General Election 2015

[eFestivals]

The SNP are & remain opposed to nukes. Realpolitik means you don't always get everything you want.

I've been telling you that for months, and you've been telling me I'm wrong.

[eFestivals]

Vote SNP, get marginalised.

Even Nicola is now saying that's true.

[zahidf]

The SNP are & remain opposed to nukes. Realpolitik means you don't always get everything you want.

Looks at pages of whingeing when Lib Dems/Labour had to compromise.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[Comfy Bean]

Green party conference in liverpool calling for a " progressive alliance " with the SNP.

They're saying labour have abandoned their supporters. Common theme this.

[eFestivals]

Green party conference in liverpool calling for a " progressive alliance " with the SNP.

They're saying labour have abandoned their supporters. Common theme this.

Political party adopts convenient lie with aim of gaining support.

No other party has ever done that, of course.

Can you tell me how Scotland will balance its budget within the SNP's "full fiscal autonomy" without having to make massive spending cuts?

[LJS]

Political party adopts convenient lie with aim of gaining support.

No other party has ever done that, of course.

Can you tell me how Scotland will balance its budget within the SNP's "full fiscal autonomy" without having to make massive spending cuts?

Why would we need to balance our budget? The UK doesn't.

[eFestivals]

Why would we need to balance our budget? The UK doesn't.

yeah it does.

Every penny that it spends that doesn't come in via taxes has to be acquired via other means.

[eFestivals]

Excellent .... the broadcasters have said they'll all empty-chair Cameron is her doesn't turn up to the three debates as they'd originally planned to do them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31771198

[russycarps]

Excellent .... the broadcasters have said they'll all empty-chair Cameron is her doesn't turn up to the three debates as they'd originally planned to do them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31771198

Yep, he'll look weak either way now. Excellent indeed!

[eFestivals]

and a bit of reading for the spiteful anti-Labour peeps, who make it up instead of read policies (both for what they support or hate), if they can actually deal with some facts instead of still fighting a dead enemy....

Facts, not fantasies....

Ed Miliband: don't mistake my decency for weakness

Miliband also accused his New Labour predecessors of failing to tackle inequality, suggesting that as Peter Mandelson was declaring the party “intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich” they were failing to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

Asked for a defining policy, he said: “On inequality I’ve moved Labour on from where New Labour would have been. I care about the gap between the rich and the poor.”

When asked if that meant New Labour didn’t care, he replied: “Well it was more with New Labour that as long as the people at the bottom are doing OK, does the gap matter? But the gap absolutely matters to me. New Labour were too sanguine about it. The Conservatives don’t care about it.”

Miliband also defends his leadership saying he has moved the party on from the New Labour era in other aspects as well. “On Murdoch, I’ve moved Labour on. On Syria. On inequality. On the responsibilities of the rich and powerful, and the accountability of companies and corporations. On what I call responsible capitalism, I’ve moved Labour on.”

[eFestivals]

and Dave, the man with his finger forever on the pulse of the country's needs, has unveiled his big vote-winner for the election.....

David Cameron backs repeal of ban on hunting with dogs

[TheGayTent]

and Dave, the man with his finger forever on the pulse of the country's needs, has unveiled his big vote-winner for the election.....

David Cameron backs repeal of ban on hunting with dogs

About time

[russycarps]

About time

Uncle Tom

[TheGayTent]

Uncle Tom

Bring your apple with you today Russy?

[pink_triangle]

The way our PM the posh schoolboy bully has dodged these debates, reinforces my view that he is a poor imitation of Blair. While not a fan of Tony, if put in this situation (and I think he did dodge debates as well) he would have handled the situation far better. Cameron has tried to be clever and fooled nobody. Im wondering if Lynton Crosby is the genius that conservatives make out.

[LJS]

Looks at pages of whingeing when Lib Dems/Labour had to compromise.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

You thought this through at all? There is a crucial difference you have missed.

[LJS]

and a bit of reading for the spiteful anti-Labour peeps, who make it up instead of read policies (both for what they support or hate), if they can actually deal with some facts instead of still fighting a dead enemy....

Facts, not fantasies....

Ed Miliband: don't mistake my decency for weakness

I assume the "spiteful anti Labour peeps" is me. Although I would dispute every word in that description except "the"

Here's my take on it. I have voted in 8 General elections. I can't recall how I voted every time but I would imagine I have voted Labour at least 6 or 7 times. The little corner of the UK which I & most of my fellow citizens choose to define as the nation of Scotland has voted Labour every time.

We have got a Labour government in 3 out of these 8 elections. On the face of it that doesn't sound too bad ...nearly half the time we get the government we vote for. .. or do we?

Do we fuck! I didn't vote for a Labour party that would lie to try & persuade us an illegal war was justified. I didn't vote for a Labour party that would gladly preside over a massive increase in inequality. I didn't vote for a Labour party that would let bankers lead us to the brink of ruin , then reward them for their efforts.

The Labour party has abandoned pretty much everything it stood for in the naked pursuit of power.

I don't doubt that ed Miliband is a more honourable man than Blair. I don't doubt that there are some good intentions in there. But the Labour party has lost my trust & I genuinely believe that as long as it is working within the confines of the British State with all its vested interests, it has no realistic chance of effecting real, meaningful change in our society.

