General Election - 8th June.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Norpig wrote:Because Labour are in disarray and the Lib Dems have never recovered from their pact with the Devil.

I think it's more likely that people recognise the great job the Tories have done, in extremely difficult conditions.

 
i refer you back to my original point, i'm sure the people using food banks and the disabled who've had their benefits slashed wouldn't agree.

I can only vote for the Tories. JC would have me out of a job in a heartbeat. The LimpDems don't like the Forces and UKIP are concentrating on Brexit still. PMTM has given me summat to hope for. If she does good then I'm voting for her. My Mum will probably shout at me but that's wimmins for you. 
May in June got to be good.

Norpig wrote:i refer you back to my original point, i'm sure the people using food banks and the disabled who've had their benefits slashed wouldn't agree.

I agree, but would it be any different under Labour or the Lib Dems? I suspect under those parties a lot more people would be visiting food banks.

She'll have so much power, Ergodan will be jealous.

We'll have to start calling her Chairman May.

i don't think either Labour or Lib Dems would go after the poor and disabled like the Tories have, so yes it would be different

Bollotom2014 wrote:I can only vote for the Tories. JC would have me out of a job in a heartbeat. The LimpDems don't like the Forces and UKIP are concentrating on Brexit still. PMTM has given me summat to hope for. If she does good then I'm voting for her. My Mum will probably shout at me but that's wimmins for you. 
May in June got to be good.

What is it that you are hoping May will deliver? The destruction of the NHS? More tax breaks for the rich? Grammar schools?

xmiles wrote:

Bollotom2014 wrote:I can only vote for the Tories. JC would have me out of a job in a heartbeat. The LimpDems don't like the Forces and UKIP are concentrating on Brexit still. PMTM has given me summat to hope for. If she does good then I'm voting for her. My Mum will probably shout at me but that's wimmins for you. 
May in June got to be good.

What is it that you are hoping May will deliver? The destruction of the NHS? More tax breaks for the rich? Grammar schools?

Forgive me for having my own opinion. I doubt destruction of the NHS will happen but keep shouting at the pigeons if that makes you happy.

Unless I'm being really, really thick (go on, Whittam - Have at it!), given that she needs a 2/3 majority of support in parliament even to get the election ratified, why on earth isn't Jezza simply getting his 3 line whip out and blocking it?

Surely to god he can't think that there are substantial gains to be made in 5 weeks?

It'll be a disaster for Labour and, as Lusty's already said, it'll cement May and the Tories' position and make them even more powerful.

What am I missing?

Bollotom2014 wrote:

xmiles wrote:

Bollotom2014 wrote:I can only vote for the Tories. JC would have me out of a job in a heartbeat. The LimpDems don't like the Forces and UKIP are concentrating on Brexit still. PMTM has given me summat to hope for. If she does good then I'm voting for her. My Mum will probably shout at me but that's wimmins for you. 
May in June got to be good.

What is it that you are hoping May will deliver? The destruction of the NHS? More tax breaks for the rich? Grammar schools?

Forgive me for having my own opinion. I doubt destruction of the NHS will happen but keep shouting at the pigeons if that makes you happy.

I'm not objecting to you having an opinion different from mine, I'm just honestly curious to hear what it is you are hoping to see May deliver.

Bread2.0 wrote:Unless I'm being really, really thick (go on, Whittam - Have at it!), given that she needs a 2/3 majority of support in parliament even to get the election ratified, why on earth isn't Jezza simply getting his 3 line whip out and blocking it?

Surely to god he can't think that there are substantial gains to be made in 5 weeks?

It'll be a disaster for Labour and, as Lusty's already said, it'll cement May and the Tories' position and make them even more powerful.

What am I missing?

The fact that Corbyn is an idiot.

Bread2.0 wrote:Unless I'm being really, really thick (go on, Whittam - Have at it!), given that she needs a 2/3 majority of support in parliament even to get the election ratified, why on earth isn't Jezza simply getting his 3 line whip out and blocking it?

Surely to god he can't think that there are substantial gains to be made in 5 weeks?

It'll be a disaster for Labour and, as Lusty's already said, it'll cement May and the Tories' position and make them even more powerful.

What am I missing?

It's a hard one! If you are meant to be the official opposition, and are meant to be holding the government to account and disagree with their agenda, it's quite hard to be offered the chance to stand against the incumbents and turn it down. It's kind of admitting you are unprepared and don't think you can win...

Chairmanda wrote:

Bread2.0 wrote:Unless I'm being really, really thick (go on, Whittam - Have at it!), given that she needs a 2/3 majority of support in parliament even to get the election ratified, why on earth isn't Jezza simply getting his 3 line whip out and blocking it?

Surely to god he can't think that there are substantial gains to be made in 5 weeks?

It'll be a disaster for Labour and, as Lusty's already said, it'll cement May and the Tories' position and make them even more powerful.

What am I missing?

It's a hard one! If you are meant to be the official opposition, and are meant to be holding the government to account and disagree with their agenda, it's quite hard to be offered the chance to stand against the incumbents and turn it down. It's kind of admitting you are unprepared and don't think you can win...

It's not exactly a secret that Labour are unprepared and don't think they can win, so logically Corbyn should have refused to go along with May's u turn on holding an immediate election.

