The 2015 General Election Megathread

[jambo1185]

MtS I think Hugo Rifkind discusses some of the points you are trying to make in the Spectator today

 

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9521382/the-year-that-scotland-learned-to-hate/

[Malinga the Swinga]

MtS I think Hugo Rifkind discusses some of the points you are trying to make in the Spectator today

 

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9521382/the-year-that-scotland-learned-to-hate/

Whilst it will be unpopular with many on here, who will just write is off as some posh guy moaning, I find it very hard to disagree with what he is saying. He also says it far better than I ever could.

[doctor jambo]

Austerity is like a dream come true for the Tories. They are using this policy to " roll back the state" to its most minimal level of economic and social intervention. Simple as that. Its never been necessary. 

The reductions is state spending are now being used to pay interest on borrowing.

Any slowing in the programme on reduction in state spending will further increase this.

[Rudolf's Mate]

I've lived down south for 15+ years now and I didn't agree with Labours recklessness whilst in power. Nothing they've said suggests they'll be any different with Milliband defending their borrowing.

 

SNP obviously isn't an option for me therefore my choices are really limited.

[jambo1185]

I've lived down south for 15+ years now and I didn't agree with Labours recklessness whilst in power. Nothing they've said suggests they'll be any different with Milliband defending their borrowing.

 

SNP obviously isn't an option for me therefore my choices are really limited.

 

Loonies?

[Thunderstruck]

The reductions is state spending are now being used to pay interest on borrowing.

Any slowing in the programme on reduction in state spending will further increase this.

I don't think these figures point to a reduction in actual or planned public spending:

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_budget

 

That is not to say that there is no "austerity" in Scotland but that has been the conscious choice of our local parliament

 

For example:

That nearly 10% of the NHS portion of the Block Grant never makes its way to what most consider to be the prime purpose of the NHS is a question for those decision makers to answer in the next 366 days.

[Rudolf's Mate]

I don't think these figures point to a reduction in actual or planned public spending:

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_budget

 

That is not to say that there is no "austerity" in Scotland but that has been the conscious choice of our local parliament

 

For example:

That nearly 10% of the NHS portion of the Block Grant never makes its way to what most consider to be the prime purpose of the NHS is a question for those decision makers to answer in the next 366 days.

 

The new chief exec of the NHS has been brought in to shake things up. He's in the process of putting a 5 year plan into place and I actually believe if he's given the chance that he'll make a huge difference. 

Edited May 7, 2015 by Rudolf's Mate

[Thunderstruck]

The new chief exec of the NHS has been brought in to shake things up. He's in the process of putting a 5 year plan into place and I actually believe if he's given the chance that he'll make a huge difference.

Hopefully he will get all the money.

[Rudolf's Mate]

Hopefully he will get all the money.

 

That's just one of the issues. If they spent the money they did have efficiently then they'd probably need a lot less. 

[XB52]

Firstly, the SNP is not affiliated to a terrorist organisation has never, And has never taken part in a terrorist campaign designed to kill and maim civilians and members of the armed forces, and that was not the comparison I was looking at.

 

Questioning my intellect is allowed although I do believe I am relatively well educated, reasonably intelligent, read a broad spectrum of news, both online and paper media. I just see similarities between these parties. Both are in negotiation in background to support Labour coalition, both want to remove their country from the UK (against the wishes of the majority of its people), both have a broadly left wing socialist agenda, both are pro European and both are anti nuclear. Both also operate a strict no dissent policy amongst its politicians.

 

The SNP's ex leader, Mr Salmond was a member of the infamous 79 group who advocated civil disobedience, worker militancy, and an overthrow and removal of the monarchy. He was expelled from SNP for this, but allowed to rejoin almost immediately as were the other members. This is something Salmond hates to be reminded about. Read about this group, it's aims and who its friends were and the links.

