Tories 28 points up in the polls

[Knotty]

Why oh why do people still assume that a the Tories under Cameron are going to be the same as the Tories under Thatcher?
Were the Tories under Major the same as under Thatcher?
Were the Tories under Heath the same as under Thatcher?
Were Labour under Blair the same as under Callaghan?
Were Labour under Blair the same as under Foot?
Are labour under Brown the same as under Blair?

No. If you think that because someone happens be a 'right-wing'/free-market (and therefore, probably a Tory) that they are intrinsicly bad, then you are so stupid it's unbelievable. All that it is, is a different view on the best way to generate wealth for the economy.

Just because there were a few bad people under the last Tory government, doesn't mean that Tories are corrupt. What about these Labour politicians and their 'expenses'?

I think Labour are going to get salughtered whenever they call the next election, and like Buzzer, I think this is bad for democracy. absolute power in no good, whichever party is in office.

This financial mess has been exacerbated by Browns mismanagement of the economy. I fail to see how anyone can possibly say that Brown has been a prudent chancellor.

You make a very vaild point about not assuming a current party will have the same policies as its predecessors.

It's not many years ago that one of the Labour party's main policies was that we should pull out of the EU (or whatever it was called then). Now they are very pro-Europe and it is the Tories who are much more Euro-sceptic.

Times change, people change, parties and their policies change - sometimes for the better, sometimes worse, depending on your point of view. When the next election comes we should be voting on what the parties say then, not what they said 10, 20, 30 years ago.

However, the fact is that a large part of the voting population will vote for the party they have always voted for, and it won't matter a jot what its policies are or what is being said by the politicians at the time.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I find both lots as bad as each other. I am absolutely fed up with all these "career policatians" who know nothing about real life. But, as they say, we get the politicians we deserve, I guess.

 

[clippedgull]

I'm surprised anybody still bothers to vote!

I know I don't bother anymore (since '97), to me there is no discernible difference to any of the parties.

 

[adrian29uk]

It won't change even with a Tory goverment. Let's not forget the misery they put us all through. They are worse than Labour, and don't care for the average guy on the street.

As for Labour, they have done what every single goverment has done and not listened to public opinion.

 

[Simster]

It won't change even with a Tory goverment. Let's not forget the misery they put us all through. They are worse than Labour, and don't care for the average guy on the street.

As for Labour, they have done what every single goverment has done and not listened to public opinion.

Spot on. Actually Labour did listen to public opinion once - over fox hunting. Arguably the biggest waste of time and effort ever.

 

[Buzzer]

I really don't get the glib "Tories don't care" stuff you know.

Do people really, really think that we don't?

 

[simmo]

Cessation isn't the frightening development. It's what's left that is. Go to Electoral calculus, type in some indicative figures and just see the blue that covers England and Wales. The tories would be in power forever.

As much as that appeals to me, is that a good prospect for the UK?

I am not so sure about that. I remember thinking the same thing on 2nd May 1997 that the Tories would NEVER get back in power ever that they were finished, yet 11 years later now you are talking about Labour never getting back into power (even though they are still in power) and the Tories never being out, I presume.

As we speak a landslide deafeat looks inevitable for Labour and because of this they may well lose the next one after that as well, but 10 years on things after an administration bores the backside off and turns to internal squabling (like Labour are now and the Tories did once they dumped Thatcher) everyone things look a bit different.

One great thing about the Tory revival is it puts a massive squeeze on the Lib Dums in the South East, bye, bye Baker etc and good riddance!

 

[London Calling]

I really don't get the glib "Tories don't care" stuff you know.

Do people really, really think that we don't?

I certainly believe some tories don't care about public services, and that is often seen , at a local level, when the tories come in with a blanket XXXX% cuts.

Then its cut and cut,without thinking about the consequences. Some services need protection! Social Services and quality education are key.

I always find it intriguing, if you look at the Swedish Conservatives and look at the system they are managing, relatively successfully.

It would be classed as radical socialism in the UK. The Conservatives in Sweden, have been reducing taxes, they have cut back some of the "extremes" of the Swedish supporting state.

But still leaving a healthy economy and quality public services.


To me there is a balance out there?

Blair is the clever guy here, his advisors would have seen the crash coming, he knew he and his policies were losing ground with the electorate that is why he wanted to go by 2009.

Brown pushed him to go earlier and has now taken all the crap.

In addition, with all of these massive swings, the fear as predicted by Buzzer of yet another landslide election, we must move to proprtional representations, it it ridicolus that a party with 40% of the vote, can have 200 plus majorities, That isn't a working democracy!

 

[phil1977]

I really don't get the glib "Tories don't care" stuff you know.

Do people really, really think that we don't?

Yes, I do!

 

[Buzzer]

Yes, I do!

Like I give a f*** what you lot think.





(I think I set that gag up quite nicely)

 

[phil1977]

I would be very depressed if the Tories came to power. Let's hope it doesn't happen in the next general election.

Buzzer, nice to see you admit to writing offensive e-mails. With trasparency like that, maybe you should stand against Norman Baker?

 

[Buzzer]

I would be very depressed if the Tories came to power. Let's hope it doesn't happen in the next general election.

Buzzer, nice to see you admit to writing offensive e-mails. With trasparency like that, maybe you should stand against Norman Baker?

Eh? Me no follow. It was a crap joke. That's all. I think I've been quite even-handed in this thread. No gloating, none of my usual anti-Labour bile.

Apologies if it came across badly.

 

[Uter]

Why oh why do people still assume that a the Tories under Cameron are going to be the same as the Tories under Thatcher?
Were the Tories under Major the same as under Thatcher?
Were the Tories under Heath the same as under Thatcher?
Were Labour under Blair the same as under Callaghan?
Were Labour under Blair the same as under Foot?
Are labour under Brown the same as under Blair?

