What's that smell!

[tommy toes]

Just watched BBC news just now which backs up my statement about the great British public.
They did a vox pop type thing in Bolton about who they are voting for and why.  Christ almighty if that's a true representation of the electorate I give up. Not a f**king clue between em.
It reminded me of a Gumby sketch from Monty Python.

[Glyn_Wigley]

I mean you watch sky news today and voters saying they have voted for labour all their life ,but they will vote conservative come june because of the state labour is in .this would never have been heard of some 20 years ago .

You're right. It was 34 years ago.

[Dagenham Rover]

The news go all out to find the muppets it makes good telly and sells papers the Mr Average don't get a look in no matter what they say

[Glyn_Wigley]

The news go all out to find the muppets it makes good telly and sells papers the Mr Average don't get a look in no matter what they say

Especially Sky and Fox News, who pick the ones spouting what their owner wants us to believe.

[Dagenham Rover]

The news go all out to find the muppets it makes good telly and sells papers the Mr Average don't get a look in no matter what they say

Especially Sky and Fox News, who pick the ones spouting what their owner wants us to believe.

Crikey Glyn  me an you agreeing twice in a few days 

[Sprotyrover]

If I want to know what's really going off I watch Al Jazeera news,BBC and the like are propaganda machines.

[not on facebook]

The news go all out to find the muppets it makes good telly and sells papers the Mr Average don't get a look in no matter what they say

Especially Sky and Fox News, who pick the ones spouting what their owner wants us to believe.

Whoever they pick to interview what's the problem ,it could well be a 8 eyed 12ft purple monster but so long they have a vote and asked who they will vote for what's the issue.

Their single vote is as good as yours ,or is it that you don't like their answer .

You do know that the tv news stations might be talking to them for 3 or 4 mins each and will cut out
and screen what they want to screen,hence a 5 second showing .

Are you expecting a 8 page summary with full use of the English oxford dictionary in best BBC English
you couple of snobs

[Mike_F]

I joined the LD's the day after the last General Election. I had been a lifelong LD voter but voted Labour last time (as many others probably did) to send a message regarding the lack of spine in the former coalition government.

Having seen the brutality of an unfettered Tory government since then, it's become increasingly apparent just how much of an influence the LD's held in the coalition, quietly scuppering some of the more extreme Tory plans.

In return for these concessions and - most significantly - the raising of the income tax earnings threshold they too readily conceded ground on their tuition fees pledge. That was a huge mistake by a weak leader in Nick Clegg. He should have foreseen the backlash and the fact that the Tories and their press would hold four aces while the LD's would be chasing a busted flush.

Since I joined the party, there have been some really engaging and progressive projects involving the consultation of the membership around how best to rebuild and revitalise the party. Much of this is an ongoing project dubbed "My Liberal Britain" which aims to define how the party can best go about planning for and campaigning on the way to build a fairer, more balanced and more tolerant society.

I'm pleased that there a strong theme in there around rewarding and encouraging hard work and helping those less fortunate whilst incentivising endeavour.

There was also a consultation around the stance on EU membership post the Brexit vote. My vote in this process was in favour of accepting the decision and lobbying hard for the best possible relationship with the EU (i.e. a "soft" Brexit). The majority voted in favour of campaigning to remain in the EU and that single issue is clearly going to form the basis of the GE manifesto.

My main concern is that Tim Farron is too easy a target for the press thanks to his ludicrous religious views. I didn't vote for him in the leadership election but I was rather uninspired by all the choices on that front. His voting record of late has been very much in line with the liberal agenda but it's a shame that given the unique circumstances of the Brexit-dominated election when the party could be in its strongest position for a decade we've got someone so vehemently committed to sky-fairyism at the helm.

[wing commander]

I cant and wont vote Lib dem because I believe in democracy and that cant be thrown away on the back of a quick recovery plan by promising to block brexit in the hope of attracting the 49%..Farron is a disgrace for doing that...

I thought democracy was all about voting?

