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[Bold One]

I know a lot of you are very disappointed the conservatives won, especially in the manner they did as well..

Hopefully this will make you feel better, What would of happened under PR, basically tories still win, but UKIP become 3rd largest party

fuck me that is a shocking amount of UKIP support

really?!

 

[jimbobsmells]

Guys Charlotte Church is mad as hell.
When churchy's angry you know you've crossed the line.

 

[electroshockwave]

Out if interest, has any of English GAF changed their mind on Scottish independence? Either going from go for it to no, or no to go for it?

I'm not English, I'm from NI, but I was a little in favour of seeing Scotland go independent while also thinking it might not be the best idea.

Maybe it could be great. I do feel bad for Scotland only electing one Conservative and getting lumped with a Tory government all the same. Labour had taken both the Scottish branch of their party and the people for granted and it has clearly cost them this time around. An independent Scottish parliament would put their interests first. Scotland would have political views that align much more with mine than apparently the rest of mainland Britain does. If it had an open immigration policy I really could up and leave without the language/travel/visa issues if I wanted to move to the EU or other anglophone countries. I'm opposed to nuclear arms so I can empathise with the Scots not wanting them in your backyard and maybe being forced to relocate it would make the government consider if it really is worth renewing it. As a soft Irish nationalist it would be interesting to see the effect it had here too.

But I found elements of the Independence movement questionable. Independent Scotland would have no problems and bringing up legitimate issues was part of Project Fear. North Sea oil would retain its value and supply. Sure, Alex, you can keep using the pound but a currency union comes with strings attached and the other options for using it aren't any better. Even if the majority of Scotland is pro EU that doesn't mean that membership is guaranteed or immediate either so it's not like they could just join the eurozone. Beyond that I feel a bit less sympathy for Scotland when there are parts of England that have it just as bad or are worse off without the option of seceding. The Barnett formula has needed a replacement for some time now. I understand that less dense populations need more public spending per capita but when Scottish students get free tuition at their universities while the rest of us have to pay you question how fair the distribution is.

So, in the end I'm still sort of in favour of it as some sort of mix of curiosity, hope and schadenfraude. I think we still need some time for the dust to settle before another referendum can happen or if we move towards federalism. I see the SNP's success more as an endorsement of a party that will push Scots' interests rather than a significantly increased desire for independence and I thought I saw a poll mentioned somewhere that supported this.

 

[Audioboxer]

It's one of those fields you can't even begin to imagine the pressure the system is under. My brief experience with it was scary, and the staff I trained with have my upmost respect.

Yeah I have experience myself. The staff spoke about cuts and a lack of support to do their jobs successfully.

Even more potential cuts are scary. There's little left as it is. Mental health should get more respect, its as much a killer as other physical ailments or diseases.

 

[Audioboxer]

I'm not English, I'm from NI, but I was a little in favour of seeing Scotland go independent while also thinking it might not be the best idea.

Maybe it could be great. I do feel bad for Scotland only electing one Conservative and getting lumped with a Tory government all the same. Labour had taken both the Scottish branch of their party and the people for granted and it has clearly cost them this time around. An independent Scottish parliament would put their interests first. Scotland would have political views that align much more with mine than apparently the rest of mainland Britain does. If it had an open immigration policy I really could up and leave without the language/travel/visa issues if I wanted to move to the EU or other anglophone countries. I'm opposed to nuclear arms so I can empathise with the Scots not wanting them in your backyard and maybe being forced to relocate it would make the government consider if it really is worth renewing it. As a soft Irish nationalist it would be interesting to see the effect it had here too.

But I found elements of the Independence movement questionable. Independent Scotland would have no problems and bringing up legitimate issues was part of Project Fear. North Sea oil would retain its value and supply. Sure, Alex, you can keep using the pound but a currency union comes with strings attached and the other options for using it aren't any better. Even if the majority of Scotland is pro EU that doesn't mean that membership is guaranteed or immediate either so it's not like they could just join the eurozone. Beyond that I feel a bit less sympathy for Scotland when there are parts of England that have it just as bad or are worse off without the option of seceding. The Barnett formula has needed a replacement for some time now. I understand that less dense populations need more public spending per capita but when Scottish students get free tuition at their universities while the rest of us have to pay you question how fair the distribution is.

