General Election 2024 Thread

[mack341]

Sovereign nations have taken 2nd place to global capital and corporations like amazon, and national debt has grown.

Think ours is nearly 3 trillion, the USAs 35 trillion, but if you think about it their country has roughly 5 times the population and also £1 used to be at least $1.5-2, so the underlying comparable performance is not good.

To think in the 80s we used to say we can't afford to bail out industry or give loans etc...got to be careful with the national purse, and sell off all the utilities and rail transport etc...

Yet some czech billionaire is very interested in buying the royal mail outright, he can see a profit. That would've been unthinkable in the 80s and 90s, so is it progress?

 

[thr0b]

Reform candidate quits Reform because Reform is full of and attracts racists.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

 

[mack341]

Reform candidate quits Reform because Reform is full of and attracts racists.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Again you're posting about Reform, but according to Choppers they're an irrelevance in the scheme of things.

So why all the focus on a minnow party, unless you do feel they (and specifically Nigel) could appeal to many so must be attacked?

 

[DreamRJ]

Again you're posting about Reform, but according to Choppers they're an irrelevance in the scheme of things.

So why all the focus on a minnow party, unless you do feel they (and specifically Nigel) could appeal to many so must be attacked?

Probably because he is fixated on them and supports them? No idea but the social media platforms have been hammered by Reform party and they are the party that has the most interactions and shares for their posts on them.

Scary but the movement for reform is scary as fuck and dangerous. I really hope the UK is not headed to a very far right mentality after this election. But Labour should keep us in the centre but the shouting from reform in Parliament will be hard not to witness. Parliament is going to be a very very entertaining place with Nigel and other reform MP's.

I am against all of them. Labour should be a stable pair of hands, Lib dems will probably be the opposition now anyway so they will be holding Labour to account but saying that, the amount of seats Labour have they will be able to what ever they like.

Let us hope Starmer sticks to his manifesto and does not "u turn" because if he does then the tories will say "see we told you so"

But lets not fucking forget how many fucking times the tories fucked everything up and did countless fucking u turns.

 

[jasonuk]

Not sure what makes you think and feel that the labour party is moving to the right.

I'll put the defectors to one side - as you say, they're looking after their own skin.

As far as Starmer goes, I think the politest description of him is a chameleon - he'll change his colours to suit himself, and you don't see him standing for anything.

He considers himself a "socialist" "progressive" "centrist" "Blairite" who "praised Margaret Thatcher" (depending on which publication he's talking to), and it's telling that having been leader for four years, people don't really understand what he stands for - which appears to have been by design.

Despite being elected on a left-wing platform to replace Corbyn, he quickly started backpedalling on those pledges and over time added more and more Blairites to his shadow cabinet. Additionally there has been ongoing accusations (such as the incident with Neal Lawson last year) that he has been centralising the power in the Labour Party and using it to push left-leaning members out of the party - eroding two long-standing traditions.

It's telling how many of his policies today echo Tory policy of the past 5-10 years:

• he wanted to axe universal credit, but now wants to reform it instead (and ditched support for ending the two child benefit cap, and dialled back on expanding childcare)
• he has heavily diluted support for renationalisation - and even talked positively about further NHS outsourcing (Wes Streeting was particularly enthusiastic for that one)
• he dialled back on reforms to strengthen workers rights - and he ordered shadow ministers to not support picketing workers
• he diluted his support for the green agenda, although seems to have partially u-turned again on that with the manifesto
• he abandoned his position on freedom of movement - remembering that he was one of the key voices for the second referendum in 2019
• he wanted to reverse the tax cuts for corporations - but now doesn't.
• he now wants to "delivery economic stability" with "tough spending rules"... which doesn't sound too dissimilar to the failed austerity narrative of the past 15 years.

He similarly refused calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, dialled back his objection to Saudi arms sales, dialled back his objection to Banker bonuses, and the list goes on...

So in short - he appears to be centralising authority, and will say anything to climb the ladder - so left-leaning statements in 2016-2020, and now right-leaning statements for the 2024 general election.

