The General Election

[david63]

Why does Ms Sturgeon keep trotting out "the Scottish people have voted and we will now have to be listened to" - in other words because there are 56 SNP MPs everything will be done "our" way. Which bit of "we have a democratically elected UK government" does she not understand?

[towny44]

Why does Ms Sturgeon keep trotting out "the Scottish people have voted and we will now have to be listened to" - in other words because there are 56 SNP MPs everything will be done "our" way. Which bit of "we have a democratically elected UK government" does she not understand?

She's a socialist David, they only believe in democracy when they win.

[Stephen]

Someone ought to tell her to change her clothes now and again, whenever I see her on the telly she is always wearing that orange suit.

[Romig1]

Why does Ms Sturgeon keep trotting out "the Scottish people have voted and we will now have to be listened to" - in other words because there are 56 SNP MPs everything will be done "our" way. Which bit of "we have a democratically elected UK government" does she not understand?

On Sunday she was telling Andrew Marr that there are no immediate plans to call for another Scottish Independence referendum (or words to that effect). I assume she advocates successive referendums until the Scots give the answer that she wants? The people of Scotland spoke last year, but that doesn't mean diddly squat to the SNP.

I also found it quite amusing how Alec Sammond was kept well away from the media in the run-up to the election, only to be vocal again after it. The SNP obviously realised that more people would come over to them with the "softer" face of Sturgeon (though that is relative of course) #krankie

[Ray Scully]

The same vitriolic approach was displayed by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on Panorama yesterday evenings. I would imagine putting up as an SNP candidate which seemed a good idea at the time will soon lose its gloss for many, having to spend so much time away from home.

Ray

[david63]

... having to spend so much time away from home.

Have you not read their manifesto? Page 286, para 74 - we will move the Westminster parliament to Edinburgh

[Manoverboard]

Someone ought to tell her to change her clothes now and again, whenever I see her on the telly she is always wearing that orange suit.

She purchased three sets .... one on, one in the wash and t'other one drying out .... simples

[Frank Manning]

Watching Nicola and her tartan army of MPs yesterday I got to wondering about the intelligence of the Scottish electorate.
After voting No to independence and narrowly avoiding a financial meltdown when the oil price plummeted, you would have expected them to be a bit more circumspect when it came to the GE, but no lemming like 50% of them voted SNP, double the labour vote. Maybe they expected a hung parliament and the SNP to be able to wiggle Ed's strings and get a better deal for Scotland as a result.
Whatever the reason I now think we will be back to a 2 party system in the future and Nicola and her yellow hordes will melt away like spring snow.

They vote that way because they are fed up with the status quo in the UK where the government and elements of the civil service are totally out of touch with anyone who doesn't live in the city of London or commute there every day. Plenty of people did not vote for them and a fair few still abstained. It will be interesting to see how things develop now, because some of the SNP's people may now learn the old adage "Be careful what you wish for". Especially if the Scottish funding system is on the table as bargaining chip. They can't have their cake and eat it.

[Dark Knight]

Hadrian had the right idea, only this time build it higher and connect it to the mains

[Romig1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32706038

No surprises here then?

[oldbluefox]

They vote that way because they are fed up with the status quo in the UK where the government and elements of the civil service are totally out of touch with anyone who doesn't live in the city of London or commute there every day.

Which explains why I didn't vote Tory even though I believe they are the best option for the country at this moment in time. Plus the fact they shipped in a woman from Blackburn way who had no idea of the issues in this part of the country. I didn't vote Labour either but to give reasons I could be here all day but above all the thoughts of letting Balls loose on the economy was too terrifying for me even to contemplate.
However I believe the government and their civil servants need to get their heads out of the sand and realise there are other parts of the country other than London and the South East.......................... and the North does not mean Manchester!!

What was Mrs Krankie doing down in London anyway? She is not an elected MP although I suppose her presence helped to promote her 'Braveheart Tartan Army' persona.

[Manoverboard]

They vote that way because they are fed up with the status quo in the UK where the government and elements of the civil service are totally out of touch with anyone who doesn't live in the city of London or commute there every day.

Which explains why I didn't vote Tory .... I didn't vote Labour either ....

Surely you didn't vote for the The Raving Loony Party .... did you ?

[towny44]

They vote that way because they are fed up with the status quo in the UK where the government and elements of the civil service are totally out of touch with anyone who doesn't live in the city of London or commute there every day. Plenty of people did not vote for them and a fair few still abstained. It will be interesting to see how things develop now, because some of the SNP's people may now learn the old adage "Be careful what you wish for". Especially if the Scottish funding system is on the table as bargaining chip. They can't have their cake and eat it.

Frank I have heard this argument used a lot, generally by local politicians who want to see more spending powers devolved to their authorities. Personally I would not be happy to see our council given access to extra money since I don't think they would spend it wisely or any more wisely than central govt. does, and they would obviously want more staff and higher pay for themselves because of the extra responsibility, so adding an extra layer of administration to do the same job but locally seems rather wasteful.

[oldbluefox]

Surely you didn't vote for the The Raving Loony Party .... did you ?