So, in the end I'm still sort of in favour of it as some sort of mix of curiosity, hope and schadenfraude. I think we still need some time for the dust to settle before another referendum can happen or if we move towards federalism. I see the SNP's success more as an endorsement of a party that will push Scots' interests rather than a significantly increased desire for independence and I thought I saw a poll mentioned somewhere that supported this.

Thanks for your well written reply. In regards to the tuition fees, didn't English MPs vote down making them free? I really think its an English decision more than Scotland's fault. I'd say some goes for prescriptions and eye care.

 

[Matt_]

Guys Charlotte Church is mad as hell.
When churchy's angry you know you've crossed the line.

theres a name ive not seen in a while

I dont get the protests, I dont like the tory's either but they won by every metric

 

[electroshockwave]

Well, the states has gone too far with it. They basically look for reasons to arrest people as it's the only way their manufacturing industry can compete with India, China etc.

And it's a handy way of disenfranchising minorities since they prevent felons from voting.

fuck me that is a shocking amount of UKIP support

really?!

Yeah, the worrying thing is that even with PR we would have probably been left with Con/UKIP coalition. *shudder*

 

[JonathanEx]

Rumours of Grant Shapps as Health Secretary. Maybe they'll do more for mental health then, such as for people with multiple personalities.

 

[SymbiantXenos]

Guys Charlotte Church is mad as hell.
When churchy's angry you know you've crossed the line.

Legit forgot she existed.

 

[CharmingCharlie]

theres a name ive not seen in a while

I dont get the protests, I dont like the tory's either but they won by every metric

It is my understanding the protests are NOT about the Tory Government being elected. The Protests were pre-arranged protests against Austerity. It's just some are going "herp derp the protests against the tories have started already".

 

[PJV3]

theres a name ive not seen in a while

I dont get the protests, I dont like the tory's either but they won by every metric

Excluding vandalism of war memorials etc, they're fine and actually healthy for democracy and firing up your political aims.

it's nice to see people who are probably well off like Church joining in, I hope she's not found out to be creative in her tax affairs, the mail loves a leftie hypocrite.

 

[IpKaiFung]

Rumours of Grant Shapps as Health Secretary. Maybe they'll do more for mental health then, such as for people with multiple personalities.

He's more than qualified. Says he he's a qualified doctor and worked for 10 years with MSF in Africa on his wiki page. /s

 

[PJV3]

He's more than qualified. Says he he's a qualified doctor and worked for 10 years with MSF in Africa on his wiki page. /s

Expect a letter from his legal team.

 

[Yen]

Tory plan to scrap Human Rights Act could hinder Northern Ireland peace process

Northern Ireland’s committee on the administration of justice says human rights are essential to the Good Friday agreement

 

[Daemul]

It is my understanding the protests are NOT about the Tory Government being elected. The Protests were pre-arranged protests against Austerity. It's just some are going "herp derp the protests against the tories have started already".

Yeah you're right, that's what I've heard too. Here's info for another planned protest

 

[JonathanEx]

Imagine if The People's Assembly came up with new ways to protest or challenge austerity. Imagine. Their approaches clearly resonated so far judging by the election results.

 

[Daemul]

Imagine if The People's Assembly came up with new ways to protest or challenge austerity. Imagine. Their approaches clearly resonated so far judging by the election results.

Yeah, defacing a war memorial was a terrible idea, I have no idea why someone would think that would be a clever thing to do.

 

[PJV3]

Tory plan to scrap Human Rights Act could hinder Northern Ireland peace process

Northern Ireland’s committee on the administration of justice says human rights are essential to the Good Friday agreement

Interesting, quite like the bit about it being used to legalise homosexuality in the province.
Only Ian Paisley could worry about saving Ulster from sodomy at the height of the troubles.

