Theresa May

[ragnarok]

Alex Salmond on twitter today :

The real French lesson is not about mandates, but about message. In France, Emmanuel Macron has taken on the far right and beaten them. In the UK, Theresa May has dumped UKIP by becoming UKIP.

Macron has carried the flag for liberal values and engagement with Europe. Theresa May has surrendered to UKIP prejudices.

His speech in front of the Louvre yesterday was a positive vision for the future of France in Europe. Theresa May’s speech outside Downing Street last week was right out of the Farage playbook.

The lesson from France is not about mandates, but about message. Macron offers positive hope for the future. The May Tory/UKIP message is a desultory political dead-end.

Except this is piffle of course. Macron won because (1) the Socialists were always going to lose (2) the FN are still toxic with large swatches of the electorate and Le Pen as destined to lose in the second round regardless of the opposition (although they did win nearly 50% of the 18-24 vote) and (3) Fillon was embroiled in scandal (otherwise he would likely have walked it as, contrary to what Salmond suggests, his platform was more closely aligned to French public opinion and would probably have taken an even greater number of votes from FN).

We'll see what Macron can achieve but he has a whiff of French Tony Blair about him without the massive legislative power of a large Westminster majority. His proposals for economic modernization are simply a rehash of Chirac and Sarkozy proposals that never got off the ground. And given that his political positions are generally contrary to majority public opinion I don't expect that he will enjoy much of a honeymoon period.

[Getintaethem]

Except this is piffle of course. Macron won because (1) the Socialists were always going to lose (2) the FN are still toxic with large swatches of the electorate and Le Pen as destined to lose in the second round regardless of the opposition (although they did win nearly 50% of the 18-24 vote) and (3) Fillon was embroiled in scandal (otherwise he would likely have walked it as, contrary to what Salmond suggests, his platform was more closely aligned to French public opinion and would probably have taken an even greater number of votes from FN).

We'll see what Macron can achieve but he has a whiff of French Tony Blair about him without the massive legislative power of a large Westminster majority. His proposals for economic modernization are simply a rehash of Chirac and Sarkozy proposals that never got off the ground. And given that his political positions are generally contrary to majority public opinion I don't expect that he will enjoy much of a honeymoon period.

far far far too sensible a post for this thread min...

A vote for Macron was a vote against the French Nationalist Party. Macron could have been a failed economic advisor to a failed French president, have no political experience and be married to a pensioner and still have won against Le Pen... oh wait...

[Mason89]

Wants to bring back fox hunting. What a fanny

[ILikeJam]

Hopefully she doesn't have any snipers watching me...

[Aldo1983]

I've had five letters and flyers from Jo Swinson's campaign. She's desperate but looks like she might get back in. I'd rather vote for fox hunting.

[Pacman1903]

Wants to bring back fox hunting. What a fanny

She is a vile f@cking c@nt

[Stupie82]

Wants to bring back fox hunting. What a fanny

Of course she does, once again proving that head Tories are living in a completely different world from the majority of the public they serve. The majority of people in the UK detest the idea of fox hunting and are appalled by it, yet somehow the Tories are hellbent on bringing it back. Any party that publicly supports the chasing of a defenseless animal for it to be terrified and possible ripped apart for sporting purposes, needs questioned. This so called sport for the few toffs it serves, is so outdated and disgusting it beggars belief that it can even be considered or put to a vote. There are more pressing matters to deal with, yet fox hunting is always on the agenda for the Conservatives. Anyone who can defend that needs to have a look at themselves.

[InversneckieDob]

Yet we'll follow the UK's bell cow down the road to oblivion.

I don't think, even during the darkest days of Thatcher in the 80s, I've ever felt such despair at the political path we're being dragged down.

[57vintage]

Bring it back.

Hunt down that ****ing ******* Liam Fox.

Ban it again.

Sorted.

I trust I can rely on your spoiled paper?

[Stupie82]

Yet we'll follow the UK's bell cow down the road to oblivion.

I don't think, even during the darkest days of Thatcher in the 80s, I've ever felt such despair at the political path we're being dragged down.

Cant help but feel the same way and with the possibility of Tories making gains in Scotland, you have to wonder where its heading. The collapse of Labour has given the Tories a free reign in the UK and will lead to gains here in Scotland too... the upcoming GE will give us an indication of where we are politically in Scotland, but i fear the worst. While the SNP will still have the most seats, Tories will make gains, that we can be sure of.