Englishman (and not being affiliated to any political party) I actually do.

Yes I do. I think whenever someone starts to criticise one part of society based on their country then it can only lead to intolerance all round

It will be the same in a European referendum

 

[Machiavelli]

Hardly the slowest recovery in modern history: "The ONS said the economy was 2.4% larger than the same period a year earlier, meaning it remains the fastest growing economy in the G7."

[MENTION=28721]Kevlar[/MENTION] was comparing the recovery from this recession/depression with other recoveries, and not with a snapshot -- about the only snapshot in the last seven years -- in which the UK economy is outperforming its rivals. Given yesterday's GDP figures, for instance, I doubt if this is still the case. Have a look at the rebounds of previous recessions, and compare it with this one. Then you'll see that it is the slowest recovery in modern history.

 

[Triggaaar]

@Kevlar was comparing the recovery from this recession/depression with other recoveries

So am I - I'm comparing with the other countries that are recovering from the recession. Ours is not the slowest. It's more like the fastest.

and not with a snapshot -- about the only snapshot in the last seven years -- in which the UK economy is outperforming its rivals.

It's not a snapshot, we've been recovering at a decent rate compared to other countries for a couple of years.

Given yesterday's GDP figures, for instance, I doubt if this is still the case. Have a look at the rebounds of previous recessions, and compare it with this one. Then you'll see that it is the slowest recovery in modern history.

It's not, as it's faster than other countries. Maybe you mean to say that it's the slowest British recovery in recent history - if that's what you mean to say, then try saying it. But if you just want to say it's the slowest in recent history, then you're very wrong. And it makes sense to compare our recovery with the recoveries of other G7 countries, as we're competing in the same global marketplace. Just as when our economy crashed under Labour, we make some allowance for the fact that there was a global recession and it wasn't all Labour's fault, we also look at the global economy when judging our recovery.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Same. Haven't forgiven myself for voting Labour in 2005.

And you think that's bad ? I voted LibDem in 2010

 

[London Irish]

Bookies' odds looking good for Miliband - odds on to be next PM - Labour minority govt not brought down by SNP lowest odds outcome

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Bookies' odds looking good for Miliband - odds on to be next PM

Shades of Kinnock v Major in 1992? Miliband is so far from convincing, will be very surprised if it happens, odds on or not. Cameron to nick it on the day.

 

[Ernest]

Shades of Kinnock v Major in 1992? Miliband is so far from convincing, will be very surprised if it happens, odds on or not. Cameron to nick it on the day.

It's a different situation now as no way do the Tories get 323 seats to get a majority as what Major did, Labour and SNP will be the largest block and will out muster whatever Dave comes up with so it depends on who the tories can line up with

 

[Triggaaar]

Bookies' odds looking good for Miliband - odds on to be next PM - Labour minority govt not brought down by SNP lowest odds outcome

A Labour minority government, with the Conservatives having the most seats. Brilliant.

http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-uk-general-election/most-seats

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's a different situation now as no way do the Tories get 323 seats to get a majority as what Major did, Labour and SNP will be the largest block and will out muster whatever Dave comes up with so it depends on who the tories can line up with

I was responding to the 'next PM' post. Genuinelycan't see Miliband being that person. I'm with Nicola Sturgeon on this one. He's just “not Prime Minister material”.

 

[spring hall convert]

Where's the UKIP vote gone?

They've lost about 5% in the polls this year, the assumption would be that these people would be predominantly voting Tory. However, UKIP have come down in the poll of polls without an appreciable Conservative boost.

Sadly, I'm begining to think this election is completely about how many "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" fall for the current Tory rhetoric around the SNP. My prediction is 'enough to make a serious difference.'

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Hold on, you said 4-5 seats.

Election forecast predict 1 seat
Poll observatory predict 3 seats
Ladbrokes "predict" 3.5 seats
The Guardian predict 4 seats
Elections Etc predict 4 seats

You said 4 to 5. It isn't 4 to 5, it's 3 to 4 at best, or more accurately, 1 to 4.

I knew I read online about a UKIP 5 seat prediction and it was from marketoracle.co.uk but I suppose it doesn't count because they also predict 296 seats for the Tories

 

[Pavilionaire]

Shades of Kinnock v Major in 1992? Miliband is so far from convincing, will be very surprised if it happens, odds on or not. Cameron to nick it on the day.

Back in 1992 voters opted for the devil they knew. Now, throw in a bank holiday weekend and a Royal Baby, the status quo might not look so bad to some "all mouth, no trousers" UKippers and I fancy we might see another Con-Lib Dem coalition, possibly with the support of the DUP.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Back in 1992 voters opted for the devil they knew. Now, throw in a bank holiday weekend and a Royal Baby, the status quo might not look so bad to some "all mouth, no trousers" UKippers and I fancy we might see another Con-Lib Dem coalition, possibly with the support of the DUP.

Factor in all these, er, factors, plus Mliband's less than sparkling personal standing, then it starts to look fairly odds-on that Miliband won't be the next PM.