General Election 2010

[Andrew 4718]

So David Miliband is standing for leadership. I hope his parents have a note excusing him from any upcoming exams and time off from school.

 

This coalition may just work. The Lib Dems could act as a brake on the Tories' desires to shit on the poor and get bummed by the rich. Nick Clegg is also dealing with constitutional reforms, so we may get some action in that area too (though that is probably used by Cameron as a distraction so Nick doesn't pose a challenge).

 

not that his age has anything to do with anything but

 

year older than cameron

 

same age as blair when he took office

[Christmas Tree 4695]

David Miliband announced he's standing for the Labour leadership.

 

really hope he gets it. The man has the personality of a dead fish.

 

Labour could be out for years if he gets in.

[PaddockLad 17084]

So David Miliband is standing for leadership. I hope his parents have a note excusing him from any upcoming exams and time off from school.

 

This coalition may just work. The Lib Dems could act as a brake on the Tories' desires to shit on the poor and get bummed by the rich. Nick Clegg is also dealing with constitutional reforms, so we may get some action in that area too (though that is probably used by Cameron as a distraction so Nick doesn't pose a challenge).

 

not that his age has anything to do with anything but

 

year older than cameron

 

same age as blair when he took office

 

The thing that got me this morning is getting up and reading that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is two years younger than me

[Craig 6682]

Identity cards set to be scrapped

 

Identity cards will be scrapped under plans announced by the new Conservative and Lib Dem coalition government.

 

Their abolition is among measures the parties have agreed to reverse what they say was "the substantial erosion" of civil liberties in recent years.

 

Other proposals include reforms to the DNA database, tighter regulation of CCTV and a review of libel laws.

 

Since their 2008 introduction, Labour argued ID cards helped tackle benefit fraud, identity theft and other crimes.

 

The Tories and Lib Dems have both opposed ID cards from the outset, arguing they are expensive, intrusive and have done little to tackle the most serious threats to society such as terrorism and organised crime.

 

In a statement, the Home Office said it would announce "in due course" how the process of rescinding ID cards and the accompanying National Identity Register would move forward.

 

Until Parliament passes legislation banning them, ID cards remain valid and people can still apply for them. Migrant workers from outside the EU and thousands if British citizens in the North-West of England, where the scheme was being piloted, have already been issued with cards.

 

Home Office officials said they would advise anyone thinking of applying to wait for further announcements.

 

Compulsory ID cards were introduced for foreign nationals in 2008. However, attempts to require certain workers in sensitive roles, such as airport workers, to have them ran into trouble.

 

UK nationals have been able to apply for an ID card, on a voluntary basis, since last autumn with the application process being rolled out across the country.

 

The new government is also proposing to scrap all future biometric passports and the Contact Point Database as part of a new so-called "Freedom or Great Repeal Bill".

 

It wants to "roll back" powers it says were taken by the state under Labour and has pledged to defend trial by jury, restore rights to non-violent protest, end the storage of internet and email records without good reason, introduce safeguards against the "misuse" of anti-terrorism legislation.

 

The new government also wants extra safeguards over the retention of people's DNA by the police.

 

During the election campaign, the Lib Dems argued the DNA of innocent people should be removed from the national database and not be stored there in future while the Conservatives called for new safeguards to protect privacy.

 

Labour have strongly argued that the DNA database is an invaluable crime-fighting tool.

 

There is no mention in the parties' policy document of Conservative plans - included in their manifesto - for a British Bill of Rights to supersede the Human Rights Act.

 

The Lib Dems support a Bill of Rights but have said overriding the Human Rights Act would be "shameful".

 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ele...010/8678233.stm

[Sonatine 11315]

Good riddance, don't know a single person that wanted one in the first place

[Park Life 71]

CT was probably all for them.

[Craig 6682]

Good riddance, don't know a single person that wanted one in the first place

 

I'm guessing someone in the Labour government did...

[Park Life 71]

Good riddance, don't know a single person that wanted one in the first place

 

I'm guessing someone in the Labour government did...

 

Control freak Blair and that blind one.

[catmag 336]

Brown's last moments at number 10

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery...abourleadership

[Christmas Tree 4695]

Good riddance, don't know a single person that wanted one in the first place

 

I'm guessing someone in the Labour government did...

 

[Christmas Tree 4695]

I see caring Cameron is restoring the retail pension link next year. Nice move that and will go down well with the grey vote.

[Renton 21343]

Brown's last moments at number 10

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery...abourleadership

 

Left with dignity and honour despite predictions to the contrary from the rabid right-wing press.

 

'All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs'.

 

Said by none other than Enoch Powell, perhaps the only thing he said that I agree with.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

It's all a bit too nicey nicey isn't it at the minute? The Lib Dems sem to have pushed through lots of their major policies and the Tories haven't pushed anything on them..I smell a rat.

[Park Life 71]

It's all a bit too nicey nicey isn't it at the minute? The Lib Dems sem to have pushed through lots of their major policies and the Tories haven't pushed anything on them..I smell a rat.

 

Sewer, house or farm?

[ewerk 30266]

How exactly are the Lib Dems and Tories going to campaign against each other at the next election given that they'll both have backed the exact same policies?

[Craig 6682]

Daily Star are referring to Dave and Nick as the Ant and Dec of politics

[Park Life 71]

Daily Star are referring to Dave and Nick as the Ant and Dec of politics

 

All has to be dumbed down for mass consumption.

[Craig 6682]

How exactly are the Lib Dems and Tories going to campaign against each other at the next election given that they'll both have backed the exact same policies?

 

Exactly.. they're kind of onto a winner (so long as the coalition holds). It's a Tory strong-hold so they'll likely retain it but effectively the government is being represented twice.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

How will Question Time work now as well? You can't really have both a Tory and a Lib Dem on together.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

PM Question Time as well, will Cameron just sit down and Clegg get up next to him.

[Park Life 71]

Is there a dumbest question competition going on?

[Renton 21343]

PM Question Time as well, will Cameron just sit down and Clegg get up next to him.

 

Clegg has to cover PM questions for him when Cameron is absent.

 

The whole affair is utterly preposterous and nauseating.

Edited May 13, 2010 by Renton

[NJS 4371]

It's about time someone produced an opinion poll of Liberal voters on whether they'd still have voted that way if they knew the outcome.

 

Obviously there will be people like Meenzer (I think) who sees this outcome, whether backing the Tories or Labour, as the whole point but I'd like to see how many "I actually voted anti-Tory" views there are (or even anti-Labour).

[Park Life 71]

It's about time someone produced an opinion poll of Liberal voters on whether they'd still have voted that way if they knew the outcome.

 

Obviously there will be people like Meenzer (I think) who sees this outcome, whether backing the Tories or Labour, as the whole point but I'd like to see how many "I actually voted anti-Tory" views there are (or even anti-Labour).

 

They'll all be moaning. National pastime etc...

[Renton 21343]

It's about time someone produced an opinion poll of Liberal voters on whether they'd still have voted that way if they knew the outcome.

 

Obviously there will be people like Meenzer (I think) who sees this outcome, whether backing the Tories or Labour, as the whole point but I'd like to see how many "I actually voted anti-Tory" views there are (or even anti-Labour).

 

From personal anecdotes I'd think that most are literally horrified at what has happened. After all, they were generally more left wing than New Labour and I know how I would feel about a Lab-Con pact. I use the past tense in reference to the Liberals purposefully.

 

Incidentally I was talking to quite a few economists on Tuesday night and not one of them were confident about the Conservatives in general or this coalition specifically.