Off Topic General Election Special

Obviously, but it's always nice to make things 100% certain.

 

It's a projected loss, and you do run up a personal state pension over 35 years NI contributions which takes you above basic I believe?

 

The secretary of education (and health) are no-win roles, but he did spectacularly bad at it. He looks strange and his position on Brexit was careerist and non genuine. However, he has to be given his dues that he argues his point well and did extremely well for the environment over 3 years.

 

A quick google or wiki will put you right Ric,

 

I know this might be a bit radical but these women could actually work a bit longer like us men have to - it's a shame when they cry out for equality that they moan so much when they get it - equality works both ways

 

I see John O'Donnell, has been on today spouting some BS about ending austerity in 100 days.
I never took him for a miracle worker. This from a guy who has a plaque on the wall of his office, celebrating the IRA hunger strikers. How about remembering the two army guys who were lynched by the mob in Belfast.
This lot are way too off the radar.

 

Wondering what could be the 'Portillo' moment. There's some big names who could lose there seat.

Dominic Raab, Iain Duncan Smith, Johnson and Jo Swinson are all touch and go.

Labours big hitters all look safe.

 

Imagine a Tory majority but Johnson loses his seat and doesn’t get to “get Brexit done” in the end.

 

And then everyone moans about having an ‘unelected PM’ as if such a thing exists.

 

It would be hilariously.

But a Tory in a safe seat would just give up there seat call a by election or he'd go in the House of Lords.

There's not a chance Johnson's ego would let him just slope off and seen as massive failure.

 

Good news for the gin-sodden

Suppose you've been drinking - can you still vote?
Yes. Polling station staff cannot refuse a voter simply because they are drunk or under the influence of drugs, unless they are disruptive.

 

I think their argument centres on the fact that it was only "announced" - the women affected were not individually written to and given NI statements of contribution and had the impact explained in plain language. So the message simply didn't get through.

They are of a generation where only 5% of them will have gone to university, most leaving school at 16. This is also the tail end of the generation that was expected by society to give up work when they had kids and to look after them then their elderly parents. So only a small percentage of them will still be in professional, office based roles where they can manage another 7 years of 9-5 until they get their pension. Its seven extra years at the arse end of their working life, not the start, when age and health start impacting your abilities. Compared to this generation where 50% are expected to be in education until they are 21, they argue that they have already made 5 years of NI contributions - at the start of their working life, not the end.

I agree that 23 years notice should be plenty to plan for a pension age change - mine changed from 65 - 67 too. But I've been working for good employers with private pension schemes and personal circumstances meant I can plan and save. Not everyone is so fortunate. I think this has been handled badly over the entire 23 years, and the attempt to keep brushing them under the carpet hasn't worked.

For what it's worth, I think giving them pensions early will just cause resentment elsewhere, but there should be some kind of means tested assistance for that tranch of affected women, that means they get a minimum income of what their pension would be had they paid their full stamps.

 

On Johnson… someone told me he's eyeing up a safe Tory seat.....ie Bridlington,as the MP is about to retire. Not sure how true it is...Probably not.

 

I have read the manifesto of both the main parties and they both are offering some attractive things that could entice a vote...

However, this is essentially a 2nd referendum to me, Cons get in and they will try deliver some sort of brexit (who knows what that will be), any of the others and we are on route to remain (via a whole host routes).

If this was a "normal" GE, I would maybe look at this differently and vote differently, but it's not. I expect more deadlock ahead.

I am David Davis' area, he is pretty much nailed on to hold that.

P.S......they are all ****s!

 

Someone in a safe seat would stand down for a by election that Johnson would stand in.

Mind, it would get spicy if he lost that one as well!

 

There will be a plan somewhere at Tory HQ with a list of safe Tory seats where the incumbent would be prepared to resign for the right inducements to trigger a by-election. It's happened before - Asquith is the most famous, but my memory isn't good enough to recall if any cabinet members have done it more recently.

 

I truly worry for the future of the NHS under the tories, literally every body linked to the NHS, royal colleges of GPs, Midwifery, Nurses etc are all coming out against the tories, it's not project fear, its project reality. And for those suggesting they'd never sell it off, well, its happened before with BT and British Rail. It's a long game, slow decreases in funding, the gradual impacts of mismanagement to the point where it is just not working, then the big save comes along, a hospital here a hospital there is privatised to 'put it in the hands of the experts' and before you know it bang. It's gone. And the people who will profit immensely out of it are the same rich as **** ****houses who back and fund the tory party and brexit. Also see the sell off of the final Royal Mail stake, shares sold for 330p jumped to 445 almost overnight, and once again the already rich hedge fund tory backers made the killing.