Current Affairs 2017 General Election

[Gwladysstreetlad]

She makes a lot of her apparent trustworthiness. I'm just saying I don't think that has an ounce of credibility.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you on this Bruce. I just don't see how that makes her unique as a politician, who for my money are some of the most dishonest, untrustworthy, backstabbing, disloyal, insincere and talentless people you'll ever meet. For every decent politiician in this world there's hundreds more I wouldn't trust with my lose change never mind my country and the general wellbeing of everyone in it!

 

[tsubaki]

Indeed.

Corbyn had little enthusiasm for the Remain vote and it came through in the overall Labour approach to the Referendum.

By his lack of effort, Corbyn delivered Brexit as much as any rabid Brexiteers in the Tories did.

Not this again. Corbyn may have had little enthusiasm for the official Remain campaign - not unreasonably, because it was rubbish - but he made ten times as many media appearances as anyone else from the top of the Labour Party. Where were they during the referendum campaign?

 

[Mrk]

Hasn't she done exactly that though? In the past year there have been a number of flip-flops, whether it's her views on the single market, the tax rise on sole traders, the need for a general election. On actual evidence, it's hard to see that her word is her bond.

Now I should say, changing your mind when better evidence presents itself is not a bad thing at all, but I don't think she's done that. On the single market, nothing external changed to guide her shift in position, except that being a Brexiter was now good for her career. The about face on NI contributions from sole traders was done purely because of the backlash in the press rather than any real economic conviction. Can we really say her change of heart re the election is any different, despite her urgings that this is in the best interest of the country?

To a certain extent, yes, however all politicians, no matter how stubborn or ideological will always be swayed by political realities. Even Thatcher at her most ‘regal’ had to bow to the wishes of her party and public opinion at times.

When it comes to Brexit, I think it’s important to recognise how much of a difficult position May is in - she has a tiny majority and quite a large number of anti-EU MPs to keep happy in order to maintain a working majority.

I don’t find her particularly impressive as a politician and I disagree with quite a few of her social/economic policies, but I find it hard to judge her like it’s possible to judge many of her immediate predecessors simply because of the position she’s in.

 

[orly]

Indeed.

Corbyn had little enthusiasm for the Remain vote and it came through in the overall Labour approach to the Referendum.

By his lack of effort, Corbyn delivered Brexit as much as any rabid Brexiteers in the Tories did.

Absolutely true

He could barely get out of bed for it. Probably took all his days in lieu

 

[evilwebby]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you on this Bruce. I just don't see how that makes her unique as a politician, who for my money are some of the most dishonest, untrustworthy, backstabbing, disloyal, insincere and talentless people you'll ever meet. For every decent politiician in this world there's hundreds more I wouldn't trust with my lose change never mind my country and the general wellbeing of everyone in it!

TBH Politics is the business of being as many things to as many people as possible.. it is inevitable in a democratic system that you say different things depending on your audience. It doesn't mean that they are inherently untrustworthy people, it's just an inevitable outcome of the machine of a political democracy.

 

[Milkman]

If everybody bought a GOT mug every time Theresa May said "I'm very clear on ____ ", but doesn't actually answer the question, then we wouldn't need to turn our adblockers off.

 

[tsubaki]

Absolutely true

He could barely get out of bed for it. Probably took all his days in lieu

More fibs from you.

Table 2.1: Top thirty media appearances (6 May – 22 June)
Position Name Number of appearances Percentage of items in which they appeared
1 David Cameron (Conservative IN) 499 24.9%
2 Boris Johnson (Conservative OUT) 379 18.9%
3 George Osborne (Conservative IN) 230 11.5%
4 Nigel Farage (UKIP OUT) 182 9.1%
5 Michael Gove (Conservative OUT) 161 8.0%
6 Ian Duncan Smith (Conservative OUT) 124 6.2%
7 Jeremy Corbyn (Labour IN) 123 6.1%
8 Priti Patel (Conservative OUT) 65 3.2%
9 Gordon Brown (Labour IN) 52 2.6%
10 John Major (Conservative IN) 47 2.3%
11 Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative OUT) 35 1.7%
12= Chris Grayling (Conservative OUT) 33 1.6%
12= Gisela Stuart (Labour OUT) 33 1.6%
14= Theresa May (Conservative IN) 29 1.4%
14= Donald Tusk (President European Council IN) 29 1.4%
16 Nicola Sturgeon (SNP IN) 28 1.4%
17= Bernard Jenkin (Conservative OUT) 24 1.2%
17= Sadiq Khan (Labour IN) 24 1.2%
19 Liam Fox (Conservative OUT) 23 1.1%
20 Jean-Claude Juncker (President of the EC IN) 21 1.0%
21 Alistair Darling (Labour IN) 20 1.0%
22 Alan Johnson (Labour IN) 19 .9%
23= Amber Rudd (Conservative IN) 18 .9%
23= Ed Balls (Labour IN) 18 .9%
25= Norman Lamont (Conservative OUT) 17 .8%
25= Harriet Harman (Labour IN) 17 .8%
26= Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany IN) 16 .8%
26= Sarah Wollaston (Conservative OUT then IN) 16 .8%
26= John McDonnell (Labour IN) 16 .8%
30 Angela Eagle (Labour IN) 15 .7%

 

[Mrk]

If by interesting you mean the Tories doing as they please without any form of meaningful opposition until at least 2022 then I make you right.

