General Election

[JBODEN]

Sorry for bringing up the subject (Ugh) but I need an explanation.
First the Gordons were running the Country now it looks like the Camerons will be in power.
WHAT IS IT WITH THESE SCOTS!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by JBODEN

Sorry for bringing up the subject (Ugh) but I need an explanation.
First the Gordons were running the Country now it looks like the Camerons will be in power.
WHAT IS IT WITH THESE SCOTS!

Looks like they're both gonna be playing at being the leader! FFS, the rules need changing

Jo xxxx

[JBODEN]

Originally Posted by jojo

Looks like they're both gonna be playing at being the leader! FFS, the rules need changing

Jo xxxx

Unforunately there is no ideal solution. I wouldn't mind the Monster Raving Looney Party getting into power, could they really make a bigger mess?

[jojo]

I'm not a political animal, but I'm at a loss as to why the BBC obviously spent so much money on their TV set for this election. Everytime I've switched on there has been a technical fault, the whole thing is majorly confusing (evenmore so that it should be). I've turned over to watch it on another channel. Far easier to understand

Jo xxx

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by JBODEN

Sorry for bringing up the subject (Ugh) but I need an explanation.
First the Gordons were running the Country now it looks like the Camerons will be in power.
WHAT IS IT WITH THESE SCOTS!

Cameron - Scottish? The old Etonian?
Anyway, looking at the results this morning the really worrying thing surely is that no one is in charge!

Did anyone on the forum vote I wonder? I didnt since I havent lived there for 7 years and the last place I lived in the UK (where I suppose I would be entitled to vote) I have no connection with anymore so it seemed a bit pointless. But I know others here still have ties there...

[JBODEN]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

... the really worrying thing surely is that no one is in charge!

Not true! Obviously you aint a fan of Yes Minister
EVERYONE knows that the Civil Servants run the Country
PS There's your solution JoJo. Let's get Sir Humphrey to run the Country.

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by JBODEN

Not true! Obviously you aint a fan of Yes Minister
EVERYONE knows that the Civil Servants run the Country
PS There's your solution JoJo. Let's get Sir Humphrey to run the Country.

Well they certainly seemed to be the ones deciding who was allowed to vote last night!

[gus-lopez]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

Well they certainly seemed to be the ones deciding who was allowed to vote last night!

It's getting like zimbabwe.

[Tallulah]

I hope Mary is OK - she was going to be pulling an all nighter wasn't she?

Maybe she's finally slumped in her armchair, empty expresso cups and Pro-Plus packets scattered at her feet.

Hopefully when she wakes up, she'll give us her thoughts.

xxx

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by Tallulah

I hope Mary is OK - she was going to be pulling an all nighter wasn't she?

Maybe she's finally slumped in her armchair, empty expresso cups and Pro-Plus packets scattered at her feet.

Hopefully when she wakes up, she'll give us her thoughts.

xxx

'Mornin' all!!
My as yet unfocused thoughts:

The Tories have a majority of the public vote and seats in the Commons but have 'lost' in the sense that they did not achieve the breakthrough they confidently expected.
Labour has failed to gain a majority of the popular vote and lost its majority in the Commons but has 'won' in the sense that they did not get the thrashing that was predicted.
No Party has won a fourth term in over two hundred years so viewed from that perspective Labour has done remarkably well.
I'm pleased to see extremists of the Left (Respect) and the right (BNP) soundly thrashed. Three cheers for British decency!
Constitutionally Gordon Brown has the right to try to form a Government. Clegg has honoured his statement that the Party with the largest share of the vote and seats in the Commons should try to form a Government but -crucially -qualified it with the caveat 'in the national interest'.
I cannot see Cameron taking the poisoned chalice of minority Government. He would be a prisoner of the other Parties.
It would be difficult to see how a Lib/Con coalition could provide stability - the Lib Dems won't support Tory economic plans and the Tories are against PR.
As there is a 2/3 majority of the popular vote against the Tories as well as a small majority in the Commons there could be a strong case for an anti-Tory coalition or agreement.
My own preference would be for Brown to continue as PM as I think Tory plans for sharp and immediate cuts would lead to a double-dip recession but I do not support the Labour preference for a dominant public sector in the economy.
I support a flourishing private enterprise economy with fair taxation leading to redistribution to those in geneuine need. I support the franchising of many public services to private enterprise, under strict contractual conditions.
No one Party currently suits me!!!!!
But one thing at least we can thank Gordon Brown for: he kept us out of the euro.
I predict a Labour-led Government with an election within a year.
But who knows?
The media want instant decisions on what will happen. I think we'd prefer a period of calm reflection.
And now .....COFFEE!!!