You seem to imply that Farron is a bandwagon-jumper whereas the Lib Dems have been a staunch and consistently pro-EU party all along. Perhaps you think they should just give up their principles like those Brexiteers with the big gobs keep telling Remainers to do?

    No but I'm a believer in Democracy...The referendum was sold to us on a no going back vote..Regardless of how you voted that was democracy in action...Make no bones about it the Liberals as a party were no longer a major force,they were relegated into the pot containing the Greens,ukip,and monster raving loonies....This is seen by them as a opportunity to entice voters with a promise they cant deliver....BREXIT is happening like it or not and it'smy opinion that all Political party's should be working together to make sure that from this point on we get the best deal for Britain...It's going to be hard enough as it is with the liberals saying they are going to vote against the proposals regardless of what they are...In the old days Farron would be hung from the tower gates for treason...I'm not sure weve made much progress since ;-)

[MachoMadness]

I cant and wont vote Lib dem because I believe in democracy and that cant be thrown away on the back of a quick recovery plan by promising to block brexit in the hope of attracting the 49%..Farron is a disgrace for doing that...

I thought democracy was all about voting?

You seem to imply that Farron is a bandwagon-jumper whereas the Lib Dems have been a staunch and consistently pro-EU party all along. Perhaps you think they should just give up their principles like those Brexiteers with the big gobs keep telling Remainers to do?

    No but I'm a believer in Democracy...The referendum was sold to us on a no going back vote..Regardless of how you voted that was democracy in action...Make no bones about it the Liberals as a party were no longer a major force,they were relegated into the pot containing the Greens,ukip,and monster raving loonies....This is seen by them as a opportunity to entice voters with a promise they cant deliver....BREXIT is happening like it or not and it'smy opinion that all Political party's should be working together to make sure that from this point on we get the best deal for Britain...It's going to be hard enough as it is with the liberals saying they are going to vote against the proposals regardless of what they are...In the old days Farron would be hung from the tower gates for treason...I'm not sure weve made much progress since ;-)

If the Lib Dems run on a manifesto to block article 50 and get in and block it as per their promise, that IS democracy.

I'm not sure how you can say Lib Dems were relegated to the level of the Greens and then say they're making harder by voting to block Brexit. There's f**king NINE of them. It's like a mouse trying to block a motorway.

[Herbert Anchovy]

During my lifetime I've lived under right wing governments, centre right governments, left wing governments and centre left governments, coalition governments, governments with huge majorities and governments with virtually no majorities. Do you know what the common denominator out of all of these is? I've not benefitted from any of them. Not one. My life, and that of my family, hasn't improved from any of them being in power.

I've been laid off 3 times, had massive negative equity on my house, I've been on needless strikes, I've been stung by unscrupulous bosses, I've seen the neighbourhood I used to live in decimated by high crime rates, drug use and general feelings of no prospects, we've bombed countries I've never heard of, we've sold bombs to countries I've never heard of, I've paid a fu**ing fortune for petrol, I've had terrorists want to blow us up, I've had 1% annual wage rises while bosses get 15% and a bonus, I've sat in A&E for 4 hours cos the doctors are on their arses, I've seen school fields built on, I pay a fortune for energy prices, I see schools that cant afford to provide every kid with a pen, I've seen my pals building firm go bust because he was continually being undercut by EU workers. I could go on and on.

And my point? Whoever wins the election will not stop the shit that the average person has to put up with every single day. Tories, Labour, Liberal etc..etc... none of them really give a shit about any of us.

[RedRover45]

During my lifetime I've lived under right wing governments, centre right governments, left wing governments and centre left governments, coalition governments, governments with huge majorities and governments with virtually no majorities. Do you know what the common denominator out of all of these is? I've not benefitted from any of them. Not one. My life, and that of my family, hasn't improved from any of them being in power.

