Current Affairs 2017 General Election

[tsubaki]

People need to put party politics aside. The EU negotiations will be a defining point for the U.K., we need a strong government led by a capable PM to negotiate on our behalf. May is the only real choice, no one in their right mind would want Corbyn or Dim anywhere near the upcoming negotiations.......

That argument is now immeasurably weaker than it was - these are the most important negotiations we have had in decades, there is a tight timescale to them, and she has just further delayed them for at least a couple of months solely for her own gain.

 

[Tubey]

Such excuses weren't afforded to Labour. The entire blame was put on them. But suddenly, 9 years later, 2008 is to blame for austerity just making things worse.

Not by me. I backed Labour in the last two elections for that reason. Austerity was a choice of answer to the situation, not the only one.

Labour failed to make their case for the alternative, hence the Tories comfortably winning elections.

 

[Tubey]

I mean honestly...

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Wow... it's almost as if a worldwide financial crash happened around 2008 to explain tha- oh wait, it did!

It's also very difficult to say that an alternative would have been any better. France tried to do things a bit differently and they haven't really done much better.

 

[Tubey]

It's also very difficult to say that an alternative would have been any better. France tried to do things a bit differently and they haven't really done much better.

I don't think there was a viable answer to that crash. People still don't grasp how severe it was - we couldn't have done anything to come out the other side unscathed.

It's theoretical politics to say if we'd have been better or worse off now, as you say.

 

[tsubaki]

It's also very difficult to say that an alternative would have been any better. France tried to do things a bit differently and they haven't really done much better.

All France did differently is elected a slightly older version of Miliband, with the result that the SP over there has been largely destroyed.

 

[royalbalou]

Corbyn - as unelectable as Foot/Kinnock/Milliband

It really doesn't matter how good the policies are if you don't have the charisma to appeal to the populace.
We live in a society that would give more votes to Simon Cowell than Corbyn

Only consolation is that May is just as unappealing - however, she isn't the one trying to play catch up and will win at a canter - no horse pun intended

 

[AndyC]

@Eggs said: ↑
"...well, I'm a 60 year old and for the first time in my life I will genuinely look for an alternative vote than Labour in the forthcoming election. This party reminds me so much of Militant inspired politics of yesteryear, politics of bullying and aggression. I can't bring myself to support the Conservatives so it could be Monster Raving Looney."

Same age, and in almost full agreement with you sir... just the very last bit I couldn't bring myself to do.

Right now other than definitely never voting Conservative, I am honestly very, very unsure where I'll place my X come June 8th.

 

[tsubaki]

I mean honestly...

there is a Shadow Cabinet meeting taking place, Tubey

 

[Mrk]

there is a Shadow Cabinet meeting taking place, Tubey

 

[tsubaki]

@Eggs said: ↑
...well, I'm a 60 year old and for the first time in my life I will genuinely look for an alternative vote than Labour in the forthcoming election. This party reminds me so much of Militant inspired politics of yesteryear, politics of bullying and aggression. I can't bring myself to support the Conservatives so it could be Monster Raving Looney.

Same age, and in almost full agreement with you sir... just the very last bit I couldn't bring myself to do.

Right now other than definitely never voting Conservative, I am honestly very, very unsure where I'll place my X come June 8th.

This is the attitude that really does my head in.

People of your (and Eggs') age were part of a generation that had decent pension provision, a decent NHS, decent education, reasonably secure employment, decent housing and living standards and you voted for a Labour Party that between 1997 and 2010 helped to get rid of most of it and which carried out the biggest foreign policy disaster of our times. I voted for them as well, though the last few times were through increasingly gritted teeth.

Rejecting them now that they have a leader who at least says he will try to undo all of the damage that was done, and knowing what the Tories will do in the event of a big victory, is just insane.

 

[degsy]

It's on then, The Back Me or Sack Me Election...and have a sorta 2nd bite at Brexit too.
Going to be a right dogs breakfast of a campaign what with the usual party line divisions compounded by the Stay and Brexit factions in all the major parties.
Anybody who tries to predict a result will be just a likely to use tea leaves as any of the usual polling methods.

My first 2 penorth is May wouldn't have called it if she didn't think she had decent chance of winning...the turkey's don't usually vote for Christmas.
My 2nd is that we will see - maybe indirectly what sort of 'brexit egg' she is boiling up; sort, medium or hard.

 

[blue61]

@Eggs said: ↑
"...well, I'm a 60 year old and for the first time in my life I will genuinely look for an alternative vote than Labour in the forthcoming election. This party reminds me so much of Militant inspired politics of yesteryear, politics of bullying and aggression. I can't bring myself to support the Conservatives so it could be Monster Raving Looney."

Same age, and in almost full agreement with you sir... just the very last bit I couldn't bring myself to do.

Right now other than definitely never voting Conservative, I am honestly very, very unsure where I'll place my X come June 8th.

I think this point of view represents the feelings of many. I haven't got a clue where to put my vote for the first time in my life, having been a lifelong labour voter. The one plus point will be the obliteration of Corbyn and his band of militants.

 

[AndyC]

This is the attitude that really does my head in.

People of your (and Eggs') age were part of a generation that had decent pension provision, a decent NHS, decent education, reasonably secure employment, decent housing and living standards and you voted for a Labour Party that between 1997 and 2010 helped to get rid of most of it and which carried out the biggest foreign policy disaster of our times. I voted for them as well, though the last few times were through increasingly gritted teeth.

Rejecting them now that they have a leader who at least says he will try to undo all of the damage that was done, and knowing what the Tories will do in the event of a big victory, is just insane.

Sorry if the thoughts of myself and @Eggs in respect of the impending GE offend you, but where does it say that we're not allowed to change our minds?

Corbyn is an idealist - all very laudable I'll agree - but in my opinion, is not a strong enough character to lead a party into a GE.

I honestly do not know who could jump into the Labour leadership right now and stand a chance of beating the Tories given the lead they apparently have and are possibly likely to sustain.

I know I'm not alone in thinking the way I currently do, a friend of mine has been a life-long Labour party member and late last year resigned that membership due to a total lack of faith in Corbyn to be able to a. unite the party and b. win.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Ok so Labour think Corbyn is a disaster and can never win an election. Fair enough if that's your point of view but I fail to see ANYONE else within the Labour party who's really all that much better. Teresa May is one of the weakest PM's ever and Labour have nobody who would stand a chance against her. Utterly terrible.