So disgusted by the candidates on offer one year I heard a car go past my house. "Vote for a real lunatic. Vote Monster Raving Looney Party". So I did!!
This time I voted UKIP largely as a protest vote because the two major parties both need a good kick up the backside. The Limp Dems were never an option and as for the Greens led by that loopy Australian woman. Which planet was she on?
As usual Labour got in but with a new MP. The old one, the one who did nothing for us but got himself a knighthood for his work in Africa, has retired. We'll see how this one measures up, but don't hold your breath.
Nobody came knocking on my door. Perhaps just as well!!

[oldbluefox]

Does this explain it?

While stitching a cut on the hand of a 75 year old farmer, whose hand was caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.
Eventually the topic got around to politicians and their role as our leaders.
The old farmer said, "Well, as I see it, most politicians are 'Post Turtles'.''
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.
The old rancher said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."
The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. "You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb a*se put him up there to begin with."
Best explanation of a politician I've ever heard.

[Onelife]

I also voted UKIP for the very same reasons as Foxy did, but also because Mr Farage is the only leader of a party who gives a straight answer to a straight question.... Oh, and I'm absolutely delighted to see him back after his short break

I'll have to take Foxy's word on the mental stability of Ms Bennett but I still love her sexy Australian accent
.........

Although i disagree with some of the Green's unsustainable polices I actually think she fought her corner well.

[oldbluefox]

I still love her sexy Australian accent

Sometimes I worry about you.....................

[david63]

I thought that we were now in an era of "cleaning up" what MPs are doing with our money.

Tonight on the news it said that because UKIP had the number of votes that they did that they were entitled to £650k for "back-room" use (or words to the effect). As they only have one MP the hierarchy of UK said that their one MP should employ 15 (yes that is one five) staff so that they could claim the money. In all fairness the MP declined saying that he did not think it right and he did not need 15 staff.

[Onelife]

Hi David,

I think Carswell is getting far to big for his boots to suggest UKIP should only take half of the money which his party are entitled to. Fringe parties don't have the fund resurces that main stream parties have so are aways at a disavantage when it comes to getting their message across.

With the EU referendum not to far away UKIP are going to need every penny they can get there hands if they are to stand any chance of thwating what will be a well funded conserative pro EU memberdship campaign.

Regards

Keith

[Mervyn and Trish]

My vote on the EU will depend on what can be achieved in negotiation between now and the referendum. On today's terms it would be no. But if a lot of the nonsense and red tape can be cut I'm open to conversion to yes. As a trade partnership it has value, but as a bunch of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats forcing us to keep foreign criminals and terrorists because of their human rights and other such cobblers it's a nightmare.

[towny44]

I think I am with you on the EU vote Merv, it will all depend how well Cameron does in the negotiations. Although from reading the papers about the Human rights act it appears we could opt out of this without any renegotatiation, presumably it will depend on its replacement UK bill of rights. But I would be very concerned if trade could be affected by any reimposition of duty. I don't think I would be unduly concerned about the UK losing its voice in Europe when dealing with global affairs, I think we tend to oversate our influence on the world stage anyway.

[Silver_Shiney]

I think Carswell did the honourable thing in stating that he didn't need 15 members of staff.

I'm fully in favour of a Common Market, which is what we originally signed up to, but totally against the current arrangement where our very sovereignty seems to be increasingly signed away to unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats.

I was disgusted to see that a bunch of left-wing loonies tried to storm Downing Street the other day and hope that no-one tries to stage a coup d'etat like the one that's just kicked off in Burundi.

[Onelife]

My vote on the EU will depend on what can be achieved in negotiation between now and the referendum. On today's terms it would be no. But if a lot of the nonsense and red tape can be cut I'm open to conversion to yes. As a trade partnership it has value, but as a bunch of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats forcing us to keep foreign criminals and terrorists because of their human rights and other such cobblers it's a nightmare.

Hi Merv,

Putting morals aside I can't see any reason why UKIP HQ shouldn't syphon off a little extra resources for the greater cause....after all we are talking politics here!

Btw.... l think Carswell is a double agent

I very much take your line of thought on our EU membership. In the unlikely event that UK votes to leave the union l would like to think it could be negotiated on a phased withdrawral basis 'not sure if that would be allowed' but we need to be prepared for the consquences if my old mate Farage gets his own way.

Regards

Keith

[oldbluefox]

I voted to join the Common Market, as it was then called. I did not vote for an EU Parliament which usurps my own national government. Neither did I expect the cost of supporting this 'jobs for the boys' club to rise so exorbitantly over the coming years.
As somebody once said, I want to trade with Europe but not be governed by them. I also want the freedom to trade with whomsoever I like without restrictions from Brussels. Simples!

[Silver_Shiney]

I voted to join the Common Market, as it was then called. I did not vote for an EU Parliament which usurps my own national government. Neither did I expect the cost of supporting this 'jobs for the boys' club to rise so exorbitantly over the coming years.
As somebody once said, I want to trade with Europe but not be governed by them. I also want the freedom to trade with whomsoever I like without restrictions from Brussels. Simples!