I think this is the concern for a lot of us on the fnese Mr King. I have not really lived through a genuine Labour government spend bust. Blair and his cronies were nothing more than Torylite so I have not seen a genuinely Lefty spell. I hear scare stories from plenty of commentators, many with vested interests in the continuancy of the Tory ways, but should we all support them? They certainly don't give off any sort of impression about caring for the populous at large. Could Labour have learnt from the past and give more to the many with out visiting further bankrupcy on the masses? Are the Tories actually capable of arresting our economic slide either? The deficite continues to grow, so is their model working? Much as I would rather spend my money than the government. Lib dems have I suppose at least offered some realism to improving things by adding 1p. This is why as a never voted Labour before, I am considering it for the first time. Maybe I haven't seen them do there worst, but life under the Tories is not great either. Negligable or no pay rises, Zero hours contracts, NHS, Police and roads on their knees. How can anexpensive vanity projects like HS2 approved, which will end up being a financial millstone. They will want to charge even more for the tickets, yet inspite of it's greater speed, how much time can you actually save? The stop in Nottingham for example is not near the centre of Derby or Nottingham. So to catch it you will need to either live in a local burb or travel. By the time you have travelled to the station you will likely have lost any time saving that the superior speed would have brought. Madness! All of those billions could surely be better spent? Bah!
And here is another take on it, I know it's the Guardian so in no way impartial but it sounds compelling, too good to be true? Probably, but The Tory way in my book isn't working well, I have to decide if the Labour way might, I have serious doubts, but if it wasn't Crobyn and Abbot as figure heads I think on policies I might have made up my mind already. Bah!
It's interesting to see your views, but some of your reasoning differs from mine so I thought it was interesting to draw the comparisons: "One party offering vaguely realistic policies", Labour and even UKIP offer a fully costed manifesto, and as much as you can argue with Labour's maths, it doesn't appear to have made them a laughing stock with economists. The Conservatives haven't made any effort to cost their manifesto in comparison, and appear to be trying to distance themselves from the "Dementia Tax", without formally U-Turning on it. On immigration, I again don't see where the confidence in May comes from. She's been Home Sec since 2010, and has consistently failed to hit the Conservatives own immigration targets. I can't see that changing in the next 5 years. If anything, I expect their "economy-first" approach will likely see them trying to open up new avenues for immigrants, to replace those lost from Europe. Admittedly, I don't expect anyone other than UKIP to reduce immigration, so personally I can't see how anyone can make it key to their voting decision. On Brexit, don't forget May campaigned limply for Remain too! I also think if anything May is more likely to divide the UK in two than Corbyn. The harder Brexit she'll pursue will likely go down worse in Scotland than the softer Brexit I'd expect from Corbyn. I can also see Corbyn making more concessions to Scotland, whilst May has a more "my way or the highway" approach.
I’m in such a quandary. Reading through the previous posts, it seems that coming from a rough council estate, I should be voting Tory. Yet my parents always voted Labour, and as I’m too stupid to think for myself, I thought that was the way to go. What I need is some unbiased objectivity, maybe from the Mail or the Sun? I’m sure the latter were jesting with their ‘Jihadi Jezza’ jibe? It’s difficult, isn’t it.
You'll be waiting in line for bread at £40 a loaf and speaking Russian if you vote Labour. Bilinguals are revered on these boards so Labour it is for this IRA sympathising Commie.
The Mail and the Sun today - two patriotic newspapers owned by a tax dodger and a non-dom have the guile to suggest that the country would be worse off with a (potential) government who are suggesting in their manifesto more police on the streets. It beggars belief that the cnuts who run those rags have such sway over people's views. All they care for is their welfare and certainly not any normal Joe. I too grew up in the 70s & 80s, single Mum raising four of us and it was ****ing hard for her. Thatcher did not help folk in our world. My ma, though originally from Tory stock, turned well against them as she struggled womanfully to raise the four of us on a pittance. She put her hand out for every charity available to shoe us each school year and neighbors helped out with clothes. I do well now, but that is because education was driven into me as a way out and even with relative wealth, I would not think of putting a cross next to a blue candidate. Must be the Norwich in me. I put it down to a simple equation - who would I rather have a chat with about issues close to me and which candidate would empathize most closely with my moral fibre.
The national polls bare no relation to what is actually happening on the ground in the key swing seats where the Tories are well ahead across the West Midlands and pockets of the North East. The Labour surge has been contained to mostly London and by the 18 to 24 Yesr olds who are not reliable when it comes to turning out to vote. The yougov polls are just pure fantasy to say the least. There is some anecdotal evidence from Labour activists that they have not seen the same surge in the polls in their canvassing returns and that they fear a near wipeout for labour outside of London. Read it and weep you Corbynistas!
I have to (unfortunately) agree wth Warky on the numbers. Despite a late surge for Corbyn I still can't see anything other than a massive win for May. The Press have laid into Corbyn hard, even the BBC haven't bothered to be hide their bias against Corbyn. Despite being probably the worst Tory candidate in the last 80 years combined with the weakest Tory manifesto ever, May will waltz to victory. The only amusing thing about it is just how socialist so many Tory policies are. Fixing gas prices, nationalising property, paying below market value for building social housing. It's almost hilarious because so many tribal Tories think they're getting some sort of libertarian utopia. Unfortunately it isn't funny because of the social, economic and reputational damage this Tory government is going to do to our country.
Indeed. Not sure if it will be a waltz, more of a chicken song dance, but let's see. We have been surprised a couple of times in the last year. 3 times a charm?