I do think the party as a whole is still centre-left, but the leadership is clearly moving to the centre-right - I wouldn't disagree with him being described as a centrist, but perhaps a snake is more appropriate

After all he was in Corbyns shadow cabinet so he can not be to the right because Corbyn would never have give him a role in the shadow cabinet.

As he recently admitted, the only reason he "backed" Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 was because he was convinced he would lose...

Much has been said about Starmer being one of the most vocal voices regarding the second referendum in 2019 - the party adopted it and it sank Corbyn. Some would argue that was a deliberate ploy to get rid...

Labour has always been a broad church, and Corbyn subscribed to that - but that only functions if all sides are pulling in vaguely the same direction. The Blairites and the infamous "chicken coup" were sabotaging from the off, and Starmer had his own agenda as well...

I do wish Corbyn had fought back more, particularly with the alleged AS scandal - the EHRC report implicated two people, who were subsequently named by other leaks - it's a really bad look for all sides when a new leader is wasting hundreds of thousands paying those people off as "whistleblowers".


Now I remember why I don't talk politics often... I can rant for hours

 

[thr0b]

Again you're posting about Reform, but according to Choppers they're an irrelevance in the scheme of things.

So why all the focus on a minnow party, unless you do feel they (and specifically Nigel) could appeal to many so must be attacked?

It’s a good point - a tiny irrelevance of a minority party is getting a disproportionate amount of media coverage.

There’s no good reason for that frog-faced cunt’s party being all over the news, but these are the cards we’re dealt.

 

[DreamRJ]

I'll put the defectors to one side - as you say, they're looking after their own skin.

As far as Starmer goes, I think the politest description of him is a chameleon - he'll change his colours to suit himself, and you don't see him standing for anything.

He considers himself a "socialist" "progressive" "centrist" "Blairite" who "praised Margaret Thatcher" (depending on which publication he's talking to), and it's telling that having been leader for four years, people don't really understand what he stands for - which appears to have been by design.

Despite being elected on a left-wing platform to replace Corbyn, he quickly started backpedalling on those pledges and over time added more and more Blairites to his shadow cabinet. Additionally there has been ongoing accusations (such as the incident with Neal Lawson last year) that he has been centralising the power in the Labour Party and using it to push left-leaning members out of the party - eroding two long-standing traditions.

It's telling how many of his policies today echo Tory policy of the past 5-10 years:

• he wanted to axe universal credit, but now wants to reform it instead (and ditched support for ending the two child benefit cap, and dialled back on expanding childcare)
• he has heavily diluted support for renationalisation - and even talked positively about further NHS outsourcing (Wes Streeting was particularly enthusiastic for that one)
• he dialled back on reforms to strengthen workers rights - and he ordered shadow ministers to not support picketing workers
• he diluted his support for the green agenda, although seems to have partially u-turned again on that with the manifesto
• he abandoned his position on freedom of movement - remembering that he was one of the key voices for the second referendum in 2019
• he wanted to reverse the tax cuts for corporations - but now doesn't.
• he now wants to "delivery economic stability" with "tough spending rules"... which doesn't sound too dissimilar to the failed austerity narrative of the past 15 years.

He similarly refused calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, dialled back his objection to Saudi arms sales, dialled back his objection to Banker bonuses, and the list goes on...

So in short - he appears to be centralising authority, and will say anything to climb the ladder - so left-leaning statements in 2016-2020, and now right-leaning statements for the 2024 general election.

I do think the party as a whole is still centre-left, but the leadership is clearly moving to the centre-right - I wouldn't disagree with him being described as a centrist, but perhaps a snake is more appropriate


As he recently admitted, the only reason he "backed" Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 was because he was convinced he would lose...

Much has been said about Starmer being one of the most vocal voices regarding the second referendum in 2019 - the party adopted it and it sank Corbyn. Some would argue that was a deliberate ploy to get rid...

Labour has always been a broad church, and Corbyn subscribed to that - but that only functions if all sides are pulling in vaguely the same direction. The Blairites and the infamous "chicken coup" were sabotaging from the off, and Starmer had his own agenda as well...