So, I am sad, I am disillusioned...but I am not spiteful.

I am desperate for a party that puts principal above the pursuit of power. The Labour party is not that party. Neither, as things stand is the SNP.

I am hopeful that the early indications that Sturgeon is trying to move the SNP to the left will continues. If they don't it'll be a green vote for me.

Edited March 6, 2015 by LJS

[LJS]

yeah it does.

Every penny that it spends that doesn't come in via taxes has to be acquired via other means.

As it would in Scotland. Which years are you cherry-picking for your argument this time?

[LJS]

Is that an admission that the SNP are to the right of Labour, then?

It's true for all of the while they can't say "tax the rich".

So go on .... you can say it ... can't you?

Or are you still going with the version you've invented that doesn't reference any facts...?

What like Labour , by your own argements taxing the rich to benefit the rich?

[eFestivals]

So, I am sad, I am disillusioned...but I am not spiteful.

Then read the feckin' policies and discover you're mugging yourself - and your kids.

I've just plowed thru endless "red tories" comments elsewhere, where endless Scots say that there's no difference between Labour and the tories because they both intend to continue austerity.

And yet all austerity is not the same, unless a 5% cut equals a 10% cut. And all austerity is not the same, when some reduce the impact on the poor by making the rich pay more.

And "spend more" sounds great, but someone always has to pay in the end ... and with the SNP's version it's still the poor that pay, with today's adults making their kids pay. They won't tax the rich. In fact, all they'll do is spend, and let the rich keep on running away with the money including that extra spend.

And because the SNP won't tax the rich, it turns out that their "spend more" is much the same as Labour's austerity.

And so by supporting the SNP you're choosing to indebt your kids so that the rich can keep on running away with the money.

You do know that around 8% of govt revenues are now given away to the bankers as a freebie, don#t ypou? And yo9u think giving them a bigger freebie is a good idea? To increase the "bankers tax" YOU pay from 8% to 10%. Smart move - NOT!!!

We only get to stop the bankers running away with the money by stopping giving them free cash. So we tax the rich to pay the rich off, and then stop playing the game where only they win.

Or vote SNP instead, and keep on giving those bankers free money, and more money.

Vote SNP, vote poorer.

[eFestivals]

As it would in Scotland. Which years are you cherry-picking for your argument this time?

Money we don't have that we spend has to be borrowed (or the currency diluted, making everyone equally poorer [which is still a win for the rich, in case that's passing you by]). Money that we borrow has to be paid back, with interest - or with free money for the bankers, to call it what it is. What can be afforded to be borrowed is dependent on what can be afforded to be paid back.

Given that Scotland has a bigger average deficit that whole-UK, Scotland can afford to borrow less, and so spend less.

If Scotland had full fiscal autonomy as you'll be voting in support of, it would, as a matter of economic necessity, have to make bigger cuts than the tories.

But that would have to have you accept the truth in the GERS numbers that Alex compiled - but you won't even believe the party you vote to support.

Edited March 7, 2015 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

What like Labour , by your own argements taxing the rich to benefit the rich?

How have I made that argument? PMSL.

Labour will be taxing the rich to pay for increased services (over what they'd otherwise be) for the poor.

But don't let the facts put you off from voting for a party who intend to let the rich run away with even more money than they're running away with at the moment, will you?

The SNP do not intend to tax the rich, and do not intend to change anything of what lets the rich run away with the money. They only intend to borrow more to spend more - where the rich run away with both what is spent AND get free-money for the borrowings.

Awkward things those facts tho. Best to ignore them.

[Comfy Bean]

Green party conference in liverpool calling for a " progressive alliance " with the SNP.

They're saying labour have abandoned their supporters. Common theme this.

Political party adopts convenient lie with aim of gaining support.

No other party has ever done that, of course.

You`ve lost me here mate. Caroline Lucas it was, the BBC showed her speech live. Not sure why it`s a convenient lie ? Do you mean the bit about Labour abandoning it`s supporters ? You realise that up my way we`ve had one of their number urging folks to vote Tory in a bid to keep the SNP out.

See she is also describing PMQT as a " chaotic farce ". Which I also agree with.

More worrying talk about this " grand alliance " possibility today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31776943

[LJS]

You`ve lost me here mate. Caroline Lucas it was, the BBC showed her speech live. Not sure why it`s a convenient lie ? Do you mean the bit about Labour abandoning it`s supporters ? You realise that up my way we`ve had one of their number urging folks to vote Tory in a bid to keep the SNP out.

See she is also describing PMQT as a " chaotic farce ". Which I also agree with.

More worrying talk about this " grand alliance " possibility today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31776943

ah the grand alliance!... Vote Labour get Tory

[Comfy Bean]

Just for fun since it`s the weekend

With it looking unlikely that one party will get over the line, what would be your preference between an SNP backed Labour Govt against a Tory / Labour arrangement ?

I would go with Labour backed by the SNP to keep the Tories out. I realise the dangers of this but in my view this would be less damaging ( for Labour ) than a deal with Dave. I know the potential of Salmond being deputy PM would push some on here over the edge ( especially with his new look ) but leaving that to one side, would be interested in anyones views.

http://news.sky.com/story/1440371/tory-labour-grand-coalition-to-keep-union