Primus Inter Pares - February 2005 General Election

[Lumine]

January 2005 - With an economic crisis and chaos in Northern Ireland, can Livingstone survive?

Prelude: With the United Kingdom deeply divided as the Troubles in Northern Ireland explode in violence and the economy tanks after a crash in 2004, Ken Livingstone has lost a key vote on further bank nationalization and has been forced into an early election with a few more months to go. He faces Ann Widdecombe's Conservatives and Don Foster's Liberal Democrats at an apparent disadvantage, also having to fend off a large-scale rebellion of MP's under Tony Blair and his "Gang of Five". With many likening the election to 1983, can the embattled Prime Minister score the upset of the century?

Labour Party: As divided as it was on the 80's, Labour has increasingly been taken over by the hard-left, which keeps a tight leash for the party on this election. Livingstone, still retaining a decent level of public support due to his successful domestic reforms, is running on a manifesto which is as leftist (if not more) than the 1983 one, supporting bank nationalization, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution, a potential referendum on the monarchy, large scale investment in public services, support for same-sex marriage, unilateral nuclear disarmament, a pacifist foreign policy and a referendum on whether Northern Ireland should rejoin Ireland. Livingstone has also bashed the Lib Dems and New Labour for "standing for nothing" and Widdecombe as a "raving Thatcherite clone".

Conservative Party: Under Ann Widdecombe the Conservatives enter the fight in full force (despite defections from social liberal voters), rallying against the dangers of Livingstone's hardline socialism and presenting themselves as the only credible government alternative. Widdecombe has put together a populist manifesto, with moderate Eurosceptic views and staunch social conservative views which include the return of the death penalty and an anti-abortion stance (combined with pro-civil liberties stances against excessive government surveillance). Among other pledges, Widdecombe promises to reverse Labour's nationalization programme of the past eight years, introduce a ban on fox hunting, reform public services to increase efficiency and keep spending under control to recover from the economic crisis.

Liberal Democrats: Foster has kept the "progressive center-left" course, and is now presenting himself as the moderate alternative to a far-left Labour. As a result, the Lib Dem manifesto is mostly similar to that of 2001 and focusing on large-scale political reform, environmentalism, socially liberal polices and a commitment not to cut public spending to solve the economic crisis, while adding a pledge not to join McCain's wars against terrorism, driving Northern Ireland into a sensible peace process for all sides and adopting the European Constitution. Foster has also reached an agreement with New Labour, allowing both groups straight fights against Labour in a few key constituencies.

New Labour: Threatened with deselection several Labour rebels have joined forces in a new electoral vehicle (not a formal party, as they still see themselves as Laborites), currently led by Tony Blair and fielding candidates in several constituencies across the country. The New Labour rebels argue for a moderate center-left alternative, taking a strong stance against crime and terrorism, pursuing social-liberal policies, a pro-Europe view, an interventionist and humanitarian foreign policy, and attacking Livingstone and the Labour hard-left for having placed the country in such a crisis. While they have too few candidates to form a government, the New Labour rebels expect to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, or collaborate with the Lib Dems owing to the positive relationship between both groups.

Three days for this one, info on the Livingstone Premiership can be found in the main thread.
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[MAINEiac4434]

You already know my vote.

EDIT: I'm refreshing this more than actual election results.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Win with Widdy!

[OSR stands with Israel]

Conservative

[Maxwell]

Trying to get Liberal Dems their best performance yet! (thankfully not led by lololol Nick Clegg)

[MAINEiac4434]

Trying to get Liberal Dems their best performance yet! (thankfully not led by lololol Nick Clegg)

I love how it appears that Foster is running to the left of "New Labour".

But yeah. Livingstone cannot stay on as Prime Minister after that shambles.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Lib Dem again; Foster is really the only acceptable candidate.

[NeverAgain]

Two things, where do Livingstone and Foster stand on Afghanistan. Along with Foster's position on SSM? Thanks!

[Intell]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Labour in a heartbeat. The traitors must be crushed.

