General Election 2024: Gone on the 4th of July

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's right, PM Rishi Sunak has called a general election on the day so cherished in his beloved country, and we'll all be voting. Here is the current state of the parties:

344: Conservatives, led by pocket rocket and Indian secret service plant Rishi Sunak
205: Labour, led by charismatic socialist firebrand Sir Keir Starmer
43: Scottish National Party, led by some jock or other, it's hard to keep track.
17: Independents, most of whom are sex offenders or racists who have been punted out of the above parties.
15: Liberal Democrats, led by charismatic socialist firebrand Sir Ed Davey
7: DUP, who only have one of their seven up for rape presently.
7: Sinn Fein, who don't take their seats.
3: Party of Wales
2: Alba Party
2: SDLP
1: Green
1: Reform, which is Lee Anderson - though this is a potentially crucial party in the election for how many former Tory voters they may drain away.

326 seats wins you an overall majority, so Labour will need to make approximately 120 gains to take power. I expect that they will make many more. Discuss your favourite parties, politicians, voting intentions and exciting campaign events here as the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Northern Ireland allows itself to be cleansed by the coming of the red tide - though, for some, it's probably not nearly red enough.

[niko_cee]

on the day so cherished in his beloved country

:checkit:

Nice.

This'll be my first general election vote since a failed anti-Emily Thornberry vote in 2010.

Not sure anyone will even stand against the electoral titan that is the Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP, or, in fact, if he is even standing himself. Think it's fairly true blue here with enough coastal oldies wanting to stop the boats to prevent anything silly from happening, other than returning a Conservative MP, which is probably quite silly. Think that anti-Tory thing has the Lib Dems as your tactical choice but fuck that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1-0 Starmer.

[Magic]

Indyref2.

[Clunge]

Farage ducking an eighth consecutive election hiding. Lol.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Smart decision from Farage, he'll be much better deployed as a roving TV attack dog than having to spend his days talking about bin collection in some coastal shit tip.

Again it's weird how he mentions America in his statement, all these people are just obsessed with the US.

[Spikey M]

Honestly don't know how I'm going to vote. It should probably be Labour just to get the Tories out, but they fill me with no hope whatsoever, so I could easily be swayed by another party.

That said, if it's anything like the council election, no other cunts will run here anyway.

I wonder what my far right English Democrat mates have to say.

[Ben]

I think my constituency remains fairly safe Tory (bizarrely, given its history), although that might be scuppered if Reform fly in a wacko to steal the vote of the Carling crew.

[phonics]

Think I might vote Green just to continue my run of losing every election I've ever voted in. Would vote Tory for the lols but Worcester loves a Tory so to keep the run going I have to go for an outsider. Maybe an English Democrat

[Lofty]

Is there anywhere offering a market on the Tories to return less MPs than the Lib Dems because it would be hilarious and I'd like a fiver on it.

[SvN]

There's a "Most seats without Labour" market.

[Luke Emia]

There is some local posho running as an independent to unseat Liz, I don't think that he's likely to win, but it might just combined with Reform(I think that my area was one of the top 5 Brexit voting areas in the whole country) be enough to reduce her vote and enable me to hold my nose and vote Labour to get rid of her. If there is no chance of her losing still then I might just spoil my vote again.

[Spikey M]

Maybe an English Democrat

If anyone is going to appreciate their home page, it's a graphic designer. Enjoy.

https://i.ibb.co/Gtv3ntC/Screenshot-20240523-115226-Brave.jpg

Get them added to the poll, Jimmy.

[phonics]

It was already an absolute disgrace and then I scroll down to see "Are you interested in funding AND delivering our leaflet?"

edit: .party is hilariously small time as well.

edit2: Every time I look at it there's more. Putting "Go Gold" on a black background felt like an odd choice but I figured maybe they're too thick to find the hex code for gold. THEN DIRECTLY BELOW IT IS A GOLD BUTTON.

[SvN]

The news page is absolutely brilliant :D Full house on my bingo card.


Pakistani grooming gangs
Woke blacks trying to get rid of wigs in court
Costs of illegal immigration
Gender identity being taught to kids
Swiss army knive to go bladeless (!)

[Spikey M]

It reminds me of the website I knocked up using notepad when I was doing my IT A Level.

(The style, rather than the leaflet begging).

[Jimmy Floyd]

That leaflet question is amazing stuff.

'Are you interested in funding and installing my new kitchen?'

[Giggles]

Could the government not just have done what ours have done and recognise Palestine to distract all the mongs from what's happening?

[Ben]

That’s a logical step from your lot. 140 countries already recognise them so anything other than a two state solution isn’t going to happen. Unfortunately we will be the last to do it, just after the Americans.

[niko_cee]

If you really wanted to spice things up you'd recognise Taiwan.

[Lewis]

I will be spoiling my ballot like a proper hero. Turnout will be shit, the polls will narrow, and Labour will win a majority of about seventy. Reform won't do anything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I could vote anything except Lib Dem. Will probably vote Labour just to defy the bar chart leaflets.

[niko_cee]

Richard Tice has just outed himself as a Liverpool fan on Newsnight.

:face:

I'm choosing to interpret Awkward Rishi football chat as some quality low key trolling of the Welsh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Corbyn v Labour.

[mo]

Wiltshire is as safe as they come for Tories, Labour never get a sniff. Another tactical vote for Lib Dems to try and get rid of Donelan.

[niko_cee]

Rishi bringing back national service. There aren't enough lols.

[Lewis]

There should be national service for pensioners.

[Shindig]

Yes, give the dangerous drivers access to firearms.

[niko_cee]

It's just going to be cleaning chewing gum off the pavements/graffiti off walls, probably through some Grant Shapps/Euan Blair owned third sector enterprise at enormous cost to the public purse.

[Ben]

The only people who think this is a good idea are the fossils who will vote for them anyway as they try to cling to their massive estates. The Tory advisors need taking to the guillotine for their incompetence.

[niko_cee]

Labour talking about expanding the vote to under 16s on the same day is mega fishy, like they had an inside scoop on this policy.

Can't get Chris Morris saying Bring back borstal out of my mind.

Death penalty inbound.

[Lewis]

I'm not opposed to sixteen year olds voting in principle, but how do you justify it when they aren't even allowed to buy lottery tickets, let alone drive, etc.? The shit about 'Well they pay tax...' Wouldn't a seven year old pay tax if they happened to work?

