Where is the evidence for your claim then that it is a right wing lie? There is never any evidence. You have an opinion; SH had a different one - instead of debating you slammed him down as is your style. Prove it has NOT been the number one concern if you are so dogmatic about it. I asked if you think you are always correct - because you come across that way to me. Many of us ask questions, we challenge and voice opinions only - you do not debate like that - it makes it seem like you think you are always correct. I am entitled to that opinion - unless you tell me I can only have opinions you approve of. You use nasty words like sly dig - what do you think that is?
I didn't make the claim, he did, he needs to provide the evidence to back up his claim. If immigration was the #1 concern for the UK over the last 10 years UKIP would have had more than 1 MP. How dare you criticise my debating style and praise SH? Who made you the authority on what a decent debate consists of? I'm happy to discuss views if the other person wishes to discuss them too. SH does none of that.
They got 4 million votes - the fact that they got only one MP is due to first past the post voting system. I am no authority but it seems you do not want me to have an opinion now unless it is to praise you.
I think UKIP play' the acceptable face of racism'. Certainly a BREXIT winner was immigration ...and it is completely baseless.as an argument. Sovereignty was clearly what they pinned to the mast originally. Getting in charge of our economy etc was also a major thrust. UK is an Island nation and we culturally like our independence and people who are like us. I am sure all of the above led the person in the street who will probalby never benefit personally from it to vote for it.. But given the same psychometric company Cambridge Analytica also guided Trump to victory... .all is revealed. We live in a stage managed world with little concern for reality
I can't be bothered with this. If you honestly think you're a victim please re-read the posts in the last 24h.
I was once in the position of having an MP who had decided to cross the floor of the house. He had left the Labour party because of unacceptable actions by left wing activists. He was parachuted into a safe Tory seat and I got to know him quite well. He served us rather well, and to be honest you would not have known if he was a Tory or a Labour man because he was able to cross the divide by being moderate. As you will realize I am not left or right wing, probably nearer to SH on some things , and Cologne on others. I reject the ' just for myself ' approach to life that the current bunch in government are pursuing, but equally reject a party that is supposed to be the official opposition, yet cannot even agree about if the leader is fit to lead. Moderation in politics can, if done properly, make one nation, but it has to be explained in a way that Joe Bloggs can understand. It seems to me that there is no effort being put in by either side to draw the country together. It is so easy to have a simple agenda as used by UKIP, but far more difficult to explain a middle of the road approach when there will be winners and losers and people actually have to think. The debate here has shown to me that people are not looking for that middle way, just wanting to promote their own ideas. People do change their views, or there would never be a change of government. I know many who voted to leave the EU, and are now calling for a second vote as they feel betrayed. Nothing stays the same for very long in politics, and we should look at what is actually being said rather than following the old tribal instincts. End of rant from a middle of the roader.
I'm sure if you give Theresa May time she will prove she can back her wish to govern for all with firm action. It would be difficult for any government to take on extra time consuming bills whilst dealing with Brexit. (please don't quote the SC appeal) The workload will not reduce even after Brexit as EU laws being transferred into UK laws will need to be addressed in order of importance.
The trouble is SH that already things that this government should be dealing with are being pushed aside. There are five bills that would normally have been going through that have been pushed into the long grass. I have no confidence in Theresa May being able to control her ministers. They are happy enough for now to let her take the flak, but when she has served their purpose she will be dumped like an empty chip box. While you have serial stabbers like Gove in the background, a civil service that cannot cope, and half the nation against the government, there will be no happy ending.
The government is correct in concentrating on Brexit, it is clearly the most important issue. She has a united cabinet and is the most popular UK leader since the war apart from Blair in his glory days. There is an article in the Express tonight (so must be true) of a group of Tory MP's calling for a general election next month. Polling this week by respected pollsters ICM put the Conservatives on 42 %, Labour on 26%, Ukip on 13% and Lib Dems on 10%. This lead is extraordinary for a mid term government. In Stoke on Trent a poll puts Labour 10 points behind Ukip.
I can point you to polls that show huge swings away leaving in areas that voted heavily to leave. It depends entirely on who is asked what. Why would Tories want a GE now if they are so confident that all is going so well? It makes no sense whatsoever.
Isn't it the best time to have a general election is when your lead is so substantial. In addition the opposition is in such a mess with no sign of any improvement. The PM continues to prefer the full term but I expect any serious opposition to her Brexit plans may encourage her to change her mind. The poll I quoted was about political party choice not about Brexit, that race is already won.
There should not be a GE just on the whim of any party. That is one reason that the fixed term was brought in. The opposition might be in a mess, but it would be seen as a purely opportunist event, not something that is required with such turmoil in the country. On polls it was suggested that the LDs would run Goldsmith fairly close, but not win. Seems as if they hadn't worked out that there is a whole different world out there now that existing models do not cater for. I wonder how the people of Stoke will react to Nuttall saying that he thinks torture is acceptable? If they vote for him it will show how low the country has sunk.
Your view on an election is exactly the same as the PM's. She has said the country has election fatigue. May will only agree to one if she considers the will of the people is being seriously challenged. David Davis said the other day nothing will stop Brexit so they obviously have several plans, one may be a GE. The Richmond Park bi-election result had peculiar elements that cannot be extrapolated across the country. I would expect Nuttall's waterboarding comment to have minimal effect, it will be well forgotten by the election.
Do you agree with Nuttall SH? If you don't I expect you will help to remind the people of Stoke what he believes in.
As the capital of Brexit I would expect the people of Stoke on Trent to make their own minds up, they certainly have strong views on Brexit. The Labour candidate has not helped himself or the LP describing Brexit as a pile of ****. He also called our friend Jeremy an "IRA supporting friend of Hamas" Although I have never voted for Ukip I agree with most of Nuttall's comments. On waterboarding I do not possess enough information on its effectiveness to make a judgement. The Conservative have resigned themselves to not winning so are quite happy to unofficially assist a Ukip victory. The Tories are concentrating their efforts on the bi-election in Copeland.
You proved this morning with your incorrect advice on parliamentary protocol that it is necessary to find out the true facts before forming an opinion. I do not know enough about waterboarding to comment, I do not expect that to change.
Don't you think that it might be a good idea to find out about the practice rather than just try to ignore something that many people find bad practice? Of course you might choose not to, but that is up to you. Any views you express could then be taken for what they are worth if we knew you had at least looked in to it.
