Red-Robbo Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Polls conducted by Tory donor and FBI drug money laundering suspect Lord Ashcroft suggest a Labour majority. I think much depends on whether the SNP take lots of Labour seats in Scotland. The suggestion after the referendum was they might, however all this Scotland the brave stuff might well die down by May. Today's Ernst & Young forecast that real wages - people's purchasing power - will continue to fall until 2017 sums up the Tories' problem. We've had 6 years of this now, with middle-income earners being the most affected. The prospect of three more years of having to shop in Aldi isn't going to appeal much to an electorate who can remember how much better off they were in the near past. Also, as Mark Reckless said, where's the delivery on key pledges? The deficit is up, immigration is up too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 What a choice for us voters eh? Labour with the economy frightens the shit out of me. It would be like giving my 9 year old my credit card and the password to my Amazon account. I have never voted Tory in my life but, even that is more appealing than having Labour let loose with the money again and believe me that hurts saying that. I hope it's Tory with one other, be that Liberals/Greens or UKIP. Please, anyone but Labour. Just interested to know what Labour policies caused the economic crash ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screech Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Just interested to know what Labour policies caused the economic crash ? Where have I mentioned this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Just interested to know what Labour policies caused the economic crash ? A widely held view is the fire started in the US of A and the flames were fanned in the UK, dear old Uncle Vince could see what was happening, but Blair was planning to take over the world and Gordon was planning his coronation as the leader of New Labour and the tories realised that the people who caused the crash were going to become even richer out of the ashes of the fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Where have I mentioned this? This...........'than having Labour let loose with the money again' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 This...........'than having Labour let loose with the money again' I suspect he meant this, an admission in anybody's language wouldn't you say?. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/liam-byrnes-infamous-no-money-1990195 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 I suspect he meant this, an admission in anybody's language wouldn't you say?. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/liam-byrnes-infamous-no-money-1990195 Yes, we're all aware of that note, tongue in cheek I'm sure, however I'm not quite sure which Labour policies actually caused the financial black hole, and I don't mean the 'light touch' regulation of the City which would have been even lighter under the Tories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Yes, we're all aware of that note, tongue in cheek I'm sure, however I'm not quite sure which Labour policies actually caused the financial black hole, and I don't mean the 'light touch' regulation of the City which would have been even lighter under the Tories. Tongue in cheek and true. in 2012 "Tony Blair has admitted his government was partly responsible for Britain's economic strife. Labour failed to grasp the threat posed by a deeply integrated global economy, the party's former leader said". WTF does he know of course he is an evil war mongering lying piece of shit, so he can't really be believed can he?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshy Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Polls conducted by Tory donor and FBI drug money laundering suspect Lord Ashcroft suggest a Labour majority. I think much depends on whether the SNP take lots of Labour seats in Scotland. The suggestion after the referendum was they might, however all this Scotland the brave stuff might well die down by May. Today's Ernst & Young forecast that real wages - people's purchasing power - will continue to fall until 2017 sums up the Tories' problem. We've had 6 years of this now, with middle-income earners being the most affected. The prospect of three more years of having to shop in Aldi isn't going to appeal much to an electorate who can remember how much better off they were in the near past. Also, as Mark Reckless said, where's the delivery on key pledges? The deficit is up, immigration is up too. Pretty much obvious to anyone that if you have a virtually limitless supply of a commodity, in this case labour, with a labour market open to the whole of Europe and beyond, then the price of that commodity will fall. This is happening across the whole of the economy, workers in MacDonalds, agriculture, plumbers, electricians, builders (plenty of middle-income earners there) etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid in the Riot Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Despite disagreeing with some of their fundamental policies (like being anti-nuclear) I quite like the idea of the Greens having a say in a coalition. Then again Lib Dems were unable to deliver much alongside the Tories. The voting system is disgraceful and needs to be proportional. Is it only the Greens and Lib Dems in favour of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Pretty much obvious to anyone that if you have a virtually limitless supply of a commodity, in this case labour, with a labour market open to the whole of Europe and beyond, then the price of that commodity will fall. This is happening across the whole of the economy, workers in MacDonalds, agriculture, plumbers, electricians, builders (plenty of middle-income earners there) etc.Isn't the minimum wage set to rise, regardless of which party wins in May? I appreciate that this scenario affects contractors as self employed individuals (and by cause and effect, the market) will charge for work as they see fit, but I'm not sure how it would depress the wages of workers in MacDonald's (who've always paid shit if repressed memories from my youth are accurate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calculus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Despite disagreeing with some of their fundamental policies (like being anti-nuclear) I quite like the idea of the Greens having a say in a coalition. Then again Lib Dems were unable to deliver much alongside the Tories. The voting system is disgraceful and needs to be proportional. Is it only the Greens and Lib Dems in favour of this?It's also opposed by the electorate, which rejected AV in the referendum by 2 to 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 It's also opposed by the electorate, which rejected AV in the referendum by 2 to 1. AV isn't proportional representation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calculus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 AV isn't proportional representation True enough, but it's a lot closer than what we have now. Emphatically rejected and the end of the PR debate for a long time. Will be interesting to see what comes out of the upcoming constitutional changes. May be replacing the Lords with a 100 strong UK Senate might see PR introduced somewhere, but no chance in the Commons, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid in the Riot Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I think it's a shame that many people have spent a lifetime of votes in some cases voting to keep a party they don't like out of power as opposed to being able to vote for the one they actually want to vote for. Seems bizarre to me. I would even take the hit of retarded parties like UKIP getting a bigger say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 True enough, but it's a lot closer than what we have now. Emphatically rejected and the end of the PR debate for a long time. Will be interesting to see what comes out of the upcoming constitutional changes. May be replacing the Lords