General Election 2010

[NJS 4386]

The biggest problem was they vote on their own pay, expenses packages etc. so they weren't accountable to anyone but themselves. That's open to abuse and anything that is, will be abused. That doesn't excuse it though. Good that it happened in a perverse way.

 

It pissed me off when I was a contractor when they brought IR35 in when to all intents and purposes MPs should be classified as such - they have semi-fixed term contracts and as such shouldn't get expenses or pensions etc - they should be self-employed at a decent rate then what they did with that money in terms of expenses and staff etc would be their own business. It would also hit those who rarely turn up.

[Park Life 71]

House of Commons Cafe is free apparently.

[Renton 21626]

House of Commons Cafe is free apparently.

 

It's heavily subsidised but not free iirc. Otherwise there'd be more Cyril Smiths.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

An award-winning porn director has been selected as a Liberal Democrat candidate.

 

Anna Arrowsmith, who has twice been named adult entertainment director of the year, is standing for election in Gravesham, Kent.

 

Party leader Nick Clegg said her work was "not exactly my cup of tea" but praised her for not being a "cardboard cut-out Westminster politician".

 

He told GMTV it was important that people like her, who care about their local area, get involved in politics.

 

When news of her selection was confirmed, Mrs Arrowsmith wrote on her Twitter page: "From porn to Parliament, here I come!"

 

Using the pseudonym Anna Span, she has shot more than 250 explicit scenes for stations such as Television X.

 

She was named best director at the 2008 and 2009 UK Adult Film and Television Awards and now runs adult entertainment company Easy on the Eye productions.

 

Mrs Arrowsmith, who has an MA in philosophy, said she wants to make porn more female-friendly.

 

She decided to stand as a reaction to the expenses scandal and the lack of women in Parliament.

 

"If people don't know what I do for a living then they would never know. The local party and the local people who I have so far met have seen that I'm very driven," she said.

 

"I'm not campaigning on behalf of my old industry. I'm campaigning on behalf of the people in the Gravesham area.

 

"When people get to see me, they will realise that I'm used to project managing and that I'm driven to achieve change rather than just promising it."

 

The married 38-year-old lives in Groombridge, near Tunbridge Wells.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way

 

Or perhaps some people have strong convictions and actually believe in something other than this being a popularity contest, or about personal gain. The sheep imo are those that are led by the popular media in this country.

 

problem is I don't think there are many convictions left in politics.

 

Snouts in the trough (3 at court yesterday)

 

illegal wars ( thousands killed for oil)

 

Tories any better?

 

Convictions.......

 

 

There are other parties.

 

As much as i loathe and despise the BNP I'd rather people voted for them (or the Lib Dems, Green, UKIP etc.) than not voting because of apathy towards the Tories and Labour. A 30% turnout and hung parliament isn't really the kick in the arse the two parties that have shared power for over a century need.

 

 

They need to get out and start trying to win some votes then.

 

I've never had an candidate knock on my door (lucky escape for them Used to love a good old doorstep challenge with the mormons)

 

I guess its because we live in a "foregone conclusion" area. That aside they should still try.

[Park Life 71]

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way

 

Or perhaps some people have strong convictions and actually believe in something other than this being a popularity contest, or about personal gain. The sheep imo are those that are led by the popular media in this country.

 

problem is I don't think there are many convictions left in politics.

 

Snouts in the trough (3 at court yesterday)

 

illegal wars ( thousands killed for oil)

 

Tories any better?

 

Convictions.......

 

 

There are other parties.

 

As much as i loathe and despise the BNP I'd rather people voted for them (or the Lib Dems, Green, UKIP etc.) than not voting because of apathy towards the Tories and Labour. A 30% turnout and hung parliament isn't really the kick in the arse the two parties that have shared power for over a century need.

 

 

They need to get out and start trying to win some votes then.

 

I've never had an candidate knock on my door (lucky escape for them Used to love a good old doorstep challenge with the mormons)

 

I guess its because we live in a "foregone conclusion" area. That aside they should still try.

 

You are a forgone conclusion Tree.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

Green all the way

 

Booyaka!!