I know there's a bomb in the post office, but that man might stick his cock up my arse.

 

[twobear]

Nothing wrong with monetising prisons. Get the inmates to to work for a pittance while they're in there. Everyone's a winner.

Incarcerated people who provide free labour........where have I heard this idea before?

 

[SuperSah]

Michael Gove is now the Justice Minister.

oboyo

 

[JonathanEx]

Yeah, defacing a war memorial was a terrible idea, I have no idea why someone would think that would be a clever thing to do.

I dunno, calling the tories scum clearly resonates with the wider public. Vilifying rather than smart focussing or positive plans, etc.

 

[PJV3]

Michael Gove is now the Justice Minister.

oboyo

He can send the judges a signed copy of the bible, the schools really appreciated that.

 

[Dambrosi]

I dunno, calling the tories scum clearly resonates with the wider public. Vilifying rather than smart focussing or positive plans, etc.

But, as we have seen, negative campaigning clearly works.

 

[JonathanEx]

But, as we have seen, negative campaigning clearly works.

Two wrongs don't make a right

But they do make a right wing government ahahahaha SATIRE

I'd like to announce my intentions to become head writer for Have I Got News For You with that kinda gold

 

[IpKaiFung]

Rote learning shakespear to be the new method of rehabilitation for prisoners.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

On the proposed 600 seat boundary changes, this election would have had the following results:

322 CON
204 LAB
50 SNP
4 LD
16 Northern Ireland
2 PC
1 UKIP
1 Green

Labour and the Conservatives would have been driven from Scotland entirely (Scotland would be set to lose 8 seats to represent how England's population has grown relative to Scotland's since the last election).

 

[Succinct Verbosity]

Gove being promoted has to be one of the worst things in the history of anything. I give it less than six months before he fucks up something.

 

[Conan-san]

Gove being promoted has to be one of the worst things in the history of anything. I give it less than six months before he fucks up something.

The speed at which Westminster is fucking everything up, I'll be ligit surprised if the UK still exists as a thing and less a disaster area in a week.

 

[faridmon]

Out of interest, why do believe what George Osborne has to say about economics?

He got a fucking 2:1 in modern history, how the fuck is he allowed to be in charge of the country's money? And how has he convinced people that he's right?

How on earth he became the head of the fucking welfare of this country is beyond me. Modern History? Wow.

 

[Conan-san]

How on earth he became the head of the fucking welfare of this country is beyond me. Modern History? Wow.

I think we've firmly established the economy outside of self interest is most defiantly the drop stat of the Con.

 

[travisbickle]

How on earth he became the head of the fucking welfare of this country is beyond me. Modern History? Wow.

A sound knowledge of Victorian Britain is all you need to run the country Conservative style.

 

[Tak3n]

The people's assembly need to come up with different ideas....

The election result is still a shock to me, as the Tories said on copious amount of times, in fact every time he spoke...

12 billion of welfare cuts....

Conservatives sweep to power, on a mandate of those cuts, so either people voted to give the poor another kicking, or there was fraud and the election was rigged.....and we know the second one is not true

 

[phisheep]

Will Bercow survive as Speaker?

Quite apart from the inevitable politicking about it, he really is an odious little shit - and that Carol Mills stuff has done him no favours.

Lindsay Hoyle would make an excellent and far less partisan and controversial Speaker.

 

[RedShift]

Will Bercow survive as Speaker?

Quite apart from the inevitable politicking about it, he really is an odious little shit - and that Carol Mills stuff has done him no favours.

Lindsay Hoyle would make an excellent and far less partisan and controversial Speaker.

Why do conservatives hate Bercow so much? I don't know much about the issue but he seems like a fairly effective speaker. He has a good shouting voice at least, I'll miss his yells of EEEED MILIBAAAAAAAND.

Also, forgive me if it's not what you meant, but calling him a 'little shit' reeks of heightism and is rather horrible.

