UK General Election - 12th December 2019 | Con 365, Lab 203, LD 11, SNP 48, Other 23 - Tory Majority of 80

[owlo]

Some may find this interesting.

I'm having my floors ripped out for underfloor heating installed currently so am in a hotel for a few days. I was having my evening meal in the restaurant next door and couldn't help eavesdropping on a conversation about politics from the large group on the next table.

13 white people aged 50-80 or so, so not a demographic I have much contact with. I'm also a maths nerd, human contact is not my forte.

A couple of things struck me but this is the main jist:

- Many still dont know how to vote
- The BIGGEST issue was 'trust' in corbyn. people simply don't trust him.
- Nobody seems to distrust 'boris' in the same way
- Heath brought us into the eu to do more trade. we never wanted all the other stuff
- Young people are spoiled with free prescriptions and schools
- A few still were considering labour due to their 'future for the grandkids'
- Young people are voting corbyn because of brexit, they want to stay in the eu to get more free stuff
- People don't care about nuts and bolts so much

 

[SteveJ]

It's good to actually see some journalists hold him account other than the Guardian and their "we hate Boris because he doesn't eat kale like us) lot.

They're featuring a 'How to eat a crisp sandwich' article today, and the writer acts like it's a discussion about potentially eating fag ends filled with dog shit from Fukushima.

 

[TheReligion]

It is highly unlikely. But I guess they hope this will pressure him to come on. Easy interview now he knows the questions.

Now. Who is chicken eh.
He and his Tory advisers are as untrustworthy as is possible. And they will be our next government.

I feel this late in the day he won't risk it nor will his advisors let him.

 

[owlo]

I feel this late in the day he won't risk it nor will his advisors let him.

Ditto. He's a bumbling buffoon. Nobody likes Corbyn. Take the risk as it is now.

 

[EwanI Ted]

Corbyn will;
- Leave with the same deal (if no better one is possible)
- Leave with a deal that’s more palatable to more people (Remainers)
- Remain based on a referendum linked to the outcome of the above.

How is that not clear?!?

That's not their policy. The manifesto explicitly rules out Johnson's deal (page 90).

 

[Mr Pigeon]

Am out. What did he say exactly?

He said that the Beeb had these interviews because they were told everyone would do them, and in a democracy our politicians should be held accountable.
Listed off the questions that he said the people needed answers to; how could people trust him when even those closest to him say they cannot, to explain his numbers for the police, NHS etc and how they merely brought us back to pre-austerity figures, evidence to his claims that he was against austerity.

The big kicker was at the end when he said that Boris as PM will be expected to go face to face with Trump, Putin, Xi, and get he won't do it face to face with him for just 30 minutes.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

I feel this late in the day he won't risk it nor will his advisors let him.

They've let it get this late in the day themselves, for a reason.

He cannot defend his record and resorts to bluster and lies when he has no answer. They hope to win an election, avoid public scrutiny, then change the laws for democratic accountability and constituency boundaries to stay in power.

Taking back control... literally.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

It is highly unlikely. But I guess they hope this will pressure him to come on. Easy interview now he knows the questions.

I’m sure he wouldn’t have said that statement If there was a chance of him doing the interview.The chances are even slimmer now.

 

[Mr Pigeon]

It is highly unlikely. But I guess they hope this will pressure him to come on. Easy interview now he knows the questions.

It's Neil; he'll pounce at the first sight of blood if Boris fecks up. Which we knew he will because interviews are a big weakness of his.

He'll either say the same lines he's been saying for ages now, which Neil will call out as bullshit, or he'll change his story and Neil will call him out for that as well.

 

[Buster15]

I feel this late in the day he won't risk it nor will his advisors let him.

I am sure that they won't. But the simple fact is that we have a future PM who is scared to be questioned by Andrew Neil.
What does that say about him.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

That's not their policy. The manifesto explicitly rules out Johnson's deal (page 90).

dammit - I thought we had finally nailed it as a clear and well understood policy.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

I am sure that they won't. But the simple fact is that we have a future PM who is scared to be questioned by Andrew Neil.
What does that say about him.

Current PM.

 

[Buster15]

It's Neil; he'll pounce at the first sight of blood if Boris fecks up. Which we knew he will because interviews are a big weakness of his.

He'll either say the same lines he's been saying for ages now, which Neil will call out as bullshit, or he'll change his story and Neil will call him out for that as well.

Telling the truth is his biggest weakness. Because he doesn't know the difference between truth and lies.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

It's Neil; he'll pounce at the first sight of blood if Boris fecks up. Which we knew he will because interviews are a big weakness of his.

He'll either say the same lines he's been saying for ages now, which Neil will call out as bullshit, or he'll change his story and Neil will call him out for that as well.

It's like Neil says. How can he expect to stand up to World leaders if he cant stand up to a BBC interview!

He will be Trumps little lap dog.

 

[sammsky1]

@sammsky1

I feel this late in the day he won't risk it nor will his advisors let him.

