UK General Election 2015 | Conservatives win with an overall majority

[sun_tzu]

Initially at least, i was alluding to a trade agreement with European countries.

I do struggle however, to understand why companies should have any interest in whether the UK taxes go toward a fleet of drones for the EU or its diplomatic service.

We dont care where the taxes go... be that UK, EU or Dutch taxes etc

Its more if we price something at £200,000,000 and then the £ slides 10% against the Euro its quite a hit to take and as our projects typically last 3-5 years then we have to think what's likely to happen over that period - our current forecast is that if we have a referendum we will probably loose around 10% just based on market uncertainty and then another 5%-10% if we opt to come out in 2017

Admittedly we have benefited from the weak Euro in the UK arm of the business over the last few years but in the medium to long term we just see it as a risk to base too much in £.

We do have a keen eye on the USA trade agreement though as in the past there have been some barriers to us picking up work there on strategic assets

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

We dont care where the taxes go... be that UK, EU or Dutch taxes etc

Its more if we price something at £200,000,000 and then the £ slides 10% against the Euro its quite a hit to take and as our projects typically last 3-5 years then we have to think what's likely to happen over that period - our current forecast is that if we have a referendum we will probably loose around 10% just based on market uncertainty and then another 5%-10% if we opt to come out in 2017

Admittedly we have benefited from the weak Euro in the UK arm of the business over the last few years but in the medium to long term we just see it as a risk to base too much in £.

We do have a keen eye on the USA trade agreement though as in the past there have been some barriers to us picking up work there on strategic assets

Wouldn't the UK's insistence upon maintaining its own currency have brought about a similar outcome eventually (if the Euro is where they see the wind as blowing)? Delayed perhaps but...

And if Britain, along with others, can offer a viable alternative alternative to the EU's status quo, there is no guarantee that its present incarnation will survive into the medium-long term. Save for a want of imagination, there is no reason why this dog's breakfast in Brussels should be the only answer to the question of continental cooperation.

 

[DOTA]

This debate's on the BBC news channel? I have googled... It suggested so but I'm tired and things and desire confirmation that I don't have to battle ITV player.

 

[rednev]

The mass debate is about to get under way.

 

[Unlikely lad]

Having Plaid Cymru in this is such a piss take

 

[711]

Im not sure the other states would vote for that - afterall the transatlantic trade agreement is almost agreed and the china one is quote far advanced - I cant see that we could say we don't want to be in Europe and then the EU members vote (which they would have to) to let us stay in all the trade agreements - particularly the american one and the chinese one they are negotiating. (and I certainly don't see the Chinese negotiating a separate one with us - the USA may but it would probably take some time and involve some extra concessions on the UK side)

I work for a European company though we undertake projects worldwide and we currently base USA and Chinese operations out of the UK based on the fact that the Americans speak English and I can speak Mandarin / Cantonese as well.

We already have plans to shift our USA and China based projects out of the UK at the end of our financial year and operate them from Holland / France respectively to mitigate the risk of the UK leaving Europe in a referendum - this will result in many millions of tax not going to the UK treasury and instead going to Holland / France and I suspect if we are this far advanced in planning we wont be the only international operation eyeing things with caution.

We will probably move all the African projects we are doing as well (we work for companies like Rio Tinto and BP or typically governments directly helping design big nuclear / mining / petro chemical projects) out of the UK as well and into Amsterdam and have started to quote in $ or Euros for a lot of international projects.

In truth we are so far down the planning stage the likelihood is that even if Labour win the election we will move a large amount of our work to foreign offices.

Great information. People can vote to leave Europe for political reasons, but they need to know it will cost.

 

[Don't Kill Bill]

They know it will immediately save them the 8 billion pounds net the UK pays in. A reasonable person might also assume that given the multi billion a year trade deficit the UK would be in a strong negotiating position in any trade talks with other countries or trade blocks. There would be a long term cost in loss of influence but a long term gain in being able to react faster to change than getting all the EU countries to agree.

I can't make up my mind whether it would be best to leave or not but I do think that if we threaten to leave and then stay we are going to spend the next 20 years being mainly ignored.

No change there then.

