General Election 2017 | Cabinet reshuffle: Hunt re-appointed Health Secretary for record third time

How do you intend to vote in the 2017 General Election if eligible?

  • Conservatives

    Votes: 80 14.5%

  • Labour

    Votes: 322 58.4%

  • Lib Dems

    Votes: 57 10.3%

  • Green

    Votes: 20 3.6%

  • SNP

    Votes: 13 2.4%

  • UKIP

    Votes: 29 5.3%

  • Independent

    Votes: 3 0.5%

  • Plaid Cymru

    Votes: 2 0.4%

  • Sinn Fein

    Votes: 11 2.0%

  • Other (UUP, DUP, BNP, and anyone else I have forgotten)

    Votes: 14 2.5%
  • Total voters
    551
  • Poll closed .
Are there reason why we shouldn't means-test with other benefits in the future? Or at least be more reflective of circumstances?

During lunch we were discussing the means-testing of DLA, and whether its implementation is too simplistic at present. For example, my status a a London resident gives me vastly more means to travel (for free) than those in other parts of the country; should my mobility component be adjusted accordingly?
 
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One good thing about it is it's pissed off Guido

 
Nick 0208 Ldn said:
Are there a reason why we shouldn't means-test with other benefits in the future? Or at least be more reflective of circumstances?

During lunch we were discussing the means-testing of DLA, and whether its implementation is too simplistic at present. For example, my status a a London resident gives me vastly more means to travel (for free) than those in other parts of the country; should my mobility component be adjusted accordingly?
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Wasn't the cost of means-testing some things seen as prohibitive, as it erodes all of the potential savings?
 
Untied said:
It's here.

This is all they have to say about climate change. Disgusting.

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So i am a working class parent, working full time and i can tell you the only way i can describe thst Tory manifesto is deeply fecking terrifying.
 
Smores said:
Yeah that does seem to be a case of being seen to do something.

I'm perplexed by their approach on students, i was one of 2 english students doing my masters the rest were all high paying international students. Universities need that income and industries need that talent pool.
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I'd almost say it's their worst policy, pushing away international students. It makes zero sense, and the immigrant hating public doesn't even want it.
 
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Nogbadthebad said:
Nope still wrong.

We pay £4.3 Billion a year in subsidies to the rail franchises directly from the government, or in real terms, three times what British Rail received.

The extortionate fares are on top of that.

So your premise that state rail is more expensive, is nonsense, provably so.
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The franchise payments are more than the subsidies given out. £3b versus £2.4b last year. The government actually made a profit on it.

What costs the money is Network Rail running the infrastructure. Still, the £3.8b that costs is a far cry from the £17b in subsidies Germany gives out each year.

In fact, UK railways now cover 99% of their own costs before subsidies. It was in the 70% range in the last BR days.
 
rcoobc said:
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Posted about this yesterday - basically guarantees the Tories' win, and explains why the Lib Dem recovery looks impossible now. Really good article.

Mozza said:
feck the students, this will keep kids from their mothers, it's heartless and cruel
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Definitely agree. The horror is that that policy will actually poll well in some places... :(
 
What's the logic of Corbyn not going on the tv debate tonight... a chance to talk directly to the voters and explain his policies?

I can see mays logic (risk vs reward) but I honestly can't figure out why Corbyn wouldn't go on?
 
Jippy said:
Wasn't the cost of means-testing some things seen as prohibitive, as it erodes all of the potential savings?
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How much does it really cost for the HMRC and the DWP to talk to each other? And it'd probably be computers doing the communicating at that. Then again...we don't have a good record with government computer related systems in this country.


Acole9 said:
That speech from Theresa May was utter cringe.
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It reminded me somewhat of a school assembly. And instead of the guest speaker being a welcome delay before this term's algebra test, you're actually wondering if the maths would be more interesting.
 
sun_tzu said:
What's the logic of Corbyn not going on the tv debate tonight... a chance to talk directly to the voters and explain his policies?

I can see mays logic (risk vs reward) but I honestly can't figure out why Corbyn wouldn't go on?
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Probably that the others would have more to gain by ganging up on him without May there to share the burden. Does kind of null his "why won't you debate me" questions though.
 
Inadvertently played a blinder. Let what is being christened the 'Dementia Tax' be the main talking point. Already seen this week that Labour gaffes are headline news and Tory ones don't even make the bulletins.
 
sun_tzu said:
What's the logic of Corbyn not going on the tv debate tonight... a chance to talk directly to the voters and explain his policies?

I can see mays logic (risk vs reward) but I honestly can't figure out why Corbyn wouldn't go on?
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Unless the broadcaster is willing to empty chair May and they can all spend the evening Tory bashing, it would just be counter-productive for him.

As a Green Party member, I think it would've benefited us a lot, giving Lucas a platform. Though, probably in doing so, put further risk to Lab/Tory marginals, should people unaware of the realities of first past the post vote Green in such places.
 
In Stoke, May marches on with familiar neuron-crushing dullness
Marina Hyde - Guardian


https://www.theguardian.com/politic...iar-neuron-crushing-dullness?CMP=share_btn_tw

Each day the prime minister is rendered to a sealed regional facility, where she tortures a captive audience with looped repetitions of the phrase “strong and stable”. After a sustained period of it, people are unsure whether to applaud or confess to a Pakistani embassy bombing they had nothing to with just to make it stop.
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Just watching the debate, this must be the worst group of politicians we've ever had.
 
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