Current Affairs 2017 General Election

[Gwladysstreetlad]

The Conservatives should be embarrassed for selecting such an incompetent fool as leader. Easily the weakest leader of any major party I can think of. She's singlehandedly turned what should of been the easiest election victory in this country's history victory into possible defeat (Everton that!).

Im reminded of a couple of quotes from my favourite book Flashman who is discussing Elphy Bay, the British army's retreat in Afghanistan and Bays leadership during it all, because while the situation is completely different, in terms of leadership from Bay and May (even the names are close ffs!) it's frighteningly similar:

"Only he could have permitted the First Afghan War and let it develop to such a ruinous defeat. It was not easy: he started with a good army, a secure position, some excellent officers, a disorganized enemy, and repeated opportunities to save the situation. But Elphy, with the touch of true genius, swept aside these obstacles with unerring precision, and out of order wrought complete chaos. We shall not, with luck, look upon his like again."

And this one:

"Let me say that when I talk of disasters I speak with authority. I have served at Balaclava, Cawnpore, and Little Big Horn. Name the biggest born fools who wore uniform in the nineteenth-century – Cardigan, Sale, Custer, Raglan, Lucan – I knew them all. Think of all the conceivable misfortunes that can arise from combinations of folly, cowardice and sheer bad luck, and I’ll give you chapter and verse. But I still state unhesitatingly that for pure, vacillating stupidity, for superb incompetence to command, for ignarance combined with bad judgement – in short, for the true talent for catastrophe – Elphy Bey stood alone. Others abide our question, but Elphy outshines them all as the greatest military idiot of our own or any other"

 

[flibbyflob]

Does anyone see 'vote conservative' signs in people's windows where they live?

being honest I have only seen one sign this entire campaign and that was a Green Party one.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You're right to state that there's a lot of critical work required of the next parliament.

However, you're wrong to single out labour, who, afterall, wish to maintain several European agencies standards that the con's will either have to replace or ignore and damage our society.
Additionally, the con's want to push the commercialisation of the NHS and re-write our human rights, and probably a raft of other critical social measures. I'd rather have a slight error in nationalising a crap rail system that's already heavily paid for by tax-payer's than any of the things the con's propose.

I won't be voting Conservative either. I would just like someone remotely competent to oversee an incredibly difficult period, and if they had an inkling of the liberal values that so define us as a nation that would be even better. Alas, such people seem in short supply.

Interestingly Amber Rudd’s father Tony, who died this week, had been debarred as a company director after being found to have asset stripped another investor vehicle, Greenbank Trust, and misused its assets to personal benefit. As with Emma Barnett, we again come across a wealthy Tory whose privileged upbringing was financed by the criminal behaviour of the wealthy.

Seem to recall the press being rightly vilified for saying stuff about Ralph Miliband last time out. I know she's a Tory so obviously fair game for any tactic, but still.

 

[Clint Planet]

Seem to recall the press being rightly vilified for saying stuff about Ralph Miliband last time out. I know she's a Tory so obviously fair game for any tactic, but still.

If you can't tell the difference between a baseless character assassination and statement of fact, there's no hope for you.

 

[hullefc]

It's not over six years, it's the latest poll data they've obviously done. If 0 is 'neutral' then what the results showed were +40 in central Scotland, +20 in south Scotland. It was -0.4 in Wales (understandable) -2.6 in the West County (again understandable with the Cornish independence movement) and from there on in its between -7 to -20. So I'd say that's an example of disliked in England.

Neither was it an attack on Corbyn, it's simply pointing out that they aren't popular in England.

And don't try and use a buzz feed article from 2 years ago with cherry picked tweets in as proof. It's a bit weak.

It is a rolling poll for the past 6 years ago. The latest addition to the poll is for the 1st. June and 9 people took part, with no indication whether they liked or disliked Sturgeon and from which regions. Nine people is hardly 'universal' and as such would be hard to claim she is 'disliked'. Attempting to dismiss something that doesn't fit in with your Sturgeon is 'universally disliked in England' is pretty weak indeed.