 

As the poster said above about the Sheridan gathering, whilst you may like to believe that this is not the case, not everyone in Scotland perhaps shares your viewpoint and these people are quite open about their support for Irish and Scottish nationalism. A lot of rank and file supporters of the SNP do have a jaundiced view of the English, openly dislike them and sneer whenever they comment.

good backtracking - a simple apology for trying to link the SNP with terrorism and hatred of the British would have done

[leginten]

MtS I think Hugo Rifkind discusses some of the points you are trying to make in the Spectator today

 

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9521382/the-year-that-scotland-learned-to-hate/

A terrible piece of writing from a man whose articles frequently seem hate-filled themselves. He gets it wrong - laughably so, given the appalling bitterness exhibited by the winning side in the referendum since September (you only need to read this messageboard to realise that winning the referendum was not nearly enough for many No voters) - about the bad winners, wonders why the SNP is going to win loads of seats and then unwittingly answers his own question in the next paragraph by explaining how Cameron has completely botched the whole approach to the Scottish question, complains that the SNP carries out no self-analysis (do Unionist commentators and voters ever, ever turn the spotlight on their own parties when they wonder how we arrived where we are today?) and finally resorts to the Blut-und-Boden crap that is the last refuge of every lazy hack who doesn't like the fact that things are changing.

 

He gets paid for this?

[doctor jambo]

I don't think these figures point to a reduction in actual or planned public spending:

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_budget

 

That is not to say that there is no "austerity" in Scotland but that has been the conscious choice of our local parliament

 

For example:

That nearly 10% of the NHS portion of the Block Grant never makes its way to what most consider to be the prime purpose of the NHS is a question for those decision makers to answer in the next 366 days.

 

Or that total NHS spend now allocated to general practice is down to 8%, as opposed to the 11% is was at.

"A&E crisis" - more money tanked into secondary care to address this, when really most people could be seen in general practice, but cannot get appointments so go to A&E

.

Put the money on the REAL front line and see the hospitals de-congest, and A&E times lower.

[manaliveits105]

He is right though in respect of Yes lost the referendum but 45% is the new 51% cos the nawbags were cheaturs.

Until SNP rid themselves of these total roasters there will be no progress or of course until " the auld no voters die off "

and I say that as someone who has voted SNP today but it was a close run thing due to these clowns and the crankie copter

[Gizmo]

Votes in from the British expat jury at my work (about 20 of us in our area)

 

Cameron: Arsehole

Miliband: Joke

 

No of expats voting: 0

No of expats glad to be in Oz: 100%

If only we had someone modern and progressive like Abbott to vote for instead.

[doctor jambo]

A terrible piece of writing from a man whose articles frequently seem hate-filled themselves. He gets it wrong - laughably so, given the appalling bitterness exhibited by the winning side in the referendum since September (you only need to read this messageboard to realise that winning the referendum was not nearly enough for many No voters) - about the bad winners, wonders why the SNP is going to win loads of seats and then unwittingly answers his own question in the next paragraph by explaining how Cameron has completely botched the whole approach to the Scottish question, complains that the SNP carries out no self-analysis (do Unionist commentators and voters ever, ever turn the spotlight on their own parties when they wonder how we arrived where we are today?) and finally resorts to the Blut-und-Boden crap that is the last refuge of every lazy hack who doesn't like the fact that things are changing.

 

He gets paid for this?

 

Kind of get where he is coming from though

The SNP is analogous with UKIP

rUK is to SNP what Europe is to UKIP

And Cameron has played up to the Scottish issue- but what did anyone expect

A small minority tried to reject rUK unilaterally

It was always going to have repurcussions

And I hate being called a Unionist- I'm not- that has echoes of I'm a Loyalist

I am what I was before the ref vote- Scottish, pro Europe, internationalist who hates division

[doctor jambo]

good backtracking - a simple apology for trying to link the SNP with terrorism and hatred of the British would have done

Was there not at one point an SNLA?

[swavkav]

Some thing that's been puzzling me, the old Mortitians practice dummy that is Nicola Sturgen is first minister & leader of the SNP,

But constantly on the news reports down here, say that if Labour join up with the SNP for the next government, the old ventriliquists dummy that is Alex Salmond will run the island we live on, any 1 shed some light?