[niko_cee]

They should just make tax payable at 18. There can't be that many Luke Littlers who would be escaping the exchequer.

[Lofty]

The only people who think this is a good idea are the fossils who will vote for them anyway as they try to cling to their massive estates. The Tory advisors need taking to the guillotine for their incompetence.

Spoke to my Tory diehard in laws tonight, they said they don't trust Starmer because 'his eyes are too close together' and they think Rishi won't be corrupt because he's already minted. They complain like fuck about everything but will vote for the status quo again, I swear it could be Jesus Christ himself running for Labour and they'd justify voting Tory.

[Manc]

Jesus did have his flaws tbf.

[niko_cee]

Jesus famously non-committal on the triple lock

[Shindig]

His stance on Israel is bizarre.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm not opposed to sixteen year olds voting in principle, but how do you justify it when they aren't even allowed to buy lottery tickets, let alone drive, etc.? The shit about 'Well they pay tax...' Wouldn't a seven year old pay tax if they happened to work?

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/25/mps-urge-under-16s-smartphone-ban-statutory-ban-schools#:~:text=This%20might%20require%20radical%2 0steps,proposals%20has%20not%20been%20published.

And they might not even be able to have smartphones, lol.

[Shindig]

Can you not just lock smartphones down with parental stuff?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm sure you can but that would involve effort.

I'm sure big corporations could also do a better job of safeguarding children but again, effort.

[Lofty]

Lock social media off kid's smart phones and they won't want them, not sure how much of the market they are but I suspect these days it's more than a few sales.

[niko_cee]

The idea of banning smartphones is just plain stupid, in the style of hysterical reactions of the past when criminals were using 'the internet' or 'mobile phones' for their nefarious purposes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All this is too soft on the feckless youth, we need to kill 50 a day and burn their bodies to heat pensioners' homes.

[Spikey M]

Just imagine the problems Covid could have solved if we'd let it run free.

[Shindig]

I mean, we did (kinda) let it run free and it just adapted to be more benign. The oldies would've more likely died from negligence on the wards, probably.

[Magic]

Just imagine the problems Covid could have solved if we'd let it run free.

The problem is the boomers now.

[Shindig]

Plus, given the North/South divide, you'd lose a fuckload of Labour voters that way.

[Lewis]

I saw one theory that this and the proposed smoking ban is to keep young people fit for pensioners harvesting their organs.

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOhTEn3WsAAFnwb.jpg

Good stuff.

[Ben]

Nice.

[Spikey M]

:D

[phonics]

The GBNews Icon on the end of his username is the perfect final brushstroke.

(btw Lewis is going to come in here and say I've taken it out of context in his 'man of the people' act to which I say, I don't care it's funny, cry more.)

[Baz]

Found out about this today when my cousin tried to talk to me about it. Some people don’t seem to believe “I have zero interest in politics, sorry” is possibly true, and just keep going. :arry:

[Lofty]

Isn't your entire career directly affected by government policy?

[Lewis]

We'll get rid of motorways and the Navy before any government cuts 'public health' shite so you could say no.

[Ben]

How many seats do the Tories need to fill with new candidates? It’s only six weeks away.

[Jimmy Floyd]

160. They'll do it. Fucking loads of saddos want to be parliamentary candidates.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAv85Xpu2C0

The old Boris loving lady is fucking mental.

[Ben]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/27/india-elections-pm-narendra-modi-claims-he-has-been-chosen-by-god

This guy is a maniac.


When my mother was alive, I used to believe that I was born biologically. After she passed away, upon reflecting on all my experiences, I was convinced that God had sent me

[Shindig]

Ah, the singular one God. Take that, Hindus.

[phonics]

Sometimes I wish the infitinite realities were accessible because the one where the Tory's win, implement National Service and it trains the younger generation in the skills they use for the UKs answer to the February revolution.

[Spikey M]

Found out about this today when my cousin tried to talk to me about it. Some people don’t seem to believe “I have zero interest in politics, sorry” is possibly true, and just keep going. :arry:

I honestly envy your ability to do this. It's almost certainly one of the keys to a happy life.

I'm going to give it a try I think. Democracy is a lie anyway.

[phonics]

You've got to remember that Baz' head looks like this

https://i.imgur.com/HWzcYxN.jpeg

[Lewis]

The QUADRUPLE LOCK lads here we go.

[Mike]

You've got to remember that Baz' head looks like this

https://i.imgur.com/HWzcYxN.jpeg

Real lack of "MJF :drool:" there

[Boydy]

1795134199793426658

Come on now, be serious.

[randomlegend]

Strikes are back on the menu :drool:

[Ben]

Been putting my paywall blocker to good use this afternoon and had a strong browse of FT.

They have a predictor based on opinion polls and at the moment they're saying 451-136 seats (LAB-CON). That would smash a whole lot of records. Do we think that is on the cards?

There's also some great graphs on voting intention by all sorts of demographics and it's eye opening how many of the usually Tory voting demos completely/finally fucked them off for good during the Truss debacle.

Also there's a piece on the rise of the far-right in Europe and there's something in there showing how younger age groups are quite likely to vote far-right and then it drops off to almost nothing at age 65+. We seem to be the only country where that is the complete opposite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think it'll be worse (for the Tories) than that. Double figures is very much in play.

I'd put the lower extreme of possibilities at about 40. Upper at maybe 160. You can see from the way they're fighting the campaign (on the corest of core vote strategies, visiting massively safe seats with the PM / cabinet members) that they know the game is up. It's about preserving some kind of parliamentary party rather than getting on the front foot.

I don't get involved in spread betting but if it was anything north of 120 I'd be selling.

[Boydy]

Please let the Lib Dems be the official opposition.

[Spikey M]

Been putting my paywall blocker to good use this afternoon and had a strong browse of FT.

They have a predictor based on opinion polls and at the moment they're saying 451-136 seats (LAB-CON). That would smash a whole lot of records. Do we think that is on the cards?

There's also some great graphs on voting intention by all sorts of demographics and it's eye opening how many of the usually Tory voting demos completely/finally fucked them off for good during the Truss debacle.

Also there's a piece on the rise of the far-right in Europe and there's something in there showing how younger age groups are quite likely to vote far-right and then it drops off to almost nothing at age 65+. We seem to be the only country where that is the complete opposite.

