UK General Discussion

[ObserverIE]

I just have a question.
You say than needy people should earn their money. By working, I suppose.
There is a problem. There isn't jobs for everybody. How they do?
(And don't say the magical "if there was less taxes, there would be full employment", because that's a dubious claim)

They don't. This explanation of what must be done to solve Britain's woes is one you must explore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYnHXUEPMPY

Is this a very roundabout way of telling us that you're a satirical caricature of a right-winger?

[ObserverIE]

Chris Huhne pleads guilty to perverting the course of justice, and announces that he will resign as MP for Eastleigh.

[ObserverIE]

So where are these four Liberal Democrats from?

Sarah Teather (Brent Central)
John Pugh (Southport)
Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley)
Alan Beith (Berwick upon Tweed)

Teather and Pugh are Catholics.

Good luck getting them tactical voters.

Em, how much of a sticking point will gay marriage be for potential tactical Labour voters in rural Northumberland or in Southport? I can't see the Lib Dems holding Brent or Burnley no matter what way the MPs voted on this issue - propping up the Tories will be the deciding factor there.

Gay marriage strikes me as an issue where you have small numbers either intensely in favour or intensely against, and a broad middle who may be mild approvers or disapprovers, but who won't view it as being an important factor come a general election. Much like Europe or hunting at the other end of the spectrum, frankly.

[ObserverIE]

Say what you like about his skills as Prime Minister, but I don't see how anyone could really make the case that he's been a good Leader of the Conservative Party in opposition or in government.

Question: Has the person who could manage the present-day Conservative Party yet been born? The words "cats", "sack", and "fighting" come to mind.

[ObserverIE]

There will be a certain number of minor party MPs Labour could presumably rely-ish on for one reason or another at least for confidence votes (Plaid, the SDLP - if they have any seats left, that is

The three SDLP seats all look secure enough; Belfast South would have been a lost cause under the abortive boundaries, but on the existing boundaries, continuing demographic drift there is going to push it away from Unionism. The only probable change next time round is the DUP regaining Belfast East from Alliance. Belfast North and Fermanagh South Tyrone are more distant possibilities for change, again due to demographic drift.

[ObserverIE]

Not that often, but still not that rare; some administrations with clear majorities can go with no defeats at all.

WTF! Callaghan and Wilson?! <.<

No majority (I think they started in October 1974 with a majority of 3 and then lost seats through defections and by-elections).

[ObserverIE]

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/01/03/michael-gove-blasts-blackadder-for-spreading-left-wing-myths

I was rather under the impression that much of the Tory right viewed social Darwinism as a good thing (see Boris's recent comments about IQ).

[ObserverIE]

The basic argument in Blackadder Goes Fourth is a classic example of a fantastical exaggeration that tells an important truth very effectively precisely because it is a fantastical exaggeration.

I don't think Gove gets satire. At least not consciously.