General Election 2019 - 12th December

[SydneyRover]

But that doesn’t shock me BST, I expected that to be the case, whoever wins next week.

so when johnson says 'we'll get brexit done' what do you think he means hound?
'

don't forget to give your answer on this hound 

Ah well maybe next time? 

Sydney, sorry, I didn’t realise there was a time limit for me to answer in.
What do I think he (Johnson) means...... well I think it means that he wants to get Brexit done.
What do you think........no time limit.....in your own time.

I just kept seeing your name at the top and nit getting an answer, any time before the election will do? 

[drfchound]

But that doesn’t shock me BST, I expected that to be the case, whoever wins next week.

so when johnson says 'we'll get brexit done' what do you think he means hound?
'

don't forget to give your answer on this hound 

Ah well maybe next time? 

Sydney, sorry, I didn’t realise there was a time limit for me to answer in.
What do I think he (Johnson) means...... well I think it means that he wants to get Brexit done.
What do you think........no time limit.....in your own time.

I just kept seeing your name at the top and nit getting an answer, any time before the election will do? 

I gave you my answer but you won’t tell me what YOU think he means.
Stop pussyfooting around.
You are usually very profound with your opinions.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Meanwhile, the REAL failing of the Tories goes on under the radar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50725715

Bizarrely, the Tories continue to get away with the line that the economy is strong under them.

Here's the facts.

In 2010, we were roaring out of recession. Just as you need to do after a bad recession, Govt spending was boosting the economy. Precisely what the textbooks say you need to do. Borrow and spend to keep the economy going until the private sector recovers its confidence.

Then the Tory/LD coalition implemented Austerity. And the result...

From 1950-2010, we averaged 2.3% growth per year. From 2010-2019, we have hit that figure ONCE. In 2014.  Every single other year, we have performed worse than the long term average. Now, we are down to 0.7% growth.

You know what the effect of that underperformance is?

It means our economy produces £40bn less than it should do this year.

£40bn. That would pay for EIGHTY infirmaries. Or over half a million nursing jobs.

And here's the real kicker. If we don't improve next year (and the predictions are saying we won't) then next year the cumulative loss is £120bn (£40bn lost growth from this year, running over into a £40bn smaller economy next year plus £40bn in lost growth next year.)

After 3 years it is £240bn.

And we've already had 9 years of this.

It is horrifically bad economic management. And no one seems to give a f**k. We have chosen to make ourselves far, far poorer than we should be, and we're on the verge of re-electing the idiots who gave us that. Absolute madness.

[Donnywolf]

Latest betting is good news for Labour

They couldn't could they ?

https://www.oddschecker.com/insight/politics/20191210-turning-tide-labour-minority-more-popular-than-tory-majority-in-latest-general-election-betting

[SydneyRover]

I'll just toss this into the salad 

''Peter Oborne: Why are Britain’s ‘watchdogs’ protecting politicians, not us?''

https://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/peter-oborne-why-are-britains-watchdogs-protecting-politicians-not-us/

[Not Now Kato]

For all of the lovers of fake news
 
https://bylinetimes.com/2019/12/10/trolls-sock-puppets-and-useful-idiots-an-anatomy-of-an-election-disinformation-campaign/
 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Interesting comment on the radio last night comparing Johnson with Thatcher. Saying how Thatcher managed to convince Northern voters that it was in their interests to vote Tory by letting them buy their council houses in 1979 and 1983. Then systematically destroying their industries and communities. Boris is doing something similar with Brexit and yet again people are falling for it.

[wing commander]

  Hopefully this last minute optimism in the Labour ranks of actually getting into no10 with a minority back door government is just some whispy straw clutching..
   
 Sturgeon would have Corbyn bent over backwards with her demands..It's going to be a close run thing but I'm hoping the leave Labour voters realise that Labour is a remain party in all but name and desert him in the key marginal..

[BillyStubbsTears]

WingCo.

If, say, Labour pick up 36%, the LDs 10%, SNP 4% and Greens 2%, and they come to a deal, how would that be a "minority back door Govt"?

Compared to say Johnson picking up 42% and being given a clear run for 5 years without needing a partner.

[wing commander]

  Brexit apart that would be a Government of Chaos imo.The deals Labour would have to do to get that lot on board would make a mockery of what people voted for.Like the DUP did with the last government they would all want a slice of the pie but at a lot bigger cost to the point of making the manifesto not worth the paper it's printed on.

  On a separate point could you clear this up for me,and this question is a genuine one because I'm not sure about the answer and thought you might know.

  If the above scenario comes to pass,all the above party's would form a remain supporting government pushing to stay in the EU.However it was my belief that if Brexit fails and we do stay in the EU.Then it would be against EU rules to nationalise the service industry's that Labour is committed to doing from day 1 of the new parliamentary term..

