The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Seanjd]

So does the myth that Labour are somehow the party of the poor, but people seem very fond of it even when Labours manifesto contains policies that will damage those worse off, just to grab some headlines.

Which ones come to mind?

 

[Toffeelover]

We had a referendum on voting systems (Part of the coalition agreement in 2010), FPTP won so we will not be getting another one any time soon. Maybe PR in a reformed House of Lords but not in the Commons. Labour have included Lords reform in their manifesto - many see it as a Lib Dem olive branch.

That would not be enough for Clegg to join with Labour.

 

[daylightrobber]

Labour - SNP
Tories - Liberals or possibly UKIP

I personally think it could be a minority government with a series of deals on a vote by vote basis, with all parties chipping in where and when it suits them. Which party will be governing, I honestly don't know.

There is the potential for chaos in regards to the forming of a minority government though. The Tories, as the party of the incumbent PM will have first dibs. They'll have the choice of opting to try to form a government or offering that chance to someone else (the biggest party if that isn't them). No one will dive straight into a minority without negotiating first. Majority coalitions may be sought, but the way both the Conservatives & Labour are talking have a good chance of being discounted.

Now, as the Tories effectively have 1st refusal, if they give the chance to govern up (either because they can't form a majority coalition, or because they think the honorable thing to do is give the biggest party the chance) will they then be completely out of the running? Will Labour get the chance to form a coalition, or if they choose, a minority government should a coalition not suit? Or, will the Tories try to step back in attempting to form a minority government if it is unlikely that Labour can form a coalition?

As a country, we have no rules on this. There is no written constitution and everything is up for a legal challenge.

Fun times

 

[roydo]

we have no rules on this. There is no written constitution and everything is up for a legal challenge.

Reasonably sure that if the largest party, lets say CP, cant get a budget through the Commons, then their leader has to either ask the next one to try, LP, or request the Queen dissolves Parliament and another election is triggered.

But like you say, probably by convention, not constitution.

 

[TheFinnFan]

we have elections next sunday

 

[Seanjd]

I personally think it could be a minority government with a series of deals on a vote by vote basis, with all parties chipping in where and when it suits them. Which party will be governing, I honestly don't know.

There is the potential for chaos in regards to the forming of a minority government though. The Tories, as the party of the incumbent PM will have first dibs. They'll have the choice of opting to try to form a government or offering that chance to someone else (the biggest party if that isn't them). No one will dive straight into a minority without negotiating first. Majority coalitions may be sought, but the way both the Conservatives & Labour are talking have a good chance of being discounted.

Now, as the Tories effectively have 1st refusal, if they give the chance to govern up (either because they can't form a majority coalition, or because they think the honorable thing to do is give the biggest party the chance) will they then be completely out of the running? Will Labour get the chance to form a coalition, or if they choose, a minority government should a coalition not suit? Or, will the Tories try to step back in attempting to form a minority government if it is unlikely that Labour can form a coalition?

As a country, we have no rules on this. There is no written constitution and everything is up for a legal challenge.

Fun times

Which is why, for whichever main party loses this election, it wouldn't be too bad a thing. Allow the minority government to battle their way through Confidence votes and potentially become very unpopular, while coming back stronger in a few years stronger.

 

[sd_1992]

Which ones come to mind?

Their 'stand' on zero hour contracts. Pure and shameless playing to the headlines at the expense of people on zero hours contracts

 

[Tubey]

we have elections next sunday

Vote for the Tiiviste Klubi Demokraatteja lad.

 

[Tubey]

Their 'stand' on zero hour contracts. Pure and shameless playing to the headlines at the expense of people on zero hours contracts

Can you expand on this please, as I can't get my head around it.

 

[TheFinnFan]

Vote for the Tiiviste Klubi Demokraatteja lad.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Which is why, for whichever main party loses this election, it wouldn't be too bad a thing. Allow the minority government to battle their way through Confidence votes and potentially become very unpopular, while coming back stronger in a few years stronger.

It's not really about them though is it?

 

[sd_1992]

Can you expand on this please, as I can't get my head around it.

Funny how labour haven't banned them completely despite painting them as being the worst thing going at the moment. The only thing you can say about labours policy is that it provides stability... the stability of knowing that after 12 weeks you wont have any work whatsoever as the company will just move onto the next person to avoid a formal contract. The companies that are keeping people on Zero hours are clearly placing their own financial interest above those of their workers and aren't suddenly going to develop consciences. But at least it made good headlines for labour which in the end is where their interests lie.

Zero hour contracts should be banned altogether and Labour have shown themselves to be just as bad as the tories on it.

 

[Mrk]

Funny how labour haven't banned them completely despite painting them as being the worst thing going at the moment. The only thing you can say about labours policy is that it provides stability... the stability of knowing that after 12 weeks you wont have any work whatsoever as the company will just move onto the next person to avoid a formal contract. The companies that are keeping people on Zero hours are clearly placing their own financial interest above those of their workers and aren't suddenly going to develop consciences. But at least it made good headlines for labour which in the end is where their interests lie.

Zero hour contracts should be banned altogether and Labour have shown themselves to be just as bad as the tories on it.

Even for people who find zero hour contracts useful?

 

[Seanjd]

Even for people who find zero hour contracts useful?

I would say the majority of those on zero hours contracts do not find them useful compared to jobs which offer regular work. Don't get mixed up between zero hours and casual work. We are talking about people who have regular outgoings and no guaranteed income from one month to the next here.

 

[Seanjd]

Funny how labour haven't banned them completely despite painting them as being the worst thing going at the moment. The only thing you can say about labours policy is that it provides stability... the stability of knowing that after 12 weeks you wont have any work whatsoever as the company will just move onto the next person to avoid a formal contract. The companies that are keeping people on Zero hours are clearly placing their own financial interest above those of their workers and aren't suddenly going to develop consciences. But at least it made good headlines for labour which in the end is where their interests lie.

Zero hour contracts should be banned altogether and Labour have shown themselves to be just as bad as the tories on it.

I agree with you in this one. While I admire the fact that Labour are trying to do something about it, it doesn't seem as though their plans will do much about it. Like you suggested, companies could easily get around the 12 week rule. In which instance, Labour are not actually 'banning' zero hours contracts as they suggest, because they could still exist for a period of 12 weeks. Hopefully there will be a solution to this problem in the future.

Edit: just to pick up on your last point though, I don't think they are showing themselves up to be as bad as the Tories on this issue, who haven't even mentioned it as a problem. On the contrary, the Tories use the boost in employment figures which zero hour contracts have brought about in order to gloat about their employment figures.