I do wish Corbyn had fought back more, particularly with the alleged AS scandal - the EHRC report implicated two people, who were subsequently named by other leaks - it's a really bad look for all sides when a new leader is wasting hundreds of thousands paying those people off as "whistleblowers".


Now I remember why I don't talk politics often... I can rant for hours

You make some fair points indeed. I suppose he is hard to work out where he stands because he changes his mind a lot but a lot of key leaders and politicians do that anyway.

All we can do is wait and see how it plays out when he gets in office.

 

[09237653]

I hate reform they are fascists but farage getting a seat may be a good thing, he would get the one thing he has always dodged- some real scrutiny, its been happening more recently and he keeps having his hissy fits over it, at the end of the day sunlight is the best disinfectant.

 

[DreamRJ]

I hate reform they are fascists but farage getting a seat may be a good thing, he would get the one thing he has always dodged- some real scrutiny, its been happening more recently and he keeps having his hissy fits over it, at the end of the day sunlight is the best disinfectant.

And you think Farage will be a good MP? I do not think he will be, He will neglect his constituents 100% because he has bigger goals in mind like perhaps taking over the tory part or somehow merging with them and rebranding them. But Considering the coverage of all the racist candidates in reform party I suspect that might not happen now, I highly doubt the majority of the conservatives will ever vote to merge with reform.

 

[thr0b]

He won’t be a good MP, in the same way he wasn’t a good MEP. It’s all about the publicity for him.

It will of course be hilarious if he doesn’t win his seat and one of his other candidates wins theirs.

 

[09237653]

of course I dont think he will be a good mp he will likely skive off most of it, clacton will be very disappointed if they expect him to look after their interests, like with trump farage only looks out for his own interests.

 

[mack341]

France looks like it is showing the way, they will protect their way of life at the end of the day.

It will make Starmer's task easier if the french process/prevent the boat travellers, scandalous letting folk congregate in tents and makeshift encampments, in preparation of making a dangerous sea crossing in dinghies, paying traffickers for the privilege.

You must apply for asylum in the first safe country you arrive at, not the last. Surprised this rule is not applied forthwith and their application instantly denied upon reaching dover.

 

[dunover]

4 days until Starmergeddon.

Take a last look at your local fields and countryside before it gets covered with low quality high density housing to accommodate out of control population growth and the inevitable 'wipe the slate clean' bogus asylees amnesty. Nod to the local policeman (if you have one) before they have to wear a rainbow helmet and the cars are changed to red, black and green in support of hamass.

Have a last spin in your car before the eco-nazis wreck it and force you in to rechargeable golf carts. Empty your minds of the pronouns 'his, hers, miss, mrs., she, he, mr.' and prepare for compulsory drag classes for kids under 16 and artifical insemination. If you are a straight WASP do not even consider applying for jobs in the public sector or state media.

Just batten down the hatches peeps, pay your taxes without complaint and take it all up the khyber like good obedient little Britishers...

 

[maxd]

You've got a proper old-man rant going there dunover, the nurse not come by with your meds this morning?

 

[ChopleyIOM]

dunover's current vibe:

 

[dunover]

You've got a proper old-man rant going there dunover, the nurse not come by with your meds this morning?

No, she hasn't, the staff are giving me a wide berth as I keep fouling my incontinence pad in terrified anticipation of what's to come Friday onwards...

 

[maxd]

Yes, I agree. The prospect of having M. Farange anywhere near the levers of state power are enough to loosen one's bowels.

 

[dunover]

Yes, I agree. The prospect of having M. Farange anywhere near the levers of state power are enough to loosen one's bowels.

Sure it wasn't that foreign food you keep eating?

 

[Kroffe]

I hate it when mom and dad fight.

 

[maxd]

Sure it wasn't that foreign food you keep eating?

I haven't been anywhere near a restaurant since Covid hit, so no, not the foreign food.

 

[megadam]

4 days until Starmergeddon.

