General Election - 8th June

[Manoverboard]

I suppose that all of the rhetoric from the Labour party about not losing is correct - but they didn't win either, they came second!!

They did win albeit not with my vote.

Not the election of course but they have forced the Tories to water down their manifesto and have also forced UK inc into adopting a softly softly approach to Brexit.

In any man's terms that is very much a victory given their starting position.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And soft Brexit is no Brexit it all.

The EU has made it very clear that if we want to be in the single market we have to accept free movement and the rule of the European Courts. i.e. Accept the EU rules without having any say.

If that is the deal we'd be better off staying in.

And I think that it what many of the Remainers hope for and why I suggested they'll be happy with a weaker negotiating position. Much more likely that other people will come round to the "why bother" point of view.

Sorry Theresa. I had faith in you but you've made a right dog's breakfast of this.

But I'd still vote for Lord Buckethead before Jezzer

[Onelife]

And soft Brexit is no Brexit it all.

The EU has made it very clear that if we want to be in the single market we have to accept free movement and the rule of the European Courts. i.e. Accept the EU rules without having any say.

If that is the deal we'd be better off staying in.

And I think that it what many of the Remainers hope for and why I suggested they'll be happy with a weaker negotiating position. Much more likely that other people will come round to the "why bother" point of view.

Sorry Theresa. I had faith in you but you've made a right dog's breakfast of this.

But I'd still vote for Lord Buckethead before Jezzer

Hi Sir Merv.........and that just about sums it up for me

[Manoverboard]

We used to watch Lord Buckethead ( a la screaming ? ) at gigs in the Greenford area many years ago, gets my vote too

[Kendhni]

I am actually hoping that May stands to one side (which she deserves for snatching 'defeat' from the jaws of victory) and lets Corbyn form a government. That will really make him sweat as he will have to deliver on all the promises he made as he went round the country telling everyone they could have whatever they asked for. I know that would bankrupt the country for the next generation but it is no more than they deserve after trying to be cool by giving the establishment a two-fingered gesture.

It was the wrong election to decide to split the government ... the voting public has just dealt all the winning cards to the EU for the upcoming negotiations ... the EU doesn't have to do anything except wait for the UK to come grovelling with watered down soft brexit proposals. There is going to be a lot of whinging and complaining as the EU plays hardball, but the public only has itself to blame.

[gfwgfw]

What a Mucking Fuddle

UK politics are in scary dire straits . . . . make no mistake about that

Even my Ferrets are in a deep state of concern

Lubbooo all

The Cerne Giant

[gfwgfw]

by the way . . . this is the first time in my 84 years that I did it not use the stubby pencil on polling day

[towny44]

This morning's papers are saying that TM will be tearing up all the cost saving chunks of her manifesto, it seems that those who voted labour won after all, and are getting at least part of what Jeremy was offering them.

[screwy]

To be fair some of the manifesto policies needed to be ripped up, Ill thought out in my opinion. More emphasis on populist policies (costed properly ) are needed if they wish to get back the core supporters. Jezzer did actually have some decent proposals.More needs to be done on Council house building not ( affordable homes) affordable is open to question of , What is affordable.? Any way there are lots of things that could be included to make the Tories votable again and not appear to be more for the ' well off '.

[towny44]

Screwy, I don't think means testing winter fuel payments was looking after the well off!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Personally I wasn't over bothered about the fuel payment thing. I suspect the means tested removal was going to be somewhere above my pay grade! I'd go for the simple solution of scrapping them and increasing everyone's pension by £100 (£!50 above a certain age). Then the poorer would get them in full. The better off would pay tax on them.

But there's now talk of "soft" Brexit among Tory remainers, despite Labour saying they'd vote to support coming out of the single market with all the strings that are attached to staying in, because they believe that's what people voted for in the referendum.

If we still end up with no control of our borders and having to cow tow to the European Courts I cease to see any point in leaving at all. But of course that's what the Remainers want me to think.

[screwy]

Screwy, I don't think means testing winter fuel payments was looking after the well off!

I suppose it boils down to a definition of 'well off'.
Personally although not dripping in wealth we get by with our savings and pensions so i suppose we would not be affected.
The point i was trying to make ,is that the Tories are perceived by many to be only interested in the Rich,lets say and dont really care about the low earners and i feel that this aspect needs to be addressed.
I agree with Merv that maybe it could be paid with the State Pension.

Anyway, all in all they appear to have made a right Pigs Ear of the Election.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Anyway, all in all they appear to have made a right Pigs Ear of the Election.

Whatever one's political position I think we'd all agree on that!

[Stephen]

19030468_1633146983376443_7410726265742447447_n.jpg

[david63]

When are the conspiracy theories going to start that the Russians have "tampered" with our election?

[oldbluefox]

When are the conspiracy theories going to start that the Russians have "tampered" with our election?

or 'The electorate didn't know what they were voting for so we ought to have a re-run'. Where are Gina Miller and Tim Farron when you need them?

In all of this I don't disagree that we need a strong opposition. Some of the crazier ideas in the Tory manifesto look like being dropped. The last government to have a strong mandate was that of oneTony Blair and we all know where that got us.

[Stephen]

Prefer your old picture Foxy.....just saying

[qbman1]

Mrs Loser Krankie seems to have gone a bit quiet!

[towny44]

As regards the Brexit negotiations, I read the options in this mornings Mail and really don't like any of them. The best seems to be the Ukraine one but we would need to include financial services, the rest seem to have free movement of labour and some quite hefty membership fees.
I guess only time will tell which way we are going and the cost, in the meantime the pound and the markets will be in turmoil, especially if we are to believe the BBC, I think someone needs to muzzle that Laura Kuenssberg.

[qbman1]

As regards the Brexit negotiations, I read the options in this mornings Mail and really don't like any of them. The best seems to be the Ukraine one but we would need to include financial services, the rest seem to have free movement of labour and some quite hefty membership fees.
I guess only time will tell which way we are going and the cost, in the meantime the pound and the markets will be in turmoil, especially if we are to believe the BBC, I think someone needs to muzzle that Laura Kuenssberg.

They're having to get one tailor-made !

She really is unpleasant - must be great fun to live with !

[david63]

She really is unpleasant

That's as my be but I read somewhere that she is being paid a lot of money to be unpleasant!!

[qbman1]

Whatever it is - it's too much !

[Mervyn and Trish]

I prefer her to that slimy Nick Robinson or creepy Peston

[screwy]

Sarah Jayne Mee, all the way...

[qbman1]

Don't have Sky so I had to look her up. Certainly easier on the eye than Nick Robinson !!