UK Politics

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

I have created this thread for people to comment on the current gov't in UK, and who they might like to see voted in after Blair is gone.

My view is that the Liberal Democrats should be elected. One of their promises is that University would become much freer that it is now, and we have already seen them deliver on this in Scotland, so why not give them a chance 'down south'?

[The Gaffer]

In theory, I'd agree, though in practice I'm not sure they actually have a coherent and credible set of policies. Although they were the only party that opposed the Iraq war, I thought they did a pretty pants job of putting across the anti-war argument.

We have a lib-dem council, and they always seem to adopt the populist stance. Like when they rallied behind some NIMBYs objecting to a new bus route for the local hospital because it would mean their house prices would go down.

Lib-dem councillor: Would you like to sign the petition to object to this dreadful new bus route?
The Gaffer: So, you think we shouldn't have better public transport, then?
Ldc: er... no, of course we should have better public transport, er, it should just go somewhere else
The Gaffer: Right, so the people who work for the NHS and therefore can't afford to buy a house within 20 miles of the hospital should just get a job somewhere else, then? Or should they buy another car and add to the congestion instead?
Ldc: er, * starts sweating *, erm don't you think that Charles Kennedy is a nice young man?

Actually, Charles Kennedy seems like a good bloke, though the British people will never elect a redhead.

Having said that, I might end up voting for them just because Bliar is such an arse, and the Tories are even worse. God, it's so depressing.

Gordon Brown for PM!

[sun-star]

I would like to see Gordon Brown as PM.

Janny?

[Janny]

*sniggers* Is that one of those controversial statments to cause an argument?

(But yes... maaaaybe me too)

Sorry, I forgot: Why?!

[sun-star]

Originally Posted by Janny

*sniggers* Is that one of those controversial statments to cause an argument?

No, I'm just bored. And in a politics mood.

Sorry, I forgot: Why?!

Well, we don't know much about him, but AFAIK he's:
a) not obsessed with spin
b) anti-Euro
c) not Thatcherite
d) responsible for the govt's best policies to date

Therefore he is better than Blair or Howard.

EDIT: or Charles Kennedy. Funny how I always forget about him.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I'm for Charle's Kennedy as PM.

[Janny]

Originally Posted by sun-star

Well, we don't know much about him, but AFAIK he's:

Ah! The Democrat model of candidate selection!

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

so, how bout charlie boy forgettin his party's tax plans?

poor guy, needs some sleep with the new baby an all!

[The Gaffer]

Yeah, hardly suprising.

He made a good fist of his trial-by-Paxman last night, though.

So, what's the verdict so far then? The Tories seem to be losing ground after their good start, perhaps getting rightly punished for their harping on about immigration and MRSA too much. Labour seem to be doing not very much so far. I can't imagine too many people reading their way through their little book. However, at least there's an effort there to put in some substance rather than just style. Lib Dems still haven't broken through the "no, but seriously" barrier I don't think, though I reckon they'll pick up a lot of anti-war votes in Labour seats.

Or is everyone bored to death with it already? (I saw one poll in which over 80% of people said they'd already made up their minds and would like to vote tomorrow so that they don't have to put up with any more rubbish)

I was thinking about voting Green but I see they would ban animal testing so that's them out the window.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

Originally Posted by gaffer

was thinking about voting Green but I see they would ban animal testing so that's them out the window

that would make me vote for them more... compulsory vegetarianism is a good idea, maybe party should adopt that

[The Gaffer]

I would rather have compulsory veggieness than ban testing new drugs on animals.

But it's OK to eat animals. Didn't you know? It's God's way of punishing them for being stupid.

[Draken]

Interesting how Labour's lead is stretching in the polls. Not sure if it's down to disapproval of Tory policies or general revulsion at that chilling leer that Howard passes off as a smile.

I heard a sound-bite from a woman-in-the-street supporter of tougher immigration control saying that 'there were enough people in the country already.' Simple solution! All those minor celebs who said they would definitely leave the country if Labour won the last time (and time before that) but are still here should be made to keep their word. That should free up quite a few acres in Essex.

As for the Greens, whatever they may say they are at heart a single-issue lobby group. As such they've done as much as they could ever expect in our electoral system - they've brought a lot of their concerns into the mainstream. I think they have an interesting ideological problem in the future: as the world gets more concerned about global warming, sooner or later governments will figure out there is only one power source that doesn't produce carbon emissions, that can deliver the power output needed and that can do it in the timescale needed - the one a lot of Greens probably joined the party to campaign against.

[hectorberlioz]

Hey Gaffer, concerning the new mayor of London: is his view of Iraq or America important. And if so, what is his position?

[The Gaffer]

Whatever his party leader tells him it is.

Boris supported the war. He's pretty right wing and is strongly pro-US. He certaintly won't be going the Ken Livingstone route of saying George Bush is a greater threat to world peace than Bin Laden.

Whether his position important or not is a moot point. To me, his importance will be as trailblazer of the government-in-waiting. To the US, I guess it would be that and direct links with US counterparts. And again, in contrast with his predecessor, who was bezzie mates with Hugo Chavez.

[hectorberlioz]

Good to hear. I hope he works out for you.

Speaking of pro-US foreign leaders, I'm still waiting for Sarkozy to do his job instead of remarry five-thousand times...

[Coffeehouse]

Tell that to George W. Bush, the most incompetent leader in the West since the Germans suffered the stupidity of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Sarkozy is f*ing brilliant compared to the loser in the White House.

[hectorberlioz]

Ouch?

I'm not saying Sarkozy is stupid. I'm just saying he needs to get to.

And sorry, but George Bush is a very smart guy. Not one of the greats, but certainly not one of the worst.

[Coffeehouse]

That's too funny. Your 'smart' president has made some of the most spectacularly amateurish mistakes a president can make, and has disgraced your entire country (and got re-elected!). If that's smart then I hope the current presidential candidates are all Einstein's (wait they'd have to be Einsten + Newton!)

Then again, there's smart, and there's wise. Big difference.

See what strong feelings that jackass bring out in me..

[Jonathan]

Bush has made himself despised in many countries and is very responsible for America's currently poor reputation in the world. Still I'm with Hector on this one. Bush is in many ways a smart person. Though many Americans aren't satisfied with him, I've gathered he's made some good moves domestically. Which is why he got re-elected probably. The world may dislike Bush for his foreign policies but ignore whatever work he's done on the home front.

[Coffeehouse]

See that'd be comforting if it were true. It would in fact mean that he isn't completely incompetent. Alas..

But Bush' domestic achievements is even more abysmal than his record abroad. Why? Because he has no achievements domestically.

Two words: The economy.

Let's see, G.W. Bush has turned a national surplus into a mind-shattering deficit and practically ruined the U.S. Treasury.
Never have as many American filed private bankrupcy as during Bush's reign.
Never have gasoline prices been as high in the U.S. as during Bush, and he has done absolutely nothing to curb those prices with the help of investment in alternative energy.

His domestic record is shambles. It is as useless as his foreign record. And the 2006 Congressional elections show just how much his party has suffered because of it.

Not to mention his performance during Katrina.. (???)

Let's not kid ourselves. And btw, a vote for McCain is a vote for Bush.