Theresa May to seek snap election for 8 June

[tobyjugg2]

I disagree, I think the position would be worse.

 

I don't think Labour would have introduced the austerity measures that the Tories did. If that were to be the case then they would have needed to pull in more taxes through a better employment rate. Apart from retaining civil servants that the Tory party have allowed to go, I doubt that would have happened enough to cover the difference.

Not necessarily so - austerity causes a reduction in Tax income as well as supposedly intending to reduce expenditure.

 

 

 

Austerity is self defeating unless VERY specifically targeted - which it hasn't been

eg funds should have been concentrated on infrastructure etc that benefits the nation - like UK companies building tidal power lagoons for example, rather than UK borrowed money guaranteeing French EDF profits.

 

When you effectively cut jobs and wages, you dont just cut tax income, you also cut real world expenditure by the earners, This affects core businesses like food with all its knock on effects.

 

Interesting that the ONLY people who have escaped austerity - is the Super wealthy for whom any loss after tax relief is negligible, and politicians who had inflation and austerity busting pay awards.

 

 

Oh and look to May to also drop the real terms limit immigration pledge of Camerons - which was never even close to being met anyway.

[tobyjugg2]

While your earlier graph is true Toby, it doesn't show the real picture. The below graph shows government borrowing and it certainly drops after David Cameron came into power. If it hadn't dropped like this, how do you think the total debt graph that you posted would have progressed?

 

 

As unc pointed out - that is as a result of the financial ctisis and the situation would UNQUESTIONABLY have been far worse had the Torys been in power when it happened.

Yes it happened on Labours watch and they should have done more (anything) to stop it

BUT it was a result of Thatcher and her prodigies Tory de-regulation of the Finance and Banking sectors - and is continuing NOW

 

The Toirys have fought the EU's attempts at banking regulation and safeguards tooth and nail, and WILL get rid of the existing paltry regulations in the repeal, along with workers and environmental (and citizens) rights

[Guest]

interesting what bills/planned legislation/policy gets binned because of the snap.

if they get back in, do these get back on the agenda. or is it just a new page..

[unclebulgaria67]

I would not trust any government with a large majority, when they did not win 50% of the votes cast. Politicians with majorities tend to think they can do anything they want.

[tobyjugg2]

interesting what bills/planned legislation/policy gets binned because of the snap.

if they get back in, do these get back on the agenda. or is it just a new page..

 

Is that a serious question Ford?

[unclebulgaria67]

Yes it is a serious question. Just go to todays Daily Mail online. Due to the election, the government have conveniently stopped the new business rates support scheme being introduced.

 

The Sun frontpage and others reveal that the Tories might use the election to hit people with more taxes. Brexit is just being used to cover up a new agenda for the Tories to target ordinary people e.g increased taxes and pension changes.

[tobyjugg2]

It was the "if they get back in, do these (dropped promises) get back on the agenda." I was asking if he was serious about

 

Of course they wont go back on the agenda - and you can pretty much guarantee that once removed the opposite (ie tax increases etc) WILL be enacted.

 

You can also pretty much guarantee that ANY Tory promises on house building will CONTINUE to be lies err continually put off

 

 

Things to look at for in the Tory manifesto

White Van men/Self employed

Dropping the pledges re NO rises to self employed Tax/NI which caused that recent embarrassing turnaround

 

Pensioners

Dropping the triple lock or linking pension rises to rises the national minimum wage at best

NHS, Health and Social Care

Dropping the pledges which have already been weasel wording cheated on

 

Everyone except the really rich

Drop the pledge not to raise NI, VAT or income tax during the parliament

[tobyjugg2]

proof of the pudding

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/21/tory-election-manifesto-may-drop-2015-pledge-to-not-raise-taxes

 

Torys return to openly taxing the people (as well as stealth taxes) rather than sorting the tax evaders

[tobyjugg2]

and while we are talking about taxes for the poor tax relief for the rich

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/21/lloyds-bank-bailout-repaid-in-full-philip-hammond-claims

 

Bank bailout paid in full says hammond

 

Wheres the 8 years interest on the bailout money then?

The UK TAXPAYERS was and are in debt for this and paying interest on that debt.

[citizenB]

47 days left - anyone know of a good retreat?

[Guest]

47 days left - anyone know of a good retreat?

how about chequers, or sandringham...

[citizenB]

[citizenB]

Tony Blair on his platform again !!

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/23/tony-blair-vote-tory-or-lib-dem-where-they-are-open-minded-on-brexit#comment-97144389

 

I love this comment from one of the Guardian readers..

 

 

Labour are unelectable because they have failed in security, economics, immigration & foreign policy.

 

1) Labour deregulated the banks in the run up to the financial crisis.

Video of Gordon Brown apologising for it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13032013

2) Labour allowed uncontrolled immigration with no controls, or adequate services & house building

Video of Ed Milliband apologising

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13032013

3) Labour caused the rise of Islamic extremism

Videos of Jeremy Corbyn & Tony Blair apologising

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-chilcot-report-iraq-war-inquiry-apology-tony-blair-labour-party-a7123461.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34630380

4) Labour crippled the NHS with PFI agreements.