 

The Green party are the least flexible and most dogmatic party of all. Take their stance on nuclear power. Idiots.

 

I don't for one second think that the Green party would get in though, that's the point.

 

A vote for either of the main two parties or not voting at all is the same thing. It shows support or indifference towards their almost identical approaches.

 

An increased vote for extreme left and right wing parties will both pull the main parties out of the centre towards opposing extremes as well as increasing the flexibility of the extreme parties who will push to increase their vote by becoming more centerist.

 

 

The greens time has come and gone. People are too busy struggling to make ends meet to worry about green issues.

 

The BNP. Well that will always be a nothing party as well regardless of peoples genuine concerns over immigration and the effect on some communities.

 

Whats needed is a new party to rise up and try and put honesty at the forefront of all they do. They should not get bogged down in "convictions" but more interested in the solutions to the days problems.

 

Steer away from soundbites and get back in the communities at grass root level.

 

there must be another way and I think we are crying out for it.

 

Labour and Conservatives are now just the same old tricks with slightly different clothes.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way

 

Or perhaps some people have strong convictions and actually believe in something other than this being a popularity contest, or about personal gain. The sheep imo are those that are led by the popular media in this country.

 

problem is I don't think there are many convictions left in politics.

 

Snouts in the trough (3 at court yesterday)

 

illegal wars ( thousands killed for oil)

 

Tories any better?

 

Convictions.......

 

 

There are other parties.

 

As much as i loathe and despise the BNP I'd rather people voted for them (or the Lib Dems, Green, UKIP etc.) than not voting because of apathy towards the Tories and Labour. A 30% turnout and hung parliament isn't really the kick in the arse the two parties that have shared power for over a century need.

 

 

They need to get out and start trying to win some votes then.

 

I've never had an candidate knock on my door (lucky escape for them Used to love a good old doorstep challenge with the mormons)

 

I guess its because we live in a "foregone conclusion" area. That aside they should still try.

 

You are a forgone conclusion Tree.

[Toonpack 9409]

Green all the way

 

Booyaka!!

 

The Green party are the least flexible and most dogmatic party of all. Take their stance on nuclear power. Idiots.

 

I don't for one second think that the Green party would get in though, that's the point.

 

A vote for either of the main two parties or not voting at all is the same thing. It shows support or indifference towards their almost identical approaches.

 

An increased vote for extreme left and right wing parties will both pull the main parties out of the centre towards opposing extremes as well as increasing the flexibility of the extreme parties who will push to increase their vote by becoming more centerist.

 

 

The greens time has come and gone. People are too busy struggling to make ends meet to worry about green issues.

 

Unfortunately for the Greens, the mainline politico's have gazumped them by embracing the man-made global warming myth.

[Happy Face 29]

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way

 

Or perhaps some people have strong convictions and actually believe in something other than this being a popularity contest, or about personal gain. The sheep imo are those that are led by the popular media in this country.

 

problem is I don't think there are many convictions left in politics.

 

Snouts in the trough (3 at court yesterday)

 

illegal wars ( thousands killed for oil)

 

Tories any better?

 

Convictions.......

 

 

There are other parties.

 

As much as i loathe and despise the BNP I'd rather people voted for them (or the Lib Dems, Green, UKIP etc.) than not voting because of apathy towards the Tories and Labour. A 30% turnout and hung parliament isn't really the kick in the arse the two parties that have shared power for over a century need.

 

 

They need to get out and start trying to win some votes then.

 

I've never had an candidate knock on my door (lucky escape for them Used to love a good old doorstep challenge with the mormons)

 

I guess its because we live in a "foregone conclusion" area. That aside they should still try.

 

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

[LeazesMag 0]

So it looks as though May 6th is the big day and that we are now going to spend 8 weeks being cohersed into supporting one side or the other.

 

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way, but for the floaters out there, who actually decide elections, are there any big real differences to excite them.

 

1 year ago most would have seen this as a fore gone conclusion however now it's all looking very tight and muddy.

 

None of the usual election bribes as both sides promising cuts to tackle the debt.

