General Election 2010

[Tom Hosie]

Edited to add - I took it the "in Scotland at the next election" meant we were talking about Westminister elections here?

 

I took it to mean to Holyrood election where I do believe that the Lib Dems will get an electral kicking.

 

Besides, if Clegg gets fed up fagging for Cameron the next election in Scotland could yet be the Westminster elections.

[Big Col]

Well that's Scotland done for now - budget slashed, economic ruin, country punished for not voting tory (again).

 

I hope the Lib Dem supporters are proud of themselves, cos their "leaders" have sold them out for a ministerial Mondeo, just like they did with Labour in the Scottish parliament.

 

Nick Clegg as deputy PM? That's as farcical as John Prescott!!!

[Mediocre Pundit]

Well that's Scotland done for now - budget slashed, economic ruin, country punished for not voting tory (again).

 

I hope the Lib Dem supporters are proud of themselves, cos their "leaders" have sold them out for a ministerial Mondeo, just like they did with Labour in the Scottish parliament.

 

Nick Clegg as deputy PM? That's as farcical as John Prescott!!!

What's changed since 9.16pm? You seemed much happier back then...

[The Devil's Point]

Well that's Scotland done for now - budget slashed, economic ruin, country punished for not voting tory (again).

 

 

Thankfully one of the coalition partners has a very high proportion of Scottish based MP's

[Big Col]

What's changed since 9.16pm? You seemed much happier back then...

 

Must be my leaky week - mood swings!

[Big Col]

Thankfully one of the coalition partners has a very high proportion of Scottish based MP's

 

who have just sold out their principles, their party members, their voters, their supporters and probably their grannies.

 

Not exactly a confidence booster eh?

[The Devil's Point]

who have just sold out their principles, their party members, their voters, their supporters and probably their grannies.

 

How do you work that out? We have just done a deal to ensure the implementation of many of the things Lib Dems have sought for many years (although the details aren't yet clear admittedly). Tonight the Deputy Prime Minister is a Liberal Democrat, and some decent ranking cabinet posts will probably follow.

 

Would you have said we were compromising our principles if we were in a coalition with Labour? Or should we perhaps sit and wait another century or so until one day might come that we can suddenly win under first past the post?

Edited May 11, 2010 by The Devil's Point

[Big Col]

The two parties are fundamentally different and throughout the election campaign Mr Clegg was making out that the Tories were the devil incarnate but yet at the slightest sign of the ministerial Mondeo he jumps into bed with them. That looks like dropping some principles to me. A lot of LD members being interviewed over last few days have expressed some real anger.

 

And do you honestly think that any of the big cabinet posts are going to LD's? No chance and no real power I'm afraid - just a means to an end of Mr Cameron and his cronies getting into power.

 

But the proof is in the pudding and for the sake of the country I hope it does bring some stability and some positive change.

 

We'll just have to wait and see. But if it doesn't, then the LD as well as the tories shall be irrelevant in Scotland.

 

And for the record, no I would not have preferred a Labour/LD as they are a busted flush IMO.

[Mr Scruff]

I think there's a real reluctance amongst many, particularly in Scotland, to appreciate the scale of the problems that we're in. You can already sense the way this is going; reference to Tory cuts and the Lib Dems now also being liable are filling the airwaves.

 

The reality is that ANY party would have to make dramatic cuts. That's the extent of the failure of the outgoing government. They have squandered the longest (albeit artificially created) period of growth in recent history. That is what they've sown, but it is for the next government to reap that bitter harvest.

[GrantB]

Well Tories, be careful what you wished for.....

 

 

I'm secretly delighted as this is the quickest way to get independence. Watch the SNP romp home at Hollyrood now.....

[Chris near Oxford]

Well Tories, be careful what you wished for.....

 

 

I'm secretly delighted as this is the quickest way to get independence. Watch the SNP romp home at Hollyrood now.....

 

This really is wishful thinking. If the UK electoral system changes to a PR system the great bogey of unfettered tory rule in Scotland disappears very rapidly.

 

If the SNP can't even get 1/5th of the voters to choose them, independence looks like a long way off.

[twinny]

This.

 

That's the one no one ever seems to be able to answer.

 

Anyway, the Inheritance Tax and Marriage Allowance changes now aren't happening and the Income Tax threshold is being increased to £10k under the Coalition agreement.

 

This is not the same Tory Party of the 1980s and early 1990s and people will eventually be unable to deny it. We are not looking at a Thatcherite; we are looking at a mould which combines the philosophies of Disraeli and Heath. The real Progressive Coalition starts here.

 

You are saying this as if these are Tory policies and we should be happy with the Tories, when in fact they have only made these concessions because of the Leash the Lib Dems have round their neck. Thankfully the Lib Dems are seeing that the Tories put through some policy that benefits the country and not just the rich. The only reason the Tory government will be unlike that of the 1980s is down to this hold the Lib Dems have.

 

Edited to add: I thought the Marriage/Civil Partnership tax break was still happening?

