Off Topic General Election

I think once you take out the Welsh / Scottish part of Plaid and SNP which do not apply to the English of course they have some pretty fair social policies
 
EdHorn said:
I think once you take out the Welsh / Scottish part of Plaid and SNP which do not apply to the English of course they have some pretty fair social policies
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'll drink to that <cheers>. A glowing endorsement when compared to the absolute sh*** that's normally written about them by politicians, journalists and public alike...
 
To be fair - they are defined by their name and so people forget that they are actually a party with policies and have been running a government for years. They are closer to the left than the right - whereas a few years ago I think they were perhaps a bit further to the right when Labour were "real" in Scotland
 
EdHorn said:
To be fair - they are defined by their name and so people forget that they are actually a party with policies and have been running a government for years. They are closer to the left than the right - whereas a few years ago I think they were perhaps a bit further to the right when Labour were "real" in Scotland
Click to expand...

Historically, they have been very hard to pin down as one way or the other. Starting out life as Social Democrats, it was only during the Billy Wolfe years (1969-1979) that they effectively established themselves as a centre-left party of significant number. As with any party, there have been times of ideological tension, the last being between two internal factions - the Gradualists and the Fundamentalists. The former - which included Alex Salmond, who was actually expelled for his socialist views - wanted a shift left whereas the latter wanted to move away from any right v left argument in order to maintain focus on the goal of Independence. I don't believe that, at any point in their history, they ever leaned right of the middle though.
 
colognehornet said:
Everything is possible Yorkie. I think that whether we like it or not it will be a 'Brexit' election, and nobody has any idea (at this moment in time) what Labour would do with it if they were elected - over the next 6 weeks they have to get a clear policy of exactly what they would do if they took over the Brexit negotiating team - and then get this negotiating position over to the people. At the moment Ukip voters appear to be going back to the Tories, which is going to make things very difficult. Labour may also be losing some remainers to the Liberals, and the Greens - and some hard Brexiters in the other direction. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that one day Brexit will be behind us, and we can get back to real politics. The other good side to this is that it could be more than a lifeline for the Liberals - who will get a large payback through having been the only major party with a clear position on Brexit. The Greens will also do well - particularly with Caroline Lucas back at the helm - maybe even taking a couple more seats. Which constituency are you in Yorkie ?
Click to expand...
I am Leeds NW..mulholland is the linden incumbent.. And will likely get in again...not the greatest at Westminster but a good bulwark against the Tories
 
SNP 71%, Lib Dems 68%, Plaid Cymru and Labour 64% each. When I lived in the UK, I did vote Lib Dem on the (probably incorrect) assumption that it was a new party and were more likely to have policies aimed at my age group. If I move back, I'll try and make a more informed choice.
 
There have been some suggestions that this election could see the lowest turnout of voters on record. It seems that some are suffering from "voter fatigue". The result of the Unite trade union ballot might support this view, as the people who voted consisted of just 12% of the members.
 
oldfrenchhorn said:
There have been some suggestions that this election could see the lowest turnout of voters on record. It seems that some are suffering from "voter fatigue". The result of the Unite trade union ballot might support this view, as the people who voted consisted of just 12% of the members.
Click to expand...
As we have already seen Frenchie it is non voters who decide elections, and I agree that voter fatigue may now be an important factor. Opinion polling simply does not measure this and a low turnout often favours smaller parties - whose supporters are normally more motivated. So, I would say to all Tories, don't bother - just stay at home and put your feet up, there are better ways of spending the day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldfrenchhorn
colognehornet said:
As we have already seen Frenchie it is non voters who decide elections, and I agree that voter fatigue may now be an important factor. Opinion polling simply does not measure this and a low turnout often favours smaller parties - whose supporters are normally more motivated. So, I would say to all Tories, don't bother - just stay at home and put your feet up, there are better ways of spending the day.
Click to expand...

The extremely low turnout for the unite leadership election is more likely due to the excessive meddling in politics by McCluskey. They would prefer their leader to concentrate on union matters. There seems some dodgy goings on in suspending McCluskey's rival in a very close election.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andytoprankin
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back