Current Affairs The General Election

[Socrates]

First subtle bribes in the election :

A newspaper advertising a £20k watch on the front page has the interests of the common person in mind, I'm sure.

 

[Blue 1]

Yeah, that fracking moratorium won't end the moment they take power, will it? No siree.

They really do think we're as dumb as a box of rocks, don't they?

 

[orchard]

Yeah, that fracking moratorium won't end the moment they take power, will it? No siree.

They really do think we're as dumb as a box of rocks, don't they?

Unfortunately, some will take this at face value. Front page of Telegraph and other rags...

 

[catcherintherye]

I mean, this is just simply not true. He has stood 7 times.



Let's take it as a given you mean the UK. Quick and easy - former London mayor, Leave campaign leader and PM. Vastly vastly more influential than Farage.


Cameron, who was, er, PM and called the referendum

Osborne, who imposed grim, nation-changing austerity and is now editor of the capital's biggest free paper


Corbyn, who totally re-directed the Labour party, causing ALL OTHER parties to align either with or against him ideologically.

Sturgeon, who is about to turn Scotland into a one-party state.



But no no, non-achieveing Farage is "best boy"

Yes fair points. I would like to make clear that while I have a begrudging admiration for Farage I certainly share his politics!

As for the names above, each of them has certainly had influence, though I'm not sure any have really had as overarching influence as Farage.

Cameron was brought in to detoxify to Conservative from the nasty party to a moderate, forward thinking liberal right of centre organisation. He failed in this mission and gave up on it half way through.I'd imagine his failure to detoxify the brand means they are more tainted now than when he took over, which is some achievement. He also openly said the 2016 would be what defined him, and against all the odds he messed up his pivotal moment.

Osborne, it's a similar point to Cameron. I happen to think he had potential tl re-shape politics, but has been well and truly bounced within his own organisation.

In Scotland, there is little doubt Sturgeon has had an enormous influence, as has Alex Salmond, far greater than Farage in that country, however if viewing the UK as a whole I'd still say a smaller influence than him.

If Corbyn can win an election, and move the country in a different direction then it's fair comment, though at this point we await to see how the election goes.

Either way, for me Farage has enormously shifted the national discourse over the last 10 years or so, towards questions of sovereignty and migration in a manner that has threatened to re-draw the political map. He has won a national poll in 2014 (and was the first of the "big 2" to do that in goodness knows how long). He's also diverted attention of the Conservatives, and to a lesser degree Labour into chasing after him.

As you say he's never won a constituency vote. In many ways that crystallises the achievement, as he has done so without much formal authority to do so. Lots of questions have to be asked of the media who have elevated his influence, but he has utilised it very well.

 

[Aberblue]

Yes fair points. I would like to make clear that while I have a begrudging admiration for Farage I certainly share his politics!

As for the names above, each of them has certainly had influence, though I'm not sure any have really had as overarching influence as Farage.

Cameron was brought in to detoxify to Conservative from the nasty party to a moderate, forward thinking liberal right of centre organisation. He failed in this mission and gave up on it half way through.I'd imagine his failure to detoxify the brand means they are more tainted now than when he took over, which is some achievement. He also openly said the 2016 would be what defined him, and against all the odds he messed up his pivotal moment.

Osborne, it's a similar point to Cameron. I happen to think he had potential tl re-shape politics, but has been well and truly bounced within his own organisation.

In Scotland, there is little doubt Sturgeon has had an enormous influence, as has Alex Salmond, far greater than Farage in that country, however if viewing the UK as a whole I'd still say a smaller influence than him.

If Corbyn can win an election, and move the country in a different direction then it's fair comment, though at this point we await to see how the election goes.

Either way, for me Farage has enormously shifted the national discourse over the last 10 years or so, towards questions of sovereignty and migration in a manner that has threatened to re-draw the political map. He has won a national poll in 2014 (and was the first of the "big 2" to do that in goodness knows how long). He's also diverted attention of the Conservatives, and to a lesser degree Labour into chasing after him.

As you say he's never won a constituency vote. In many ways that crystallises the achievement, as he has done so without much formal authority to do so. Lots of questions have to be asked of the media who have elevated his influence, but he has utilised it very well.

I agree with a lot of this. Btw did you mean it when you said that you share his politics, or was that a mistake?

It's similar to Hitler being awarded Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1938. This was wrongly taken by many to be an endorsement of his policies, which it was not.

 

[catcherintherye]

I agree with a lot of this. Btw did you mean it when you said that you share his politics, or was that a mistake?

It's similar to Hitler being awarded Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1938. This was wrongly taken by many to be an endorsement of his policies, which it was not.

Yes that should be don't share his politics! A freudian slip there, good spot.

 

[Billy Dean]

Arf

 

[davids]

Don't think my vote matters living in a safe tory seat.

And so it will remain, possibly because others think the same.

 

[Joey66]

And so it will remain, possibly because others think the same.

There are many areas such as SNP Labour Tories - where a rosette on a house brick would get their vote tbh....
The first past the post system puts the wasted vote off to many people who do not bother to vote.....

 

[dublinbluenose]

First subtle bribes in the election :

Such a cynical ploy that, they were championing fracking last week.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

There are many areas such as SNP Labour Tories - where a rosette on a house brick would get their vote tbh....
The first past the post system puts the wasted vote off to many people who do not bother to vote.....

For elections past, yes and if you were economically middle class and comfortable, politics has been very cosy . However, politics and the country is fast changing now.. There are reports of vast numbers of young people registering to vote..

 

[Blues Harp]

Slimy dont care Tory.........what a turd.

 

[Joey66]

For elections past, yes and if you were economically middle class and comfortable, politics has been very cosy . However, politics and the country is fast changing now.. There are reports of vast numbers of young people registering to vote..

I remember them saying that at Brexit time in 2016......

 

[Bluerover]

I agree with a lot of this. Btw did you mean it when you said that you share his politics, or was that a mistake?

It's similar to Hitler being awarded Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1938. This was wrongly taken by many to be an endorsement of his policies, which it was not.

Trump won it in 2016. Agreed!!

 

[Blues Harp]

I remember them saying that at Brexit time in 2016......

3 years on Joey....my son will be voting in his Tory constituency as all his friends are......not saying the incumbent MP will lose but this message is spreading.