It makes sense if you look at it simplistically. Europe (especially Colonial Europe) as a whole is a far worse place than it was 20 years ago, and for the majority of that time, the (centre) left have been in government. We, on the other hand have had the same decline under a (centre) right government. So, they LURCH to the right in response and we LURCH to... well, the closest thing we have to a left in our bullshit faux-democratic 2 party system.

In reality it's pretty telling that Europe (and in many ways the rest of "the west") is facing the same issues and the same decline. None of it has anything to do with left or right, and unless you had a completely rogue government that was happy to put 2 fingers up to G8, The EU and all the rest of the organisations where decisions are really made, we'll all continue down this same road.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't explain it fully at current knowledge/energy levels but when it comes to our relationship with Europe, people always forget that every single country in Europe other than the UK, Ireland and I think Sweden has had either a fascist or a communist government within living memory. Pretty much everything can be explained by that.

[Lewis]

If we had had a remotely right-wing government, rather than the most taxes, spending, and foreigners ever, the Conservative Party wouldn't be in the state it's in.

[Boydy]

Some proper dodgy stuff going on in the Labour party at the minute around selection/reselection of candidates with anyone vaguely left wing.

Obviously there's the Diane Abbott stuff that's been in the news all day.

But now we also have:

Lloyd Russell-Moyle
1795863040740442434

Apsana Begum:
1795858361092620555

Faiza Shaheen:
1795880990285390123


Fuck these cunts.

[Ben]

This is the price for getting the support of business leaders and sections of mainstream media.

[Magic]

Tory reboot. Fuck Labour.

[Boydy]

1795717746203771378

Diane Abbott was going to retire anyway. They could have just let her do it with dignity but no. She says she's standing again now whatever happens.

[Shindig]

Diane doing anything with dignity would be a first.

[Spikey M]

Fuck Diane Abbott. Thick, racist old bat.

[Luke Emia]

The Left need to realise that if they want to have anything even remotely resembling power they need to be centre left to pull as many people in as possible.

The country already decided it didn’t want Corbyn no matter what he tries to tell us about winning the argument.

2008-2010 aside looking back on it now the Labour government is the best run government of my lifetime by a country mile. More got done in the country, everything wasn’t fucked and things did actually get better for people. I lived in inner city Birmingham in the late 80’s early 90’s as a young kid and it was fucking grim, I go back there now and there’s problems but it’s a hell of a lot better than it was then and that is because of the good that a centre left Labour government did in the 90’s/2000’s.

If Labour burn this lead now because of any form of infighting then what do the people who are further left than the current Labour Party think is going to happen? Because we already know after 14 years of this shower of shite they aren’t going to do anything but grease the palms of their paymasters. You want something even vaguely approaching ideas from the left you have to hold your nose and just fall in line. Because the alternative is a whole lot worse.

[-james-]

I think it'll be worse (for the Tories) than that. Double figures is very much in play.

I'd put the lower extreme of possibilities at about 40. Upper at maybe 160. You can see from the way they're fighting the campaign (on the corest of core vote strategies, visiting massively safe seats with the PM / cabinet members) that they know the game is up. It's about preserving some kind of parliamentary party rather than getting on the front foot.

I don't get involved in spread betting but if it was anything north of 120 I'd be selling.

Sell line is 153 :pards:

[Ben]

We can definitely get rich off this one lads.

[Boydy]

The Left need to realise that if they want to have anything even remotely resembling power they need to be centre left to pull as many people in as possible.

The country already decided it didn’t want Corbyn no matter what he tries to tell us about winning the argument.

2008-2010 aside looking back on it now the Labour government is the best run government of my lifetime by a country mile. More got done in the country, everything wasn’t fucked and things did actually get better for people. I lived in inner city Birmingham in the late 80’s early 90’s as a young kid and it was fucking grim, I go back there now and there’s problems but it’s a hell of a lot better than it was then and that is because of the good that a centre left Labour government did in the 90’s/2000’s.

If Labour burn this lead now because of any form of infighting then what do the people who are further left than the current Labour Party think is going to happen? Because we already know after 14 years of this shower of shite they aren’t going to do anything but grease the palms of their paymasters. You want something even vaguely approaching ideas from the left you have to hold your nose and just fall in line. Because the alternative is a whole lot worse.
No. Fuck them. They actively worked against Corbyn in 2019 and now they expect those voters to just fall in line with whatever shit they're doing now? (How come they get to do infighting but no one else does? Not that there'sanyone left to fight them, they've all been, or are in the process of being, purged) Let all burn, I don't fucking care any more. Not that I can vote for them anyway. Give me a border poll though.

[Boydy]

And centre left my hole. They're offering nothing. And little dodgy Wes with his shit-eating grin is going to sell off the NHS and he won't he even get paid well for doing it because he's too fucking stupid.

[Spikey M]

I'm 90% sure I'll be spoiling my ballot.

[Ben]

Well said Boydy.

[Luke Emia]

I'm 90% sure I'll be spoiling my ballot.

If anyone has a chance of beating Truss I will vote for them. If not I shall write cunt next to her name.

[Spikey M]

There's alot to be said for just getting the Tories out, but I've heard nothing - absolutely nothing - from Labour that makes me want to vote for them. And that's really saying something, because it wouldn't take much.

As is, all I can see is more of the same, but with more in-fighting over Israel/Palestine. No thanks.

[Shindig]

I'd rather get the Tories out because the cycle of failed leader and leadership challenges has worn me right down.

[Ben]

There's alot to be said for just getting the Tories out, but I've heard nothing - absolutely nothing - from Labour that makes me want to vote for them. And that's really saying something, because it wouldn't take much.

As is, all I can see is more of the same, but with more in-fighting over Israel/Palestine. No thanks.

That FT article I was talking about earlier highlighted exactly that. Obviously Labour will gain a lot of votes but it’s just a byproduct of 2019 Tory voters deserting.

The Palestine issue could be a major PR disaster for them. The Tory stance is expected so hasn’t caused them any trouble, but Labour will have to toe a very fine line.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sell line is 153 :pards:

That's so far out from my thinking that I'm starting to doubt myself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Literally the only people still voting Tory are people who are old (65+) and own their own home outright, which is largely the same people. They'll keep an east coast fringe but anything west of Lincolnshire is up for grabs in my view. I think they will do a lot worse in the south and south east than the market is bargaining for.

