General Election 2024

[Mervyn and Trish]

It's not what they say that matters. It's what they don't tell you and you only find that out when they get in.
I certainly wouldn't trust Starmer and his cronies but the Tories are such a mess it's almost inevitable.

I agree on all points. When Starmer tells us the Labour Party has changed he doesn't say what from - Bliar's Labour or Corbyn's Labour - and he doesn't say what into.

At the moment I still have no idea. Everything he talks about are laudable ambitions - best economy in the G7, improved NHS - blah blah. But not a single detail on how that will be achieved.

But as you say the Tories have got themselves into a mess so I think the outcome is inevitable. It's the size of the majority that we don't know. And I would add that sadly the candidates other than Labour and Tory are irrelevant. No-one else will get the seats to form a government. A vote for anyone other than the Tories is in practice a vote for Labour. So we might as well choose between the two. And at the moment I still haven't decided.

Steady on Sir Merv, you’ll have some thinking our political system is broken

And one day you'll tell us how to fix it, without pretending replacing the Monarchy is the answer.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Alongside cutting NI rather than income tax that will upset the pensioners you do wonder who he's trying to please

[Ray B]

It certainly worked to hoodwink the voter over Brexit. British voters believed the £350 million claim we gave Brussels would be used for the NHS.
After finding out that we didn't infact send that amount, we were out.
Since coming out of Europe the NHS funding has increased, but it was the £350m that voters hung on to when they voted .

Really? That's how Remainers like to interpret the £350 million claim.
As I see it any money we spent on our membership of the EU could be better spent elsewhere, including the NHS.
I'm very happy not to be subsidising their monthly jaunt to Alsace to stock up their wine stocks.

Foxy, dStrange reply, did you actually read the post, as that was more or less what I said.

[oldbluefox]

I certainly did and I can assure you I was most definitely not hoodwinked.
I suggest you read my reply again since it's very different to your post.

[Stephen]

Another carrot being dangled.

Tories pledge 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ggvrp8v28o

[Mervyn and Trish]

That's the first thing I've seen in the campaign that's remotely interesting. Come on Starmer, your turn to bid for my support with a specific policy rather than an airy fairy ambition.

[Ray B]

Everyone is saying that we need a change of government, but we don't want change just for change sake. We need to see an offering that a party will stick to. We need something that will say ,yes, this looks like a party that's going to deliver ,whatever that means, I haven't really seen yet.

[Onelife]

Everyone is saying that we need a change of government, but we don't want change just for change sake. We need to see an offering that a party will stick to. We need something that will say ,yes, this looks like a party that's going to deliver ,whatever that means, I haven't really seen yet.

We definitely need change Ray because in our present FPTP system we have created a political playground whereby the two sides spend more time kicking each other rather than scoring goals for our country. Whilst I maintain that our current political structure is letting the country down, I have little choice other than watch it as it does the rounds again. Our political system needs transforming into something that is representative of the whole country, one which gives a voice and representation to parties that don’t have political clout due to the FPTP (which is essentially) a two-party system.
Making this change would bring about more purposeful political discussion (whilst accepting change doesn't come without a few bumps in its implementation). All that being said, a more coalition type cross-party debate could in the long-term reap benefits…it works in other countries and considering how our government has conducted itself these past few years/decades I think it’s worth considering.

Changing tack slightly, I hear Willie has thanked Rishi for the extra ‘election’ holiday he is getting as he’s found it very tiring looking after his Papa and his lovely wife Kathrine....And to think some people think he is a bad-tempered selfish adulterer.

[david63]

it works in other countries

Not sure about that.

Yes there are countries that have various forms of PR but there are not many, if any, that actually believe that it is an effective form of government - unless you know different.

The main problem with PR/coalition government is that they spend more time trying to appease and accommodate one another than they do actually creating effective policies.

[Ray B]

Well Ed Davey has certainly made a splash.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cjkkn6pvgppo

[towny44]

It's not what they say that matters. It's what they don't tell you and you only find that out when they get in.
I certainly wouldn't trust Starmer and his cronies but the Tories are such a mess it's almost inevitable.

I agree on all points. When Starmer tells us the Labour Party has changed he doesn't say what from - Bliar's Labour or Corbyn's Labour - and he doesn't say what into.

At the moment I still have no idea. Everything he talks about are laudable ambitions - best economy in the G7, improved NHS - blah blah. But not a single detail on how that will be achieved.

But as you say the Tories have got themselves into a mess so I think the outcome is inevitable. It's the size of the majority that we don't know. And I would add that sadly the candidates other than Labour and Tory are irrelevant. No-one else will get the seats to form a government. A vote for anyone other than the Tories is in practice a vote for Labour. So we might as well choose between the two. And at the moment I still haven't decided.