Take a last look at your local fields and countryside before it gets covered with low quality high density housing to accommodate out of control population growth and the inevitable 'wipe the slate clean' bogus asylees amnesty. Nod to the local policeman (if you have one) before they have to wear a rainbow helmet and the cars are changed to red, black and green in support of hamass.

Have a last spin in your car before the eco-nazis wreck it and force you in to rechargeable golf carts. Empty your minds of the pronouns 'his, hers, miss, mrs., she, he, mr.' and prepare for compulsory drag classes for kids under 16 and artifical insemination. If you are a straight WASP do not even consider applying for jobs in the public sector or state media.

Just batten down the hatches peeps, pay your taxes without complaint and take it all up the khyber like good obedient little Britishers...

Jeez someone hasn't landed the D in a while I take it?

 

[ChopleyIOM]

4 days until Starmergeddon.

Take a last look at your local fields and countryside before it gets covered with low quality high density housing to accommodate out of control population growth and the inevitable 'wipe the slate clean' bogus asylees amnesty. Nod to the local policeman (if you have one) before they have to wear a rainbow helmet and the cars are changed to red, black and green in support of hamass.

Have a last spin in your car before the eco-nazis wreck it and force you in to rechargeable golf carts. Empty your minds of the pronouns 'his, hers, miss, mrs., she, he, mr.' and prepare for compulsory drag classes for kids under 16 and artifical insemination. If you are a straight WASP do not even consider applying for jobs in the public sector or state media.

Just batten down the hatches peeps, pay your taxes without complaint and take it all up the khyber like good obedient little Britishers...

The thing that's funniest about this is it fails even a basic fact check. Let's take it point by point.

ENGLAND'S GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND - Never in the history of modern water supplies has so much untreated shit been pumped into England's rivers, lakes, and seas. All on the Tory watch as the privatised water industry falls apart. (In the case of Thames Water, imminent bankruptcy, having hoovered out of tens of billions of pounds in 'shareholder value'.)

POPULATION GROWTH - Let's take a look at immigration numbers. Hmmm. Massively increased, and especially since Brexit.

LABOUR AND THOSE HIGH TAXES -

And yet there's dear old dunover, screaming into the clouds about how Labour are going to fuck everything up.

Friday this week will be a good day.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

As chance would have it, one of my favourite YT documentary makers has released this video today.

Compare and contrast with dunover's slightly unhinged impression of Grandpa Simpson above, this is a superb, concise, distillation of how the Tories have fucked Britain in fourteen years.

 

[mack341]

The thing that's funniest about this is it fails even a basic fact check. Let's take it point by point.

ENGLAND'S GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND - Never in the history of modern water supplies has so much untreated shit been pumped into England's rivers, lakes, and seas. All on the Tory watch as the privatised water industry falls apart. (In the case of Thames Water, imminent bankruptcy, having hoovered out of tens of billions of pounds in 'shareholder value'.)

POPULATION GROWTH - Let's take a look at immigration numbers. Hmmm. Massively increased, and especially since Brexit.

View attachment 198500

LABOUR AND THOSE HIGH TAXES -

View attachment 198501


And yet there's dear old dunover, screaming into the clouds about how Labour are going to fuck everything up.

Friday this week will be a good day.

'Study' since when have overseas students been counted as 'permanent migrants in'?

 

[Webzcas]

What is ironic is that the Conservatives have always been seen as and have worn the badge proudly that they are the party of 'Low Taxation and a Small State'. Yet here we are with the highest tax burden since just after the 2nd World War and the State machine costing an absolute fortune by comparison.

Add to the fact how they have mismanaged the country during their 14 years in power, whereby we have had 'Austerity' from the off, yet seemingly the rich getting richer. We nearly saw the UK break up, such are their divisive policies, they rocket fuelled the clamour for Scottish Independence and the arming of the Scottish Nationalists north of Carlisle as a result. Then there is the Brexit vote - brought about solely because they were scared of the Eurosceptic movement - A clear and present danger to the Tory Party, one that is now playing out once again with Reform UK, due to their mishandling and fudging of Brexit.