But she doesn't seem to be that universally disliked in the West Country, Yorkshire and the North East according to the information you produced. Seems a bit of 'cherry picking' was going on when you did not mention Yorkshire - maybe understandable on your part because it is taken as a given that Sturgeon is liked in Yorkshire - could also have something to do with those advocating 'Yorkshire independence' like Cornwall - where Sturgeon isn't 'universally disliked'. Forgive my geography but I am sure the West Country, Yorkshire and the North East are still part of England, unless they have claimed UDI before yesterday's yougov poll.

Like I said, the Tories are attempting to frighten the electorate, and treating them like children with the bogey 'Labour are wanting a coalition with the SNP'. Lies, slurs and innuendos has been the Tories 'electioneering' against Corbyn because they have nothing of substance to offer. A bit like your statement that Sturgeon is 'universally disliked in England'.

 

[neil999]

I won't be voting Conservative either. I would just like someone remotely competent to oversee an incredibly difficult period, and if they had an inkling of the liberal values that so define us as a nation that would be even better. Alas, such people seem in short supply.



Seem to recall the press being rightly vilified for saying stuff about Ralph Miliband last time out. I know she's a Tory so obviously fair game for any tactic, but still.

Do you not think keir starmer would do a good job?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

If you can't tell the difference between a baseless character assassination and statement of fact, there's no hope for you.

Suppose so. Like the tearing down of posters if they're not quite the right colour. It's a good job the Tories are so obviously the nasty party or one could lose track.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Do you not think keir starmer would do a good job?

I don't think it's a one person job. It will have repercussions across society, and therefore across government. As @abelard posted yesterday, there are a few hundred treaties alone that will need to be re-negotiated.

 

[neil999]

I don't think it's a one person job. It will have repercussions across society, and therefore across government. As @abelard posted yesterday, there are a few hundred treaties alone that will need to be re-negotiated.

kenwright?

 

[hullefc]

kenwright?

Get him on board and we may have 'Brexits the musical' on at the West End.

 

[edge]

two Tories getting charged in the election expenses scandal.

 

[Clint Planet]

Suppose so.

There's no suppose so about it. Ralph Miliband was painted as an enemy of the state. Quite fascistic, really, especially when you consider he was anything but.

You just carry on being sniffy about anyone stating facts about Tories, though. It's a good look.

 

[Clint Planet]

two Tories getting charged in the election expenses scandal.

Let's get rid of these Tory crooks!!

 

[Khalekan]

The Conservatives should be embarrassed for selecting such an incompetent fool as leader. Easily the weakest leader of any major party I can think of. She's singlehandedly turned what should of been the easiest election victory in this country's history victory into possible defeat (Everton that!).

Im reminded of a couple of quotes from my favourite book Flashman who is discussing Elphy Bay, the British army's retreat in Afghanistan and Bays leadership during it all, because while the situation is completely different, in terms of leadership from Bay and May (even the names are close ffs!) it's frighteningly similar:

"Only he could have permitted the First Afghan War and let it develop to such a ruinous defeat. It was not easy: he started with a good army, a secure position, some excellent officers, a disorganized enemy, and repeated opportunities to save the situation. But Elphy, with the touch of true genius, swept aside these obstacles with unerring precision, and out of order wrought complete chaos. We shall not, with luck, look upon his like again."

And this one:

"Let me say that when I talk of disasters I speak with authority. I have served at Balaclava, Cawnpore, and Little Big Horn. Name the biggest born fools who wore uniform in the nineteenth-century – Cardigan, Sale, Custer, Raglan, Lucan – I knew them all. Think of all the conceivable misfortunes that can arise from combinations of folly, cowardice and sheer bad luck, and I’ll give you chapter and verse. But I still state unhesitatingly that for pure, vacillating stupidity, for superb incompetence to command, for ignarance combined with bad judgement – in short, for the true talent for catastrophe – Elphy Bey stood alone. Others abide our question, but Elphy outshines them all as the greatest military idiot of our own or any other"

lol

 

[Donald Twain]

She looks more like boiled poo by the day !