I've been laid off 3 times, had massive negative equity on my house, I've been on needless strikes, I've been stung by unscrupulous bosses, I've seen the neighbourhood I used to live in decimated by high crime rates, drug use and general feelings of no prospects, we've bombed countries I've never heard of, we've sold bombs to countries I've never heard of, I've paid a fu**ing fortune for petrol, I've had terrorists want to blow us up, I've had 1% annual wage rises while bosses get 15% and a bonus, I've sat in A&E for 4 hours cos the doctors are on their arses, I've seen school fields built on, I pay a fortune for energy prices, I see schools that cant afford to provide every kid with a pen, I've seen my pals building firm go bust because he was continually being undercut by EU workers. I could go on and on.

And my point? Whoever wins the election will not stop the shit that the average person has to put up with every single day. Tories, Labour, Liberal etc..etc... none of them really give a shit about any of us.

Absolutely nailed it. Post of our lifetime. Simple as.

[Glyn_Wigley]

The news go all out to find the muppets it makes good telly and sells papers the Mr Average don't get a look in no matter what they say

Especially Sky and Fox News, who pick the ones spouting what their owner wants us to believe.

Whoever they pick to interview what's the problem ,it could well be a 8 eyed 12ft purple monster but so long they have a vote and asked who they will vote for what's the issue.

Their single vote is as good as yours ,or is it that you don't like their answer .

You do know that the tv news stations might be talking to them for 3 or 4 mins each and will cut out
and screen what they want to screen,hence a 5 second showing .

Are you expecting a 8 page summary with full use of the English oxford dictionary in best BBC English
you couple of snobs

Nothing wrong with members of the public having opinions. but it's not them who decides who ends up on screen, is it?

The problem is these stations do not have to show balance in their political coverage as the BBC has to according to its Charter. So they don't show any balance.

And you can shove your 'snob' comment back up your arse where it came from.

[Glyn_Wigley]

I cant and wont vote Lib dem because I believe in democracy and that cant be thrown away on the back of a quick recovery plan by promising to block brexit in the hope of attracting the 49%..Farron is a disgrace for doing that...

I thought democracy was all about voting?

You seem to imply that Farron is a bandwagon-jumper whereas the Lib Dems have been a staunch and consistently pro-EU party all along. Perhaps you think they should just give up their principles like those Brexiteers with the big gobs keep telling Remainers to do?

    No but I'm a believer in Democracy...The referendum was sold to us on a no going back vote..Regardless of how you voted that was democracy in action...Make no bones about it the Liberals as a party were no longer a major force,they were relegated into the pot containing the Greens,ukip,and monster raving loonies....This is seen by them as a opportunity to entice voters with a promise they cant deliver....BREXIT is happening like it or not and it'smy opinion that all Political party's should be working together to make sure that from this point on we get the best deal for Britain...It's going to be hard enough as it is with the liberals saying they are going to vote against the proposals regardless of what they are...In the old days Farron would be hung from the tower gates for treason...I'm not sure weve made much progress since ;-)

They can very easily deliver a second referendum on the negotiated terms so that everybody can make 'an informed decision' (Teresa May's own words!). No doubt you'll say that going with what the people vote for in another referendum isn't democratic or something...

[wing commander]

    That argument is flawed, its nowhere near that easy..If they have a second referendum on the terms and that gets voted against then we are in a world of trouble as a country...Were do you go from there..GO cap back in hand to the EU with a "Please Sir can I have some more" ??? or repel article 50 at the last minute with all the penalty's that brings??...Leaving a undemoctratic  outcome....
     Crazy....The country was given the choice and it decided....We cant keep demanding votes until you get the decision you want...Thankfully the Tory's will win with a big majority and it will go through on the best terms we can negotiate as mandated by the British people...
   

[Glyn_Wigley]

    That argument is flawed, its nowhere near that easy..If they have a second referendum on the terms and that gets voted against then we are in a world of trouble as a country...Were do you go from there..GO cap back in hand to the EU with a "Please Sir can I have some more" ??? or repel article 50 at the last minute with all the penalty's that brings??...Leaving a undemoctratic  outcome....
     Crazy....The country was given the choice and it decided....We cant keep demanding votes until you get the decision you want...Thankfully the Tory's will win with a big majority and it will go through on the best terms we can negotiate as mandated by the British people...
   