[BRAVEHEART1874]

small minority Of British so what it was only a minute minority of Europeans and they got f all say either - the only people with the right in any say we're Scottish the days of Geordie and the like doing wtf he wanted are well gone thank f enjoy your results tonight I am sure I will

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

If only we had someone modern and progressive like Abbott to vote for instead.

And that in itself is the biggest raspberry to the political class in the UK!

[Boris]

Some thing that's been puzzling me, the old Mortitians practice dummy that is Nicola Sturgen is first minister & leader of the SNP,

But constantly on the news reports down here, say that if Labour join up with the SNP for the next government, the old ventriliquists dummy that is Alex Salmond will run the island we live on, any 1 shed some light?

 

Salmond would be de facto leader of the SNp at Westminster as Sturgeon isn't standing for election to the Houses of Parliament.

[AndrewB]

Scroll down on the link for an idea in Scotland:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32605267

How come Aberdeen results are going to be last (or second-last)? Do they count slowly in these parts?  There are more rural seats who are getting their results in hours before, going by that schedule.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Labour seem to be getting a last minute bounce from squeezing the Greens. If it isn't in marginal seats though then it will be of minimal impact.

[leginten]

Kind of get where he is coming from though

The SNP is analogous with UKIP

rUK is to SNP what Europe is to UKIP

And Cameron has played up to the Scottish issue- but what did anyone expect

A small minority tried to reject rUK unilaterally

It was always going to have repurcussions

And I hate being called a Unionist- I'm not- that has echoes of I'm a Loyalist

I am what I was before the ref vote- Scottish, pro Europe, internationalist who hates division

The SNP - UKIP analogy is a lazy and rather tawdry one, I'm afraid. Within the UK they are about as similar as the Greens and the Tories.

 

The whole UK is to the SNP what Europe is to UKIP.

 

I expected some intelligence from Cameron - and Miliband - on Scotland, but fat chance. Much better to stir up the hatred and give the impression to the English public that SNP MPs will be inconvenient foreigners to be shunned.

 

I fully get that some people who don't want the break-up of the UK don't necessarily like being described as Unionists (even if that is, in reality, their political position). That is a position I completely respect, and I know you don't have to be draped in a Union flag not to be an advocate of independence.

 

By the same token, not everyone who voted for independence will relish being described as a nationalist. If I were choosing a name for the party I'm going to vote for today, it wouldn't contain the word "nationalist" - it would speak more of independence or autonomy. And there are obvious reasons for this too, the malleability of the term "nationalist" in the hands of political opponents not least among them.

Edited May 7, 2015 by leginten

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Just noticed this interesting comment in the BTL comments in the Grauniad. Wonder what our Mods make of it?

 

CommunityMod 

17m ago 

 Staff

45

Hello all,

While polls remain open please refrain from disclosing your voting choices. Any comment declaring how you cast your vote will be removed by moderators owing to restrictions on polls and reporting, set out in article 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. Once all polling stations have closed this restriction will be lifted. Thank you for your cooperation.

[Boris]

The SNP - UKIP analogy is a lazy and rather tawdry one, I'm afraid. Within the UK they are about as similar as the Greens and the Tories.

 

The whole UK is to the SNP what Europe is to UKIP.

 

I expected some intelligence from Cameron - and Miliband - on Scotland, but fat chance. Much better to stir up the hatred and give the impression to the English public that SNP MPs will be inconvenient foreigners to be shunned.

 

I fully get that some people who don't want the break-up of the UK don't necessarily like being described as Unionists (even if that is, in reality, their political position). That is a position I completely respect, and I know you don't have to be draped in a Union flag not to be an advocate of independence.

 

By the same token, not everyone who voted for independence will relish being described as a nationalist. If I were choosing a name for the party I'm going to vote for today, it wouldn't contain the word "nationalist" - it would speak more of independence or autonomy. And there are obvious reasons for this too, the malleability of the term "nationalist" in the hands of political opponents not least among them.

