What about a kid with very wonky (for loss of a better word) teeth; is this cosmetic for him/her to get braces on the NHS and therefore we shouldn't pay for it? I'm sure this is the kind of thing that would affect someone's confidence in later life.
I agree with you DM I had surgery a few years back to reduce the length of my penis and I must say that I'm happy with the 15 inches I've been left with!
If you live in a small village and don't venture out to these places you will never know for yourself what they are like.
I would never have thought there could be a QT with Farridge on it where he wasn't the most dislikeable person on there.
The usual paranoia from UKIP cheerleaders. UKIP are perfectly capable of making fools of themselves without being stitched up. Put the pom-poms away. UKIP won't get more than five seats at the general election and may well only manage one or two because none of the far-right Tories who supported them at the European elections will want Miliband in. Then they'll be consigned back to where they belong (obscurity) within 5 years. The proto-fascist movement that is having some recent success based on purely negatives (anti-Europe, anti-immigration, anti-everything) will lose all but the most frothy-mouthed of support once the economy has recovered.
But that would make him a DHbinner. Do we not have a canary of that persuasion? Maybe time to change your moniker DH.
A pretty simplistic analysis that doesn't take into account the effect that UKIP are having on the traditional Labour vote. UKIP are polling 16 - 18% in the polls and taking into account tactical voting in some of the most marginal swing seats UKIP could well hold the balance of power after the next election. The electorate are completely fed up with the 3 main stream parties and want to send a powerful message to the political elite at Westminster. What I find really amusing is that Labour are calling the Tories Toffs when in reality the Labour front bench is comprised of multi millionaires who all went to public school and Oxbridge as well!
No chance. Completely wishful thinking. Just like the wishful thinking of Lib Dems polling at 28% before the last GE. Much will depend on how the parties do between now and the GE, so it's anyone's guess whether it will be the Tories or Labour who will win. Whatever happens, UKIP have only a miniscule hope of being part of the next government: (1) that the Tories fall just short of a majority; but (2) that the Tories fall short enough of a majority to need UKIP; but (3) that the Tories do not fall so far short of a majority that having UKIP with them won't get them over the line I.e. the Tories will need to be a very precise figure of between about 8 and 14 seats short of a majority, which is a very narrow section of the possible variations in seats. Why? I hear you ask. Well, because the Tories' primary choice for coalition partners will be the DUP (they're already negotiating with them). Therefore if they can rule in coalition with just the DUP they won't involve UKIP. However, UKIP will only have, at the very most if they have an absolutely extraordinary campaign between now and the GE, 8 seats in Parliament. I doubt they will get anywhere near that, but still. So if Tories are, say, 20 short of a majority they will be forced to go into coalition with the Lib Dems again if they want to rule. The Lib Dems will probably win around 25-35 seats (i.e. their lowest since 1992) but extraordinarily I think that will probably be enough to hold the balance of power. Labour should really win a majority next time round, but Miliband is really holding them back. So I'd say odds are next Parliament will be: (1) Lab - Lib coalition (2) Lab outright or Tories outright (difficult to say from here) (3) Tories - Lib coalition And UKIP way down at the bottom of the list. No-one likes them. I even wonder whether if UKIP hold the balance of power people will refuse to go into coalition with them at all and we would have another GE shortly afterwards. Besides, it may well be a moot point because UKIP seem to be doing their best to destroy their own chances of getting more than about 1 seat from darkest Essex.
The Lib Dems are heading for complete meltdown especially in all the University Towns that they hold. Labour face a classic pincer movement with the SNP hoovering up traditional Labour votes in Scotland and UKIP eating into their traditional working class vote in the Northern Cities. We could end up with a situation where Labour could govern in Westminster without winning a majority in either England or Scotland but being propped up by the SNP so basically Scotland will be running the whole Country! In this scenario the labour government will be wholly illegitimate as they will be relying on Scottish Votes to force through their legislation that will only effect the English! Confusing or what!
In fairness CR, I'm not convinced by much of what you say. I take your point that in times of financial hard ship johny foreigner tends to get bashed but, there will still remain flash points and communities with real social integration problems that some seem to write off all to easily. And seriously do you really believe old Georgie boy and his deficit reduction projections? when more cuts bite the economy to my mind is not going to be all that recovered! and won't be any time soon. Bah!
Getting only 20-25 seats will be a complete meltdown. That basically means Lib Dems will be reduced to their hardcore safe seats and have lost all their gains over the last 20 years. That will be a disaster. I suspect they will recover a bit from this current low point, but even if they get only 35 seats that will be something of a damning indictment of their time in Government. The position in Scotland is completely unclear. The SNP's loss in the referendum could see Labour making substantial gains, but I agree equally many voters may stay with the SNP and that this may be what ultimately leads to a Tory majority. Especially for the loss of Gordon Brown (much as he is widely despised in England, people forget he is worshipped in parts of Scotland). A better leader than Miliband would be able to recover Scotland. I'm not sure. The Scots already vote on English stuff, so I think that's partly a different issue, but I take your point. I certainly do not believe Gideon. His deficit reduction projections are nothing short of blatant lies. I have never voted Tory and I certainly won't this time round. On your response to my post - the paranoia point was just me teasing Warky about his claim that UKIP will be stitched up. This is a classic UKIP tactic at the moment, and it works. I don't think the Press are deliberately trying to stitch them up, but they are doing it all wrong about putting voters off. I agree with you about the reasons for UKIP's success at the moment. I'm not a scaremonger and I have no allegiance to the Tories (in fact I thoroughly enjoy watching them squirm under UKIP pressure, which the more they do will undoubtedly lead to Labour winning). I honestly do not care about UKIP that much in terms of how they are doing politically because I don't think they are anywhere near the threat or the importance that the Press and politicians are making them out to be, albeit that I do despise their policies and individual members. They are symptomatic of the problems of our time and I completely agree with you that the current Press and mainstream politicians are really dealing with UKIP poorly. I don't think they need to deal with UKIP much at all, to be honest. They need to deal with the reason that quite a few voters are considering UKIP. These are the real issues. Fortunately, as with most elections, people will almost certainly revert to type at GE. UKIP will of course still have their best election ever (i.e. I think they'll definitely get a seat or two), but they won't win many seats, they are highly unlikely to be anywhere near the executive and ultimately they will end up in obscurity in five years time or so. The ones who will decide the election are, as ever, the swing voters in the middle - not those really suffering (from both Labour and Tories) who are understandably tempted by UKIP. Where the swing voters go will ultimately depend on how Miliband does over the next few months primarily, whether the Tories really cock things up (i.e. lurch to the right and push away the moderate swing voters) and, to a lesser extent, what the Lib Dems do about the ball and chain that is Clegg.
BTW Melchy - I can see why my post looks like I am of a particular political persuasion, but I honestly think you've got the wrong end of the stick with where you think I am coming from
UKIP will hold Clacton,Farridge will win in Folkestone. 50/50 chance of holding Rochester and similar odds in Great Grimsby and in Boston,so 2 -5 seats. Best outside chance Gt.Yarmouth. What is it with the E Coast?