Come on, guys.....we've got much more important things to worry about this evening!

okocha wrote:Come on, guys.....we've got much more important things to worry about this evening!

It's been a worry filled day all round!

xmiles wrote:

Bread2.0 wrote:Unless I'm being really, really thick (go on, Whittam - Have at it!), given that she needs a 2/3 majority of support in parliament even to get the election ratified, why on earth isn't Jezza simply getting his 3 line whip out and blocking it?

Surely to god he can't think that there are substantial gains to be made in 5 weeks?

It'll be a disaster for Labour and, as Lusty's already said, it'll cement May and the Tories' position and make them even more powerful.

What am I missing?

The fact that Corbyn is an idiot.

Corbyn is a deluded old twat and won't resign when Labour get battered! He'll tuck his shirt in his Grundys and say "better luck next time!"

Chairmanda wrote:

okocha wrote:Come on, guys.....we've got much more important things to worry about this evening!

It's been a worry filled day all round!

Not sure what you're worried about Manda. The way this is going, May has just handed the LibDems a lifeline which will substantially increase your parliamentary representation and maybe even position the LibDems as the main opposition party ahead of Labour - providing the PR and marketing is good enough to push the requisite buttons.

Not sure that focussing entirely on being the only party to vote for if you want a soft Brexit is the best way to go as it's polarising and emotive, but breaking that down into policy-related specifics could be a winner. Talk NHS and public services, employment, education and specifics that affect people's lives rather than "macros" like Brexit and the economy and you'll do well.

Might also be worthwhile listening to the Greens who are currently campaigning to stop the renewal of Trident - over £200 BILLION - at a time when the rest of the world (not UK!) is discussing nuclear disarmament. It's not just the hypocrisy of saying to North Korea stop weapons testing when we're about to spend more than DOUBLE the NHS budget with our conservative backers in the arms industry, it's the fact that we are doing this when the NHS and social care services are being slashed.

Well said wanders. The logistics and organisation of running a professional and successful GE campaign with a largely voluntary organisation, are challenging. Yesterday, in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, think I was more focussed on solving the problems, not the opportunities. Bring it on.

Now that the letter has been delivered is it still possible to reverse the Brexit decision?

If so an obvious ploy for the opposition parties would be to pledge to reverse the decision. There is a big 48% of voters up for grabs and i think people would feel strongly enough on this issue to switch party allegiance. Maybe the reverse is not possible at this point though?

wanderlust wrote:

Chairmanda wrote:

okocha wrote:Come on, guys.....we've got much more important things to worry about this evening!

It's been a worry filled day all round!

Not sure what you're worried about Manda. The way this is going, May has just handed the LibDems a lifeline which will substantially increase your parliamentary representation and maybe even position the LibDems as the main opposition party ahead of Labour - providing the PR and marketing is good enough to push the requisite buttons.

Not sure that focussing entirely on being the only party to vote for if you want a soft Brexit is the best way to go as it's polarising and emotive, but breaking that down into policy-related specifics could be a winner. Talk NHS and public services, employment, education and specifics that affect people's lives rather than "macros" like Brexit and the economy and you'll do well.

Might also be worthwhile listening to the Greens who are currently campaigning to stop the renewal of Trident - over £200 BILLION - at a time when the rest of the world (not UK!) is discussing nuclear disarmament. It's not just the hypocrisy of saying to North Korea stop weapons testing when we're about to spend more than DOUBLE the NHS budget with our conservative backers in the arms industry, it's the fact that we are doing this when the NHS and social care services are being slashed.

I agree with all of that, Lusty. Suspend Trident renewal, stop HS2 and we suddenly have all the money we need to protect services, do away with all the cuts and stop the Tories picking on the disadvantaged and poor.

BTW: I liked this little poem from Pam Ayres about the snap election:

The shock wave passed; the dust is clearing,
Seven weeks electioneering
Rhetoric, hot air and gas,
I'm on my way to Dignitas

wanderlust wrote:

Chairmanda wrote:

okocha wrote:Come on, guys.....we've got much more important things to worry about this evening!

It's been a worry filled day all round!

Not sure what you're worried about Manda. The way this is going, May has just handed the LibDems a lifeline which will substantially increase your parliamentary representation and maybe even position the LibDems as the main opposition party ahead of Labour - providing the PR and marketing is good enough to push the requisite buttons.

Not sure that focussing entirely on being the only party to vote for if you want a soft Brexit is the best way to go as it's polarising and emotive, but breaking that down into policy-related specifics could be a winner. Talk NHS and public services, employment, education and specifics that affect people's lives rather than "macros" like Brexit and the economy and you'll do well.

Might also be worthwhile listening to the Greens who are currently campaigning to stop the renewal of Trident - over £200 BILLION - at a time when the rest of the world (not UK!) is discussing nuclear disarmament. It's not just the hypocrisy of saying to North Korea stop weapons testing when we're about to spend more than DOUBLE the NHS budget with our conservative backers in the arms industry, it's the fact that we are doing this when the NHS and social care services are being slashed.

I agree. One can only hope that the election will be about these topics but given the combination of Corbyn's inability to provide a credible lead and the right wing press hysteria about brexit (eg the Daily Mail headline today - Crush the Saboteurs) I am not optimistic.