Current Affairs 2017 General Election

[Gwladysstreetlad]

I'm not talking nationally. You made a sweeping statement that in order to remove the Tories, one MUST vote Labour. This is simply not true. If we had PR, then maybe.

Ok then I'll rephrase myself. a national scale voting Labour is the only REALISTIC way to remove the Conservatives this term imo.

 

[The Cowboy]

Ok then I'll rephrase myself. a national scale voting Labour is the only REALISTIC way to remove the Conservatives this term imo.

Tbh, given the LDs have made it quite clear they won't go into coalition with Labour, the chances of removing the Tories from power next month are pretty much zero. So voting for the constituent opposition may at least reduce their majority, giving Labour a fighting chance of victory next time around.

But a Labour vote nationally would lead to a huge Tory majority in June, because you're just not going to get that much swing.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Tbh, given the LDs have made it quite clear they won't go into coalition with Labour, the chances of removing the Tories from power next month are pretty much zero. So voting for the constituent opposition may at least reduce their majority, giving Labour a fighting chance of victory next time around.

But a Labour vote nationally would lead to a huge Tory majority in June, because you're just not going to get that much swing.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. We keep being told that Corbyn has no chance of winning by the media who's fine record of correct predictions and polls is at stake here, we all know how spot on they were with Brexit and Trump don't we! If enough people can be encouraged to vote for the first time and do so for Labour they have a very real chance.

 

[The Cowboy]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. We keep being told that Corbyn has no chance of winning by the media who's fine record of correct predictions and polls is at stake here, we all know how spot on they were with Brexit and Trump don't we! If enough people can be encouraged to vote for the first time and do so for Labour they have a very real chance.

Not a chance. The council figures are a pretty good litmus test.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Not a chance. The council figures are a pretty good litmus test.

I do agree that its extremely unlikely but its not impossible. Turnouts for local votes are nearly always poor. Your far more likely to convince the undecided and the uninterested to participate in a general election.

 

[The Cowboy]

I do agree that its extremely unlikely but its not impossible. Turnouts for local votes are nearly always poor. Your far more likely to convince the undecided and the uninterested to participate in a general election.

But still, do you really think there'll be enough swing to convert a Tory majority to a Labour majority. That would be the most incredible, unpredicted event in the history of politics.

Labour should have pulled candidates from seats they can't win and hope the LDs can claim some marginals to reduce the Tory majority. Then they can prepare and attack properly in the next GE.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

But still, do you really think there'll be enough swing to convert a Tory majority to a Labour majority. That would be the most incredible, unpredicted event in the history of politics.

Labour should have pulled candidates from seats they can't win and hope the LDs can claim some marginals to reduce the Tory majority. Then they can prepare and attack properly in the next GE.

I bealieve that there's a massive untapped source of voters out there just waiting to be snapped up. I don't bealieve it will happen but that's because large swaths of the electorate will never vote no matter how much its in their interests to do so.

Labour wont pull candidates from anywhere. You know this as well as I do, it would be seen as a sign of utter weaknesses rather then a smart tactical move.

 

[The Cowboy]

I bealieve that there's a massive untapped source of voters out there just waiting to be snapped up. I don't bealieve it will happen but that's because large swaths of the electorate will never vote no matter how much its in their interests it is to do so.

Labour wont pull candidates from anywhere. You know this as well as I do, it would be seen as a sign of utter weaknesses rather then a smart tactical move.

Oh I know they won't, but they should.

The problem with the untapped voters is that Corbyn just isn't attractive to the youth vote. Ostensibly he's an old man with no conviction. You can see why Blair was popular with the youth vote. Cool Britannia and all that jazz.

Labour are usually the party that the youth would gravitate to, but the leader does not fit the bill right now.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Lib Dems say they want to raise all bands of income tax by 1p, including the basic rate for some reason. Higher tax for those on minimum wage??

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Lib Dems say they want to raise all bands of income tax by 1p, including the basic rate for some reason. Higher tax for those on minimum wage??

Gotta pay for Brexit haven't we?

 

[ToffeeTim]

Gotta pay for Brexit haven't we?

The liberals certainly won't be the ones paying for it lol

I don't support tax rises tbh. To raise basic rate on the lowest earners is grossly unfair and frankly embarassing. To raise the top rate doesn't work. The lafer curve proves that. Once rates are up around 40%, any rise results in lower receipts.

 

[rascal]

Lib Dems say they want to raise all bands of income tax by 1p, including the basic rate for some reason. Higher tax for those on minimum wage??

I'd be willing to pay.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The liberals certainly won't be the ones paying for it lol

I don't support tax rises tbh. To raise basic rate on the lowest earners is grossly unfair and frankly embarassing. To raise the top rate doesn't work. The lafer curve proves that. Once rates are up around 40%, any rise results in lower receipts.

I agree, but nonetheless the government is faced with a situation whereby they are already spending a bloody lot more than they bring in, and Brexit is likely to add several tens of billions to the budget, whether in terms of manpower to negotiate the thing and/or the final exit arrangements (and I include duplicating departments previously obtained via the EU in that, not just the 'divorce' settlement). That's before we have any knock-on economic impact on tax revenues.

So either taxes go up or spending goes down (or the government borrow even more).

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Oh I know they won't, but they should.

The problem with the untapped voters is that Corbyn just isn't attractive to the youth vote. Ostensibly he's an old man with no conviction. You can see why Blair was popular with the youth vote. Cool Britannia and all that jazz.

Labour are usually the party that the youth would gravitate to, but the leader does not fit the bill right now.

Which is an indictment on the stupidity of young voters or anyone else who votes for somebody based on their image. There's plenty of reasons to not like or not want to vote for Corbyn but to even think about his image as a valid reason is a bit shallow and smacks of X-Factor nonsense again. Your probably right though and that's incredibly sad that we have so many people who chose to vote or not based on something like that.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I'd be willing to pay.

I think minimum wage should mean minimum. No tax, and lower NIC.