 

Are there any election bribes coming?

 

Will a scandal or two swing it?

 

I think this could be one of the greyest elections ever.

 

could do with a few BNP or raghead rallies or to liven things up a bit

[Renton 21626]

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

Christ no, have you no standards? Stupid question .

[Park Life 71]

Green all the way

 

Booyaka!!

 

The Green party are the least flexible and most dogmatic party of all. Take their stance on nuclear power. Idiots.

 

I don't for one second think that the Green party would get in though, that's the point.

 

A vote for either of the main two parties or not voting at all is the same thing. It shows support or indifference towards their almost identical approaches.

 

An increased vote for extreme left and right wing parties will both pull the main parties out of the centre towards opposing extremes as well as increasing the flexibility of the extreme parties who will push to increase their vote by becoming more centerist.

 

 

The greens time has come and gone. People are too busy struggling to make ends meet to worry about green issues.

 

Unfortunately for the Greens, the mainline politico's have gazumped them by embracing the man-made global warming myth.

 

[Happy Face 29]

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

Christ no, have you no standards? Stupid question .

 

She's always been a doll. Wore tight leather pants back in the day

[Renton 21626]

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

Christ no, have you no standards? Stupid question .

 

She's always been a doll. Wore tight leather pants back in the day

 

I'm sending her your name and this URL.

[Happy Face 29]

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

Christ no, have you no standards? Stupid question .

 

She's always been a doll. Wore tight leather pants back in the day

 

I'm sending her your name and this URL.

 

I've already sent stronger stuff

[Park Life 71]

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

Christ no, have you no standards? Stupid question .

 

She's always been a doll. Wore tight leather pants back in the day

 

Good sucking lips.

[ewerk 30611]

Unfortunately I live in an area where no matter who is elected it'll have no real influence over national politics.

 

Even if I did live in an area with mainstream candidates the choice of Labour or Conservative would still fill me with apathy.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

Obviously there will be the sheep on both sides who can only manage to vote one way

 

Or perhaps some people have strong convictions and actually believe in something other than this being a popularity contest, or about personal gain. The sheep imo are those that are led by the popular media in this country.

 

problem is I don't think there are many convictions left in politics.

 

Snouts in the trough (3 at court yesterday)

 

illegal wars ( thousands killed for oil)

 

Tories any better?

 

Convictions.......

 

 

There are other parties.

 

As much as i loathe and despise the BNP I'd rather people voted for them (or the Lib Dems, Green, UKIP etc.) than not voting because of apathy towards the Tories and Labour. A 30% turnout and hung parliament isn't really the kick in the arse the two parties that have shared power for over a century need.

 

 

They need to get out and start trying to win some votes then.

 

I've never had an candidate knock on my door (lucky escape for them Used to love a good old doorstep challenge with the mormons)

 

I guess its because we live in a "foregone conclusion" area. That aside they should still try.

 

I live in South Tyneside too and I'm constantly getting flyers from David Miliband, the BNP and the local independents.

 

Not so much from the Conservatives.

 

The lass that's running in South Shields as the Tory candidate was in all my classes as at school....

 

http://southshieldsconservatives.co.uk/karen_allen_55.html

 

http://karen4southshields.co.uk/index.php?...3&Itemid=10

 

She's a friend on Facebook so I posted on her wall how shocked I was that someone with a similar North Eastern upbringing to mine could end up a Thatcherite disgrace (there's photos of her meeting the witch on FB). For some reason she removed the comment though.

 

Definitley would though.

 

 

Excellent

 

 

Before taking up a place at University she spent six months working as a TEFL teacher in Moscow and then three months as a farmhand in Norway.

 

Aye aye

[Craig 6682]

Politically my views are more liberal than anything else but IMO the Lib Dems are damaging to themselves hence why they are such a minority party.

 

There is an issue with the electorate - too many people think that it is one party or the other - probably on account that they know one or the other will be in power. But surely left-wing Tory and right-wing Labour is covering the Liberal middle-ground? Never understand this ideal of 'hung-parliament' and it is a measure of the current system. As Alex states we are desperately in need of electoral reform.