[Intell]

Labour in a heartbeat. The traitors must be crushed.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Tories!!!! Go Widdecombe!!!!!

[Lumine]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Most of them are, but here's the thing, after doing research on Livingstone I found that in 2001 he not only argued for Labour to put entry into the Euro on their manifesto, he believed Labour should enter the Euro after winning a General Election without a referendum.

So while certainly a large part of the hard-left will not be pleased with Livingstone on this particular issue, he did believe and advocate in real life to enter the Euro.

[MAINEiac4434]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Because Ken Livingstone is a crazy person who should be nowhere near the halls of power let alone Prime Minister.

My vigorous opposition to him has little to do with his politics and everything to do with the fact that he's a goddamn nutjob, and his shambles of a government proves that.

[MAINEiac4434]

Two things, where do Livingstone and Foster stand on Afghanistan. Along with Foster's position on SSM? Thanks!

In the main thread, Livingstone has already pulled British troops out of Afghanistan. Foster opposed this, but supported Livingstone's choice not to send troops to Africa.

[Intell]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Because Ken Livingstone is a crazy person who should be nowhere near the halls of power let alone Prime Minister.

My vigorous opposition to him has little to do with his politics and everything to do with the fact that he's a goddamn nutjob, and his shambles of a government proves that.

Still the best candidate, imo.

[Lumine]

Two things, where do Livingstone and Foster stand on Afghanistan. Along with Foster's position on SSM? Thanks!

Livingstone has presided over British troops leaving Afghanistan, and he expects to end British participation by the end of 2005. Foster was supportive of the initial push to find Bin Laden and crush the Taliban regime, but have grown more skeptical of the intervention with time. They believe in a more phased and responsible withdrawal, bur withdrawal nonetheless.

Foster and the Lib Dems strongly support same-sex marriage and other equality measures.

[Phony Moderate]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Because Ken Livingstone is a crazy person who should be nowhere near the halls of power let alone Prime Minister.

My vigorous opposition to him has little to do with his politics and everything to do with the fact that he's a goddamn nutjob, and his shambles of a government proves that.

Nah, he's more of a typical politician than a crazy person. The most controversial policy of his London mayoralty was the introduction of the congestion charge FFS.

[MAINEiac4434]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Because Ken Livingstone is a crazy person who should be nowhere near the halls of power let alone Prime Minister.

My vigorous opposition to him has little to do with his politics and everything to do with the fact that he's a goddamn nutjob, and his shambles of a government proves that.

Still the best candidate, imo.

Can't understand how anyone can see him as the best candidate after he basically singlehandedly reignited the Troubles.

[MAINEiac4434]

I'm confused to why a hard-left member would support the following, entry into the Euro and adoption of the European Constitution. It makes no sense. They're most opposed to things, especially the Euro.

Because Ken Livingstone is a crazy person who should be nowhere near the halls of power let alone Prime Minister.

My vigorous opposition to him has little to do with his politics and everything to do with the fact that he's a goddamn nutjob, and his shambles of a government proves that.

Nah, he's more of a typical politician than a crazy person. The most controversial policy of his London mayoralty was the introduction of the congestion charge FFS.

This is the same guy who called Hitler a Zionist.

[White Trash]

Considering Livingstone's stance on the EU I'll be abstaining.

[Zioneer]

Lib Dem, easily. Not too far left, not too far right. Pro-EU, not interventionist.

[MAINEiac4434]

Considering Livingstone's stance on the EU I'll be abstaining.

Vote Lib Dem!!

[White Trash]

Considering Livingstone's stance on the EU I'll be abstaining.

Vote Lib Dem!!

I'd consider it, but Lib Dem is just a bit too socially and culturally liberal for my tastes. Aren't they pro-EU as well?

[MAINEiac4434]

Considering Livingstone's stance on the EU I'll be abstaining.

Vote Lib Dem!!

I'd consider it, but Lib Dem is just a bit too socially and culturally liberal for my tastes. Aren't they pro-EU as well?

Yes. But not like Livingstone.
Then vote Tory! #neverken