The people have voted without knowing what the consequences will be before, why can't they do it again..?

[Dagenham Rover]

    That argument is flawed, its nowhere near that easy..If they have a second referendum on the terms and that gets voted against then we are in a world of trouble as a country...Were do you go from there..GO cap back in hand to the EU with a "Please Sir can I have some more" ??? or repel article 50 at the last minute with all the penalty's that brings??...Leaving a undemoctratic  outcome....
     Crazy....The country was given the choice and it decided....We cant keep demanding votes until you get the decision you want...Thankfully the Tory's will win with a big majority and it will go through on the best terms we can negotiate as mandated by the British people...
   

The people have voted without knowing what the consequences will be before, why can't they do it again..?

and without knowing the full consequences of remaining 

Go back cap in hand saying please sir can we stay? do you think we wouldn't get totally and utterly stitched up

[roversdude]

Thought this was going to be a post about smell around Sprotbrough lol

[BobG]

Hold on Oslo. You've just spent about 10 posts saying Labour are so far left it's untrue - and now you've just said they're moving to the middle class.  Which is it man?????? Try writing down your impressions and thoughts on a piece of paper before you type them up. It'll help you spot the crass ones before they come back to bite yr bum.

Cheers!

Bob

[not on facebook]

Do I miss something here ,where does it say that what ever class you are it's set in stone that your left or right wing or just sat on the fence.

I class myself as working class so what will that make me?

What political stance will a upper class person have ?

And what side of the fence will a middle class chap stand on?

As for the Labour Party they for sure don't seem to have a working class backbone anymore at all ,half fvthe fcukers are sending their kids to private schools .

How can you determine anybody's political stance via their class ?

I pointed out that Labour are so far left that if they was in a swimming pool they be going round in a circle, and that they was no longer working class party as they all seem/want to be middle class .

So you are saying that you can't be middle class and left wing at the same time ?

[tommy toes]

Oslo
Corbyn is trying to give the Labour party back it's 'working class' backbone as you call it.
That's the main reason he's being vilified.
It's all about claiming the middle ground nowadays no matter how good and fair left wing policies are.
It's very sad IMO.

[not on facebook]

He has no chance  as nobody is that stupid to belive corbyn if that's is his goal as a leopard can't change its spots .

But Iam confused as fcuk about this class b*llocks to what your political stance is deemed to be

[bobjimwilly]

And my point? Whoever wins the election will not stop the shit that the average person has to put up with every single day. Tories, Labour, Liberal etc..etc... none of them really give a shit about any of us.

Disagree with this. Different governments do make a difference on nearly everything that affects us. Do changes is taxes not affect you? Do hospital waiting times not affect us? Do class sizes not affect us? Do closing of sure-starts affect us? Do changes in council budgets not affect us? Do cuts to the police and fire brigade not affect us?

However, your view is shared by a lot of people, and that is certainly what Governments in power want us to believe; go with the status quo as the opposition won't really make a difference.

On a side note, Owen Jones make a good point today in a live TV interview; who do you think is more likely to lay awake at night worrying about issues affecting working families and the poor (and how to address those issues) - Mrs May or Mr Corbyn? Personally, I think May sleeps like a baby.

[Sammy Chung was King]

My problem is i don't see any of the parties as worth voting for. For years we have had to listen to the lies peddled only seeing them when they want your vote. Already the prime minister has shown herself to be a liar she isn't for the' just barely managing' she is for the big companies and the rich and well off.
 My ideal party would be one that tries to serve the whole electorate rich, middling and poor. I don't want people punished for doing well but i also don't want disabled people getting their benefits stopped if they are genuine. I want a government that is fair with all.
I don't like the labour mindset of sneering at anybody doing well and i don't like the conservatives using the poor as their punchbag. Immigrants and people on benefits according to the papers are ruining the entire country the problem is both are only a small percentage of the country.

