And they're off! So the two-horse race for the #generalelection2024 has started and already Rishi Sunak has made two mistakes. I have to agree with @peston's first prediction of a November election this would have given more time for interest rates to come down along with fuel and food. There would have been more time for more than just one person to enjoy the scenery of Rwanda. Secondly, why didn't he wait for 8 or 9 am this morning when there was less chance of looking like the gods were pissing all over him. #politics
Yep, the Conservatives are going to lose. I can't help feeling that there was a chance to turn things around if he'd left it as long as possible.
Reform UK is scary; they seem Ultra-Right-Wing to me, although I will say that having read their manifesto, they've got some bits that are worth looking at.
I have a feeling the Liberals might do well out of this. Tory voters who don't want to vote Labour might see them as an acceptable alternative.
I have this horrible feeling that it's going to be a replay of the local elections, and we're going to see Tory seats decimated in the House. 😢
It'll do them good, I think. Hopefully most of the loons will lose their seats, then in 5-10 years time they might look like a party worth electing again.
I had an interesting thought while walking the dog. What if Rishi went to the nation and said: "OK, we made some terrible mistakes, which will have to be put right whether that's the Conservatives or Labour. The results of the General Election will not make those mistakes go away. We made those mistakes, and we should be the ones to put things right."
Not sure it will do him much good. There's only a handful of parties that have managed a stretch of more than ten years in the last century - people just want a change.
@mooch I think the Greens have a better chance of picking Tory votes up than the liberals ? (I still don't get why he decided to do it outside in the pouring rain...)
Yeah, you might be right. I see Robert Peston running around telling everyone, "The money is all gone." That's why Rishi has offered Labour a shot at the title.
I think it was panic. He knows Rwanda isn't going to happen and Starmer has said he'll scrap the plan so neither will happen on his watch.
The illegal migrant crossings have already hit 10,000 so far this year and a good summer is predicted so that number could spiral and look like another failure.
Finally, Nigel Farage could re-enter the political fray in which case 6 months of him being around could totally sink the Tories.
My guess is that, in either outcome, Sunak will depart. He'll either be ousted if the Tories win or he'll walk away from politics if Labour get in.
I bet you can't wait to beat Starmer with the shitty stick if he fails to immediately fix everything :) I'm not sure a few more months would allow Sunak to fix everything his lot broke in 14 years.
It is the job of the opposition to point out the incumbent's mistakes and ignore or gloss over their success. This is why I find it hysterical when the BBC trundles out Labour MPs to comment on Conservative policies. As if they're going to have anything positive to say. 🙈
That is, if they can string two words together.
Oh, of course not. It would be stupid to wish for that, but it would have given time for things to trickle down. I wouldn't be surprised if there's an interest cut before Christmas; fuel and energy prices are set to drop again. Nobody gives a shit about Partygate or whether or not they could go to Mum's funeral anymore. They care that they're struggling to pay their mortgage and put food on the table.
The opposition should and do work with the government when it does some good. It's not all about confrontation and posturing, but that is what gets the headlines.
People will have various priorities. Those who lost family to COVID may resent what went on.
I think we'll see more Tories step down, so there may be a rush to find new candidates. Their summer plans may disrupted if they were not expecting this.
I would agree that some MPs are not too bright (on all sides).
All those who cross the floor deserve contempt from both sides. Please don't fall for the tosh that they conflict with their former party's policies. All they care about is retaining their seat. There's a straightforward question:
"How can someone who has been dedicated to Conservatism for ten years or more conclude that they have the opposite views and embrace something they fought so hard to destroy?" These people should never be trusted again, not only by the party they defect to but also by the electorate, for disrespecting their trust and choice.
I never mentioned crossing the floor :) But, that said, I think the job of an MP is to serve their constituents first. Too many are just flown in to make up numbers for the party. They should be allowed to think for themselves. But most people will vote for a party anyway.
What is Conservatism anyway? These days it seems to be largely starting 'culture wars'. I can see a lot of people being disillusioned by this. Labour has changed too and both sides have their competing factions.
Not just the money, he's also given away a lot of our military assets to Ukraine without any plan to replace them other than Shapps saying "Our forces will have to think on their feet and learn to adapt to situations!". Political-speak for "Sorry, we've shafted you, you're on your own!".