No wonder time is going to be called on their tenure in two days time.

In fact anyone leading Labour other than Corbyn or the return of George Galloway, would see the Labour Party win a predicted landslide. It does not mean that they are the answer in my opinion.

At least with Blair in 97 pre the Iraq war, the electorate was offered very real change. Yes his Premiership will forever be tainted with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But that aside and yes that is a big thing to sweep under the carpet, I felt Blair was actually a brilliant PM.

I remember the day after the 97 Labour triumph, the country in the main was euphoric. Yet somehow Starmer who is likely to get an even bigger majority than Blair's 97 win, is no way going to invoke the same feeling among the nation's conscience.

I am truly at a lost who to vote for. The populist rising of Reform UK does in some ways resonate with me. Certainly the tax pledges and the support for small businesses. I also argue their stance on the illegal boats being allowed to land daily is the correct approach - ie turn them around and escort them back to France.

But I guess by even me stating that, the same people labelling those that voted for Brexit as 'racist' 'xenophobic' or the such like, will likely have a field day. No wonder 'shy leave' won, as people were too afraid to voice their opinions publicly, for fear of being labelled one of a thousand things.

Maybe because I am now 50, I have become full 'gammon'. LOL

As I mentioned in my previous post in this thread, I really do not know who to vote for. I've always been a believer in the fact you have to vote, as the right to do so has been hard fought and won. Yet for the very first time ever, I may just abstain.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

What is ironic is that the Conservatives have always been seen as and have worn the badge proudly that they are the party of 'Low Taxation and a Small State'. Yet here we are with the highest tax burden since just after the 2nd World War and the State machine costing an absolute fortune by comparison.

Add to the fact how they have mismanaged the country during their 14 years in power, whereby we have had 'Austerity' from the off, yet seemingly the rich getting richer. We nearly saw the UK break up, such are their divisive policies, they rocket fuelled the clamour for Scottish Independence and the arming of the Scottish Nationalists north of Carlisle as a result. Then there is the Brexit vote - brought about solely because they were scared of the Eurosceptic movement - A clear and present danger to the Tory Party, one that is now playing out once again with Reform UK, due to their mishandling and fudging of Brexit.

No wonder time is going to be called on their tenure in two days time.

In fact anyone leading Labour other than Corbyn or the return of George Galloway, would see the Labour Party win a predicted landslide. It does not mean that they are the answer in my opinion.

At least with Blair in 97 pre the Iraq war, the electorate was offered very real change. Yes his Premiership will forever be tainted with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But that aside and yes that is a big thing to sweep under the carpet, I felt Blair was actually a brilliant PM.

I remember the day after the 97 Labour triumph, the country in the main was euphoric. Yet somehow Starmer who is likely to get an even bigger majority than Blair's 97 win, is no way going to invoke the same feeling among the nation's conscience.

I am truly at a lost who to vote for. The populist rising of Reform UK does in some ways resonate with me. Certainly the tax pledges and the support for small businesses. I also argue their stance on the illegal boats being allowed to land daily is the correct approach - ie turn them around and escort them back to France.

But I guess by even me stating that, the same people labelling those that voted for Brexit as 'racist' 'xenophobic' or the such like, will likely have a field day. No wonder 'shy leave' won, as people were too afraid to voice their opinions publicly, for fear of being labelled one of a thousand things.

Maybe because I am now 50, I have become full 'gammon'. LOL

As I mentioned in my previous post in this thread, I really do not know who to vote for. I've always been a believer in the fact you have to vote, as the right to do so has been hard fought and won. Yet for the very first time ever, I may just abstain.

The thing with the small boats is that by shutting down all legitimate means for people to seek asylum in the UK, all that's left are the illegal routes (although technically there are no 'illegal' mechanisms to seek asylum).

As per the graph I posted above, the small boats represent a tiny amount of net migration, but what the Tories have deliberately done is make that number look as big as possible to weaponise the issue (Rwanda scheme, the barges, all those and other completely ineffective but massively expensive slices of performative cruelty).

If you were going to choose a way to do this, it'd be hard to imagine a worse way to do it than what the Tories have managed to come up with.

