The General Election Thread

[biffvernon]

ordinary families with homes worth £325k or more

There is nothing ordinary about such folk. They are amongst the richest percentile of the world's population.

 

[Flyfisher]

Where I work, there were 265 houses sold in the last three years. 20 of these went for £325 000 or more; the average was £155 000. It may be 'ordinary' for Tory constituencies, but in this part of the country selecting the richest few for a reward smacks of class war.

Try buying a house in London or the Home Counties for £155k. Why should people trying to buy a house in those areas have to pay more tax to buy a house in such areas than in your area? Where's the fairness in that? In fact where's the fairness in taxing home purchase in the first place when it's being bought out of already-taxed income? And (while I'm on a roll :wink: ), where's the fairness of taxing what you may wish to pass on to your children when everything you own has already been paid for out of taxed income, and more, in the first place?

Tax income (OK, progressively if you must :roll: ) and, maybe, levy a flat tax (VAT?) on everything we spend but then let people get on with their lives.

What could be fairer?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

ordinary families with homes worth £325k or more

There is nothing ordinary about such folk. They are amongst the richest percentile of the world's population.

As are the scroungers on £10k benefits a yea in the UKr. So what? We're talking about the UK, not the rest of the world.

Also - you've missed off my adjective when quoting me - makes it all a bit more relative...

 

[DaveBrigg]

As are the scroungers on £10k benefits a yea in the UKr. So what?

If accepting 10k of benefits makes someone a 'scrounger', what word describes someone who takes 100k of money that should, by any reasonable definition, be paid in tax? Murdoch, whose companies sell papers in this country, pays less tax as a percentage than an unemployed pensioner. By these standards that must make him, Ashcroft and the thousands of their ilk the grubbiest, snivelling, thieving scrounging lickspittles in the nation.

Or is robbing the country through tax dodging somehow superior to receiving benefits?

BTW Cameron's redistribution of wealth did not just extend to inheritance tax. He also promised income tax cuts to the highest earners.

If public sector pay has to freeze for the good of national finance, so be it. If there is no alternative, and jobs must be lost - it's painful, but necessary. But if pay is cut and jobs are lost just to reward Cameron's cronies, don't expect us to go quietly.

 

[Pford75]

Following the election coverage here in NYC via the BBC feed (TV feed is a poor quality). Seems surprising that the Green's have failed so far to gather any significant support (as of now, their vote is down 0.1%, whereas other fringe parties such as UKIP & BNP are up 1% and 1.5% respectively.)

Personally I don't agree with any of these parties, but perhaps it demonstrates what many of the British people are concerned about?

 

[DaveBrigg]

Yep, I'm really concerned about the BNP. Fortunately they appear to have been wiped out, even in Stoke and Barking which they had put all their resources in to win. A fitting tribute as we approach V.E day, to see the nazi's beaten once again.

PS. Ed Balls Charles Clarke Michael Ashcroft saying that he will now pay taxes, and that giving £5 million to Tory marginals was 'an interesting experience' :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

CON gain Waveny.

Well done Penners - you did your duty! :lol:

Outcome still finely balanced...

 

[Pford75]

Nick Griffin loses comprehensively :lol:

Only time this evening I will applaud a Labour victory

 

[Moo]

And - Charles Clarke loses!
Here in his constituency we've been buried under a snowstorm of literature from the Lib Dems and the Greens, but not a peep from the Tories and Labour - possibly because the Clark camp was uber-confident and the Cons knew they didn't stand a chance.

 

[Flyfisher]

Nick Griffin loses comprehensively :lol:

Yes, which makes it all the more surprising why people seem to make such a big fuss about how to deal with the BNP when all it seems necessary to do is just let them state their ridiculous views and trust the electorate. Perhaps Griffin won't want to appear on Question Time again. :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

Today I donned a navy blue blazer and blue braces, but added yellow cufflinks and a yellow and blue tie and popped a yellow silk handkerchief in my top pocket in the expectation that nice Mr Clegg would do the decent thing and make good his promise to allow the party with the largest number of seats and largest share of the vote to fulfil its mandate.

Looks like things are going that way. Good for you Nick.

 

[Pford75]

Those now calling for PR should look at the overall votes.

Yes, the Lib Dems would gain more seats, but PR also creates room for 'single issue' parties. It's also notable that as a country, the BNP got more votes than the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Sinn Fein, DUP and Greens. UKIP would also most likely see a greater return from their c.900k votes. Anyone who thinks that PR is a benign change which benefits only the Lib Dems is not awake to the real potential impact.

 

[Moo]

Does anyone have any idea what the composition of the Commons would be if Proportional Representation were to be applied to today's voting figures?

 

[Pford75]

It's very difficult to answer that question as it rather depends on how you implement PR. Many are saying that if PR were implemented, it could/should be implemented with it allocated on a country by country basis, with English/Scottish/Welsh/Northern Irish seats delineated separately and with separation of voting rights in Westminster.

 

[Nigel Watts]

One of my best gold and yellow enamel cufflinks, donned especially in anticipation of the bright future offered by close and fruitful working between the world's two oldest political parties, has just come apart. Is this an omen I wonder?

 

[LadyArowana]

Is this an omen I wonder?

No, it's a shopping opportunity http://www.longmire.co.uk/categoryrender.asp?categoryid=3584&ccid=4454

 

[Flyfisher]

Vince Cable to get a cabinet post perhaps?

And, I've only just noticed that the human anagram lost his seat. Cheeky. :lol:

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Vince Cable to get a cabinet post perhaps?

And, I've only just noticed that the human anagram lost his seat. Cheeky. :lol:

Lemsip Optrex you mean?

 

[Flyfisher]

The very same. I guess he'll have more time to write for the Daily Sport now.
http://politicalscrapbook.net/2009/07/the-hypocrisy-of-lembit-opik/

 

[biffvernon]

There are only 4 majority governments in Europe, one of which is Greece! Of the 16 AAA rated national economies in the world, 10 have coalition governments. 12 of those top 16 economies use PR.