General Election 2010 Thread

[orc]

Can someone please explain something to me please - apologies if I sound thick.

Its my understanding that Scotland, Wales and N Ireland want and/or have their own goverments, so if that's the case then why are they getting involved in English politics ?

Re: Immigration its my understanding and belief that this small country of ours is full up and therefore we need to either stop all immigration or select just the people who will contribute to our society, other countries do it, so why shouldn't we ?

Re: Benefits its my belief that we should call a halt to paying benefits willy nilly, child benefit should be for 2 only and after that then 'if you can't feed them don't breed them'. Enough is enough people are fed up to the eye teeth of their taxes going to people whose sole intention is to breed a family the size of a football team, sit on their arses and let the rest of us pay for them, so its about time we made them 'earn' their money and start cleaning the streets, parks etc.

Just a couple of points for starters.

Thanks Sapphire and no need to apologise at all.

The General election is to elect a government for the whole of the UK, covering Scotland, Wales, England and N Ireland.

The election is about UK politics, not English politics and that is why we are getting involved in English politics, as you say.

However, this election is not to elect a government for England only and this election is not solely about English politics. This election covers all UK legislative and government issues. Thats why Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish get a vote in this election.

There are devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which govern certain issues relating to those countries.

I will answer for Scotland as I previously lived there. They have a Scottish Government in the Scottish Parliament. They do not have powers over taxation, defence or immigration,etc. They don't decide their budget but can set spending priorities within those budgets. They have a say on education, NHS priorities transport, agriculture, fisheries, etc and the work of local councils. Although I understand that there is currently a growing consensus on possibly introducing border controls with England reflecting increasing fears over rising immigration from the English.

Please remember that the Scots, Welsh and N Irish pay Income Tax, VAT, road tax etc, etc which goes to the UK government.

If there is a vote at some time within Scotland on Independence and the vote is in favour of independence, then Scots would not have a vote in the UK election. They would also seek to ensure that all taxation from the North Sea oil fields went to the Scottish Government, as they would fall within Scottish territorial seas.

I hope that answers things for just now on the voting and clarifies the Scottish government persective. If not, ask.

I did make a suggestion earlier that it would be possible for England to have their own assembly- possibly on a regional basis- but no one picked up on that. That would undertake similar functions to a devolved parliament and might reduce the number of local authorities.


BTW Sapphire

How many families are the size of a football team in the UK at present? (only kidding- I get your point)

The average family size has markedly decreased since the War 2.



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All that said, i have not yet decided who I will be voting for,, except for I definiteley know I will not, and never ever would, vote BNP. There is a difference between wanting to look after your own citizens first, (which i firmly beleive in) and being racist or Fascist (which I am most certainly not)

And lastly, I believe that whilst everyone should be able to exercise their democratic right of whether or not to vote, I also, personally agree with what Sapph said right at the beginning, if you don't vote then you won't really have much grounds to argue.

And lastly, (and this is my very personal thing as a woman), every woman in this country should remember that women fought and struggled and died so that women could vote, and for that very reason, I will be voting on May 6th.

Good points.

Men had to fight and gave their lives for the vote as well. Everyone should vote- women and men.

[Smasher]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

As for Clegg, people are believing him for some reason that I cannot fathom.

Its not that difficult to fathom. Maybe people are not necissarily believeing in him, perhaps just looking at his party as just the only credible way to get rid of Gordon Brown and avoid having to suffer another Tory government.

As far as I can see, this election, like most others, will just replace one bunch of crooks with another. There was a debate on the BBC website a few months ago, loads of posts from life long Labour voters turning to vote Tory just to get rid if them! Maybe that group might be swung towards Lib Dems by now.

[Amy]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Its not that difficult to fathom. Maybe people are not necissarily believeing in him, perhaps just looking at his party as just the only credible way to get rid of Gordon Brown and avoid having to suffer another Tory government.

Except it's not a credible way to get rid of Gordon Brown.

As far as I can see, this election, like most others, will just replace one bunch of crooks with another.

Yes, I would agree with you.

[Smasher]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Except it's not a credible way to get rid of Gordon Brown

Well, when I say the only credible way, I mean the only alternative party with a realistic chance of taking office..

[scoobydoo]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

On what GB said in the debate - that Labour have to keep front line services - health police etc - if the same principle applied to a lot of families now it would be all right for them to keep borrowing on credit cards to pay rent and food etc - so why are we expected to keep our finances in order when the government should not?

I know that is simplifying the argument but it is not exactly a good example is it.