 

[Kuros]

Why do conservatives hate Bercow so much? I don't know much about the issue but he seems like a fairly effective speaker. He has a good shouting voice at least, I'll miss his yells of EEEED MILIBAAAAAAAND.

Also, forgive me if it's not what you meant, but calling him a 'little shit' reeks of heightism and is rather horrible.

Telegraph summary of why they don't like him. Some of it petty. The fact he's from the left of the party isn't really the whole of it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/gen...rcow-the-most-infuriating-man-in-Britain.html

 

[phisheep]

Also, forgive me if it's not what you meant, but calling him a 'little shit' reeks of heightism and is rather horrible.

He's taller than me, but he's still an odious little shit.

 

[Spookie]

Telegraph summary of why they don't like him. Some of it petty. The fact he's from the left of the party isn't really the whole of it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/gen...rcow-the-most-infuriating-man-in-Britain.html

Well anyone who manages to get Hague to create a slimy plot to get him out is good in my books.

Conservatives sweep to power, on a mandate of those cuts, so either people voted to give the poor another kicking

I don't believe you can boil peoples decisions to vote tory as simple as that. Though I do believe there has a been a metric tonne of mis-information spread from the media, seeping in to social media and then spread like gospel.

They did a clever campaign in my opinion, Labour never once got off the back foot from defending themselves and people seem more likely to believe a negative lie than something postive if my facebook wall is anything to go by.

Edit: "One of the favourites to succeed Miliband, the shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, has set out his stall as a modernising, centre-ground, pro-business candidate." - I fucking called this last year before the election that if Labour lost the media would begin putting his face and name everywhere for the public to see. The Guardian

 

[QuicheFontaine]

Why am I reminded of Jeremy Hunt's punishment for his performance as culture secretary by his being moved to Health?

"I've no idea either, guys!"

 

[DBT85]

Why do conservatives hate Bercow so much? I don't know much about the issue but he seems like a fairly effective speaker. He has a good shouting voice at least, I'll miss his yells of EEEED MILIBAAAAAAAND.

Also, forgive me if it's not what you meant, but calling him a 'little shit' reeks of heightism and is rather horrible.

I've never associated the term "little shit" with height or size.

 

[CyclopsRock]

Thanks for your well written reply. In regards to the tuition fees, didn't English MPs vote down making them free? I really think its an English decision more than Scotland's fault. I'd say some goes for prescriptions and eye care.

Well tuition fees were brought in (slightly) before devolution to Scotland, so the Scottish parliament had to actively "abolish" them. I think the reason that some people outside of Scotland are slightly vexed about this is that Barnett means that simultaneously the rest of the UK are paying relatively more tax (compared to stay gets spent on them) *and* Scotland gets those things you mentioned. That's why it's so important for Scotland to get some tax powers of its own. That way if the Scottish Parliament wants to provide better public services to it's people it can do so without it being at the expense of the rest of the UK. (I don't blame them, incidentally - they don't have the mechanism to pay for it themselves in the current setup).

 

[brain_stew]

Proportional representation would fix it. 36.9% is not a majority. The Tories will get to push through some horrible shite now, pretty much unopposed.

Their "snoopers charter", constituency boundary changes, pointless EU referendum that can only do damage. Taking housing benefit from young people will have some terrible consequences.

Also fox hunting.

Once you add the 12.6% from UKIP and any DUP support you're back above 50%.The left need to accept that they're the minority (overwhelmingly in England) and that the electorate have decided that they want the country to steer further to the right. True proportional representation would have seen the country steer even further to the right as the true losers under first past the post at this election were UKIP.

If electoral reform was such a hot button issue for the left then why didn't 13 years of Labour government force it through? The only offer on voting reform in a generation has come from a Conservative led coalition.

You can't decry the rules of the game when you were happy to play by therm when they favoured your preference but turn against them when they don't.

As a Lib Dem voter, I've lost big at this election but we have returned the government that the electorate wanted, everyone has to accept that.

