The UK election thread

[Deep Sea Isopod]

That's another of their policies I don't agree with.

[Clinton Huxley]

Just seen gotch-eyd Fisher Price fascist Nick Griffin appearing in a truly contemptible "party political" broadcast. Union Jack? Check. Picture of Churchill? Check. Cabinet full of medals? Check. Elgar? Check. Reference to WWII? Check. Odious little wankstain who should be flushed away with all the other medical waste? Check.

[Pappa]

I'm beginning to think I should spoil my ballot paper again. I don't trust any of them.

I might write is gay! after each of their names.

[RuleBritannia]

The Tories seem think it's a two horse race between them and a hung parliament. If we get a hung parliament it's not because we voted for it, it's because not enough people like David "call me Dave" Cameron. Wanker.

[Azathoth]

A hung parliament could be a good thing. It could lead to some actual democracy rather than policies just getting shunted through by the party whip.

[RuleBritannia]

Hung parliaments work, we know this for a fact, Scotland has had one for years, Germany has had one almost every year since since the Second World War and they have Europe's strongest economy. If the Britain ends up with one and it doesn't work, then it's the fault of the politians squabbling like children, not the concept of a hung parliament.

[Rum]

Did anyone see the BNP broadcast tonight? It was hilarious. Nick Griffin had been told to point at the camera every so often and sort of did half heartedly with a bent, rather unenthusiastic finger. There was a badly colour photocopied pic of Winston Churchill on a cabinet behind him and Elgar was playing in the background. It was pathetically amateurish not only in its presentation of, but of course the message..which is simply bullshit.

[JimC]

Hung parliaments work, we know this for a fact, Scotland has had one for years, Germany has had one almost every year since since the Second World War and they have Europe's strongest economy. If the Britain ends up with one and it doesn't work, then it's the fault of the politians squabbling like children, not the concept of a hung parliament.

But will it be well hung?

[Pappa]

Hung parliaments work, we know this for a fact, Scotland has had one for years, Germany has had one almost every year since since the Second World War and they have Europe's strongest economy. If the Britain ends up with one and it doesn't work, then it's the fault of the politians squabbling like children, not the concept of a hung parliament.

They're not always a good thing, they can cripple some decision making sometimes. I'd prefer it though. The "strong government" argument against PR doesn't wash with me. That just means a government that will not compromise to smaller voices.

[Geoff]

Hung parliaments work, we know this for a fact, Scotland has had one for years, Germany has had one almost every year since since the Second World War and they have Europe's strongest economy. If the Britain ends up with one and it doesn't work, then it's the fault of the politians squabbling like children, not the concept of a hung parliament.

They're not always a good thing, they can cripple some decision making sometimes. I'd prefer it though. The "strong government" argument against PR doesn't wash with me. That just means a government that will not compromise to smaller voices.

I'm all for crippling the decision making process. It's rare for any Government, of whatever flavour, to make a good decision, most are either "meh" or "bad"..

[Pappa]

Hung parliaments work, we know this for a fact, Scotland has had one for years, Germany has had one almost every year since since the Second World War and they have Europe's strongest economy. If the Britain ends up with one and it doesn't work, then it's the fault of the politians squabbling like children, not the concept of a hung parliament.

They're not always a good thing, they can cripple some decision making sometimes. I'd prefer it though. The "strong government" argument against PR doesn't wash with me. That just means a government that will not compromise to smaller voices.

I'm all for crippling the decision making process. It's rare for any Government, of whatever flavour, to make a good decision, most are either "meh" or "bad"..

Very good point. If we keep them tied up arguing over the details, we can get on with our lives while they're not looking.

[RuleBritannia]

Has anyone seen the latest scaremongering from the Tories?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

They are really scared of it, aren't they? Which is odd, since they caused it to be far more likely!

The tories had a comfortable, if not overwhelming, lead in the polls and then challenged Gordon to a televised debate, confident that he would decline. To their great shock (and just about everyone else's) he accepted! This meant that millions of British voters discovered that there was actually a third serious candidate in this election - and the tory lead dwindled dramatically, making a hung parliament by far the most likely outcome. Nice one David!

What is even more certain is that this is a genie that is now far from bottle-sized. There will be televised debates in future elections for many decades to come. I have yet to make my mind up whether that is a good thing or not.

[RuleBritannia]

It's 5:00am (been awake for a couple days (insomnia)) and I was just listening to David "call me Dave" Cameron talking about his immigration policy of a cap for people coming in from outside the EU. He was saying the Tories would set this cap, but it would be flexible and change according to need, in consultation with the various public and private bodies like health, schools and businesses etc.

Now, it might be my lack of sleep, but doesn't a "cap" have to be fixed? If it moves around it's not really a cap is it? It's just a fancy way of saying how many people came in for that time period.

[RuleBritannia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ ... 649012.stm

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been caught on microphone describing a voter he had just spoken to in Rochdale as a "bigoted woman".

Sixty five-year-old Gillian Duffy had challenged Mr Brown on a number of issues including immigration and crime.

As he got into his car, he was still wearing a broadcast microphone and was heard to say "that was a disaster".