[-james-]

I don't do much spread betting, so I may be missing something, but the over/under with betfair and ladbrokes (generally the sharpest on politics) is 141. Not sure what's going on over at spreadex.

[Spikey M]

The Palestine issue could be a major PR disaster for them. The Tory stance is expected so hasn’t caused them any trouble, but Labour will have to toe a very fine line.

I think it's an impossible line. They're managing to keep somewhat of a lid on it for now, because they all want to get elected, but once they're in; no chance.

They are still living under the cloud of antisemitism and having to kick party members out for it, while at the same time they have / will have several Muslim MP's that are understandably pretty angry about what's going on in Palestine. There's no way that's not going to blow up and become the next parliaments Partygate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As for canning the left lot, it's just really good effective politics, as it was when Blair did it. Having that lot around is a poison that no Labour PM needs if he or she is to carry a governing coalition. Better they critique him from their twitter soapboxes or Novara than from the parliamentary party.

[Luke Emia]

No. Fuck them. They actively worked against Corbyn in 2019 and now they expect those voters to just fall in line with whatever shit they're doing now? (How come they get to do infighting but no one else does? Not that there'sanyone left to fight them, they've all been, or are in the process of being, purged) Let all burn, I don't fucking care any more. Not that I can vote for them anyway. Give me a border poll though.

That’s it you’ve convinced me I may as well just vote Tory then.

Realistically this could be resolved somewhat with PR. That way all factions would have to listen to a certain degree rather than what we have at the minute.

[phonics]

If you could get me odds on Wes Streeting having to resign in disgrace I'm putting my house on it. So clearly a massive wrongun that kisses the right arses.

[Boydy]

Luke the Nuke Akehurst, a literal lobbyist for the Israeli state, now being given a seat.

[Lewis]

1795942561258889318

:lol:

[niko_cee]

Strikes are back on the menu :drool:

Is it even possible for a pay settlement to be made now the election is on? Can the Tories poison pill the next government by agreeing to all of the doctors' demands?

[randomlegend]

Is it even possible for a pay settlement to be made now the election is on? Can the Tories poison pill the next government by agreeing to all of the doctors' demands?

I've read people say no because parliament is dissolved, whilst others say it doesn't require parliament and could be decided by the cabinet. I have no idea, I'm just Yevrah.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've wondered for a while how all the strikes / evil Tories / country going to the dogs discourse across various sectors is going to progress once Labour are in government, and I've recently realised that the answer is it will be exactly the same but with the pressure transferred onto Keir Starmer and his RED TORIES / NO BETTER THAN THE TORIES extreme right wing government. Then he's going to be far, far more left wing than advertised and it's going to blow up everyone's brains.

[Ben]

Seizing the means of production. :drool:

[Manc]

https://youtu.be/fz0x1CfPdBk?si=ykuW7rDtfVDfkhOt

Lest we forget.

[Manc]

Big fan of Labour coming out blue on the poll.

[Ben]

I've had a look into the new constituency boundaries and then I ended up seeing which big names might lose their seats.

- PM Sunak and Deputy PM Dowden will probably hold on to their seats but not by the huge majority they had in 2019.
- South West Surrey has been broken up after the boundary review and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is standing in the new Godalming and Ash, where he could well be mugged by the Lib Dems.
- The man with a million jobs Grant Shapps is in big trouble in Welwyn Hatfield, where Labour have a bit of history.
- The Tories need to find a good replacement for the departing Michael Gove, as a late surge by Lib Dems could see them steal the previously very-safe Surrey Heath.
- Penny Mordaunt sits in the bellwether Portsmouth North and again in their true fashion of mirroring the overall result, she looks set to lose her huge majority to the Labour candidate.
- Suella Braverman defeated Flick Drummond to get the Tory candidacy for the new, supposedly safe, seat of Fareham and Waterlooville. Drummond was given Winchester instead. However, it looks like Braverman might have a struggle on her hands with Labour anyway, while Drummond is set to lose to Lib Dems.
- Chairman of the Conservative Party Greg Hands is set to be mauled by Labour in Chelsea and Fulham.
- The fossil Rees-Mogg could well be staring at a Labour-inflicted defeat too.

This is obviously where all the stories are, as the incumbent looks like losing their majority in record-breaking fashion. Otherwise there's not much juiciness outside of the expected overall landslide. Lib Dems have to be disappointed if they don't gain a good chunk of seats, and our tubthumping friends over at Reform will be lucky to get even one, as their sole MP Lee Anderson looks set to capitulate in Ashfield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lib Dems will sweep Surrey with ease. This will surprise the media but not me.

Have a feeling JRM might cling on - he is adored over there - but it'll be close.

[Spikey M]

*English Democrats.

[Lofty]

Every one of those cunts will end up in the lords no doubt.

[niko_cee]

Saw the Lib Dem battlebus mired in the traffic deathzone that is the western M25 today. Looked like Ed Davey was driving it, which made me wonder if they just have loads of balding middle aged men who are overly keen to appear in aquatic situations running the whole show and taking turns to be the leader.

[niko_cee]

Looks like the lure of talking about potholes and bin collections was too strong for Nige.

[Ben]

1797629308988768343

Obviously there's a lot of hypotheticals along the way but if this poll translates, then according to FT's model, Lib Dems would be the Opposition.

LAB 512 (!) - LD 66 - CON 41

Can't see it ending up like this but Farage could do some real damage on the Tories.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ladbrokes now have 50-99 as 13/8 fav, they know.

That said, I wouldn't overestimate the personal pull of Nigel Farage. He is a dynamic figure who gets the media excited but as far as the public are concerned he is an extremely unpopular politician and that has been demonstrated over decades now. Had he been in charge of the Leave campaign it would have tanked and he would have had what he probably always really wanted, a continued platform to bleat about Brussels on TV without having to take any responsibility for anything.

I'd say he is a 1% of the vote issue for the Tories, 10 times the issue will be direct Con to Lab switchers who are much less glamorous but far more impactful upon the result.

[niko_cee]

There are a worrying number of Lib Dem boards up around here. Not seen any Labour stuff at all although apparently the wife has ordered some window stickers [:face:] which will probably go down well with the rest of the neighbourhood, who are all pensioners.

[Yevrah]

I disagree with Jim on the Farage stuff slightly. In that I agree he's a man who can only take something so far, but without him Brexit doesn't even get to the referendum stage, let alone to where Cummings and Cambridge Analytica seal the deal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Without him... or more accurately, without DC running unnecessarily scared of him. He's literally all bluster, there's more substance in a fortune cookie and probably the same amount of nous.

