2015 post UK election discussion

[Tubey]

Just out of curiosity - Why do you think they made a mistake?

The vote for SNP was interpreted as a threat on England, so England voted Tory. Effectively, a vote for SNP ensured a Tory government.

Nobody could have foreseen it ahead of time, but that's what happened.

Cameron could take this all away by giving Devo Max to Scotland, basically justifying the SNP vote, but if he did he'd be doing two things - one, giving Scotland a lot of power over their own affairs, in an era of austerity sacrificing tax and spend powers. Two, it'd signal immediate electoral reform - and with the UKIP/Green surge I don't think boundary reform would cut it; there'd be loud shouts for PR.

His other option is to mandate another Scottish referendum - if he did, he'd alienate England, as the tail would be wagging the dog, after a campaign where he almost solely accused Labour of being in the same situation. Can't see it for another 10 years myself.

What I think will happen is a bunch of grand sounding but ultimately hollow concessions to Scotland, an increasingly angry but impotent SNP, and the Scottish electorate will realise independence is a pipe dream in the near future, and 2020 is best served by voting Labour and trying to ensure the Tory era ends.

 

[Joey66]

But yes I may be clutching at straws because the DUP are likely to support him if he needs them. We'll see. It may be a bumpy ride.[/QUOTE]
Yes but with the speaker and other Irish parties ie sein Feinstein don't turn up the majority can stretch to 17 if DC got desperate - it will not be easy for him as all his false promises of cash for the NHS tax breaks billy liar may soon have it tough let's hope so David Mellor hates Dave C and he reckons he has 60 back bench stabbed over the EU John Major had 6 on the front bench!

 

[marty mcfly]

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffee...-the-bbc-is-biased-against-you/#disqus_thread

Good article. Worth a read.

I suppose. I guess they're right that it depends who is in power. But the Tories are the ones in power now so I'm also right.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Working & middle class, or earning enough?

Voted tory in 2015?

Doesn't affect you just now........But WHEN it does...



Hard bun. You got what you wanted.

 

[marty mcfly]

The vote for SNP was interpreted as a threat on England, so England voted Tory. Effectively, a vote for SNP ensured a Tory government.

Nobody could have foreseen it ahead of time, but that's what happened.

Cameron could take this all away by giving Devo Max to Scotland, basically justifying the SNP vote, but if he did he'd be doing two things - one, giving Scotland a lot of power over their own affairs, in an era of austerity sacrificing tax and spend powers. Two, it'd signal immediate electoral reform - and with the UKIP/Green surge I don't think boundary reform would cut it; there'd be loud shouts for PR.

His other option is to mandate another Scottish referendum - if he did, he'd alienate England, as the tail would be wagging the dog, after a campaign where he almost solely accused Labour of being in the same situation. Can't see it for another 10 years myself.

What I think will happen is a bunch of grand sounding but ultimately hollow concessions to Scotland, an increasingly angry but impotent SNP, and the Scottish electorate will realise independence is a pipe dream in the near future, and 2020 is best served by voting Labour and trying to ensure the Tory era ends.

I think Cameron is rubbing his hands at the idea of giving them powers to handle their own taxation and don't see why it would require electoral reform.

If he gives them taxation they can no longer blame the Tories for the cuts or increases in taxes while taking all the credit for the public services. It's going to work out beautifully for Cameron however the big question will be the North Sea Oil. To agree to it Sturgeon will want the oil. Will he pay that price?

I think he just might.

 

[marty mcfly]

But yes I may be clutching at straws because the DUP are likely to support him if he needs them. We'll see. It may be a bumpy ride.

The DUP will definitely support him. The unionists are practically conservatives. Trimble even became a Conservative Lord and yes I know he was UUP but there's not a great deal of difference between them.

 

[Tubey]

I think Cameron is rubbing his hands at the idea of giving them powers to handle their own taxation and don't see why it would require electoral reform.

If he gives them taxation they can no longer blame the Tories for the cuts or increases in taxes while taking all the credit for the public services. It's going to work out beautifully for Cameron however the big question will be the North Sea Oil. To agree to it Sturgeon will want the oil. Will he pay that price?

I think he just might.

I don't think he could. I think a lot of his backbenchers who are unionists will reject on principle - they already think too much money goes to Scotland some of them; the idea of giving them free reign whilst still in the union will be intolerable.

If they did go for it, it'd guarantee an SNP government up there effectively for life. To avoid having a perceived dictatorship, electoral reform would swiftly follow IMO.

 

[marty mcfly]

He had a slightly bigger majority though and still had to get MPs out of hospital beds and into parliament to survive a vote of confidence.

But yes I may be clutching at straws because the DUP are likely to support him if he needs them. We'll see. It may be a bumpy ride.

The conservatives had also been in power 18 years and had become fat cats with no shame and where all fighting with each other. It's slightly different now.

 

[The Equaliser]

The DUP will definitely support him. The unionists are practically conservatives. Trimble even became a Conservative Lord and yes I know he was UUP but there's not a great deal of difference between them.

Practically is putting it mildly. They are more right wing than UKIP.

 

[Clint Planet]

The Guardian and Mirror are both Left.

The Guardian that urged voters to put an X next to Lib Dem in 2005 and, anyway, has a readership of maybe 400,000?

Even the BBC is more left than right.

Yes, so it's often said (with little or no proof). What do you base this on, though? The fact that it's prepared to be, more or less, even-handed? I mean, most of its top reporters are ex-Tories....

 

[marty mcfly]

I don't think he could. I think a lot of his backbenchers who are unionists will reject on principle - they already think too much money goes to Scotland some of them; the idea of giving them free reign whilst still in the union will be intolerable.

If they did go for it, it'd guarantee an SNP government up there effectively for life. To avoid having a perceived dictatorship, electoral reform would swiftly follow IMO.

It wouldn't guarantee anything for life since they would need to run their budget. At the moment they have all the advantages and non of the disadvantages which is why they're so popular. If they actually had to start taxing people they might loose some votes.

As for voting on English affairs. I agree the back benchers might not want it but right now his polititical capitital is high and if he gets the job done quickly which looks like he wants to no one would have the balls to stand in his way.

Cameron or is it Osbourne is scroud man

 

[The Equaliser]

The Guardian that urged voters to put an X next to Lib Dem in 2005 and, anyway, has a readership of maybe 400,000?





Yes, so it's often said (with little or no proof). What do you base this on, though? The fact that it's prepared to be, more or less, even-handed? I mean, most of its top reporters are ex-Tories....

It's amazing that people actually fall for this Dail Fail stuff.

 

[marty mcfly]

The Guardian that urged voters to put an X next to Lib Dem in 2005 and, anyway, has a readership of maybe 400,000?





Yes, so it's often said (with little or no proof). What do you base this on, though? The fact that it's prepared to be, more or less, even-handed? I mean, most of its top reporters are ex-Tories....

What's the readership of the Mail or Times just out of curiosity?

 

[peteblue]

Just been listening to the Ed resignation speech. Bloody hell if he wanted to know why he didn't get in, just listen to his own speech....total guff and rubbish........

 

[Seanjd]

What's the readership of the Mail or Times just out of curiosity?

The Mail has a daily circulation if 1.8m. The guardian has a daily circulation of 185,000. This doesn't include online readers, but puts it into context.