 

I also believe a lot of the electorate vote on account of what their parents believed in or what they've learned from political history in this country. A good deal don't base their thoughts or opinions on what themselves have experienced. I've lived my electable life under a Labour government (1997 was the first General Election I voted in). Do I think they have done a good job? During the majority of the Blair years yes, but then I'm not naive enough to refuse to acknowledge that the final days of the Major government set the foundations for the economic upturn. But in the same light, I believe the Torys did a lot of damage that Labour repaired.

 

I think this country inherently struggles to sustain a political party for more than 10 years and things have to change. That's not to say one side is right and one is wrong, we just appear to need some new heads in the corridor of power to move us on and prevent stagnation.

 

As I said in the opening sentence I'm politically neither in favour of either Labour or the Conservatives but I think that the country as a mass will decide it's time for change and weighing up the pros and cons I think I am probaly in agreement with that. But I was also in agreement with it back in 1997.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

There was a lot of excitement and hope in 1997 when Blair strolled in. Britain was cool and all that.

 

Thats not here now, even after so many years of one party, im not sure that there is a great appetite for change, even in closet tories like me.

 

I really do think apathy has really taken hold and something needs to occur to jolt it back to life.

 

As always with old governments, this one has used up all the good people and seems to have no ideas.

[Craig 6682]

tbh we'd had 18 years of Tory rule back then, we've only had 13 years of Labour.

 

The political climate is very similar to what it was in 1992 in reality:

• Same period of time that the sitting government had been in power:
  
• We're on the way out of recession.
  
• The opposition was strongly favoured to win the election which has dwindled as the election has got nearer.
  
• The sitting Prime Minister has been in power for less than two years and was elected by his party, not his subjects.
  

With that in mind you could well consider that Labour may win one more term. But if they do you can bet your life it'll be a landslide Tory win in 2015 and that they'll likely win another two terms on the back of the electorate not wanting to go back to what went before...

[NJS 4386]

The idea of a hung parliament/coalition appeals to me on the one hand as I like the idea of a collaborative consensus drawing from a few sides of any debate. The argument against that has always been it restricts a government with a firm progressive mandate which is true but I think those days are over anyway.

 

I agree there is a shelf-life concept in the UK - to some extent I was surprised Major lost as I never found Blair's vision that inspiring - I had a feeling they would fail to right many of the wrongs but a bit of that was due to Major acting as a buffer from people's memories of what the bitch had done.

 

I would make the point that I've always found the concept of "What will they do for me?" to be a core fault. It may be idealistic but I'd like more people to think about the common good. I know that personally I would probably be better off under a Tory govenment but as someone who didn't suffer too bad personally last time but had to witness what they did to the NE and the rest of the country, I found it painful and wouldn't want a repeat.

[NJS 4386]

Thats not here now, even after so many years of one party, im not sure that there is a great appetite for change, even in closet tories like me.

 

I think it would have been very interesting if the crunch hadn't happened - the tories would have been able to promise quite large tax cuts and Labour would have been able to pursue a quite radical agenda to combat that.

 

I think now both are a bit timid (understandably) knowing we're skint.

[Christmas Tree 4725]

The idea of a hung parliament/coalition appeals to me on the one hand as I like the idea of a collaborative consensus drawing from a few sides of any debate. The argument against that has always been it restricts a government with a firm progressive mandate which is true but I think those days are over anyway.

 

I agree there is a shelf-life concept in the UK - to some extent I was surprised Major lost as I never found Blair's vision that inspiring - I had a feeling they would fail to right many of the wrongs but a bit of that was due to Major acting as a buffer from people's memories of what the bitch had done.

 

I would make the point that I've always found the concept of "What will they do for me?" to be a core fault. It may be idealistic but I'd like more people to think about the common good. I know that personally I would probably be better off under a Tory govenment but as someone who didn't suffer too bad personally last time but had to witness what they did to the NE and the rest of the country, I found it painful and wouldn't want a repeat.

 

But you cant for all time hold every conservative government responsible for what a previous government did? Where would you draw the line in history?