 

Good post.

[freddiemac]

To be fair, any event featuring shagger Sheridan is not likely to be a fertile breeding ground for MENSA.

snp supporters were the majority plus other more sinister groups in george sq last weekend

[freddiemac]

Firstly, the SNP is not affiliated to a terrorist organisation has never, And has never taken part in a terrorist campaign designed to kill and maim civilians and members of the armed forces, and that was not the comparison I was looking at.

 

Questioning my intellect is allowed although I do believe I am relatively well educated, reasonably intelligent, read a broad spectrum of news, both online and paper media. I just see similarities between these parties. Both are in negotiation in background to support Labour coalition, both want to remove their country from the UK (against the wishes of the majority of its people), both have a broadly left wing socialist agenda, both are pro European and both are anti nuclear. Both also operate a strict no dissent policy amongst its politicians.

 

The SNP's ex leader, Mr Salmond was a member of the infamous 79 group who advocated civil disobedience, worker militancy, and an overthrow and removal of the monarchy. He was expelled from SNP for this, but allowed to rejoin almost immediately as were the other members. This is something Salmond hates to be reminded about. Read about this group, it's aims and who its friends were and the links.

 

As the poster said above about the Sheridan gathering, whilst you may like to believe that this is not the case, not everyone in Scotland perhaps shares your viewpoint and these people are quite open about their support for Irish and Scottish nationalism. A lot of rank and file supporters of the SNP do have a jaundiced view of the English, openly dislike them and sneer whenever they comment.

[Boris]

 

Just noticed this interesting comment in the BTL comments in the Grauniad. Wonder what our Mods make of it?

 

CommunityMod 

17m ago 

 Staff

45

Hello all,

While polls remain open please refrain from disclosing your voting choices. Any comment declaring how you cast your vote will be removed by moderators owing to restrictions on polls and reporting, set out in article 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. Once all polling stations have closed this restriction will be lifted. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

 

I think they are being over zealous.

 

The section of the act refers to exit polls, rather than personal submissions.

 

66A.? Prohibition on publication of exit polls.

(1) No person shall, in the case of an election to which this section applies, publish before the poll is closed?

(a) any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or

( any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given.

(2) This section applies to?

(a) any parliamentary election; and

( any local government election in England or Wales.

(3) If a person acts in contravention of subsection (1) above, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

(4) In this section?

?forecast?includes estimate;

?publish? means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;

and any reference to the result of an election is a reference to the result of the election either as a whole or so far as any particular candidate or candidates at the election is or are concerned.

[freddiemac]

Firstly, the SNP is not affiliated to a terrorist organisation has never, And has never taken part in a terrorist campaign designed to kill and maim civilians and members of the armed forces, and that was not the comparison I was looking at.

 

Questioning my intellect is allowed although I do believe I am relatively well educated, reasonably intelligent, read a broad spectrum of news, both online and paper media. I just see similarities between these parties. Both are in negotiation in background to support Labour coalition, both want to remove their country from the UK (against the wishes of the majority of its people), both have a broadly left wing socialist agenda, both are pro European and both are anti nuclear. Both also operate a strict no dissent policy amongst its politicians.

 

The SNP's ex leader, Mr Salmond was a member of the infamous 79 group who advocated civil disobedience, worker militancy, and an overthrow and removal of the monarchy. He was expelled from SNP for this, but allowed to rejoin almost immediately as were the other members. This is something Salmond hates to be reminded about. Read about this group, it's aims and who its friends were and the links.

 

As the poster said above about the Sheridan gathering, whilst you may like to believe that this is not the case, not everyone in Scotland perhaps shares your viewpoint and these people are quite open about their support for Irish and Scottish nationalism. A lot of rank and file supporters of the SNP do have a jaundiced view of the English, openly dislike them and sneer whenever they comment.

cracking read another excellent piece expertly done .i think after this election could uncover a lot more of snps dodgy friends

[AndrewB]

 

Just noticed this interesting comment in the BTL comments in the Grauniad. Wonder what our Mods make of it?