He said that the Beeb had these interviews because they were told everyone would do them, and in a democracy our politicians should be held accountable.
Listed off the questions that he said the people needed answers to; how could people trust him when even those closest to him say they cannot, to explain his numbers for the police, NHS etc and how they merely brought us back to pre-austerity figures, evidence to his claims that he was against austerity.

The big kicker was at the end when he said that Boris as PM will be expected to go face to face with Trump, Putin, Xi, and get he won't do it face to face with him for just 30 minutes.

Thanks! Wow - quite brutal. On front page of BBC webpage and assume it will get mass coverage in press tomorrow.

BJs advisors would be mad to let him do it now, it will be a disaster with no time left to recover.

I really hope Labours PR is savvy enough to go to town on this. All gloves off, fcuk ettiqutte and manners: the most savage Sarcasic of all British humour must be deployed in social media to expose BJ for the coward thy he is, and for that reason he cannot be trusted.

 

[Buster15]

I hear this all the time. How is it not clear?!?

Boris wants to leave with a sh1te deal.
Swinson will stay
Corbyn will;
- Leave with the same deal (if no better one is possible)
- Leave with a deal that’s more palatable to more people (Remainers)
- Remain based on a referendum linked to the outcome of the above.

How is that not clear?!?

The EU will either negotiate or it won’t. But the deal on the table is punitive for the UK, not what Leavers wanted and is not acceptable to remainers.

Labour’s policy has the potential to bring people closer.

When has Labour ever said that it is their policy to leave with the Boris deal ?

 

[owlo]

@owlo how is your secret poll tracker doing?

It's not poll tracking so much as a basic model predicting which way the seats will fall. And it's still calling hung parliament. One interesting tidbit, it still predicts Swinson to lose her seat.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

I am sure that they won't. But the simple fact is that we have a future PM who is scared to be questioned by Andrew Neil.
What does that say about him.

He had good advisors.

I would prefer him to do an interview - but perhaps the likes of Neal and Paxman (I know he doesn’t do it anymore) might look at how these interviews go. They are largely pointless, and are just a showcase of how Neil can embarrass whoever he’s interviewing. Obviously, a lot of this comes from the standard MP approach of bridge, pivot and get your own message out - which renders most interviews disappointing and uninformative.

 

[Mr Pigeon]

Thanks! Wow - quite brutal. On front page of BBC webpage and assume it will get mass coverage in press tomorrow.

BJs advisors would be mad to let him do it now, it will be a disaster with no time left to recover.

I really hope Labours PR is savvy enough to go to town on this. All gloves off, fcuk ettiqutte and manners: the most savage Sarcasic of all British humour must be deployed in social media to expose BJ for the coward thy he is, and for that reason he cannot be trusted.

Labour would be mad not to take this opportunity to sling some shit in the Tories direction. The right wing press can't get in the way of this now that it's on the front page of the biggest broadcaster in the country, and all over social media.

This is Labour's big moment with just a week to go to take control of the narrative and edge closer to the Tories in the polls... Watch them feck it up...

 

[Rams]

Andrew Neil would have crucified Boris, BJ’s a complete charlatan. And yet still people will vote Tory.

 

[SteveJ]

The most salient, awkward question wouldn't get asked anyway: 'What is the genuine reason why you, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump are championing Brexit?'

Clue: It's nothing to do with patriotism, or their nations' well-being.

 

[Mr Pigeon]

They're featuring a 'How to eat a crisp sandwich' article today, and the writer acts like it's a discussion about potentially eating fag ends filled with dog shit from Fukushima.

Lah Dee dah, fecking Guardian writers able to afford crisps AND bread, which is what I assume they use for their sandwiches instead of what I use (newspaper).

 

[MoskvaRed]

you realise what I meant as a majority - the majority of MPs. What are claiming, some sort of moral high ground - the no of votes doesn’t matter in the aggregate, just the number of seats. Pointless post.

Obviously I know what you meant, and I know what “majority’ will mean on 13 December after they have counted the votes. But, given the FPTP system, you can’t make judgements on majority opinion based on the election results. Around 60% of the population will not vote Conservative. In a more responsive democracy, that would lead to a hung parliament (assuming Farage would pick up more seats) rather than the winner takes all situation we face next week.

 

[SteveJ]

Lah Dee dah, fecking Guardian writers able to afford crisps AND bread, which is what I assume they use for their sandwiches instead of what I use (newspaper).

 

[sammsky1]

I am sure that they won't. But the simple fact is that we have a future PM who is scared to be questioned by Andrew Neil.
What does that say about him.

Simply consistent with what we know about him already as a leader. In his few weeks as PM he illegally prorogued parliament, and wouldn’t allow fair time to scrutinise his BrExit deal.

His entire strategy based on his belief that a majority delivering electorate seek to leave the EU above all else, be that traditional mechanisms of our parliamentary democracy or all other traditional electoral issues. It’s a bold play, and we’ll have to wait for election night to see if he was right.

 

[esmufc07]

It's not poll tracking so much as a basic model predicting which way the seats will fall. And it's still calling hung parliament. One interesting tidbit, it still predicts Swinson to lose her seat.

That would be wonderful to watch.