I also think the liberals are just too wishy washy, ukip are a one policy party and are almost finished and the greens are just the greens. I will vote i'm almost sure who i will vote for but will decide nearer the time.
 How i see it the conservatives as cruel a party as they are have the only leader. Corbyn seems to have a lot of principles and ideas but i think it would scare him witless if he was in power. He's an ideas man somebody who sits at the end of the table who has a million different ideas everyday and he comes up with a good one here and there.
 His problem is he is controlled by the unions as the other parties are controlled by their major money people. The whole political system needs a good wash to clean all the dirt, bull..it lies and deceit that has accumulated over the years. The first past the post system is old fashioned like them or not four million votes and not one mp for ukip that can't be right.

If i hear hard brexit or soft brexit again i'm going to chuck the telly through the window!. How i see it when you vote depends on your situation at the minute if you are doing well and making a lot of money then the conservatives will probably be your amour. If you are struggling on benefits and feel like you are getting kicked from pillar to post then even Corbyn is a risk worth taking. If you are middling along you will more than likely plump for the most unlikely prime minister in living memory in Tim Farron and the liberals.
 The way i see it going is different from most predictions i actually see labour gaining back some seats lost to the conservatives i see her majority reducing a bit because i see people voting for the party rather than Corbyn. I think already people are tired of the conservative measures already pushed through. They rush things through riding roughshod over democracy.
 Leaving the EU is a big win for them they can do what they want with the hours people are allowed to work they can destroy the benefits system that is there to help vulnerable people and they can finish off the nhs. I don't believe that a prime minister would do something as stupid as Cameron did getting rich well off people telling the ordinary man and woman how to vote without knowing they would vote the other way. Am i the only one who saw through that for what it was?-the way to obtain complete power.

[tommy toes]

If I hear the beloved Mother Teresa say vote for a strong and stable government again, I'll kick the tele in. That's all she can say. No wonder she won't have a TV debate. If it's not written down for her as at PMQ's or a soundbite she's lost.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Mussolini had a strong and stable government! 

[not on facebook]

Don't quite understand how not going live on the idiot box with the chance of tripping yourself up is look down on ,and how will this effect how she runs the country if there is a live tv debate or not .

She can tell her party's policy's via the media ,them fcuking yanks have a lot to answer for .

If the yanks started to jump into the river don year after year ,half of you plums would join in sooner or later .

[Bentley Bullet]

Although perhaps it should be a requirement to have a public debate, the fact that it's isn't means that she is quite within her rights not to take part in one. And why should she? Why would she risk what is considered to be a massive lead over her opponents for the sake of giving them a chance to seduce the public by no doubt talking fantasy about what they intend to do should they get in?

It would be like a double or quit scenario where Corbyn has everything to gain, and May has everything to lose.

[Donnywolf]

Surely PR would produce Governments without too much extremism ?

I know they can be unstable producing many many elections for some Countries (Italy) but we would end up with a more middle of the road approach and get fairer representation for so called minority Parties who might get 10% of the votes cast Nationwide but 0% of Seats in Parliament

I know the First past the Post system suits the big 2 Parties and so they wont be like Turkeys and vote for Christmas AND they did manage to "squash" the latest attempt for us to vote for it BUT we as a nation need to keep going going going till it is our way of voting

This is supposed to be a Democratic country as people keep telling those who voted Remain. Scottish Krankie despite losing the Independence Vote (a once a lifetime vote supposedly) will keep going and going till she / they get their way - and of course the Anti Europe people fought over 30 years for an exit from EEC and finally won. If they had lost they would have continued on and on - so I say lets head towards PR and keep on going till we get it (though too late for me I suspect)

[Filo]

Refusing to take part in a live TV debate is cowardice, a sign of a person running scared of the opposition