The thing I always try and remind myself about UK politics is that the circus stuff that gets on the news is basically all horseshit and doesn't matter.

[niko_cee]

Woah woah woah. Is Starmer an absolute manlet as well?

[Lewis]

He's billed as five eight so potentially borderline. Nigel Farage the same. Pathetic.

[niko_cee]

They were all the same height at the start of this, maybe the lady presenter the tallest. Country's completely fucked.

[niko_cee]

Standing 8 count for Rishi on the waiting list maths blow there, he'd been doing reasonably well by blithering on over all interventions up to then.

[Luke Emia]

Starmer isn’t much better but Sunak is a massive fucking nerd.

[Boydy]

I doubt this debate matters that much but Starmer seems really shit.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, Rishi is winning here for me and quite comfortably, but it won't undo his piss poor tenure, let alone 10+ years of shite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Starmer being short has thrown me completely. Might have to vote Reform now.

[Boydy]

1798100845378060673

Lol

[Manc]

Starmer being short has thrown me completely. Might have to vote Reform now.

Ed Davey is 6 ft.

[niko_cee]

Ed Davey looks like he exists in the wrong aspect ratio.

Starmer's grey competence pitch is never going to win any major plaudits. Sunak just came across as a bit of a knob. All this talk of Labour needing some bold vision for the country, has Labour ever been voted in with a bold vision for the country? They usually get a hiding whenever they roll one of those out. The people don't want a bold, leftist vision of the future, hence Mr Competence and his however many point lead in the polls. They just want things to seem a bit less shit and maybe for some things to work a bit better.

[Manc]

I saw a clip of Piers Morgan on the Simon Jordan podcast. Both men were in complete agreement that you should vote for the man and not the party. Pizzazz over policies.

[Lofty]

I feel like it's easier to say that when you're a millionaire.

[Ben]

I think you can do the exact opposite of them two chancers and be at peace with yourself that you did the right thing.

[Spikey M]

Who the fuck is watching / listening to that podcast in the first place?

[Magic]

General public don't understand policies. Sunak might be a prick but he knows what he is. Starmer is weak and spineless at a time when the country needs leadership. These TV debates are bad because they hammer that home.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Keir manages to lose ground to Sunak on a TV debate he should probably just give up now.

[Lofty]

'£2000 rise in taxes' is the new 'Build Back Better/Get Brexit Done/Strong and Stable/Take Back Control', not quite as snappy. I thought his robotic repeating of it for all questions would wear thin for the audience but apparently not. Almost as grating as Starmer's dad being a toolmaker.

[niko_cee]

Almost as grating as Starmer's dad being a toolmaker.

:D

This is always the time to stand up, applaud and leave in the style of whatever law it is about 'title drops' in films.

[niko_cee]

On the subject of the Farage milkshaking, am I right in thinking that has been a thing in the past? Definitely rings a bell. Obviously not to be condoned, or encouraged, but spare me the heartfelt really makes you think interview whilst nursing a pint Nige.

In other blast from the past news, did I hear rightly that Sir Kier Toolmaker/Labour won't be doing one of the debates at some point? Didn't the Tories do that once and get replaced by a lol pot plant or placard or something?

[Lofty]

Farage has been milkshaked several times in the past. The latest one is being suggested as a planned stunt by reform themselves or an onlyfans pornstar looking to make a quick buck.

[Shindig]

I'm surprised police are bringing charges. If someone dumps a pint over me, I'm not getting assault charges to stick.

[Lofty]

So after the aforementioned £2000 tax catchphrase Rishi rolled out last night, ths Treasury have basically said he's made it up this morning :D

[Ben]

Doesn't matter though. How many people heard him say it on TV versus how many people will have heard the Treasury call bullshit on it? Until they start getting penalised for this type of bollocks we'll end up with more Brexits built on a pack of lies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Starmer did a dreadful job of denying it as well, probably because he will put taxes up by that and knows it.

[niko_cee]

Just came across this (https://yougov.co.uk/ratings/politics/popularity/politicians-political-figures/all) frankly mind-boggling poll/list whilst mooching around the yougov website.

Too many highlights to really mention, but how is John Major the most popular politician with Millenials? Am I missing something? Is he big on 'socials'? Is it just that nobody really has a good thing to say about any politicans and so the older, more forgotten ones come out better? Neil Kinnock 7th with all ages? :cab:

[Magic]

So after the aforementioned £2000 tax catchphrase Rishi rolled out last night, ths Treasury have basically said he's made it up this morning :D

I loved the Tory response of "it's not £2000... IT'S MORE".

[phonics]

1798325201240998131

[Giggles]

Fuck, that even beats the Sports Direct ones.

[Shindig]

He's right. I wasn't prepared. :D

[Lofty]

Just came across this (https://yougov.co.uk/ratings/politics/popularity/politicians-political-figures/all) frankly mind-boggling poll/list whilst mooching around the yougov website.

Too many highlights to really mention, but how is John Major the most popular politician with Millenials? Am I missing something? Is he big on 'socials'? Is it just that nobody really has a good thing to say about any politicans and so the older, more forgotten ones come out better? Neil Kinnock 7th with all ages? :cab:

Isn't it owned by Zahawi? Former tax dodging chancellor?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Every politician is despised these days so olden days politicians are more popular, except Tony apparently.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Isn't it owned by Zahawi? Former tax dodging chancellor?

No, though he helped found it 25 years ago.

[niko_cee]

It was his dad who owned it. ;)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1798325201240998131

Could drown a baby in that.

[Giggles]

Who's this Reform lot, are they new? Reform of what?

Edit - anti immigration and climate bollocks, nice. I hope this is yet another time we follow suit, though that ship has probably sailed.


_

[Spikey M]

Who's this Reform lot, are they new? Reform of what?

Edit - anti immigration and climate bollocks, nice. I hope this is yet another time we follow suit, though that ship has probably sailed.


_

They used to be The Brexit Party, they just rebranded after Brexit happened. It's mostly just ex-UKIPers and disgraced ex-Tories.