I could never bring myself to vote labour, but the inevitability of a labour govt isn't really concerning me too much. Economically most of Blairs tenure was during a booming world economy, so we had a growing economy and not much industrial unrest. Poor Gordon though had a banking crash to contend with, which wiped out any surplus and left the piggy bank empty.
I am hoping that Rachel can curb Keirs natural socialist tendencies and we can enjoy a nice quiet and prosperous interlude until the next financial crisis.

[Stephen]

Well Ed Davey has certainly made a splash.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cjkkn6pvgppo

When I saw that on the news earlier I thought, what the hell has that got to do with election campaigning. From what I’ve seen so far it looks more like a works jolly.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well Ed Davey has certainly made a splash.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cjkkn6pvgppo

He didn't mention Horizon in his speech I suppose?

[Onelife]

it works in other countries

Not sure about that.

Yes there are countries that have various forms of PR but there are not many, if any, that actually believe that it is an effective form of government - unless you know different.

The main problem with PR/coalition government is that they spend more time trying to appease and accommodate one another than they do actually creating effective policies.

There is truth in what you say David but it is also true (as witnessed within the conservative party) that having a majority doesn’t necessarily allow you to push through polices when your own MPs don’t want to push in the same direction. This has been the downfall of the conservative party and the reason we will be left with a ministerial cabinet of loud mouth underachievers that reside within the labour party.

I think its time to move away from political power grabs and bring together a consensus of sound thinkers, who, without the handicap of political one-upmanship can come together to make sensible policy making…a well thought out structured coalition could be the way forward, imo.

[david63]

So Diane Abbott is back in the fold and will be contesting the 2025 General Election, or is that the 2023 election?

[Stephen]

I heard she didn’t want to be a conservative PM anyway

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-69071603

[Mervyn and Trish]

So Diane Abbott is back in the fold and will be contesting the 2025 General Election, or is that the 2023 election?

Or was that 1983? At least she's been barred from standing for Labour. Which is one thing less to worry about. At one time she was lined up to be Home Secretary. Imagine that.

In the meantime Labour have pledged to cut NHS waiting lists. It's apparently yet another way they'll be spending their income from tackling tax evasion. I wonder if it'll be modelled on their success in Wales?

[david63]

There was some Labour guy on TV last night explaining how everything would be funded.

The extra teachers would be funded from the VAT that the private schools would pay - no mention of where the actual qualified teachers would miraculously come from.

The additional NHS appointments would come from the taxing of non doms (haven't the Conservatives already plugged that hole and spent that money?) - but again no indication as to where the staff will come from to carry out these appointments.

But don't worry this guy (cannot remember his name) is the one destined to manage the finances as Secretary to the Treasury!

Need to get some meat on the bones sooner rather than later.

[Onelife]

So Diane Abbott is back in the fold and will be contesting the 2025 General Election, or is that the 2023 election?

Or was that 1983? At least she's been barred from standing for Labour. Which is one thing less to worry about. At one time she was lined up to be Home Secretary. Imagine that.

In the meantime Labour have pledged to cut NHS waiting lists. It's apparently yet another way they'll be spending their income from tackling tax evasion. I wonder if it'll be modelled on their success in Wales?

There are some within the Labour party suggesting that she be honoured with a peerage…. presumably not for her stance on racism.

[Onelife]

There was some Labour guy on TV last night explaining how everything would be funded.

The extra teachers would be funded from the VAT that the private schools would pay - no mention of where the actual qualified teachers would miraculously come from.

The additional NHS appointments would come from the taxing of non doms (haven't the Conservatives already plugged that hole and spent that money?) - but again no indication as to where the staff will come from to carry out these appointments.

But don't worry this guy (cannot remember his name) is the one destined to manage the finances as Secretary to the Treasury!

Need to get some meat on the bones sooner rather than later.

That’s a very pessimistic attitude David…just think of all the Teachers and Nurses making their way over here on boats

[david63]

just think of all the Teachers and Nurses making their way over here on boats

Sorry - I had forgotten about that

[Mervyn and Trish]

Outnumbered of course by those on boats who will expect education and health care.

(Plus housing and benefits of course).

[Mervyn and Trish]

I see Sir Hindsight is now denying Diane Abbott has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate. Maybe Suella Braverman won't be the nuttiest Home Secretary of the decade after all!

For goodness sake if they can't even get their story straight on a simple issue like this what chance do they have on the bigger picture?

I'm really getting frustrated waiting for some coherent policies. They may think they are going to win this election by default, but if they want my vote they really need to work harder. The Tories aren't much better yet but at least they've promised me a tax break, and I'm a bit old for national service. So they're one nil up at the moment.

[david63]

I see Sir Hindsight is now denying Diane Abbott has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate.

She may not be barred from standing as a Labour candidate but will any constituency actually want her is another question.

[Mervyn and Trish]

You may have a point. With luck.....