Jeremy Corbyn admitting it.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/26/labour-has-duty-to-resolve-mess-of-hospital-pfi-deals-says-jeremy-corbyn

5) Labour specifically Jeremy Corbyn are anti security, anti trident, won't drone strike ISIS

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/national/15240530.Jeremy_Corbyn_raises_prospect_of_Labour_abolishing_nuclear_deterrent/

 

 

[obiter dictum]

Thought it was thatcher that deregulated the financial markets

 

Was it not thatcher that did the right to buy and all sales went to the treasury and not back to the local authority to build new homes

 

Was it not us brits and the yanks caused islamic extremisim by invading countries that never did us any harm and bombing civilians back to the stone age

 

Corbyn might well favour peace but decision about security and defence are made by parliament, not a political leader

 

And has not Osborne since 2010 taken out more PFI contracts in six years than labour did in 14??

 

For the record i do not support labour but let is keep it factual

[unclebulgaria67]

Yep Thatcher deregulated Banks following the Reagan adminstrations work on this. There was a documentary all about this. The idea to change Banking was first thought about in the late 1970's and it was Reagan who implemented it in about 1985. Thatcher followed and London financial centre turned into a big casino operation.

[determindator]

Sounds like it was DM and TM fan writing to the Guardian:madgrin:

[basildonbond1946]

As a brit living in Sweden I was amazed at Theresa Mays decision to call a snap election I wonder whether history will repeats itself once more didnt Ted Heath call an early election in the 70s on the basis of the Miners strike on the premise that he must be allwed to rule he had an surprise when he lost the election and got deposed by that woman I think you know the one MT. We can all hope it the people do not believe whats in the SUN and Daily Mail. You may also remember the mistake that Churchill made in under estimating Attlee who was probably the best peace time PM we had . Need to sort out my Postal Vote

[determindator]

Thanks for your post basbond. I understand Mrs M also wanted it to be the same day as local elections 4th May but was advised not enough time to organise. The party election spending keeps popping up also.

 

I agree, the news doesn't tell all.

 

Hope you get your postal vote sorted.

[unclebulgaria67]

Trouble is that Jeremy Corbyn seems to be a leader who would never command the Armed Forces in any action to defend the country, unless enemy forces invaded and even then he would want peace talks.

 

Fine ideals, but voters won't elect a leader they don't trust with the security of the country.

 

I don't mind some of the economics suggested by Corbyn/McDonnell, but they never seem to have full details of their plans. At one time they tried involving some top economists, but these walked away, because Labour wanted to use their names and not to actually work with them. You can't expect to quote names behind policies, when the names never actually comtributed to the forming of the policies.

[obiter dictum]

The obvious question

 

Defend the country from who being a NATO member

[basildonbond1946]

Defend the country from who. Not the nasty Russian bear if Putin send more than 3 TU95 aircraft at once the RAF would be hard pressed to scramble enough aircraft to frighten them away The Conservative have little room to accuse the Labour Party of not defending us after the cuts that they have made in Defence Spending we have nothing to defend ourselves with

[tobyjugg2]

I think it really is time for a change as there is NOTHING to lose.

 

We know that the Torys are going to ramp up taxation on the taxpayers of the nation while continuing increased tax releif for the rich and international interests, Destroy the NHS and leave local services with nothing.

Mini Maggie May - all of the bad of Thatcher with none of the good (and yes there was some)

 

We dont really know what Corbyn will try to do, but we can be assured it wont be good for our nation whether Labour loses badly or not.

 

 

I really believe that everyone who

Isnt a die hard Tory and Isnt a die hard Brexiter

should vote for libdems as the least damaging option to our nation

 

If the liddems do get in power, even if they do make a mess of it, they wont be in a position to do to much damage with the powerful opposition they will have against them, and we can get rid in 4 years time hopefully with Corbyn gone.

 

If the dems get a fabulous result but dont win, we will have at least something resembling an opposition and some balance will return to our democratic process.

Its the only sane option.

[unclebulgaria67]

I vote Lib Dem as the closest to centre politics. I did an online politics test where you answer loads of questions and it tells you which type of politician matches your views. From memory it was Charles Kennedy, who led the Lib Dems more than a decade ago. Centre left, but more thoughtful social liberal who looked at issues based on people, not political interests.

[citizenB]

I vote Lib Dem as the closest to centre politics. I did an online politics test where you answer loads of questions and it tells you which type of politician matches your views. From memory it was Charles Kennedy, who led the Lib Dems more than a decade ago. Centre left, but more thoughtful social liberal who looked at issues based on people, not political interests.

 

 

I always seem to be told I am a "none of the above" voter

[Tawnyowl]

Just a story I picked up on. Registration to vote surging among youngsters.

Theresa May might be in store for a nasty surprise from young people in the UK. Huge numbers of them are registering to vote. And if they actually cast their ballots, they could have a massive impact on the outcome of the general election.

 

In just three days, 103,439 18-24-year-olds registered. And a further 99,106 25-34-year-olds also signed up.

https://www.thecanary.co/2017/04/23/young-people-nasty-surprise-sleeves-theresa-may/