 

[Pink Moon]

dammit - I thought we had finally nailed it as a clear and well understood policy.

I'm not sure how much clearer "deal or remain" could possibly be, tbh. It's just wilful ignorance at this point.

 

[balaks]

I said it weeks ago that the Brexit party will not get a single MP and are a total joke and I'm increasingly confident I'm right.

 

[Buster15]

That would be wonderful to watch.

In my view the Liberals shot themselves in both feet by appointing her as leader and the policy to withdraw A50 without a further referendum.

 

[T00lsh3d]

It's not poll tracking so much as a basic model predicting which way the seats will fall. And it's still calling hung parliament. One interesting tidbit, it still predicts Swinson to lose her seat.

If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your profession?

 

[Paul the Wolf]

I'm not sure how much clearer "deal or remain" could possibly be, tbh. It's just wilful ignorance at this point.

You obviously haven't read your party's manifesto.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

I'm not sure how much clearer "deal or remain" could possibly be, tbh. It's just wilful ignorance at this point.

when would the referendum be?

 

[711]

When has Labour ever said that it is their policy to leave with the Boris deal ?

Indeed. A failed attempt to prove how clear it is proves exactly the opposite as far as I can see.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

He had good advisors.

I would prefer him to do an interview - but perhaps the likes of Neal and Paxman (I know he doesn’t do it anymore) might look at how these interviews go. They are largely pointless, and are just a showcase of how Neil can embarrass whoever he’s interviewing. Obviously, a lot of this comes from the standard MP approach of bridge, pivot and get your own message out - which renders most interviews disappointing and uninformative.

What will they advise him when he has to meet with other World leaders? Should he avoid them too? He'll be found out pretty quick and have no credibility on the World stage.

 

[sammsky1]

He had good advisors.

I would prefer him to do an interview - but perhaps the likes of Neal and Paxman (I know he doesn’t do it anymore) might look at how these interviews go. They are largely pointless, and are just a showcase of how Neil can embarrass whoever he’s interviewing. Obviously, a lot of this comes from the standard MP approach of bridge, pivot and get your own message out - which renders most interviews disappointing and uninformative.

Pointless? And yet every leader has partaken in one since time began. And the interview won’t be difficult if the politician concerned has always been truthful and had principles which they have consistently defended. Like someone said above, I may not like Farage’s politics but he is a principled politician.

The conservatives have always had principled and super smart leaders like Thatcher or Cameron. May’s issue was one of personality as opposed to morality. None were scared to face their public or media.

And yet you are making excuses for a man who is a coward. Who lies. Who has form on just about every reprehensible behaviour in a modern multicultural society.

Maybe you don’t give a shit, but it really says more about you more than anything else.

BTW: his advisors have fcuked this up royally. Last week of the campaign will now be dominated by his gaffaws (if he does the interview) or he’ll be painted as the worst from of coward ever known on these isles, and people will ask what he is so scared. Not the best way to lead into an elevation. I’d say it’s a HUGE cock up either way.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

What will they advise him when he has to meet with other World leaders? Should he avoid them too? He'll be found out pretty quick and have no credibility on the World stage.

What like meeting with all the leaders from the NATO countries over the past few days?

The two things are completely different. I’m not condoning it - but it makes sense, if the net loss of not doing an interview is better than being destroyed a week before the election.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Pointless? And yet every leader has partaken in one since time began. And the interview won’t be difficult if the politician concerned has always been truthful and had principles which they have consistently defended. Like someone said above, I may not like Farage’s politics but he is a principled politician.

The conservatives have always had principled and super smart leaders like Thatcher or Cameron. May’s issue was one of personality as opposed to morality. None were scared to face their public or media.

And yet you are making excuses for a man who is a coward. Who lies. Who has form on just about every reprehensible behaviour in a modern multicultural society.

Maybe you don’t give a shit, but it really says more about you more than anything else.

did you read my post - I said very clearly I’d prefer him to do the interview.

Understand, not condone is a phrase some of you need to take on board.

 

[Oldyella]

Sure he will drag it out until late in the day to try and avoid any impact on the postal votes.

 

[2mufc0]

Thanks! Wow - quite brutal. On front page of BBC webpage and assume it will get mass coverage in press tomorrow.

BJs advisors would be mad to let him do it now, it will be a disaster with no time left to recover.

I really hope Labours PR is savvy enough to go to town on this. All gloves off, fcuk ettiqutte and manners: the most savage Sarcasic of all British humour must be deployed in social media to expose BJ for the coward thy he is, and for that reason he cannot be trusted.

Agree Sammy, it's an open goal. But Labour have missed too many already.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

What like meeting with all the leaders from the NATO countries over the past few days?

The two things are completely different. I’m not condoning it - but it makes sense, if the net loss of not doing an interview is better than being destroyed a week before the election.

If he can't stand up to Andrew Neil he wont be able to stand up to other strong World leaders. He was caught laughing at Trump behind his back when his number 1 priority is supposed to be working on a trade deal with him.

He is weak, had a track record insincerity, of saying things to please the audience in front of him.