 

CommunityMod 

17m ago 

 Staff

45

Hello all,

While polls remain open please refrain from disclosing your voting choices. Any comment declaring how you cast your vote will be removed by moderators owing to restrictions on polls and reporting, set out in article 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. Once all polling stations have closed this restriction will be lifted. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

I'm off to scour the leaders' tweets to see if I can shop any of them?  Do you think that's covered by "reporting" or is it the same as saying it in a loud voice down the pub?

 

PS - I'm not going to scour the tweets, really.  Cannot be arsed, even for a laugh.  I'd rather nip over to Home Bargains to do the bits and bobs of shopping I have to do.

[The Mighty Thor]

Firstly, the SNP is not affiliated to a terrorist organisation has never, And has never taken part in a terrorist campaign designed to kill and maim civilians and members of the armed forces, and that was not the comparison I was looking at.

 

Questioning my intellect is allowed although I do believe I am relatively well educated, reasonably intelligent, read a broad spectrum of news, both online and paper media. I just see similarities between these parties. Both are in negotiation in background to support Labour coalition, both want to remove their country from the UK (against the wishes of the majority of its people), both have a broadly left wing socialist agenda, both are pro European and both are anti nuclear. Both also operate a strict no dissent policy amongst its politicians.

 

The SNP's ex leader, Mr Salmond was a member of the infamous 79 group who advocated civil disobedience, worker militancy, and an overthrow and removal of the monarchy. He was expelled from SNP for this, but allowed to rejoin almost immediately as were the other members. This is something Salmond hates to be reminded about. Read about this group, it's aims and who its friends were and the links.

 

As the poster said above about the Sheridan gathering, whilst you may like to believe that this is not the case, not everyone in Scotland perhaps shares your viewpoint and these people are quite open about their support for Irish and Scottish nationalism. A lot of rank and file supporters of the SNP do have a jaundiced view of the English, openly dislike them and sneer whenever they comment.

 

I've no doubt you're relatively well educated and probably well balanced but to be honest you needed pulling up for that post because it was nonsense. Offensive nonsense.

 

You are entitled to your views and opinions and whilst I might not agree with them you are certainly entitled to hold them.

 

I support Scottish nationalism. I support an independent Scotland. Do i hate the English? No. I've lived in Enlgand. I work in England for an English company. My other half is English. I'm a rabid SNP man likes.

 

You know what, a lot of Scottish people have a very jaundiced view of Scotland and their fellow Scots, It's what holds the country back IMO.

[Mikey1874]

Some thing that's been puzzling me, the old Mortitians practice dummy that is Nicola Sturgen is first minister & leader of the SNP,

But constantly on the news reports down here, say that if Labour join up with the SNP for the next government, the old ventriliquists dummy that is Alex Salmond will run the island we live on, any 1 shed some light?

going to be a big surprise to the English and a lot of Scots that she won't be in the UK SNP Parliament / government / opposition - unless she's going to take a place in the House of Lords

[Leipzig 51]

cracking read another excellent piece expertly done .i think after this election could uncover a lot more of snps dodgy friends

I take it you guys don't vote then.

Or have you managed to find a party without a dodgy past?

[frankblack]

cracking read another excellent piece expertly done .i think after this election could uncover a lot more of snps dodgy friends

 

Your posting on this thread reminds me of the despiration of SirGay on Hibs.Net.  Perhaps you should start writing some Freedom of Information Requests like those clowns also.

 

The SNP will wipe their arse in Scotland with your lot of anti-Scottish bigots down south, and represent the people who elected them.  The only people pushing for Independence right now are the Tories, Labour, and Lib Dems, who are frantically trying to back out of everything they promised during the referendum, and driving a wedge of hatred of Scots from the English.

[Leipzig 51]

going to be a big surprise to the English and a lot of Scots that she won't be in the UK SNP Parliament / government / opposition - unless she's going to take a place in the House of Lords

It might surprise you but you don't have to be an MP to be Prime Minister.