No. If you think that because someone happens be a 'right-wing'/free-market (and therefore, probably a Tory) that they are intrinsicly bad, then you are so stupid it's unbelievable. All that it is, is a different view on the best way to generate wealth for the economy.

Just because there were a few bad people under the last Tory government, doesn't mean that Tories are corrupt. What about these Labour politicians and their 'expenses'?

I think Labour are going to get salughtered whenever they call the next election, and like Buzzer, I think this is bad for democracy. absolute power in no good, whichever party is in office.

This financial mess has been exacerbated by Browns mismanagement of the economy. I fail to see how anyone can possibly say that Brown has been a prudent chancellor.

I assume nothing, but politicians have a habit of disappointing don't they? Labour went through an massive upheaval during the Thatcher years which turned them into a credible party. The Conservative party have not. The positions on every major policy area are broadly the same as before as far as I am aware.

What about Tory MEPs and their expenses? Hardly fills me with confidence that they'll be any less self serving.

 

[phil1977]

That's fine! Just responding to "First they came for Bumlick and I said nothing because I too had posted about spackas. Then they came for 1067Seagull and I said nothing as it was a pisstake of Adrie who is a MONG. Free the NSP Spackposters before the NAZI mods come for you."

 

[strings]

I must admit to being not surprised at these poll results.

Gordon Brown's answer to bad publicity seems to be to hide (has he been on the telly in the last month... I haven't seen him).
The tories are worse for spinning that labour ever were (David Cameroon cycles to work to show his green credentials, whilst a car follows him to carry his briefcase).
And the Lib dems... their conference hasn't even made it into the news.

I find UKIP too right wing for my liking.

So I am left with the option of, erm, nobody. I may spoil my ballot slip at the next election. The candidates have to see the slip and agree that it is spoiled... so they will have to see my opinions of them.

 

[Buzzer]

Oh, for goodness sake. It's a crappy NSP in-joke. If you knew anything about me or my background, you'd know that I make jokes about most things. Even about topics I care passionately about. Don't read too much into it, honestly. It's just my puerile and childish sense of humour.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

That leaves a worrying 12% for the fascists to tap into...

The missing 12% will be made up of UKIP , BNP , Greens AND those who say "dont know" because they are too embarassed to say they will vote Conservative.

 

[London Calling]

I assume nothing, but politicians have a habit of disappointing don't they? Labour went through an massive upheaval during the Thatcher years which turned them into a credible party. The Conservative party have not. The positions on every major policy area are broadly the same as before as far as I am aware.

What about Tory MEPs and their expenses? Hardly fills me with confidence that they'll be any less self serving.

TO ME THE 10% TAX HAS BEEN THE MAJOR FACTOR,

A BIZARRE, PERVERSE POLICY?

DESIGNED TO HIT THE POOREST WORKER, DESIGNED TO HIT THE LABOUR VOTER?

ON TOP OF THIS OTHER POLICIES MAKING WORKING LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE POOR WORST?

THEN WHEN WE HAVE GREAT INITIATIVES LIKE INVESTING IN SCHOOLS, THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE 4% gdp INVESTING IN SCHOOLS. THE GOVT KEEPS QUIET?

WHEN THE GOVT INTROCES FREE TRAVEL FOR THE PENSIONER?

IT KEEPS STUM? WHERE'S IS THE PUBLICITY, WHY NO ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE BOX?

CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES? NO, WE WON'T PUBLICISE THAT ONE EITHER?

Could Cameron run the economy better at the mo? Probably not, what are his radical ideas,that are making the electorate swing over?

I personally don't know but I wait to find out?

As far as I can see, the public has one been pissed off with Brown and Labour,

two, lost faith and seeking out the nice guy, who smiles a lot and does seem to have a Treasury spokeman who appears to be bloody sharp.

LC

 

[simmo]

I assume nothing, but politicians have a habit of disappointing don't they? Labour went through an massive upheaval during the Thatcher years which turned them into a credible party. The Conservative party have not. The positions on every major policy area are broadly the same as before as far as I am aware.

What about Tory MEPs and their expenses? Hardly fills me with confidence that they'll be any less self serving.

Do you not realise that politicians across all political persuassions across the world are tempted by the corruption of power. Be it sexual/financial or whatever etc. Robin Cook left his wife for his secretary/mistress, Peter Mandelson had multiple mortgages which he shouldn't have had and actually had to leave office twice for financial scandals! Two Jags had two shags, three houses, four games of croquet etc.

It is power that corrupts some politicians not political persuassion. Fortunately in Britain the corruption is relatively not too bad. In Africa it is corruption within the upper echelons of nearly all the governments that destroys nearly every country in the continent.

 

[The Large One]

Everything has changed since the days of the 1980s when there was a clearly determined split between the parties.

Labour, seeing that their policies were seen not just as unworkable (another debate entirely), they were also seen as being part of the enemy, the big bear looming to the east ready to blast us to smithereens before brain-washing us with their despicable Bolshevism.

So Labour changed and eventually got in. There is no way anyone can say sanely say that we have a Socialist government - no policy of mass re-nationalisation, no policy of full employment, no policy of enforced trade union membership etc. Apart from a few tweaks to financial policy (minimum wage), there is hardly anything Labour have done that, without the benefit of hindsight, a Tory Party in office wouldn't have done.

The party in power really ought to be the party who retains power, holding all the cards as they ought to, and that any general election is theirs to lose, rather than the opposition's to win. Cameron's best policy for getting in is to keep his trap shut and let Labour implode. However, once he does get in - assuming this is the case - he had better come up with some credible policies fast, or he'll find that he too would end up a one-hit wonder.

Now, Westminster politics is little more than a marketing exercise between two teams of babbling ad-men.