Jamie
in reply to dick_turpin • • •Predictions?
I think it will be a Labour win, but probably not by as much as the polls say. My uneducated, unqualified guess is a 50 seat majority.
Reform UK are the unknown. If they do well, the tories are screwed and Labour will get a bigger majority.
SNP are completely fucked. I reckon they will go down to about 10 seats.
dick_turpin likes this.
dick_turpin
in reply to Jamie • •Yep, the Conservatives are going to lose. I can't help feeling that there was a chance to turn things around if he'd left it as long as possible.
Reform UK is scary; they seem Ultra-Right-Wing to me, although I will say that having read their manifesto, they've got some bits that are worth looking at.
I have a feeling the Liberals might do well out of this. Tory voters who don't want to vote Labour might see them as an acceptable alternative.
I have this horrible feeling that it's going to be a replay of the local elections, and we're going to see Tory seats decimated in the House. 😢
Jamie
in reply to dick_turpin • • •dick_turpin
in reply to Jamie • •"OK, we made some terrible mistakes, which will have to be put right whether that's the Conservatives or Labour. The results of the General Election will not make those mistakes go away. We made those mistakes, and we should be the ones to put things right."
Jamie
in reply to dick_turpin • • •I think he basically said that yesterday.
Not sure it will do him much good. There's only a handful of parties that have managed a stretch of more than ten years in the last century - people just want a change.
penguin42
in reply to dick_turpin • • •(I still don't get why he decided to do it outside in the pouring rain...)
dick_turpin likes this.
dick_turpin
Unknown parent • •Neil Darlow :gotosocial: :silverblue: :xmpp:
in reply to dick_turpin • • •I think it was panic. He knows Rwanda isn't going to happen and Starmer has said he'll scrap the plan so neither will happen on his watch.
The illegal migrant crossings have already hit 10,000 so far this year and a good summer is predicted so that number could spiral and look like another failure.
Finally, Nigel Farage could re-enter the political fray in which case 6 months of him being around could totally sink the Tories.
My guess is that, in either outcome, Sunak will depart. He'll either be ousted if the Tories win or he'll walk away from politics if Labour get in.
Steve
in reply to dick_turpin • • •I'm not sure a few more months would allow Sunak to fix everything his lot broke in 14 years.
dick_turpin
in reply to Steve • •It is the job of the opposition to point out the incumbent's mistakes and ignore or gloss over their success. This is why I find it hysterical when the BBC trundles out Labour MPs to comment on Conservative policies. As if they're going to have anything positive to say. 🙈
That is, if they can string two words together.
Oh, of course not. It would be stupid to wish for that, but it would have given time for things to trickle down. I wouldn't be surprised if there's an interest cut before Christmas; fuel and energy prices are set to drop again. Nobody gives a shit about Partygate or whether or not they could go to Mum's funeral anymore. They care that they're struggling to pay their mortgage and put food on the table.
Steve
in reply to dick_turpin • • •The opposition should and do work with the government when it does some good. It's not all about confrontation and posturing, but that is what gets the headlines.
People will have various priorities. Those who lost family to COVID may resent what went on.
I think we'll see more Tories step down, so there may be a rush to find new candidates. Their summer plans may disrupted if they were not expecting this.
I would agree that some MPs are not too bright (on all sides).
dick_turpin
in reply to Steve • •All those who cross the floor deserve contempt from both sides. Please don't fall for the tosh that they conflict with their former party's policies. All they care about is retaining their seat. There's a straightforward question:
"How can someone who has been dedicated to Conservatism for ten years or more conclude that they have the opposite views and embrace something they fought so hard to destroy?" These people should never be trusted again, not only by the party they defect to but also by the electorate, for disrespecting their trust and choice.
Steve
in reply to dick_turpin • • •I never mentioned crossing the floor :) But, that said, I think the job of an MP is to serve their constituents first. Too many are just flown in to make up numbers for the party. They should be allowed to think for themselves. But most people will vote for a party anyway.
What is Conservatism anyway? These days it seems to be largely starting 'culture wars'. I can see a lot of people being disillusioned by this. Labour has changed too and both sides have their competing factions.
Neil Darlow :gotosocial: :silverblue: :xmpp:
in reply to dick_turpin • • •dick_turpin
in reply to Neil Darlow :gotosocial: :silverblue: :xmpp: • •