It makes a mockery of the whole constituency link when it's basically a vehicle for parties to parachute in their most high profile names who were booted out previously.
General Election 2017 | Cabinet reshuffle: Hunt re-appointed Health Secretary for record third time
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It makes a mockery of the whole constituency link when it's basically a vehicle for parties to parachute in their most high profile names who were booted out previously.
It is a Tory safe seat. Labour have zero chance of getting in Tatton, it is one of the wealthiest areas in the UK.
Fair point.
It's pretty bad in Labour as well for this election albeit in a different way, due to the short notice of the election the safest seats that are up for reselection are getting divied up by the unions, Corbyn's lot and Watson. Andy Burnham was leaving Leigh with the understanding that a local councillor was a shoo-in replacement, but now there's a decent chance someone from Corbyn's office gets it.
Exactly, their argument against any other voting system is essentially moot. It really frustrates me that we are going to be stuck with FPTP for what might be my entire lifetime.
The local party still gets the final say I believe. Central office proposes three candidates and the local party chooses.
Same with Labour, the local party has to choose, but from among about a million candidates long listed by central office. Indeed, an interesting little piece of internal Labour politics is that in the 11 by-elections since Corbyn took over (including the aborted Gorton one) the Corbyn candidate has failed to be selected on every occasion, with a moderate candidate chosen instead.
Think it's the NEC choosing the candidate this time.
Yeah you're right actually, I'd kind of forgotten it given that only moderates seem to have been selected so far. Maybe they get to go first.
This is kind of amusing. A bit of voting analysis suggests the Lib Dems will actually have a net loss of seats.
https://www.theguardian.com/science...nt-count-on-remain-votes-the-data-looks-bleak
https://www.theguardian.com/science...nt-count-on-remain-votes-the-data-looks-bleak
Amusing..
Our bloody voting system.
Wouldn't be so bad if we had a PR House of Lords....
Losing a third of your seats despite adding to your overall vote share
Ah single member plurality voting, you are the worst.It would almost be worth it to see what the Lib Dems give up this time for another failed referendum on electoral reform.
What have they got left to give up to be fair? Im yet to hear any policy from them apart from a second referendum, they wouldn't go against fundamental policy and piss off their base that would be silly.....oh wait
Also i just checked their site to see any policy and for those moaning about him being asked about gay sex, well they've only got it on their own main page haven't they
Indeed... and such an easy tune to mix / drop with the
"I think it's time we discuss your philosophy of drug use as it relates to artistic endeavour" intro
Still can't shake the naked lunch / Corbyn/ mugwump though... I have this once seen you can not unsee picture of Dianne abbot milking jez
Why are all the countries in the European UNION - UNITING against poor old England
"Strong and stable leadership"
The sad thing about the Tories & NHS debacle is that the NHS budget is broadly in the same ball park as the Government Pensions scheme. Which of course, was 'triple locked'. And we have an ageing population, meaning that;
1) For every year that goes by, a greater percentage of people become pensioners.
2) For every year that goes by, the amount the government gives each pensioner, increases above inflation.
3) For every year that goes by, our ageing population puts further strain on the NHS.
Government pensions should never have been triple locked. Instead, they should have triple locked the NHS.
Edit - Sense make it make
1) For every year that goes by, a greater percentage of people become pensioners.
2) For every year that goes by, the amount the government gives each pensioner, increases above inflation.
3) For every year that goes by, our ageing population puts further strain on the NHS.
Government pensions should never have been triple locked. Instead, they should have triple locked the NHS.
Edit - Sense make it make
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Got to keep them older voters happy!
Kind of funny to read this report from before the 2001 election - http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1366000/1366537.stm
Somewhat familiar!
Somewhat familiar!
I think this is the thing almost everywhere, not just Labour and the UK. Right wingers tend to be more pragmatic with this stuff. Their parties seem to form coalitions more easily, for example, if it will grant them the power. The parties further to the right will let go some of their stances, and support center-right in forming governments and passing laws. The left seems unable to to the same.
I thought about this for a long time (which doesn't mean necessarily very deeply or accurately, but well). My reasoning is that maybe the intrinsic "progressive" nature of the left makes it harder for them to align their ideas.
Portugal is a nice case-study for this, as for the first time in our history the whole left managed to get together to put the right out of the government. Our "extreme"-left parties had to let go some of their stances (they're anti-Euro/European Union for example) and support PS (our Labour) in forming a government. Everyone predicted it would collapse, but it has been extremely stable so far. It's not a proper coalition, as they refused to be part of the government, but they have a deal to support every budget and major policy. To my understanding this is rather unique in Europe and perhaps worldwide, and it should have inspired other parties in Europe to do the same.
Some called this a "negative coalition" as the only thing that holds them together is the idea of keeping the right out of the government. It's as worthy a politics goal as any other though, so I see nothing wrong with that, in fact that's what our right wing parties have done through all our democratic history. It needs to happen more often and in more places.
Is it? Do you consider socialism to be equatable with the far right?
Why are all the countries in the European UNION - UNITING against poor old England
It is a misleading headline really. She is saying how tough the negotiations with the EU are going to be and is asking traditional Labour voters to back her so she will only have to fight with the EU and not the UK parliament.
It would be decried as part of a fake news conspiracy if it were a right wing paper taking Corbyn's words out of context to titillate their readership.
That's what bullies do.
Why are all the countries in the European UNION - UNITING against poor old England
Why are all the countries in the European UNION - UNITING against poor old England
Siege mentality, brilliant from May.
That doesn't wash with hostages.
British people suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.
I agree. What's disappointing is that now the Tories are reversing it all the other parties are stating they'll maintain it so as to appeal to that demographic. Everything that's happened in the last few years since I've become of voting age has been not about what's good for the country but what's good for the parties politically. I largely blame FPTP for exacerbating that, though in democracy people voting in their own selfish self-interest will always be a design flaw.
Indeed. Ending the triple lock was recommended by the DWP select committee and had cross party support at the time, but now there's a few votes up for grabs, Labour are committing to it.
Indeed with McDonnell's fiscal lock, a commitment to the triple lock and Labour's hints at ruling out tax rises, Labour risk ending up to the right of the Tories on the basics of tax and spend.
"Competent"
That was leeds. You saw shots of her surrounded by the people in that workplace, cheering for her.
At least that is the media story.
Reality proves to be different. She had to wait until the actual people from Leeds who work there had all gone home, then held a tv camera event with invited tories from who knows where.
At least that is the media story.
Reality proves to be different. She had to wait until the actual people from Leeds who work there had all gone home, then held a tv camera event with invited tories from who knows where.
Anyone else baffled by how little Brexit is being discussed with the election?
It's obviously being given plenty of airtime but it's not the 'brexit election' as I had expected. Likely largely because Labour don't know how to differentiate their position on it from the Tories, and Corbyn isn't comfortable discussing it, but I still find it odd. Maybe I'm just a bitter remoaner who can't get over losing...
It's obviously being given plenty of airtime but it's not the 'brexit election' as I had expected. Likely largely because Labour don't know how to differentiate their position on it from the Tories, and Corbyn isn't comfortable discussing it, but I still find it odd. Maybe I'm just a bitter remoaner who can't get over losing...
Early days yet. No one has put forward a manifesto so far, therefore no one can even say what their policies are!
Fair point.
Seems like no one in UKIP knows where they're standing.
It's literally the only thing the Conservatives are talking about. "Strong and stable leadership to ensure the best possible Brexit"
Also a Snowflake.