with a 100 strong UK Senate might see PR introduced somewhere, but no chance in the Commons, IMO. I suspect it depends on when the next coalition government occurs and whom it consists of. If the Lib Dems are involved I think they may revise the idea of a referendum on PR, but this time on their terms rather than The Tories. But yeah, I think PR is very much on a back-burner for the foreseeable future. The more I look at our current electoral system, the more ridiculous it seems and it needs to change IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I think it's a shame that many people have spent a lifetime of votes in some cases voting to keep a party they don't like out of power as opposed to being able to vote for the one they actually want to vote for. Seems bizarre to me. I would even take the hit of retarded parties like UKIP getting a bigger say. Exactly this. I don't particularly want to see a party like UKIP with any more influence, but many do and the current system denies the basic democratic right of every persons vote counting. If I'm a Tory in Barnsley or a Labour voter in Uxbridge, I might as well not vote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calculus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I suspect it depends on when the next coalition government occurs and whom it consists of. If the Lib Dems are involved I think they may revise the idea of a referendum on PR, but this time on their terms rather than The Tories. But yeah, I think PR is very much on a back-burner for the foreseeable future. The more I look at our current electoral system, the more ridiculous it seems and it needs to change IMO The Lib Dems might well want that but neither the Conservatives or Labour party will go for it. Not that I believe the Lib Dems anymore about PR. If the were concerned about fairness they would have supported boundary changes and the reduction in the number of MPs. They didn't and in taking that position revealed themselves to be untrustworthy and self interested rather than seekers of fairness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 The Lib Dems might well want that but neither the Conservatives or Labour party will go for it. Not that I believe the Lib Dems anymore about PR. If the were concerned about fairness they would have supported boundary changes and the reduction in the number of MPs. They didn't and in taking that position revealed themselves to be untrustworthy and self interested rather than seekers of fairness. Wasn't that in relation to the Tories reneging on a manifesto promise though? The mere fact that parliament decides on boundary changes in the first place is terrible; it's led to the current Tory/Labour carve up and should be handled in its entirety by an independent body Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Pretty much obvious to anyone that if you have a virtually limitless supply of a commodity, in this case labour, with a labour market open to the whole of Europe and beyond, then the price of that commodity will fall. This is happening across the whole of the economy, workers in MacDonalds, agriculture, plumbers, electricians, builders (plenty of middle-income earners there) etc. Immigration's effect on wage levels is only part of the story. The rising cost of bills, the "real" rate of inflation, particularly as experienced by those without much financial security, is another. We patently haven't all been "in this together", some people have been allowed to leech off the majority in the time-honoured Tory way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrs Court Red Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Who has? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calculus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Wasn't that in relation to the Tories reneging on a manifesto promise though? The mere fact that parliament decides on boundary changes in the first place is terrible; it's led to the current Tory/Labour carve up and should be handled in its entirety by an independent body Not at all. The Lib Dems were annoyed at Cameron and his outright opposition to AV. They wanted him to keep quiet at worst and no campaigning actively against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Who has? Assuming this is directed at my last point, I'll attempt a partial answer as I haven't time for a full one: 1: The financial institutions - allowed to levy various charges and interests more than they did before. This has been their way of dealing with curbs to their casino capitalism and the various big fines for market rigging they've had imposed. Let the small customers pay, so they can keep their bonus culture going. 2: Those involved in the over-heated housing market, either through sale or rental. Britain built less houses than any large European country bar Switzerland and we don't have the rent controls the sensible economies like Germany and Sweden do. This particular "bubble" will end in tears. 3: The utility and transport operating companies. In fact, pretty much all denationalised firms, and add nightmare "public service providers" like Capita and Seco too. Opaque pricing structures, tacit market collusion, stifling of competition and PR spin have allowed these to make supra-profits and increase the real terms cost of the services and goods they supply far above and beyond the rising costs to themselves. 4: Tax evading major corporations and hyper-wealthy individuals. A report out a few months ago by KPMG showed that tax avoidance has risen steeply since Cameron and Osborne made a big thing about closing "unfair" loopholes. And KPMG should know, they help people avoid tax as a business! Of course this isn't just companies cashing in, but their major individual investors. Chaps who Cammy and Gideon would recognise as "one of us". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Not at all. The Lib Dems were annoyed at Cameron and his outright opposition to AV. They wanted him to keep quiet at worst and no campaigning actively against. No it wasn't. Cameron went back on the coalition agreement promise on Lords reform because of back-bench opposition in his own party. So Clegg withdrew support for electoral boundary reforms. Tit-for-tat, no doubt but they were by no means the only rats in the Westminster kitchen and their action was a reaction to the subterfuge of the Tories http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/aug/06/nick-clegg-blocks-boundary-changes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 A bit of light humour.. genius mashup from Cassetteboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 A bit of light humour.. genius mashup from Cassetteboy Excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 A bit of light humour.. genius mashup from Cassetteboy OMG, red robbo won't be happy with this sort of politics will he. "I'm sure they'll be able to illustrate it with an unflattering freeze frame VT of her eating a sandwich or something"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portland Bill Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 A bit of light humour.. genius mashup from Cassetteboy I've waited a long time for him to tell the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid in the Riot Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29438653 Found this story hilarious. Farage yet again trying to "stick it to the establishment" and "career politicians" and then I see Mr Arron Banks is now on board! I don't want to get OTIB into trouble but let's just say Mr Banks is hardly whiter than white and his reputation locally is dire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I've waited a long time for him to tell the truth. I thought since the invention of Blairs spin doctor led New Liebore lying was a pre requisite, Tony '45 minutes from disaster' Blair and Gordon 'she's a bigot' Brown were world class at it. The only politician who has told the truth in past week is Gorgeous George Galloway and I feel dirty actually even saying that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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