Also I think david Cameron was right in that he thought the debates were going to be too sterile.There was not really a chance to get down to nitty gritty policies - especaily when figures given were inaccurate anyway.

The public dont want wishy washy promises they dont even want promises that can not be kept - they want to know the truth and what can be done about it.

We do not want to be patronised - if we need to make hard decisions that will work then so be it .

I read an article by I think it was Frank Field? Who has offered to change parties if necessary who suggested for example a choice on Child benefit where you could have it paid over say the first 5 years instead of 18 so that a mother could have the CHOICE of giving up work to spend the first years with the young children - radical but maybe a good idea?

A question - do you get child benefit irrelevant of how many children you have?

if so why?

Would it be that bad to have a cut off point in the future of 3 children? Then if people want and can afford more children they can have big families if they want?
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By the way Wendy B - good post - I agree with a lot you say - my dad tried very hard to keep his political views to himself - so we could make up our own minds - but the parties were much more defined in those days.

[natweststaffmember]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

I think whichever party we are going to vote on will cut jobs, of that there is no doubt. We are going to vote on who we want to make the decisions to cut jobs in the public sector.

Do you want the sack from Gordon Brown/David Cameron or Nick Clegg?

I was brought up in the Thatcher years and so built up a strong Labour leaning which I still have today. However, Conservatives had 18 years of government and Labour have had 13 years, so the time is right for change.
The issue really is whether we go back to the Conservatives or whether we do make history and vote for the Liberal Democrats. At the moment, I won't vote Conservative and the TV debate did show a certain amount of weakness on his part when I expected more from him. Do I go with the tried and tested Gordon Brown or the Nick Clegg? I guess the next few leadership debates might decide who I will vote for(perhaps Cameron may swing it back in his favour for me but we will see).

[Amy]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Do I go with the tried and tested Gordon Brown or the Nick Clegg?

Tried and tested? Did he pass any tests?

[EXC]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

When has Gordon lied- please back this statement up with factual evidence regarding what he allegedly lied about and when.

The Chilcot enquiry http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/...r-20100317.pdf

The man is as dishonest as a day is long.

[natweststaffmember]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Tried and tested? Did he pass any tests?

Gordon Brown has been PM since 2007.....has David Cameron been PM? or Nick Clegg for that matter?

I thought "Tried and tested" was a common phrase or does my tone protest too much?

[orc]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

The Chilcot enquiry http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/...r-20100317.pdf

The man is as dishonest as a day is long.

Did he actually lie, was he poorly briefed or was he being economical with the truth, which all politicians are guilty of?

[Sapphire]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Well I'm not going to vote for the person in charge, I'm going to vote for the policies I feel happiest with.
I just think that if at anytime a leader can change as proven with Blair/Brown its best not to think of them in charge.

Not sure if I'm right or wrong but its something I'm taking into consideration.

[Amy]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Gordon Brown has been PM since 2007.....has David Cameron been PM? or Nick Clegg for that matter?

I thought "Tried and tested" was a common phrase or does my tone protest too much?

PM since 2007 and achieved what?

[Sapphire]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

PM since 2007 and achieved what?

God almighty has it really been that long ?

[Smasher]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

I was brought up in the Thatcher years and so built up a strong Labour leaning which I still have today.

Must be for very different reasons then, this Labour party are just Tories with red roses.
They're even further to the right than Ted Heath's Tories in the 60s. Britain still had British Rail & Post Office telephones in those days!

I too grew up in the Thatcher years. We never had a pot to pee in, but I played conkers at school, built a home made go-kart with my mates and rode it in the streets. These days a grown up gets nicked for trespass for helping a kid stuck in a tree because teachers couldn't go near him because health & safety forbid it.

[WendyB]

Re: General Election 2010 Thread

Well I'm not going to vote for the person in charge, I'm going to vote for the policies I feel happiest with.
I just think that if at anytime a leader can change as proven with Blair/Brown its best not to think of them in charge.

Not sure if I'm right or wrong but its something I'm taking into consideration.

Good point Sapph. Cos let's face it, no-one actually voted for Gordon did they? People voted for the Labour Party, or probably more specifically, at the time, for Tony Blair. Then, 10 years later, our Tone hands over the Leadership to Gordon. No leadership election, no consultation, just a few dodgy deals and a handshake in a curry house somewhere (do forgive me if I've got the place wrong....so many dodgy deals in so many different places). Sort of goes against all my ideas of democracy......So not much point in voting for a person, is there, as you may not end up with that person after all.