  Have I interpreted that wrong Billy??? Like I say that's a genuine question mate...

[BillyStubbsTears]

WingCo.

Good points. Here's my take.

1) Broad coalitions are common in many other successfully-run countries. The far bigger problem with our system is that 40-42% of the vote can give a majority that gives a PM effectively unrestricted power. That is just not right, whichever party benefits.

2) My understanding it is that EU rules wouldn't forbid that.

But...
3) Corbyn won't be in a position to implement it. The LDs won't sign up to Labour's full spending plans. They would have to water it down.

[wing commander]

Billy I was trying to find the answer to the EU question myself and couldn't really get a straight answer to it.Some experts were saying as you have said that there are ways around it.However some others were saying  the EU rule that covers the Market Pillar Directive would mean that services like the railways simply couldn't be nationalised under any condition..

I'm actually a bit surprised the question hasn't been debated more tbh because the position doesn't appear crystal clear,to a layman like me anyway..

[Donnywolf]

Yes to Number 1

Who can forget Thatchers landslide with 42%. It is just not right whatever Party benefits. Huge pressure for PR but if Johnson gets in would the Tories EVER even think about their greatest asset FPTP - I doubt it in fact I am far nore certain than "I doubt it"

Number 3 - Corbyn would be isolated and would as you say have to water down the expansive promises he has made AND SNP would have him over a barrel as well. If he wanted to lead the Country as PM he would take both those options

However it would be massively better imho than Johnson

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

BST is of course correct and Cameron won a majority on a much smaller vote share than Theresa May's failure.  Indeed in the last election both main parties polled more than the previous winner and the tories weren't far off Blairs last election  win with big majority.  It's a complex system and this election will have numerous surprises.

[wing commander]

Yes to Number 1

Who can forget Thatchers landslide with 42%. It is just not right whatever Party benefits. Huge pressure for PR but if Johnson gets in would the Tories EVER even think about their greatest asset FPTP - I doubt it in fact I am far nore certain than "I doubt it"

Number 3 - Corbyn would be isolated and would as you say have to water down the expansive promises he has made AND SNP would have him over a barrel as well. If he wanted to lead the Country as PM he would take both those options

However it would be massively better imho than Johnson

On that we will have to strongly disagree mate..lol

[The Red Baron]

https://www.sportingindex.com/spread-betting/politics/british/group_b.6b9db4dc-d1df-4c9d-b9ab-c9a136a91f1e/uk-general-election-seats-markets/?tpid=8909&btag=a_941&siteid=941&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=marketspecific

Latest seat spreads. Tory spread down from yesterday when it was 340-346. I'd probably be selling still until it gets to 330-336 territory.

[BillyStubbsTears]

One to ponder when you're voting today.

https://mobile.twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1204896167177252864

[SydneyRover]

Stoney ground bst

[BillyStubbsTears]

Got to keep telling them though.

If Johnson DOES get his majority, the folk who have insisted on not looking at these warnings will own the economic disaster.

They need reminding. Regularly.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Lots of talk that Ian Duncan Smith the tory at most risk, I'm sure we all agree it would be a real shame that....

[BillyStubbsTears]

Raab is on a knife edge too. If Johnson does win, at least there might be some schadenfreude if those two lose.

[Filo]

Lots of talk that Ian Duncan Smith the tory at most risk, I'm sure we all agree it would be a real shame that....

I hope he attends his universal credit appointments on time 😂😂😂😂

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Raab is on a knife edge too. If Johnson does win, at least there might be some schadenfreude if those two lose.

Another shame....

[DonnyOsmond]

We could have Raab as PM tomorrow if Boris does lose, that's the unfortunate thing.

[wilts rover]

Strong rumours on that there internet thing that big surge in tactical voting in Uxbridge - Johnson could be in trouble

[Filo]

Strong rumours on that there internet thing that big surge in tactical voting in Uxbridge - Johnson could be in trouble

Here’s hoping

I don’t think there is a deputy PM at the moment, who would be PM ifBoris is out on his arse?

[bpoolrover]

I think a safe Tory seat would give there seat up causing a by election and he would run for that so if tories were in power he would be caretaker pm until the said by election

[idler]

I wonder how he would spin it if he lost his seat and then stood in a by-election in a safe Tory seat to then get in with a much reduced majority.

[drfchound]

Strong rumours on that there internet thing that big surge in tactical voting in Uxbridge - Johnson could be in trouble

Apparently BJ didn’t vote for himself today, choosing to vote nearer to his home instead.
He must be confident enough that he is safe after doing so.

[Tarkovsky_Mikluzhkin]

I wonder how he would spin it if he lost his seat and then stood in a by-election in a safe Tory seat to then get in with a much reduced majority.

Shrug pull a goofy face and hope everyone just laughed about it which to be fair they always seem to "Oh Boris! You little cheeky evil so and so"