Off Topic The QPR Not 606 Rolling Election Poll

I actually like Cameron. He & many Conservatives (the majority possibly?) seem quite reasonable and fair. Its the right wing of the party I wouldn't have time for.

To be fair to the Conservative Party, they're nothing compared to the likes of the DUP in Northern Ireland or the GOP in the USA.

 

I think I'd be happy to have a pint with Cameron, unlike any of the other party leaders, as long as we didn't talk politics.

Had a bit of perspective put on things yesterday evening, out for dinner with colleagues including a French lady (even older than me) who I've worked with for years. She mentioned that she had been to the Bergen-Belsen anniversary thing last week.......with her mother, who, with the rest of her family, had been taken there from France, via Buchenwald, in1944. Amazingly only her grandfather died (a week after the camp was liberated). We usually have a bit of typical (good natured ) British vs French banter, but she was saying that the behaviour and consideration of the British soldiers who liberated Belsen was stunning and her family at least was always profoundly grateful for the dignity and respect which they were given.

That's where "I'm 100% right, you're 100% wrong" politics gets you.

 

Leaders Question Time. Missed Cameron, Miliband did ok apart from his cringeworthy insistence on addressing every questioner by their first name, Clegg having a mare but did use the arresting phrase "the swivel-eyed brigade on the right wing of the Conservative Party".

 

The audience don't seem to trust Ed Balls

 

It's an unsatisfactory format,though. It would have been much better to have the regular QT format and let them counter each other.

 

Right-wing bias.

 

On that topic alone, the whole audience seemed to move to the right. Balls may be more of a hindrance than a help to Miliband's hopes to be PM. Or may be it was just a Leeds thing.

 

What was that about> Must have missed that bit.

 

A businesswoman said that since Balls had got things so wrong in the previous govt, why would the electorate trust him now. In a corporate world, he would have been sacked for negligence. This got huge audience approval.

 

It wasn't the whole audience Goldie, it was just the right-wing plants.

****ing BBC!

 

It's about time they redressed the balance! I suspect the BBC got it right on this one. Seemed proportionate to me

(Sorry, that was replying to Strolls)

 

Labour's profligate spending is haunting them, you just can't believe their sums add up and without the SNP they won't be able to govern. I still believe there will be a deal done if it gets him in and we will all pay a big price, if Len McCluskey likes the SNP budget it will come to pass...

 

How did Cameron do?

I can't stand Balls. Or Ummunanana. I think Miliband has got stronger throughout this campaign, without actually saying anything. There's no way I could watch the Brand interview, but given the Twitter and YouTube following he's got it was quite a clever move, for the yoof like innit.

The whole thing is ****ing dire though.

 

Agree, I think Miliband has had a good campaign personally. It's the scenario set out by Sooper above that frightens me. It looks like Labour are banking on the SNP backing them without any express deals in place. Which may start off OK, but when Ed is desperate to get some unpopular legislation through in England and Sturgeon says, only if you give us our pound of flesh...It could lead to a lot of resentment outside Scotland.

 

Spending our money on the NHS and Education - the bastards.

Miliband's strident rejection of any 'arrangement' with the SNP was interesting. There could be a situation on May 8th whereby the Tories have the most seats, but can't form a coalition government. Knowing that a Tory minority government couldn't survive, they would have to let Miliband form a minority government. He could do so knowing that he had tacit SNP support, but without any concessions. What would the SNP vote down?

 

I tried to make this point earlier on in the thread. The SNP have boxed themselves into a corner by going on about supporting a Labour government (whilst busily destroying Labour in Scotland). They would vote against Trident, but the Tories would have to vote for that. If they voted down the budget (on grounds of austerity) that would force a vote of confidence, where they would have to support Labour, unless they want to be seen as bringing down a minority Labour government which would open the door for a majority Conservative one. They are not as clever as they think, unless they are allowed another referendum because everyone gets so pissed off with them.

 

Watching Farage now. Did he really just reference an 'Anglo-Saxon free market system'?

 

In Aylesbury today he said ‘We are the modern version of John Hampden’. (John Hampden was arrested with others by Charles 1st and that sparked the civil war.)

Sorry but I cannot take the guy seriously.

 

No need to apologise Worms, sadly some do take him seriously.

 

I think the SNP would vote down the Labour budget, simply to show they are playing hardball to get what they want. Their ultimate goal is independence and what better way to force it? Miliband would then have the perfect excuse to overspend. Don't believe that crap last night that he wouldn't do a deal, if it's the only way his union paymasters will twist his nuts till he agrees, they won't allow him to walk away from the sort of budget they are dreaming of and which, deep down, Miliband would like himself but wouldn't dare say so...