PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
On now on Channel 4 / Sky / BBC news now. Cameron & Milliband Live: The Battle for #10.
Hung parliament, most likely
Is Robinson still excluded from the Leaders' debates?
Quote from: Rossfan on March 26, 2015, 09:56:15 PM
Is Robinson still excluded from the Leaders' debates?
There is one debate with everyone involved, which will be complete bollix, even if Robinson is a master debater.
Watched most of thon on Channel 4, hard to watch at times. Labour's biggest problem is obviously Milliband, the audience, Paxman and Burley (??) from Sky all palpably had little or no respect for him, his performance was meh. Maybe it's my own political bias showing but I definitely thought the part of the show conducted by Burley gave our Dave a free ride & Ed had to deal with a few snarkey comments from her & the audience. If that's the standard of debate we're in for it's going to be a dull General Election. Did Paxman only interview Ed or did i doze off? ???
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 26, 2015, 09:12:04 PM
PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
The RTE correspondent said the SNP will take a lot of Labour seats in Scotland...yet the Scots don't want independence. It's a funny old world.
When it comes to debates its hard to beat Clegg. Look what happened last time!
Quote from: armaghniac on March 26, 2015, 10:10:00 PM
Quote from: Rossfan on March 26, 2015, 09:56:15 PM
Is Robinson still excluded from the Leaders' debates?
There is one debate with everyone involved, which will be complete bollix, even if Robinson is a master debater.
The debate next week is between the 7 British party leaders, i.e. Conservative, Labour, Liberals, UKIP, Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru. They say they will facilitate the NI parties during the campaign but that's likely to be the usual horseshit.
Quote from: bennydorano on March 26, 2015, 10:38:09 PMDid Paxman only interview Ed or did i doze off? ???
Missed that myself but afaik Cameron got grilled by Paxman first and then Burley, Red Ed was the other way round.
Personally would like to see three things happen come May, Tories to remain the largest party, SNP to wipe the floor in Scotland and the Lib Dems to be reduced to single figures.
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 26, 2015, 10:51:25 PM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 26, 2015, 09:12:04 PM
PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
The RTE correspondent said the SNP will take a lot of Labour seats in Scotland...yet the Scots don't want independence. It's a funny old world.
It's not a funny old world at all. In a First Past The Post Election the winner in each constituency regularly gets less than 50% of the vote. The SNP could clean up in Scotland and be very consistent with the independence poll.
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 26, 2015, 10:51:25 PM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 26, 2015, 09:12:04 PM
PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
The RTE correspondent said the SNP will take a lot of Labour seats in Scotland...yet the Scots don't want independence. It's a funny old world.
The save the union effort last year was a desperate rearguard effort. SNP support kept on rising afterwards. The mainstream parties are losing voters especially on the way the economy is going and in Scotland the 2 factors are coming together.
Quote from: seafoid on March 27, 2015, 06:06:45 AM
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 26, 2015, 10:51:25 PM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 26, 2015, 09:12:04 PM
PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
The RTE correspondent said the SNP will take a lot of Labour seats in Scotland...yet the Scots don't want independence. It's a funny old world.
The save the union effort last year was a desperate rearguard effort. SNP support kept on rising afterwards. The mainstream parties are losing voters especially on the way the economy is going and in Scotland the 2 factors are coming together.
Surely the economy is improving ?
Quote from: Kidder81 on March 27, 2015, 07:32:43 AM
Quote from: seafoid on March 27, 2015, 06:06:45 AM
Quote from: Farrandeelin on March 26, 2015, 10:51:25 PM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 26, 2015, 09:12:04 PM
PMQs was good crack yesterday. Funny so so much of the media missed the rise of the SNP over the years.
The RTE correspondent said the SNP will take a lot of Labour seats in Scotland...yet the Scots don't want independence. It's a funny old world.
The save the union effort last year was a desperate rearguard effort. SNP support kept on rising afterwards. The mainstream parties are losing voters especially on the way the economy is going and in Scotland the 2 factors are coming together.
Surely the economy is improving ?
not really. . house prices are up all right but a lot of poorer people are very scared about the future.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/16/insecure-britain-poll-economic-recovery-immigration
because they are bearing the cost of economic adjustment
http://fairpayfortnight.org/post/112038025393/almost-700-000-people-in-uk-have-zero-hours
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/03/victims-britains-harsh-welfare-sanctions
the deficit is still rising and Osborne can't get it down
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/88227ee6-7729-11e4-8273-00144feabdc0.html
So there are huge cuts coming if the Tories get back in. Sandi Toksvig said the Tories put the "n" back in cuts, which was very good.
"The UK chancellor will promise large cuts in public spending relative to gross domestic product, resulting in a budgetary tightening of over 5 per cent of GDP between 2014-15 and 2018-19 . As a result of shortfalls in income tax receipts , spending restraint may need to last even longer into the next parliament than expected"
NHS funding is flat. Police, teachers, NHS employees, civil servants- they are all getting hit and won't necessarily
vote Tory or Labour.