 

[ThierryHenry]

Who leads the SNPs coalition talks after the election; Sturgeon, Salmond or Angus Robertson? I hadn't heard of Robertson before this week, but read an article a couple of days ago suggesting it would be him, as 'SNP leader in Westminster'.

 

[Cheesy]

Who leads the SNPs coalition talks after the election; Sturgeon, Salmond or Angus Robertson? I hadn't heard of Robertson before this week, but read an article a couple of days ago suggesting it would be him, as 'SNP leader in Westminster'.

Probably Robertson and Sturgeon together I'd imagine, in some form. Salmond's too divisive a figure in England, even if he's a household name within UK politics, and Sturgeon's party leader so she's bound to have some sort of say, but also has her duties as FM up in Scotland and as an MSP. My guess is Robertson will do a lot of the talks, but with close advice from Sturgeon who will be involved too, and with Salmond as a background advisor.

 

[ThierryHenry]

Probably Robertson and Sturgeon together I'd imagine, in some form. Salmond's too divisive a figure in England, even if he's a household name within UK politics, and Sturgeon's party leader so she's bound to have some sort of say, but also has her duties as FM up in Scotland and as an MSP. My guess is Robertson will do a lot of the talks, but with close advice from Sturgeon who will be involved too, and with Salmond as a background advisor.

Cheers man. How's Robertson perceived 'over the wall'?

 

[Cheesy]

Cheers man. How's Robertson perceived 'over the wall'?

He...isn't really. In fact, I'd have to google him for a reminder of what he looks like. Since the SNP have mostly been a non-entity in Westminster, he's not that well-known. From what I know though, he's competent enough. The fact he's probably not too well-known might bode well for him down south in a way, since he won't be as strongly disliked as someone like Salmond.

 

[Drifter]

Another tory leaves for UKIP.

 

[peterstorey]

Nasty party members have found an even nastier home from home.

 

[simon_xazza]

Can anybody give me a good reason to think twice about voting for the Green Party. I'm aware they won't get in.

 

[soap]

Can anybody give me a good reason to think twice about voting for the Green Party. I'm aware they won't get in.

For me there are two reasons. If they take a considerable percentage of the vote it might convince Labour that there is some merit in veering to the left and also (more likely) go some way to dispelling the "wasted vote" idea a lot of people have, thus making them more of a serious player come 2020.

 

[simon_xazza]

For me there are two reasons. If they take a considerable percentage of the vote it might convince Labour that there is some merit in veering to the left and also (more likely) go some way to dispelling the "wasted vote" idea a lot of people have, thus making them more of a serious player come 2020.

What about in terms of policy? I'm aware that they would probably make the most drastic changes of all the parties and the risk that would be involved in that.

 

[Kazi]

Can anybody give me a good reason to think twice about voting for the Green Party. I'm aware they won't get in.

If you're in a swing constituency, it's probably better voting for the lesser of the two leading evils.

 

[simon_xazza]

I have never bothered voting before but I am looking purely at policy for my vote.

 

[Ubik]

Just seen that the Greens are standing in my constituency for the first time since it was created. One of the safest Tory seats in the country so doesn't matter who I vote for in the slightest, will now at least give it a bit of thought though.

 

[peterstorey]

Im not sure the other states would vote for that - afterall the transatlantic trade agreement is almost agreed and the china one is quote far advanced - I cant see that we could say we don't want to be in Europe and then the EU members vote (which they would have to) to let us stay in all the trade agreements - particularly the american one and the chinese one they are negotiating. (and I certainly don't see the Chinese negotiating a separate one with us - the USA may but it would probably take some time and involve some extra concessions on the UK side).

TTIP should be high on the election agenda but I haven't heard it mentioned once.

 

[soap]

TTIP should be high on the election agenda but I haven't heard it mentioned once.

The big 3 are all in favour of it.

@simon_xazza

Some of their policies are quite outlandish and silly, that's the luxury of knowing you have no chance of winning. Living wage, green enrgy, big reforms to the education system and wealth tax are all things that I like, even if they couldnt be implemented now

 

[bishblaize]

For me there are two reasons. If they take a considerable percentage of the vote it might convince Labour that there is some merit in veering to the left and also (more likely) go some way to dispelling the "wasted vote" idea a lot of people have, thus making them more of a serious player come 2020.

Veering to the left will simply keep labour out of power.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

TTIP should be high on the election agenda but I haven't heard it mentioned once.