Ironically Corbyn being annihilated will bring about dramatic change within the Labour party and they've got 5 years to win back their credibility, as opposed to waiting another 3 years for the inevitable smashing that was always coming their way whilst Corbyn was in the hotseat.

By interesting I genuinely do just mean interesting - that doesn't mean I'll enjoy what happens though, I'm not very optimistic.

As for your point about Corbyn, completely agree. Perversely, May is doing the Labour party a favour, even if in the short term it's going to be a bit painful.

 

[Sarnia Kevin]

Jeremy hears the news about the general election.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

By interesting I genuinely do just mean interesting - that doesn't mean I'll enjoy what happens though, I'm not very optimistic.

As for your point about Corbyn, completely agree. Perversely, May is doing the Labour party a favour, even if in the short term it's going to be a bit painful.

It remains to be seen whether this obvious attempt to dilute the dissenters potential veto within her own party, is intended to quell the far right or the more centric. My personal view is the latter, but that's far from certain.

 

[Joey66]

Indeed.

Corbyn had little enthusiasm for the Remain vote and it came through in the overall Labour approach to the Referendum.

By his lack of effort, Corbyn delivered Brexit as much as any rabid Brexiteers in the Tories did.

Yes that's true,but try and ask Labour if they get into power how they would handle the negotiations with the EU over Brexit ? Thornberry thier legal beagle hate the white driver man reply last night was pathetic i.e. She had no,answer ?
Just stating like May she wanted what the tories wanted !
Also the Lib Dems manefesto is going to give us a vote on what the deal is when he negotiations end- Really When we joined the trading ECC with 7 countries with Ted Heath we never got that he paid OTT to join a trading block - the first referendum on the EU was given to,the public a close out vote was given on a high turn out - so voters will decide who,do they want to do negotiations with the EU the real life things in day to day will pass with a blur which is so sad Labour should have ditched Corbyn last year he should have had the decency to stand down - he is already considering a reselection of MPs process if the GE is called!

 

[hallamblue]

I think the Tories and the Lib Dems will be the big winners from this election. I can see Labour being marginalised. That said, I do think that having a General Election now may save Labour, as they will realise they need a more populist central candidate as their leader. Only problem is, I don't see one. I had high hopes for Andy Burnham, but he didn't cut it.

 

[Tubey]

This PMQs is painful... all around. Everyone is awful.

 

[orly]

More fibs from you.

Table 2.1: Top thirty media appearances (6 May – 22 June)
Position Name Number of appearances Percentage of items in which they appeared
1 David Cameron (Conservative IN) 499 24.9%
2 Boris Johnson (Conservative OUT) 379 18.9%
3 George Osborne (Conservative IN) 230 11.5%
4 Nigel Farage (UKIP OUT) 182 9.1%
5 Michael Gove (Conservative OUT) 161 8.0%
6 Ian Duncan Smith (Conservative OUT) 124 6.2%
7 Jeremy Corbyn (Labour IN) 123 6.1%
8 Priti Patel (Conservative OUT) 65 3.2%
9 Gordon Brown (Labour IN) 52 2.6%
10 John Major (Conservative IN) 47 2.3%
11 Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative OUT) 35 1.7%
12= Chris Grayling (Conservative OUT) 33 1.6%
12= Gisela Stuart (Labour OUT) 33 1.6%
14= Theresa May (Conservative IN) 29 1.4%
14= Donald Tusk (President European Council IN) 29 1.4%
16 Nicola Sturgeon (SNP IN) 28 1.4%
17= Bernard Jenkin (Conservative OUT) 24 1.2%
17= Sadiq Khan (Labour IN) 24 1.2%
19 Liam Fox (Conservative OUT) 23 1.1%
20 Jean-Claude Juncker (President of the EC IN) 21 1.0%
21 Alistair Darling (Labour IN) 20 1.0%
22 Alan Johnson (Labour IN) 19 .9%
23= Amber Rudd (Conservative IN) 18 .9%
23= Ed Balls (Labour IN) 18 .9%
25= Norman Lamont (Conservative OUT) 17 .8%
25= Harriet Harman (Labour IN) 17 .8%
26= Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany IN) 16 .8%
26= Sarah Wollaston (Conservative OUT then IN) 16 .8%
26= John McDonnell (Labour IN) 16 .8%
30 Angela Eagle (Labour IN) 15 .7%

So not ten times more than everyone else then?

Whoops

The leader of the opposition made a third of the Mayor of London's appearance (at that time), and you are using this to defend him?!?!


50 days of Corbyn left

 

[Tubey]

So not ten times more than everyone else then?

Whoops


50 days of Corbyn left

It's not just that - it was the energy behind his message. It was non-existent.

He reminded me of this: