The difference might not be as much as many of us want it to be but it still exists. Labour do a much better job with the NHS and I don't want to vote for a party that will either pull us out of the EU or set a referendum.
UK General Election 2015 | Conservatives win with an overall majority
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The difference might not be as much as many of us want it to be but it still exists. Labour do a much better job with the NHS and I don't want to vote for a party that will either pull us out of the EU or set a referendum.
Latest poll in Scotland has the SNP at 54%. Their lead is getting even bigger, heading for close to a complete wipeout if the TNS poll is accurate.
I think historically both parties have ranged from poor to very bad with the NHS. I don't think there's much evidence to suggest that historically Labour have done a better job. The Labour rhetoric is that they are the party of the NHS, but there's scarce evidence to support this being the case. The referendum is one difference in policy; but are people really voting for a party in order to not have the right to vote on a policy? That's a little bit bizarre in my opinion. I can understand voting to stay in Europe; but voting to not have a vote?
On the economy it's a choice between austerity and austerity. On healthcare it's a choice between increasing funding and increasing funding. On education it's a choice between protecting the budget and protecting the budget. On all other government departments it's a choice between cutting the budget and cutting the budget a bit more. On taxes it's a choice between keeping taxes as they are and fractionally increasing them which historically has raised no additional income. On tax avoiders it's a choice between clamping down and clamping down. On young people it's a choice between more apprenticeships and more apprenticeships. On first time buyers it's a choice between reducing the cost a little and reducing the cost a little. On wages for the lower earners the Conservatives want to raise the tax free threshold to £12,500 and increase the minimum wage to around £7.50, whereas Labour want to raise the minimum wage to £8 but not the tax free allowance. Same meat different gravy.
I struggle to think of a single policy that would significantly affect the Country that they don't agree on. A prime example being Labour announcing their flagship Mansion Tax policy... The Tories then implemented a Mansion Tax in the form of much higher stamp duty on high value properties which made Labours policy superfluous. The Tories announce a policy to help working class people get on the property ladder in the form of a 25% Government top up on house deposits, Labour then announce the same policy re-branded in the form of stamp duty relief for first time buyers.
It's as if we're all just puppets in a dictatorial state whereby both large parties are controlled by one more powerful party that realised that you can't only have one party state for fear of being called a dictatorship.
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Another policy announced that will do nothing for the housing crisis other than more asset inflation.
I'm interested in the proposed rent controls as there seems to be a lot of vocal opposition coming out of the PRS bodies which can only be good. Hopefully we see would be landlords thinking twice and freeing up some housing stock.
I'm interested in the proposed rent controls as there seems to be a lot of vocal opposition coming out of the PRS bodies which can only be good. Hopefully we see would be landlords thinking twice and freeing up some housing stock.
Ick!
I heard something on Radio 1 the other day, where Milliband was getting tied in knots by a news reader and was unable to answer questions asked to him by a few members of the public who were invited in.
He gave me no confidence what so ever.
He gave me no confidence what so ever.
Most of the people I know who either work in the NHS or have to use it often (myself included) thinks that Labour has done and will do a much better job with it than the Conservatives are doing.
In terms of actual policies, if they can do the 48 hour waiting time for GPs then that alone will be a big deal for me.
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Yep, that's what a gay rights activist threatened Mr Wells with. The area may well feel somewhat abused afterwards.
From what you read about how Labour have run the health service in Wales I suspect you might not be correct.
I take it UKIP haven't been banging the drum about slashing the foreign aid budget quite so loudly in the last couple of days.
Labour have pledged £100m to ensure GP's are seen within 48 hours. The Conservatives have pledged the exact same £100m for GP's to work weekends which will reduce GP waiting times. The fact that £100m is absolutely nothing in the scheme of things and won't help the problem seems lost of both parties. Same meat, different gravy.
In terms of the NHS I would suggest that the recession has had far more impact than any politician. This is backed up by the fact that waiting times etc started to increase under the previous Labour government and have basically just carried on (see immigration also, a policy the Tories were apparently much tougher on). I also imagine the people you know probably relate negative things to certain parties because of pre-conceived notions. They see poor care, hear Labour blaming the Tories and blame is attached, which is the Labour plan. The fact that some of the worst hospitals in the Country are under Labour govern-ship (the ones in Wales I'm told are particularly poor) probably highlights the point. This combined with nostalgia "remember how good things were several years ago" seems to help Labour.
It's like businesses saying "Labour are against business". It doesn't actually have any foundation but it is a great line to peddle to try and make people fear for their jobs under a Labour government. It's also an easy line to push due to the amount of jobs lost under Labour and the amount created under the Conservatives (1,000 a day as we keep hearing). Again though: global recession.
Not to mention that the only real thing that politicians can change is the finances, it's not as if Ed Miliband is going to personally go into hospitals to improve them. In this respect both parties have pledged similar real time increases in spend.
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They realised their drum wasn't made in Britain. Had to get a new one.
Fact is I agree with you on the most part and I'm not going to be particularly worried about anything the Tories do if they do win the election but there are still differences and that's what we have to vote on. If nothing else I don't want an EU referendum.
Regarding the NHS, in case you were curious the biggest complaint I've heard from my mates is that the administration staff lay offs (so they can say they are protecting the "front line") have left the service in disarray.
Also if one party is pledging to reduce waiting times to 48 hours and the other is pledging a "24 hour" NHS, I much prefer the former idea.
Why not?
Because I don't want us to leave the EU.
Fair enough. Finding whatever differences there are with the parties, however small and voting on that is probably the most common sense thing to do to be honest. I don't understand not wanting a referendum, as I believe they're far more democratic than our current political system
It's not as if anyone but Ed Miliband or David Cameron will be Prime Minister regardless so voting for the smaller parties is pointless. Although saying that in my constituency voting in general is pointless; the Tories had a 16k majority in 2010.
My annoyance comes at people who try to perpetuate the "evil Tories looking after their banker mates, whilst drinking the blood of the working classes", or the "Communist Labour party who want to destroy and Nationalise all business, whilst gleefully decimating the economy and forcing everyone onto benefits". Obviously it's perpetuated by the National papers, but the net effect is that instead of the two parties trying to come together as a stable government in the interests of the Country, looking at the 99% of things they have in common, they focus on the 1% and create ridiculous amounts of uncertainly just to show how different they are.
In fact the likelihood is that we'll have a Labour minority government, propped up by a party that is further away from them ideologically than the Conservatives, solely to avoid them working with each other. Crazy.
I don't want a labour government either, but at least we all get a chance to vote on it. If >50% of people want to leave the EU then we should leave !
Aye you're pretty much spot on there. Conservatives teaming up with Lib Dems I always found to be "amusing".
Call me selfish but I don't want us to leave the EU and a referendum opens up the risk of that so I wouldn't want one.
Not to mention I'm sure there are other things that >50% of people might want, that we shouldn't have a referendum on. I think it's been said about the death penalty in the past.
I'll give you some reasons for it:
Waste of money as most people will vote against leaving EU
Our economy is greatly dependent on EU and having no say at all on the policies that are undertaken by the union can greatly affect us
Most likely a stop to complete free movement and trade, more checks, more borders, more hassle, more delay, more stress for every holidaymaker and traveller.
Export and import fees for virtually all products leading to higher cost and lower revenue.
Unnecessary problems created for the million+ British workers and residents currently in EU
Heavily depleted workforce for public services such as NHS and other skilled jobs
Billions lost in tax revenue and millions in tourism
Possible loss of massive corporations who'd want to be part of the large trade area
Loss of benefits from the creation of TTIP
No point going on further as I think that much of a list is enough and just to cap it all off it is a step in the wrong direction with the country choosing isolation rather than globalisation.
Do you really think the public are switched on and informed enough to make that decision?
Its a complex decision that doesn't in any way compare with choosing a party to govern the country. Isn't the entire point of a representative democracy that we equip those we feel best placed to make these decisions with the power to do.
It irks me that parties stand for a referendum as it just demonstrates their lack of intent. If you're elected with it as part of your manifesto the public has made their choice.
I don't want to leave the EU either, but think being EEA would offset most of those.
The proposed referendum isn't about leaving the EU, it's about keeping the Conservative party intact. The disruption, financial cost and damage is a high price to pay for that, when a simple leadership election within the party, with each contender declaring 'in or out', would solve the problem. Cameron wants to stay in by the way, but doesn't have the balls to ask his party to back him or sack him.
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That would be only if EU would allow Britain to pick and choose whatever they like from the EU and whatever they do not like and there's a fat chance of that happening.
Furthermore Switzerland and Norway as an example have to abide by many rules and regulations set from the EU without having any say in them.
I personally (as a foreign born citizen) find that the immigration debate has spiralled out of control. People come here, they work hard, they pay taxes, they get on with their lives and they're subjected to xenophobic and racist debates that are sprinkled with shiny sparkles to make them look more presentable to the mass population.
There are debates going on about the strain on healthcare and welfare but I would find it extremely hard to believe that this is down to immigration. Firstly people who come to this country do not do so for the benefits but to work and secondly if they work and pay taxes they are not health tourists but have every right to.
I also heard someone complaining about a lot of them not paying taxes because they're on low incomes. The retard could not fathom that the reason why they are on low incomes is because they do twice the amount of work in all the shitty jobs that no one wants to do for half the pay.
A poster for the "BNPers in blazers" AKA UKIPers:
That would be only if EU would allow Britain to pick and choose whatever they like from the EU and whatever they do not like and there's a fat chance of that happening.
Furthermore Switzerland and Norway as an example have to abide by many rules and regulations set from the EU without having any say in them.
I personally (as a foreign born citizen) find that the immigration debate has spiralled out of control. People come here, they work hard, they pay taxes, they get on with their lives and they're subjected to xenophobic and racist debates that are sprinkled with shiny sparkles to make them look more presentable to the mass population.
There are debates going on about the strain on healthcare and welfare but I would find it extremely hard to believe that this is down to immigration. Firstly people who come to this country do not do so for the benefits but to work and secondly if they work and pay taxes they are not health tourists but have every right to.
I also heard someone complaining about a lot of them not paying taxes because they're on low incomes. The retard could not fathom that the reason why they are on low incomes is because they do twice the amount of work in all the shitty jobs that no one wants to do for half the pay.
A poster for the "BNPers in blazers" AKA UKIPers:
Would it be so bad to adopt an Australian style system on immigration?
Iv'e not really delved into the detail of EEA membership tbh. As for the immigration debate, I find somewhat tiresome, broadly populist nonsense. My missus, a foreign born citizen with dual nationality, has stronger views than me, advocating the Aussie-style points based system...Not that that helps with EU migration I guess.
Just so you both know there is a points system in place and these are the visa tiers:
This has feck all to do with migration within the EU as that is embossed in the treaty and the only way to stop it is by abolishing it and in turn leaving the EU which has many more repercussions.
The UK visa points system is simpler than the Australian one however in Australia they have an active immigration policy where they invite people to migrate to Australia while the UK is trying to do the opposite and be a deter people from coming here.
This has feck all to do with migration within the EU as that is embossed in the treaty and the only way to stop it is by abolishing it and in turn leaving the EU which has many more repercussions.
The UK visa points system is simpler than the Australian one however in Australia they have an active immigration policy where they invite people to migrate to Australia while the UK is trying to do the opposite and be a deter people from coming here.
What a crock of shite. Only this month the hospital where I work have just employed 40 odd Spanish nurses and that's just one small example.nDeterring indeed. And labelling all Ukipers as racist BNP is idiotic too. They may be ill informed or misguided but don't fall for the media spin doctors. Wanting to be out of the EU or have a stricter immigration policy is not racist.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
UKIP voters suffer delusions of grandeur that everything is solved by getting rid of immigrants.
There is a points system but as I said it does not apply to EU migrants who by the looks of it are helping your hospital
How likely is a Con/UKIP coalition?
Not likely at all, their combined total is projected to fall at least 30 seats short of majority territory.
Do you think any points system is unfair on migrants from outside the EU?“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
UKIP voters suffer delusions of grandeur that everything is solved by getting rid of immigrants.
There is a points system but as I said it does not apply to EU migrants who by the looks of it are helping your hospital
The minimum earnings to sponsor a partner to come to the UK is definitely unfair. Basically telling any poor person their love isn't equal to people making more money.
I don't quite understand this question. There is currently a tier points system in place for migrants outside the EU introduced in 2008 if that's what you're asking.
That would be only if EU would allow Britain to pick and choose whatever they like from the EU and whatever they do not like and there's a fat chance of that happening.
Furthermore Switzerland and Norway as an example have to abide by many rules and regulations set from the EU without having any say in them.
I personally (as a foreign born citizen) find that the immigration debate has spiralled out of control. People come here, they work hard, they pay taxes, they get on with their lives and they're subjected to xenophobic and racist debates that are sprinkled with shiny sparkles to make them look more presentable to the mass population.
There are debates going on about the strain on healthcare and welfare but I would find it extremely hard to believe that this is down to immigration. Firstly people who come to this country do not do so for the benefits but to work and secondly if they work and pay taxes they are not health tourists but have every right to.
I also heard someone complaining about a lot of them not paying taxes because they're on low incomes. The retard could not fathom that the reason why they are on low incomes is because they do twice the amount of work in all the shitty jobs that no one wants to do for half the pay.
A poster for the "BNPers in blazers" AKA UKIPers:
You're right about the EEA/EFTA states and the extent to which they are subject to the influence of EU legislation. So the UK may as well stay in the club. You are wide of the mark about the reasons for misgivings over mass immigration - there are genuine concerns about the strain it puts on public services and the downward pressure it puts on wage levels. The latter is great for the wealthier parts of society but not so good if you are a tradesman who had had his livelihood jeopardised by newcomers offering to do the job at half the price.
The minimum wage should be higher. I doubt this would happen if the minimum wage was on par with the living wage. Or ideally, just above it.
What I mean is that migrants from inside the EU have free movement whereas migrants from outside have a points system. Do you see this as unfair?
It can't be that high. I was earning about £15k back in 2001 when I married my missus which enabled her to get a visa. Hardly a king's ransom.
Wtf is Lord Oakeshott doing btw with his twin campaign for Lab/Lib?
£18,600. Tories introduced it during this government.
Presumably being generally anti-Tory.