General Election - 8th June.

rammywhite wrote:I'm astonished that an intelligent bunch of people like you

Is this your first day on Nuts?

Actually, Rammy has a point. Think back just a short while, and we all agreed that modern politics manipulates, ignores, and changes the facts, and with the advent of a very active media, actual and the likes of FB, etc, there will always be a big factor of waffle, bullshit, and lies, or dare I say, 'Fake news'.
We'll just need to sit in our foxholes, wait until the barrage is over, and see what we have when we emerge. (I just hope that smug, and arrogant, MP, Emily Thornberry loses out. She's no more a Labourite than I am. Horrible woman.)

gloswhite wrote:Actually, Rammy has a point. Think back just a short while, and we all agreed that modern politics manipulates, ignores, and changes the facts, and with the advent of a very active media, actual and the likes of FB, etc, there will always be a big factor of waffle, bullshit, and lies, or dare I say, 'Fake news'.

I'd go a little further and say that showbiz and media acclaim is now more important than facts, policies and performance in determining how people will vote.
Most of the Conservative manifesto is a repeat of what they promised to deliver - and failed to do so - at the last election. Plus a bit of Labour's last manifesto thrown in for good measure.
Is the country up in arms about it?
Of course not because the media recognises that the cult of personality and ranting on about nationalism makes a far better story than the economy, education and public services - at least in the short term or until the reality bites.
It's as thought the country takes our relative wealth for granted and whichever party wins we'll be OK, so we can afford to be reckless with our international relationships and reactionary in our domestic politics.
It's a very SMUG Britain at the moment and it feels like we're heading for a fall.

wanderlust wrote:Biggest fall in retail sales in 7 years.
...for all types of goods apart from clothing, shoes and textiles. 

Just goes to show that rising prices are starting to affect everyone apart from my missus although TBF she hasn't bought any textiles this week.

We're well on our way to the predicted 2.4% shrinkage of our economy although this wasn't anticipated to be reached until we have actually left the EU (based on the Government managing to secure trade deals of equal value to the ones we currently have)

The Office of National Statistics state that average store prices have increased 3.3% on the year - the largest rise since 2012 - and that petrol prices have risen 16.4% this year - which reflects the devaluation of sterling.

Twirls remain unaffected although it is expected they'll be a twentieth of their current size by October.

If you go to the Government ONS website (www.ons.gov.uk) further statistics have been released today that throw some light on the the way it's going.
Inflation at 2.7%
Price increases at 3.3%
Average wage rises at 1%
BoE Interest rate held at 0%

wanderlust wrote:It's a very SMUG Britain at the moment and it feels like we're heading for a fall.

Well, you're the expert on smug so you must have a point.

So I had my meeting with my leader today. I thought nutters may appreciate the tweet I sent after it (minus photo!) 

@MandaRigbyNES

.@timfarron @LibDemPress brilliant to talk. Proud of our policies, admire your ambition for country (but don't support your football team!)

Chairmanda wrote:So I had my meeting with my leader today. I thought nutters may appreciate the tweet I sent after it (minus photo!) 

@MandaRigbyNES

.@timfarron @LibDemPress brilliant to talk. Proud of our policies, admire your ambition for country (but don't support your football team!)

It's interesting that only the sensationalist policies like legalising weed hit the headlines. I think the media have turned their back on the LibDems in order to deliver the simplified message of a 2 party system in terms that folk can understand i.e. good v evil. Sells papers.

So what do you make of Labour's manifesto Manda?

It's basically tax the rich to the tune of £48.6 billion per annum and spend it on services.

Totally agree media are making this a two horse race, even where it isn't. Truth, I haven't yet read labour manifesto from this morning, busy concentrating on launch of ours tomorrow

Chairmanda wrote:Totally agree media are making this a two horse race, even where it isn't. Truth, I haven't yet read labour manifesto from this morning, busy concentrating on launch of ours tomorrow

It looks very similar to a Labour manifesto of the '60s. These socialist ideas will be new to a lot of people so it will be interesting to see how the youth vote in particular regards them.

Youth will struggle to vote.

Haven't bothered to register or can't get out  of bed.

Cajunboy wrote:Youth will struggle to vote.

Haven't bothered to register or can't get out  of bed.

I'm registered. And out of bed.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Cajunboy wrote:Youth will struggle to vote.

Haven't bothered to register or can't get out  of bed.

I'm registered. And out of bed.

Is the nurse changing the rubber sheet?

i think its a very naive manifesto, even though there are some spects of it I like, (such as the nationalising of some enterprises). They think that they can promise all these things, and get the rich to pay.
Firstly, it would appear that their figures don't add up, and secondly, if you push the rich hard enough, they'll move, and take their assets with them, (they didn't get rich without knowing how to protect it)

Every time the Labour party threathen to increase tax on the "rich" (however you define them) we get the same bollocks about them leaving the country. They never do leave though, largely because most of the really rich (those with incomes over £1m or assets worth more than £10m) don't pay much tax anyway and those on £80k a year can't afford to leave.

xmiles wrote:Every time the Labour party threathen to increase tax on the "rich" (however you define them) we get the same bollocks about them leaving the country. They never do leave though, largely because most of the really rich (those with incomes over £1m or assets worth more than £10m) don't pay much tax anyway and those on £80k a year can't afford to leave.

Thats because its not happened in the past. They realised that they really were talking bollocks, and had to retract or review. 
Anyway, its a moot point, much like the Lib Dem giveaways, they won't have to actually do the deed. 
Its very much like the rest of us wondering what we would do if we won the lottery, its not going to happen.

I think a big issue is whether or not the additional 3 million "mystery voters" who turned out to vote for the first time in their lives at the EU referendum will be bothered to do it again? The turnout was 7% higher than the general election/previous elections and the extra 3 million "single issue voters" made all the difference. I guess some will buy into the idea that the general election is about ensuring hard Brexit happens, but I expect substantial dropout.

Lib Dems put Brexit referendum at heart of their manifesto.

Referendum ostensibly on the terms of Brexit but to include an option to remain in the EU in the final vote.

This election increasingly looks like there are several completely different priority sets.

Is it about empowering the Tories to plough ahead with a hard Brexit?
Is it about people having a say in how we Brexit?
Is it about accepting Brexit but questioning the Tory austerity policy?
Is it about Scottish independence?
Is it about not accepting Brexit at all?
Is it about social reform?


This election is shaping up to be far more complicated than those of recent years.

wanderlust wrote:This election is shaping up to be far more complicated than those of recent years.

Is it bollocks. It's the same as always for most people...do I vote Labour, Tory or not at all.