They keep getting rid of their own members for being even vaguely racist, which is pretty lol considering racists are going to be their core voters. Even the Far Right have gone woke. :harold:

[Manc]

https://youtu.be/APo2p4-WXsc?si=CNI-RPd2L2_QaueN

[Baz]

I’ve just done this quiz (https://uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz) to see who to vote for and these were the results:

https://i.ibb.co/kJwqpYv/IMG-3023.jpg

who dat :sorry:

[Boydy]

1798391774215352616

Prediction: we get five years of Starmer's Labour doing very little and we go full fash in 2029 under Farage's combined Reform/Tory party.

[Spikey M]

I’ve just done this quiz (https://uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz) to see who to vote for and these were the results:

https://i.ibb.co/kJwqpYv/IMG-3023.jpg

who dat :sorry:

Jimmy has a new political enemy.

[Spikey M]

1798391774215352616

Prediction: we get five years of Starmer's Labour doing very little and we go full fash in 2029 under Farage's combined Reform/Tory party.

If the right really does rise, I could see Corbyn joining the Communists, them rising too and we could see some tasty 1930's style street scrapping. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I’ve just done this quiz (https://uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz) to see who to vote for and these were the results:

https://i.ibb.co/kJwqpYv/IMG-3023.jpg

who dat :sorry:

https://i.imgur.com/3odjp7p.png

[Shindig]

I’ve just done this quiz (https://uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz) to see who to vote for and these were the results:

https://i.ibb.co/kJwqpYv/IMG-3023.jpg

who dat :sorry:

My choices had the Rejoin EU party up top. It really latches onto single issue stuff and has just demanded I "TELL MY CONGRESSMAN ABOUT CYPTO LEGISLATION!" I'll err ... get right on that.

87% EU People
84% Animal People
82% Green
82% Women's Equality Party (not sure how we got there. I told them women in the boardroom is irrelevant.
81% Lib Dems

Labour clocked in at 74%

[Ben]

Labour top with 83%, Tories bottom with 14%.

[Pepe]

https://i.imgur.com/5HR4Kss.jpeg

See you soon, lads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Labour top with 83%, Tories bottom with 14%.

Proper Northern lad.

[Luke Emia]

Turns out I’m a massive lefty.

I’ve definitely moved more towards centre ground since Brexit and I’ve been pretty disgusted by the Tories over the past 10 years but I’m not sure I’m a full on Corbynite yet either. Lib Dem’s second, who if they had any chance of winning is who I would vote for much to I imagine Jim’s disgust.

Anyway still just planning on writing CUNT next to Liz Truss’s name at this point.

[Luke Emia]

https://i.imgur.com/5HR4Kss.jpeg

See you soon, lads.

The irony of the BNP being 3rd on your list is something else.

[phonics]

The irony of the BNP being 3rd on your list is something else.

The most anti-immigrant person you'll ever meet is 2nd generation guy from Texas callled Miguel Rodriguez.

[Spikey M]

https://i.ibb.co/ThktJMC/Screenshot-20240605-212008-Brave.jpg

:gs:

[phonics]

No idea what Volt are but just the name/logo seems like a party thats tricking you into voting for like 'Reinstate the Brownshirts'

[Pepe]

The irony of the BNP being 3rd on your list is something else.

I thought I said no to kicking the immigrants to Rwanda, but who knows anymore.

[Shindig]

No idea what Volt are but just the name/logo seems like a party thats tricking you into voting for like 'Reinstate the Brownshirts'

Given the other names on the available list, I reckon they must be into electric vehicles.

[Luke Emia]

I thought I said no to kicking the immigrants to Rwanda, but who knows anymore.

Yeah but you choose instead of sending them there to just gas them instead?

[Spikey M]

No idea what Volt are but just the name/logo seems like a party thats tricking you into voting for like 'Reinstate the Brownshirts'

I've no idea, but on the breakdown of things I agree with them on it was mostly just on Critical Race Theory in schools, taxing rich cunts more and not lettering people reject social housing only to go squatting in private property. Other that that, it's just my disinterest in plastic forks.

Edit: it turns out they're just a pro-EU party. Meh.

[Magic]

86% People Before Profit
85% Labour

[Manc]

Labour 64%
Green 63%
Conservative 61%
Lib Dems 60%

:uhoh:

[Mike]

https://i.postimg.cc/7LmnCVFK/IMG-1165.png

[niko_cee]

I always get Lib Dem on those things because I don't want to execute gay Rwandans.

Second was the rejoin the EU party, which was an odd double whammy.

[Pepe]

Yeah but you choose instead of sending them there to just gas them instead?

Whatever looks better on the balance sheet.

[niko_cee]

The Newsnight bit questioning why the British Prime Minister sacked off the D-Day commemorations [answer: apparently to do some interview refuting allegations he is a liar] feels like it should have the potential to be fairly ruinous for Rishi. Good effort to try and torpedo the one remaining demographic they are gunning to win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

More needs to be done to expose and extinguish the Greens. People think they are some cuddly idealistic party but their literal written policies include a) the abolition of all borders and welcoming of all immigrants who want to move here, and b) not building any new houses.

Dangerous people.

[niko_cee]

Nobody who likes their bin collected is going to be voting for the greens.

Even Brighton will ditch them now Lucas is gone.

[Boydy]

No to nuclear as well. Dickheads.

[Lewis]

More needs to be done to expose and extinguish the Greens. People think they are some cuddly idealistic party but their literal written policies include a) the abolition of all borders and welcoming of all immigrants who want to move here, and b) not building any new houses.

Dangerous people.

Seeing as we get that anyway, their plan for one pound bus tickets arguably gives them the best manifesto.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Newsnight bit questioning why the British Prime Minister sacked off the D-Day commemorations [answer: apparently to do some interview refuting allegations he is a liar] feels like it should have the potential to be fairly ruinous for Rishi. Good effort to try and torpedo the one remaining demographic they are gunning to win.

Just seen all this, another 40 seats gone in one hit. Should probably be made to resign it's so embarrassing.

[Lofty]

Not the best look when pushing national service, Corbyn got hammered even though he turned up.

[Lofty]

https://i.ibb.co/CzhQx3s/Screenshot-20240607-080210-Samsung-Internet.jpg

100% fanny, as expected.

[Ben]

Admittedly I'm not really tuned to the mindset of the average (remaining) Tory voter, but does this latest Sunak gaffe really hurt him all that much?

[Magic]

Admittedly I'm not really tuned to the mindset of the average (remaining) Tory voter, but does this latest Sunak gaffe really hurt him all that much?