It is not looking good at all
Quote from: bennydorano on March 26, 2015, 10:38:09 PM
Watched most of thon on Channel 4, hard to watch at times. Labour's biggest problem is obviously Milliband, the audience, Paxman and Burley (??) from Sky all palpably had little or no respect for him, his performance was meh. Maybe it's my own political bias showing but I definitely thought the part of the show conducted by Burley gave our Dave a free ride & Ed had to deal with a few snarkey comments from her & the audience. If that's the standard of debate we're in for it's going to be a dull General Election. Did Paxman only interview Ed or did i doze off? ???
Labour also has the problem of credibility on the economy. Ed Balls was Gordon Brown's right hand man and is associated with light touch regulation which banjaxed the financial system
Another problem is the sense that the people in charge in the big parties are all wonks who are too far removed from the real world.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/17/labour-candidates-marginal-seats-westminster-insiders
Maybe it shows the type of geek i am, but thought Channel 4's 'Coalition' drama last night was first class, well worth watching (if you've an interest!)
Does it matter who wins? It will still be austerity,government in interests of corporate sector etc.The fact that there is basically no difference between any of the parties means coalition government (as is the case in the 26 counties) is here to stay.
Quote from: T Fearon on March 29, 2015, 08:43:22 AM
Does it matter who wins? It will still be austerity,government in interests of corporate sector etc.The fact that there is basically no difference between any of the parties means coalition government (as is the case in the 26 counties) is here to stay.
I woul say SF are praying the Tories get in so they can continue to blame everything on "savage Tory cuts", doesent have the same ring to it when Labour are doing exactly the same.
Quote from: bennydorano on March 29, 2015, 08:26:34 AM
Maybe it shows the type of geek i am, but thought Channel 4's 'Coalition' drama last night was first class, well worth watching (if you've an interest!)
I watched it too. Excellent bit of drama. Just wonder how much was poetic licence.
I see Robbo is saying that the DUP could deal with (i.e. prop up) either Labour or the Tories. About time Labour and the Tories publically stated that they will not do a deal with an NI party that will (some will say further) compromises their custodian role in the devolved NI.
As for the debate I thought yer woman from Sky was less than professional in her dealings with Ed Milliband. On the European question he gave a perfectly sensible and reasoned answer ane even set out in the context. She described it as a "politician's answer". I thought Miliband was the better performer in front of the audience. He was clearly rattled by the abrasive style of Paxman and took 10 mins to recover. He finished strongly but 10 mins to recover in an 18 min interview is probably 2 late.
Cameron was poor in front of the audience and impressed with Paxman but only in the sense that he was impressively slippery and evasive.
4pt bounce for Labour post debate according to the Sunday Times Yougov poll, 36% Lab, 32% Con. Milliband's performance surprising many polled.
This could be a great opportunity for SF to abandon their abstenionist policies - assuming a narrow Labour victory. Surely has to be being discussed or at least considered? If they can sit in Stormont they can sit in Westminster. The DUP are 100% correct in their approach to this election, in that they see themselves as potential Kingmakers who can negotiate a better funding package for NI, I genuinely think NI parties could make hay this election.
I can't see Labour going anywhere near SF (in terms of looking for their support), but SF taking their seats would push up the number of seats required for a majority.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 29, 2015, 03:42:39 PM
I can't see Labour going anywhere near SF (in terms of looking for their support), but SF taking their seats would push up the number of seats required for a majority.
Agree x2
SF are surely toxic in terms of Westminster deals
Quote from: seafoid on March 26, 2015, 09:50:31 PM
Hung parliament, most likely
The more hung, the better.
Quote from: LCohen on March 29, 2015, 03:55:46 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 29, 2015, 03:42:39 PM
I can't see Labour going anywhere near SF (in terms of looking for their support), but SF taking their seats would push up the number of seats required for a majority.
Agree x2
SF are surely toxic in terms of Westminster deals
Yep, Labour would be destroyed by the UK media.
If SF were smart about it they would revise their abstention from Westminister and use their seats to their advantage.
Imagine Pat Doherty or Gerry Kelly propping up the government - LOL!
We'd nearly be 'a nation once again'
Quote from: foxcommander on March 30, 2015, 04:59:23 PM
If SF were smart about it they would revise their abstention from Westminister and use their seats to their advantage.
Imagine Pat Doherty or Gerry Kelly propping up the government - LOL!
That abstention policy makes no sense given they power share in NI.
In a body with around 650 seats does anyone notice who is sitting there or not.
Big headline in the daily telegraph today warning that a Labour win would threaten the economic recovery. There is none. Wages are not rising sufficiently.