I saw Farage being interviewed about his small boats plan the other day (it'll be out there somewhere), as ever it crumbled into dust upon first contact with how it'd actually function in the real world.

At this point in time I'd almost settle for a competent version of the Tories, (which given how centrist Starmer's Labour are isn't a million miles away from the truth), you know, not partying in Number 10 during a lockdown, not hosing half a billion quid on a Rwanda scheme that was never going to achieve more than the square root of fuck all, not lining their mates' pockets with billions of pounds on dodgy PPE contracts, that sort of thing.

Reform's economic plans are economic incontinence of the highest order, if you thought 'Magic Grandpa' Corbyn was a bit over the top with his promises, then Reform may as well be offering everyone a vacation property on the moon.

 

[Webzcas]

Sorry, stopping at the first paragraph. The number of migrants making the crossing over the English Channel is for want of a better word ridiculous.

You may hate Farage and everything he stands for, but he is bang on that the assistance in overthrowing Gaddafi in Libya back during the Arab Spring, helped brought about the formation of ISIS and also the number of migrants fleeing Libya and sailing across the Med.

This in turn has brought about 1,000's of in the main, young men trying to get across to Kent each and every day.

It was my understanding that to seek asylum you should do so in the first 'safe' country you reach. Why does this not happen in France then, or are migrants allergic to French people?

Now Ireland is moaning, that migrants are heading there instead of the UK.

It's all very well being virtuous ala James O'Brien or Gary Lineker when it comes to the migrant problem. But yes, mass immigration is a very real live issue which has caused our population to explode over the past 20 years.

For example, where my in laws live, in Torbay. Several 'hotels' have been requisitioned to house 'illegal' migrants. Yet my wife for example had to have corrective eye surgery including the removal of cataracts privately - thanks to her uncle, she was able to afford the cost.

If it were done on the NHS, they would have made the worst eye as 'good' as her best eye. Which would have meant she would still be blind as a bat and would have to wear glasses.

So yes, unfortunately we all suffer. We have opened the floodgates as a country, spent a vast fortune on stupid, nay abhorrent schemes that never have got off the ground ala Rwanda. Following the Aussies lead and escorting illegal migrants ie the dinghies back to their point of departure ie France, Farage is on point.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Well for sure, knock yourself out, vote Reform Don't let the fact that Farage was bullshitting for Britain when he promised that leaving the EU would fix all this stuff deter you, because this time he's definitely telling the truth.

'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me' - but no, dear old Uncle Nigel isn't peddling another grift. Absolutely not.

We did this two years ago over in the Brexit thread, when we were in the EU we had the 'Dublin Regulation' which actually allowed us to send asylum seekers back to France. We lost that when we left the EU.

So Farage has basically set your house on fire and is now offering to sell you a bucket of water.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

This is what Farage said about the Liz Truss budget, by the way.

 

[thr0b]

Noting the headline today - another Reform has disowned the company (they’re not strictly a party) for being full of racists.

I’m…not sure what these candidates expected. They’re pretty clear about what they are and what they stand for.

In all honesty, Farage doesn’t care if he gets in or not. It’s all about the grift - he has a nice life, he doesn’t have to do much and earns handsomely for it. In fact, it’d suit him better if he didn’t get in, as he could continue to be accountable to nobody, blame the nebulous (and ever-growing definition of) elites, and carry on making money from complaining about it.

None of the parties are perfect - it’s all about finding the one closest to your alignment. If you’re uncaring? Tories. If you’re left/centre left? Labour. Left? Green. Express/Mail reader? Reform.

(And yes, in some ways it’s frustrating that hotels are being paid to house asylum seekers. But that’s due to years of underfunding in the system, and those hotels tend not to be the flashiest of establishments and in a lot of cases would’ve closed down anyway. So they’re actually helping business. Hey-ho.)

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Noting the headline today - another Reform has disowned the company (they’re not strictly a party) for being full of racists.

I’m…not sure what these candidates expected. They’re pretty clear about what they are and what they stand for.