It's not controversial in the political scene, hence it's not mentioned.

 

[soap]

Veering to the left will simply keep labour out of power.

I think a lot of people voting Green and perhaps SNP this time would vote labour if they moved left, I probably would. As it is they can shove it, I absolutely would not vote labour even if greens weren't standing in my area.

 

[SteveJ]

The Independent tackles the election issues that really matter:

David Cameron eats Hotdogs with a Knife and Fork:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-hotdogs-with-a-knife-and-fork-10159107.html

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

What about in terms of policy? I'm aware that they would probably make the most drastic changes of all the parties and the risk that would be involved in that.

Certainly nobody could accuse the Greens of being shy or wilfully vague about their policies, but on the other hand many of them are...quite incoherent.

I think a lot of people voting Green and perhaps SNP this time would vote labour if they moved left, I probably would. As it is they can shove it, I absolutely would not vote labour even if greens weren't standing in my area.

What do you actually want from a more left leaning government by way? The Greens and the SNP are all too happy to put forward these policy sound bites, yet how much of what they say is practical?

 

[soap]

What do you actually want from a more left leaning government by way? The Greens and the SNP are all too happy to put forward these policy sound bites, yet how much of what they say is practical?

End to austerity, no TTIP, no fookin Trident, voting reform, wealth tax (even though it won't make nearly as much money as they think it will). I like what they say about schools too. Actually my mate's Mrs is a primary school teacher and has switched from conservatives to green because the Tory led academy scheme has apparently been horrendous for teachers.

If labour offered just one or two of those things I could see myself switching.

 

[rcoobc]

End to austerity, no TTIP, no fookin Trident, voting reform, wealth tax (even though it won't make nearly as much money as they think it will). I like what they say about schools too. Actually my mate's Mrs is a primary school teacher and has switched from conservatives to green because the Tory led academy scheme has apparently been horrendous for teachers.

If labour offered just one or two of those things I could see myself switching.

Why is the trident such a big issue? And the transatlantic trade agreement?

The other stuff I understand.

The Independent tackles the election issues that really matter:

David Cameron eats Hotdogs with a Knife and Fork:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-hotdogs-with-a-knife-and-fork-10159107.html

I fully sympathise, my favourite freezer pizza is ristorante, but I have to eat that with a knife and fork. The cheese layer is impossible to break through with your teeth, meaning you end up with just the pizza base layer after one bite.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

End to austerity, no TTIP, no fookin Trident, voting reform, wealth tax (even though it won't make nearly as much money as they think it will). I like what they say about schools too. Actually my mate's Mrs is a primary school teacher and has switched from conservatives to green because the Tory led academy scheme has apparently been horrendous for teachers.

If labour offered just one or two of those things I could see myself switching.

Well the Green Party's manifesto is due out next week i believe, given some of their more radical ideas it'[ll be interesting to see how many of them actually make the final draft. Following the Andrew Neil interview i'd certainly include some of their economic and defence policies in such a category. As i understand matters, we are supposed to implement further severe cuts to the armed services, yet partly out of guilt participate fully in UN missions around the globe. The No campaign secured a two-thirds majority in the 2011 referendum on voting reform, and i'd expect a similar result if not quite so large a majority if the electorate were asked again. I think the country needs more effective and accountable methods of taxation, whereas initiatives like the mansion tax strike me as little more than a sop to a few ideologues.

What are these education proposals which impress you so much by the way?

 

[bishblaize]

I think a lot of people voting Green and perhaps SNP this time would vote labour if they moved left, I probably would. As it is they can shove it, I absolutely would not vote labour even if greens weren't standing in my area.

Greens represent about 1% of the vote and they'd never get them all anyway. As for SNP, thats not really a left vs right issue.

 

[Silva]

The Independent tackles the election issues that really matter:

David Cameron eats Hotdogs with a Knife and Fork:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-hotdogs-with-a-knife-and-fork-10159107.html

They even made a handy little video, just in case we're too pleb to know what a knife and fork are.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

I'm sure you've noticed but there is an elephant in the room today and he goes by the name of Tony.

What do you all think, is Blair's involvement good or bad for Miliband? Does he provide an unwelcome contrast to a time when Labour commanded majorities with some ease?