 

[brain_stew]

I don't believe you can boil peoples decisions to vote tory as simple as that. Though I do believe there has a been a metric tonne of mis-information spread from the media, seeping in to social media and then spread like gospel.

A lot of the discussion on this very forum in the run up to the election was around how the likes of the Sun had lost the influence they once had.

Discussion needs to move away from blaming the media and other nebulous forces and focus on what a abject failure of a campaign that the Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems all ran. Their failure is their own and the quicker all three parties accept that, the quicker they'll be able to offer strong opposition.

Now is the time to learn from a calamity of mistakes, not to turn against the electorate, the media and business.

 

[PJV3]

Once you add the 12.6% from UKIP and any DUP support you're back above 50%.The left need to accept that they're the minority (overwhelmingly in England) and that the electorate have decided that they want the country to steer further to the right. True proportional representation would have seen the country steer even further to the right as the true losers under first past the post at this election were UKIP.

If electoral reform was such a hot button issue for the left then why didn't 13 years of Labour government force it through? The only offer on voting reform in a generation has come from a Conservative led coalition.

You can't decry the rules of the game when you were happy to play by therm when they favoured your preference but turn against them when they don't.

As a Lib Dem voter, I've lost big at this election but we have returned the government that the electorate wanted, everyone has to accept that.

Of course people are accepting it, we don't have to like it, we can moan about it and prepare for the next election.

The 'left' didn't like various things that happened under the Labour government, but the structure of the Labour party was changed to prevent change. I respect the Libdem's on that issue, the party is more democratic than the others.

I'm actually hopeful that the EU referendum is going to (once it's done) take the wind out of right wing sails. Labour should have tackled it and shown the state isn't the unlistening enemy.

 

[Tak3n]

obvious to me why Gove got Justice, his dept is about to piss of every leftie on the planet, by getting rid of the human rights act...

you will need some thick fucking skin to do that, this guy single handed took on all teachers and won (apart from forcing 8-6 hours)

he clearly does not mind being despised

 

[brain_stew]

Of course people are accepting it, we don't have to like it, we can moan about it and prepare for the next election.

The 'left' didn't like various things that happened under the Labour government, but the structure of the Labour party was changed to prevent change. I respect the Libdem's on that issue, the party is more democratic than the others.

There was no appetite for electoral reform from any wing of the Labour party once Tony Blair swept the country with a huge majority. Even out of power, there was no real support for the AV referendum from right or the left.

The Lib Dems are the only party that have brought it to the table but the resounding failure of the AV referendum and their collapse at this election proves that there is no appetite for change from the electorate. As much as it disappoints me, time and again the electorate give FPTP a resounding endorsement. The issue is dead for a generation.

 

[PJV3]

obvious to me why Gove got Justice, his dept is about to piss of every leftie on the planet, by getting rid of the human rights act...

you will need some thick fucking skin to do that, this guy single handed took on all teachers and won (apart from forcing 8-6 hours)

he clearly does not mind being despised

I partly think Osborne and Cameron have done it to wind up Theresa May and her leadership plans.
She doesn't get on with Gove and there's some crossover with the home office and Justice.

But you're right, Gove enjoys upsetting the applecart.

 

[Chinner]

I thought people were joking about bringing back fox hunting.

 

[brain_stew]

obvious to me why Gove got Justice, his dept is about to piss of every leftie on the planet, by getting rid of the human rights act...

you will need some thick fucking skin to do that, this guy single handed took on all teachers and won (apart from forcing 8-6 hours)

he clearly does not mind being despised

I think you over estimate the opposition. Restricting civil liberties has proven very popular politics for both Labour and the Conservatives and kippers certainly aren't going to object to any of these policies. The Greens and Lib Dems are the only parties that would seriously object and their vote share is now but a small minority of the electorate.

Five years of preventing the human rights act from being scrapped hasn't been viewed as popular politics.

 

[Juicy Bob]

Man, this sucks.

This sucks so bad.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

I thought people were joking about bringing back fox hunting.

It was one of Camerons promises before the election.