In all honesty, Farage doesn’t care if he gets in or not. It’s all about the grift - he has a nice life, he doesn’t have to do much and earns handsomely for it. In fact, it’d suit him better if he didn’t get in, as he could continue to be accountable to nobody, blame the nebulous (and ever-growing definition of) elites, and carry on making money from complaining about it.

None of the parties are perfect - it’s all about finding the one closest to your alignment. If you’re uncaring? Tories. If you’re left/centre left? Labour. Left? Green. Express/Mail reader? Reform.

(And yes, in some ways it’s frustrating that hotels are being paid to house asylum seekers. But that’s due to years of underfunding in the system, and those hotels tend not to be the flashiest of establishments and in a lot of cases would’ve closed down anyway. So they’re actually helping business. Hey-ho.)

Turns out it's the Tories sending in TROJAN HORSES. (No, really.)

 

[thr0b]

“Judge us by our actions. No, not like that!”

 

[satchnz]

Could someone explain to me why I (a New Zealand and US citizen), here in the UK on a visa (non indefinite leave to remain), am eligible to vote in Thursday’s general election?

I absolutely do not feel I should be allowed to vote, and I won’t be voting, given I might only be here for another two years or so. I simply don’t feel comfortable in helping to shape the direction this country is going, especially given I’m neither a citizen nor a permanent resident, and likely won’t be here to live the consequences.

I am however looking at registering to vote in the US elections as the outcome of that vote will shape the direction the world is heading.

 

[thr0b]

Well, if you’re living here long term, you have a right to your ability to shape the country. Basic democracy and that.

On the flip side, I don’t see why people who don’t live in the country and don’t intend to move back should be able to vote in elections here.

 

[Webzcas]

Well for sure, knock yourself out, vote Reform

Nice bit of projection there Chopley. But IF I do decide to vote, when currently it is likely going to be the first time I have abstained, who are you exactly to judge me as to who I vote for?

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Nice bit of projection there Chopley. But IF I do decide to vote, when currently it is likely going to be the first time I have abstained, who are you exactly to judge me as to who I vote for?

I'm not judging anyone, hence my invitation to 'knock yourself out'

I've categorically said already that I don't think everyone intending to vote for Reform is a racist, I do believe very strongly that Farage himself is a fascist and a racist, and the party is attracting many such people as both candidates and supporters, but I'm sure that their offer to transform things at a fundamental level is appealing for other reasons too. (Albeit completely doomed to fail if they ever got the chance to enact it, which they won't, hence they can safely promise a personal moon on a stick for everyone.)

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Doolally Mail enters 'complete emotional breakdown' stage.

Remind me again how the 'mainstream media' are always doing Labour's dirty work for them....

Although I'm not sure this is going to help much.

 

[thr0b]

Although I'm not sure this is going to help much.

View attachment 198517


Er-uh-uh-er-uggghh, owzabout that then boys and girls? Jingle jangle.

 

[amandajm]

1) Labour targeting male repeat perpetrators of violence against women, with powers usually reserved for terrorists, if legal, is a good policy, but to be seen to be believed. .

2) Will the GB Energy thing happen? We shall see.

The rest reads like every other Tory manifesto give or take.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

I've done my due diligence. This is real.

DON'T VOTE LABOUR OR THE KITTEN GETS IT.

It's actually getting hard tell the real ones (above) and the jokey ones (below) apart.

 

[dunover]

I've done my due diligence. This is real.

DON'T VOTE LABOUR OR THE KITTEN GETS IT.

View attachment 198521

It's actually getting hard tell the real ones (above) and the jokey ones (below) apart.

View attachment 198522

Not really hard, considering the illiterate who made the dog poster failed to correctly use 'Conservative' in the singular form.

 

[Webzcas]

The hard left is just as bad as the hard right...

 

[Webzcas]

I'm with Rod here. This is what happened when Starmer came to Bath. ( I worked as a Night Porter in a hotel directly across the road from this pub The Raven, when I was 21 )

 

[dunover]

I'm with Rod here. This is what happened when Starmer came to Bath. ( I worked as a Night Porter in a hotel directly across the road from this pub The Raven, when I was 21 )

Stormer never even bought a pint, at least Farage would buy a couple when in the hostelry...