Edited May 12, 2010 by twinny

[twinny]

This really is wishful thinking. If the UK electoral system changes to a PR system the great bogey of unfettered tory rule in Scotland disappears very rapidly.

 

If the SNP can't even get 1/5th of the voters to choose them, independence looks like a long way off.

 

1/5th at Westminster, they'll definitely get a higher proportion in the Holyrood election.

[crazy davie]

so you disagree that labour would have had to do the same cuts?

I think we're all agreed there would be cuts in public spending regardless of who forms the government. That's just one thing. What's up for grabs there is how big?, how soon?. etc... Don't expect that to be handled with any degree of restraint now.

 

The other thing is what's NOT in the Tory's manifesto. For instance, I don't recall, from the last era of Toryism, any mention that they would be shutting down whole industries; creating mass unemployment; delivering yuppiedom; fostering riots in vitually every major city in Britain; handing over, to their pals, important strategic businesses (eg Railways, Power, Mail); etc etc; and so on and so forth....

[GrantB]

This really is wishful thinking. If the UK electoral system changes to a PR system the great bogey of unfettered tory rule in Scotland disappears very rapidly.

 

If the SNP can't even get 1/5th of the voters to choose them, independence looks like a long way off.

 

 

Firstly, voters now clearly vote differently in Holyrood and Westminster elections.

 

Secondly, Labour's tactic to scare people into voting for them wont wash next time round as people will see just how little good it did them.

[redandyellowallover]

Firstly, voters now clearly vote differently in Holyrood and Westminster elections.

 

Secondly, Labour's tactic to scare people into voting for them wont wash next time round as people will see just how little good it did them.

 

The SNP should keep making the point until they're sick from saying it that voting labour will not guarantee to keep the Tories out of power. Only a vote for the SNP will ultimately make that happen.

[Mediocre Pundit]

The SNP should keep making the point until they're sick from saying it that voting labour will not guarantee to keep the Tories out of power. Only a vote for the SNP will ultimately make that happen.

Only a vote for the Scottish Tories can keep the English Tories out of power...

[redandyellowallover]

Only a vote for the Scottish Tories can keep the English Tories out of power...

 

In all honesty, in an independent Scotland i'd be more inclined to vote for the conservative type party.

 

I certainly wouldn't vote for the Scottish Conservative candidate in my constituency. He's not even based in it!

[GrantB]

In all honesty, in an independent Scotland i'd be more inclined to vote for the conservative type party.

 

I certainly wouldn't vote for the Scottish Conservative candidate in my constituency. He's not even based in it!

 

Here's the point. The SNP constitution states that they will hold free elections where you can vote for whoever you like. Therefore, if you dont agree with SNP policy, you only have to vote for them once.

[Chris near Oxford]

Grant B

 

Everyone knew the Tories were likely to win this election. Do you honestly think that people woke up on Friday morning shocked to realise that the Tories came first? And, even more shocked that Labour hadn't won?

 

This is extremely patronising. Please credit the Scottish people with some intelligence - even if they don't agree with you!

 

I know the votes in Holyrood will be higher for the SNP. People aren't daft. But in the election that counts the most (given who holds the purse strings and that turnout is higher in Scotland for a Westminster election than a Holyrood election) people chose 4:1 to vote for parties who did not want independence even though they knew that the Tories were likely to win!

 

If there is to be PR for the UK elections, the opposite could happen: if we know that we can never get a Conservative Party ruling us alone then one of the biggest fears would evaporate. If the English vote is delivered by PR we will not see the same massive Tory bloc in England.

[Chris near Oxford]

Here's the point. The SNP constitution states that they will hold free elections where you can vote for whoever you like. Therefore, if you dont agree with SNP policy, you only have to vote for them once.

 

Extremely decent of the SNP to put it in their constitution that people can vote for who they like. Free elections too - how wonderful! The modern, independent Scotland will be a beacon for freedom where ordinary men and women can vote for who they like - even if it's not the SNP. The SNP constitution would of course be incorporated into human rights act...

[jaggybunnet]

I think we're all agreed there would be cuts in public spending regardless of who forms the government. That's just one thing. What's up for grabs there is how big?, how soon?. etc... Don't expect that to be handled with any degree of restraint now.

 

The other thing is what's NOT in the Tory's manifesto. For instance, I don't recall, from the last era of Toryism, any mention that they would be shutting down whole industries; creating mass unemployment; delivering yuppiedom; fostering riots in vitually every major city in Britain; handing over, to their pals, important strategic businesses (eg Railways, Power, Mail); etc etc; and so on and so forth....

 

 

 

if labour thought they would get off with not making massive cuts they were deluded well ok they have been for the last 13 years

 

like i have said before you all have very good long term memorys when it comes to tories but very very very bad short term memory with labour.

[jaggybunnet]

The SNP should keep making the point until they're sick from saying it that voting labour will not guarantee to keep the Tories out of power. Only a vote for the SNP will ultimately make that happen.

 

 

why?

[Jaggernaut]

'Cos.

[jaggybunnet]

'Cos.

 

 

ah got you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mad as a fish