Well these freaks are all about bootlicking and virtue signalling so it'll piss them off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes. Any time he says anything about national pride or the military or anything like that (which he will a lot), the opposition can say 'you left the D-Day commemoration for a vanity TV hit mate'.

It completely undermines his credibility as a statesman.

[Spikey M]

Admittedly I'm not really tuned to the mindset of the average (remaining) Tory voter, but does this latest Sunak gaffe really hurt him all that much?

This National Service shit he's trotting out is because old people that have always voted Tory are all they have left. Abandoning a D-day event is probably the worst thing you could possibly do in their eyes.

[Spikey M]

1798986018089238895?t=Fk8JOK3nPtyEty4jS2TWQQ&s=19

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

The big problem Sunak has is that he's a selfish superficial wanker. Say what you like about Boris/May/Cameron and their various failings but all of them are genuinely patriotic in some sense, this cunt only gives a shit about himself and his rat friends.

Truss is worse, a dreadful person who I am dearly hoping loses her seat.

[Spikey M]

Truss should be in prison.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, ruinously bad 'optics' for Rishi to have Starmer turn up in Normandy as well, although all of this was fully known weeks in advance so you have to wonder which big brain in the campaign team cleared it all.

Maybe they were just hoping for a 'forget about the last 8 years' vibe with Lord Cameron PMing it up.

[-james-]

Sell line is 153 :pards:

Sell line is down to 112. Thanks Pishi.

[Ben]

Yikes.

[Spikey M]

It's a shame he called the election really. Another 6 months and they would have achieved 0 seats.

[Boydy]

1798741638262731172

Their core vote is abandoning them.

[Ben]

Using betting odds it's currently looking like:

LAB 433 (+227)
CON 121 (-224)
LD 51 (+36)

Conservatives on track to gain just one seat (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey).

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're not getting 100.

[Spikey M]

Annoyingly, I suspect a fair number of their voters will end up voting for them again when they're actually stood pencil in hand.

[Luke Emia]

Rumours they could lose North West Norfolk round here which is about as safe a seat as they come and only returned anyone other than a Tory once in the last 50 years. They really could actually be properly wiped out for the incompetence since 2015 and I am here for it.

[Spikey M]

Their rebuild is going to be interesting. LURCHING TO THE RIGHT has achieved nothing for them here, so what do they do? Head back towards the centre? Or head even further right?

[Boydy]

Lib Dems as the official opposition is my greatest hope for this election now.

[Boydy]

Their rebuild is going to be interesting. LURCHING TO THE RIGHT has achieved nothing for them here, so what do they do? Head back towards the centre? Or head even further right?

Merge with Reform, Farage takes over. Fascism in 2029.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Depends on the specific number of seats and who the MPs are that are left. If they are still in 2nd place (is still an if, I believe) then presumably Kemi Badenoch will have held on and she'll lead a pointless William Hague 97-01 style existence. If they do a bit better than they might get Nige in to run a permanent culture war, even though I think peak culture war era has probably passed now as the woke tide recedes. If they are third then it doesn't matter because Ed Davey will be at the dispatch box thanking the Prime Minister for his efforts every week and the opposition will form outside the democratic process.

[niko_cee]

That's Sir Ed Davey to you.

[Magic]

Merge with Reform, Farage takes over. Fascism in 2029.

We can only pray this happens and THIS IS ENGLAND kicks us out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, a hardline nationalist government would be an awful thing for Scotland.

[Lewis]

Their rebuild is going to be interesting. LURCHING TO THE RIGHT has achieved nothing for them here, so what do they do? Head back towards the centre? Or head even further right?

Again, what about the highest taxes, spending, and immigration on record is 'lurching to the right'? Can somebody answer this?

[Spikey M]

Again, what about the highest taxes, spending, and immigration on record is 'lurching to the right'? Can somebody answer this?

The LURCH has been over the last 6 months to a year.

Trying to bring back National Service and trying to deport immigrants to Rwanda in particular is twerking for the right wing of the party, trying to see off Reform UK.

[Lewis]

Lots of countries have national service, so it isn't a left/right thing (especially when most of it would just be people doing drudge work on behalf of the local council), and an actually right-wing immigration policy would either have no need for the Rwanda scheme or would have implemented it by now instead of bleating about 'lefty lawyers' in the Telegraph. I suppose the main failure of the Conservative Party is to talk enough shit to make people think they are a right-wing government whilst not actually doing right-wing things that might have saved them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They aren't being punished for being right wing (they aren't particularly right wing by any usual measure), they're being punished for being useless and for using a certain tranche of society as a client electorate, something you can get away with for a while but which always comes back to bite you in the end. The big tent is undefeated.

[Ben]

1799032994247913822

[Spikey M]

Who is this Rwanda stuff meant to be appealing to then?

[Boydy]

1799084699052314745

Can they get rid of him during the campaign?

[Shindig]

That's risky unless they speedrun the leadership contest.

[Boydy]

1799055544160038949

This would be very very funny.

[Ben]

FT model a few days ago had him with only 6% gap to Labour so it’s entirely feasible.

[Guybrush]

Who is this Rwanda stuff meant to be appealing to then?

Pricks.

[Pepe]

What is the Rwanda stuff, anyway? Who is being sent there and why there?

[Shindig]

Rather than process illegal immigrants in the UK, the plan is to fly them to Rwanda instead.

[Spikey M]

What is the Rwanda stuff, anyway? Who is being sent there and why there?

Illegal immigrants and because the risk of being sent to a shithole is meant to stop them coming here in the first place. The risk of being sent to Luton and Bradford hasn't worked though, so I'm not sure why this would. And the number they're planning to send is tiny anyway.

[Pepe]

Immigrants from Rwanda or immigrants from anywhere? Who are they planning to send? Criminals or just randos?

Not sure I want to move to Rwanda.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a stupid headline-seeking measure enacted because they want to be seen to be against immigration, but don't want to actually cut it because 'business' is addicted to cheap labour.

[niko_cee]

Why are they having a major debate tonight at the same time as the England game?

And also, I'd love to see where this cheap labour is. Is it all just deliveroo/amazon drivers? Country is dying for it in the building trade as far as I can see.

[Spikey M]

Immigrants from Rwanda or immigrants from anywhere? Who are they planning to send? Criminals or just randos?

Not sure I want to move to Rwanda.