 

[pinnit2014]

1) Labour targeting male repeat perpetrators of violence against women, with powers usually reserved for terrorists, if legal, is a good policy, but to be seen to be believed. .

2) Will the GB Energy thing happen? We shall see.

The rest reads like every other Tory manifesto give or take.

I have no idea what GB Energy actually is...when they initially started touting it, it was made out that it was a form of nationalisation - that then turned to the fact it was a venture capitalist, governance structure - looking for private investment, the govt getting a share of the profits etc. The other thing with it...it's dependent upon the upgrades to the National Grid....if anyone had driven by wind turbines that aren't turning, it's because they've been switched off, because the Grid can't take it.

When Scottish Labour were quizzed on how the Grid upgrades would be funded, at what cost, they get a bit tetchy.

 

[pinnit2014]

Doolally Mail enters 'complete emotional breakdown' stage.

Remind me again how the 'mainstream media' are always doing Labour's dirty work for them....

View attachment 198516


Although I'm not sure this is going to help much.

View attachment 198517

Do you not think even the Mail's coverage has been half arsed? The fall of the influence of Newspapers has definitely been a theme of this GL - in the past, pre/start of Social Media etc - parties clamouring to get endorsed, or at least not be targeted by the news outlets, was front facing - now, i think even they know there's little benefit/damaging of currying (or not) favour.

Social media wise the Lib Dem's and Labour have been great at taking the piss out of the Tories who've kinda struggled.

That idea of the MSM being left i've never got : The Telegraph, Mail/Sunday Mail, Times (though gone Labour this time), Express, the Sun (hedging bets this time, although Yelland in the past is a Labour man)etc are all right wing facing in the main.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

A reminder that there are still decent, rational Conservatives out there. Here's the excellent Sayeeda Warsi with a withering put-down of Sunak and Braverman.

There is a certain poetic justice to this hateful Tory government being eaten alive by the monster it created and let loose upon the country.

 

[pinnit2014]

A reminder that there are still decent, rational Conservatives out there. Here's the excellent Sayeeda Warsi with a withering put-down of Sunak and Braverman.

There is a certain poetic justice to this hateful Tory government being eaten alive by the monster it created and let loose upon the country.

View attachment 198561

Warsi is excellent - often wondered how she took a wrong turn into the Conservative Party. Sort of like Ken Clarke

I did think when Sunak came out with his speech it was very much: play with Fire.

I see some of Badenoch's supporters are starting to turn on her as well. She'd be a terrible next choice though - if you think Sunak is a terrible public speaker, though made semi decent by Starmer the other day, she's even worse.

 

[pinnit2014]

North of the Border you'll likely see the central belt, previously Labour (until they took power for granted), turn red again and then for the other places (like the Borders and north, a shoot out between the SNP and the Tories). Strathclyde/Glasgow though will probably see the SNP retain the 6 or so seats.

Oddly, the polling for Independence is neither going up or down (for any sustained length of time) but what seems to be happening is people who vote SNP are saying: i want it, but A. the Party has shown no direction on how and B. The state of the Schools/Health etc is now a notch above that in terms of my priorities.

If Labour were savvy enough, without declaring they'd support it but being a bit more nuanced, they'd probably sweep up even more SNP seats, but that's as likely to happen as Sunak winning.

 

[Webzcas]

2024 for British Politics looks like it could be a brilliant year. The implosion and destruction of the Tory Party as a force. Which in turn removes the very thing that has enabled the SNP to garner support - the collective hate of all things Conservative North of Carlisle

That said, Sturgeon and her husband did a good job at planting the C4 at the corners of the SNP walls. That and the Campervan and then the installation of Useless as FM.

It is the political equivalent of having your Birthday and Christmas all rolled into one

Goodbye Nasty Party that is the Conservatives and good riddance to the separatists and their one policy movement.

Happy Days