 

[711]

I think the days when Blair was widely regarded as one of Britain's best prime ministers are well forgotten. He is too associated with the Iraqi failure now, and from Labour's point of view would be better wheeled back off again.
Brown could still be effective, if used sparingly, as proved by his turning round of the Scottish referendum debate.

 

[Jippy]

End to austerity, no TTIP, no fookin Trident, voting reform, wealth tax (even though it won't make nearly as much money as they think it will). I like what they say about schools too. Actually my mate's Mrs is a primary school teacher and has switched from conservatives to green because the Tory led academy scheme has apparently been horrendous for teachers.

If labour offered just one or two of those things I could see myself switching.

The flipside of that is the fact that my friend's dad has set up a very successful and award-winning free school and is getting excellent results for the kids. It's the one Cameron visited the other week and made that comment about using jujitsu on Farage.

 

[Jippy]

The Independent tackles the election issues that really matter:

David Cameron eats Hotdogs with a Knife and Fork:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-hotdogs-with-a-knife-and-fork-10159107.html

Hmm, not loaded at all that piece.

But could the Prime Minister really not bear the thought of eating a sausage without silver service?

He's using a knife and fork, it's hardly like he has a full canteen of solid silver cutlery meticulously laid out around him as the butler adds the ketchup.

 

[Berbaclass]

I wonder if he eats sandwiches with cutlery

 

[Jippy]

I wonder if he eats sandwiches with cutlery

I guess it was anything to avoid the awkward Ed eating a bacon sandwich moment.

 

[Berbaclass]

I guess it was anything to avoid the awkward Ed eating a bacon sandwich moment.

TBF I learnt a valuable lesson from that episode. Before that I never toasted the bread when making a bacon sandwich. I have Ed to thank for that and it is that reason why the guy has my vote.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

I think the days when Blair was widely regarded as one of Britain's best prime ministers are well forgotten. He is too associated with the Iraqi failure now, and from Labour's point of view would be better wheeled back off again.
Brown could still be effective, if used sparingly, as proved by his turning round of the Scottish referendum debate.

Yes i would agree with about Brown, despite his unpopularity in 2010 he can still bring a bit of vim to Labour's campaigning in Scotland.

The Independent tackles the election issues that really matter:

David Cameron eats Hotdogs with a Knife and Fork:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-hotdogs-with-a-knife-and-fork-10159107.html

Well i can't claim to have never done likewise, and there have probably been occasions where i wish i had (it's rarely a good look when tomato sauce reach halfway up one's arm like an arterial bleed). Mind you, i did also fall foul of the Greggs pasty test of a few years ago.

 

[Jippy]

@Hectic That's just a wrangle about finding space for them. Can understand it's a hassle, given the number of them, but this is a report on their effectiveness in teaching by the Policy Exchange.

Free Schools are raising standards for other pupils across the local community, especially in some of the poorest performing schools, as well for the pupils who attend them. A Rising Tidesets out for the first time detailed analysis on the performance of local schools where a Free School has opened.

The paper finds that competition is driving up standards at both primary and secondary level. It says that contrary to some of the criticisms levelled at Free Schools, they do not drag down the results of neighbouring schools – but rather, they improve them. This undermines one of the key criticisms of opponents of Free Schools over the last five years.

The analysis is based on comparing the three geographically closest similar schools within the same Local Authority to each of the 171 mainstream primary and secondary free schools open so far. It uses increases in the primary and secondary headline measures of % of pupils achieving level 4 at key stage 2 and 5 of pupils achieving 5 GCSEs A*-C before and after a Free School is announced or opened near to them as the metrics for comparison.

The research found:

• The competitive effect created by a Free School leads to improved academic standards in nearby underperforming schools. In every year apart from 2010, the opening of a Free School is associated with substantial improvements of the lowest performing primary schools nearby. At secondary level, the opening of a Free School is associated with improvements for all secondary schools with below average results.
• Competition leads to bigger gains in higher poverty schools and schools with empty places. Primary schools with surplus places show a bigger increase in results than schools which are oversubscribed in every year apart from those approved in 2013. High poverty primary schools which have a Free School next to them improve faster than more affluent primary schools.

http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/pu...tide-the-competitive-benefits-of-free-schools