Just illegal immigrants in general

[Luke Emia]

Who is this Rwanda stuff meant to be appealing to then?

I think it’s what brown people like Sunak., Braverman and Patel think white people want and because they are brown they feel like they have to really play the card to make sure they get votes.

[Giggles]

If it's been any sort of a deterrent then it's a solid enough idea.

[Spikey M]

The ginger growler is having a ginger howler so far. Why are Labour so bad at these?

[Lewis]

The Rwanda scheme is born out of the fact that Conservative politicians, for all that they would like to click their fingers and end illegal boat crossings, remain unwilling to remove the incentives that encourage them because doing so would require them to challenge a load of Blair-era (and Blairite) rights laws, and this would mean standing up to people who would never vote for them under any circumstances anyway (many of them taxpayer-funded). In some respects it perfectly encapsulates their fourteen (twenty?) years of failure, but the same inaction it can be seen across pretty much every department.

[Ben]

If it's been any sort of a deterrent then it's a solid enough idea.

Negative.

1799027800894222616

[Luke Emia]

The Rwanda scheme is born out of the fact that Conservative politicians, for all that they would like to click their fingers and end illegal boat crossings, remain unwilling to remove the incentives that encourage them because doing so would require them to challenge a load of Blair-era (and Blairite) rights laws, and this would mean standing up to people who would never vote for them under any circumstances anyway (many of them taxpayer-funded). In some respects it perfectly encapsulates their fourteen (twenty?) years of failure, but the same inaction it can be seen across pretty much every department.

It’s not the incentives is not sorting the processing of them out better then. Rather than pissing money up the wall on shite like Rwanda. If people aren’t genuine asylum seekers I have no issue with them being sent home. but it takes far to long to process people because we don’t put enough resource into it. You could fix the problem by fucking the people who you don’t want in the country off within say a month if you resourced it properly but we don’t. Oh and by the way the annual refusal rate was higher under Labour than it is now. By quite some distance.

In 2023 11% of immigration was asylum seekers this is what all this shit around immigration constantly dances around. People on the boats aren’t the issue the issue is the number of people who are legally let into the country under the rules, don’t forget we have total control over these rules because we got our sovereignty back.

The answer for any government if they wanted to do it is to tighten the entry requirement’s. We can argue the toss over if we think that’s the right or wrong thing to do but it’s a pretty easy fix the government don’t want to do.

[Lewis]

We don't put enough resources into processing (plenty of money for hotel rooms though), but we also accept far too many people on lol human rights grounds such as people liable to be attacked back in Somalia because they are sex offenders; people with mental problems that African countries can't treat; people who pretend to change their religions; people who paid to be smuggled over and now owe criminals money so can be classed as victims of modern slavery; and so on and so on. Aren't they incentives? Is the free legal representation by people who know how to game the system whilst your claim is slowly processed an incentive? Is a hotel room during it all an incentive? What about the ability to work illegally here with nobody checking it? That we then refuse to deport anyone who somehow gets through the process without being accepted tops it all off. It isn't just a case of not having enough case workers on the payroll. All that would do is accept people at a quicker rate, because none of the other incentives will have been changed.

[Pepe]

Immigration is a clusterfuck in most BIG nations. Basically impossible to immigrate if you are qualified and want to work, but grifters just make it in no problem. Then you wonder why many people hate immigrants.

[Magic]

Immigration is a clusterfuck in most BIG nations. Basically impossible to immigrate if you are qualified and want to work, but grifters just make it in no problem. Then you wonder why many people hate immigrants.

Home grown grifters seem to do well too. Hmm.

[Pepe]

Therefore let's welcome all grifters amirite?

[Magic]

Therefore let's welcome all grifters amirite?

No because then it's not a grift. Oh, I see!

[Pepe]

Fully open borders would probably work better than the current default, to be fair.

[Spikey M]

Why are they having a major debate tonight at the same time as the England game?



Atleast you'll be feeling similarly dejected about the nations prospects whichever you chose.

[randomlegend]

They aren't being punished for being right wing (they aren't particularly right wing by any usual measure), they're being punished for being useless and for using a certain tranche of society as a client electorate, something you can get away with for a while but which always comes back to bite you in the end. The big tent is undefeated.

Claiming they are useless ascribes to them a degree of innocence they far from deserve.

They are a deeply corrupt, reprehensible, vile bunch of cunts who exist solely to further their own interests and those of their rich friends. They see you, me, and anyone else outside their circle as pond scum. Anyone who still votes for them has the self-respect of a Dubai porta potty.

As I have been saying for years.

[Kikó]

France have decided they want in and have called a snap election.

[Yevrah]

So heartwarming to see our European cousins embracing the far right. Really can teach us filthy racists over here a thing or two.

[Giggles]

So heartwarming to see our European cousins embracing the far right. Really can teach us filthy racists over here a thing or two.

I don't think anyone had a problem with it, more that you never wanted to admit it and came up with a hundred other reasons. Far right (to use the lefts term) is the way forward, it has to be at this stage.

[Dquincy]

On that quiz thing, my top 3 were:

Conservatives
BNP
UKIP

Fucking hell. Labour were near the bottom for me.

[Dquincy]

I don't think anyone had a problem with it, more that you never wanted to admit it and came up with a hundred other reasons. Far right (to use the lefts term) is the way forward, it has to be at this stage.
Agreed. Many people incorrectly associate the modern day far right with Adolf's season in bloom.

[igor_balis]

I did that fucking stupid quiz and I'm apparently 93% lib dem.

On a more positive note, I just did my yearly rewatch of the robin cook resignation speech. I've heard some fairly convincing chat that it wasn't quite as principled and sincere as it comes across, and was as much motivated by intra-party manoeuvring, but I don't really give a shit. It's fucking quality.

[niko_cee]

Wasn't Robin Cook entirely motivated by keeping his Foreign Secretary gaffe and getting pissed up therein? Which was fair enough.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's all gone a bit Springtime for Hitler over there. What is Manu Mac trying to do, a 'Who governs France?' type of confidence vote?

[niko_cee]

He's trying the presidential election trick, where you are forced to pick between one of the mainstream parties and Le Pen, on a parliamentary level. Seems fraught with danger but he's probably at the zero fucks given stage now as the republic is very much not en marche.

[igor_balis]

Agreed. Many people incorrectly associate the modern day far right with Adolf's season in bloom.

What the fucking hell are you talking about