[Boris]

It might surprise you but you don't have to be an MP to be Prime Minister.

 

It helps though when answering PMQ's in the Commons.

 

See Alex Douglas-Home for precedent.

[Mikey1874]

It might surprise you but you don't have to be an MP to be Prime Minister.

cool - what role do you think Nicola Sturgeon will take in UK

[frankblack]

I've no doubt you're relatively well educated and probably well balanced but to be honest you needed pulling up for that post because it was nonsense. Offensive nonsense.

 

You are entitled to your views and opinions and whilst I might not agree with them you are certainly entitled to hold them.

 

I support Scottish nationalism. I support an independent Scotland. Do i hate the English? No. I've lived in Enlgand. I work in England for an English company. My other half is English. I'm a rabid SNP man likes.

 

You know what, a lot of Scottish people have a very jaundiced view of Scotland and their fellow Scots, It's what holds the country back IMO.

 

This idea that the SNP are represented by mad kilt-wearing, tartan-shortbread stereotypes from Brigadoon is a myth put out by the unionist parties to keep their balance of power between those two monolithic parties.

 

Some of the biggest SNP members I know are English.  They know that the SNP represents their constituents, unlike the other parties.  The Tories have no chance of getting more than a single MP at best and clearly don't care how Scots see them, while Labour took our votes for granted and then focused on the south of England.  The Lib Dems are irrelevant and a vote for them is another vote for the Tories.

[Leipzig 51]

cool - what role do you think Nicola Sturgeon will take in UK

No official role after the negotiations. 

[jambo1185]

 

You know what, a lot of Scottish people have a very jaundiced view of Scotland and their fellow Scots, It's what holds the country back IMO.

 

Completely agree, as the referendum debate (and subsequent fall out) has shown - on both sides. What's it the Greens say about working for the common good?

[XB52]

Was there not at one point an SNLA?

there was a Scottish Republican Army; the ones that tried to blow up the old Royal High School, but forgot the bomb. Not sure what that has to do with the SNP though???

[XB52]

Some thing that's been puzzling me, the old Mortitians practice dummy that is Nicola Sturgen is first minister & leader of the SNP,

But constantly on the news reports down here, say that if Labour join up with the SNP for the next government, the old ventriliquists dummy that is Alex Salmond will run the island we live on, any 1 shed some light?

nice balanced views shown here so don't think I'll bother replying                           damn too late

[XB52]

cracking read another excellent piece expertly done .i think after this election could uncover a lot more of snps dodgy friends

hahahaha      sorry I just realised you are being serious, wow

[richiehmfc]

cool - what role do you think Nicola Sturgeon will take in UK

I thought Angus McDonald was the SNP leader in Westminster?

 

I assume that if elected then Salmond will replace him but Sturgeon refused to confirm that. In fact we have seen very little of Salmond during the whole election campaign.

[jambo1185]

Some ballots in Darlington were missing a candidate!

[TheMaganator]

[Boris]

 

Step up from Solero girl!

 

Go Eck!

 

[doctor jambo]

What happens to young women's faces when they take pictures of themselves?

Odd.

Still, old fat man in rain mac wants to go around putting his arms around young women, who are we to judge?

[AndrewB]

What happens to young women's faces when they take pictures of themselves?

Odd.

Still, old fat man in rain mac wants to go around putting his arms around young women, who are we to judge?

She is a sweetie, to be fair.

If she was our physio...

[IMac]

This idea that the SNP are represented by mad kilt-wearing, tartan-shortbread stereotypes from Brigadoon is a myth put out by the unionist parties to keep their balance of power between those two monolithic parties.

 

Some of the biggest SNP members I know are English. They know that the SNP represents their constituents, unlike the other parties. The Tories have no chance of getting more than a single MP at best and clearly don't care how Scots see them, while Labour took our votes for granted and then focused on the south of England. The Lib Dems are irrelevant and a vote for them is another vote for the Tories.

just because you shout the loudest doesn't make you better than others. When the snp dynasty dies we will be there to clean up.