Election Year or Fear!

[swaledale]

I repeat what I said earlier in this thread, beware a) the fickleness of the population and b) the Tories determination to win, and don’t bet against a Tory victory. I declare no allegiance in saying this but there will be many a twist and turn

Normally I'd agree and of course almost anything could happen, BUT I shall certainly be betting against a Tory victory, however, by what margin Labour win is open to question., I suspect it will be tighter than some pundits are forecasting.

The only way the Tory party might be able to shore matters up is if Reform don't field that many candidates, which I'd say is the reason for the election being called, to minimise Reforms ability to organise, its already running short of funds.

[Andy_Faber]

Normally I'd agree and of course almost anything could happen, BUT I shall certainly be betting against a Tory victory, however, by what margin Labour win is open to question., I suspect it will be tighter than some pundits are forecasting.

The only way the Tory party might be able to shore matters up is if Reform don't field that many candidates, which I'd say is the reason for the election being called, to minimise Reforms ability to organise, its already running short of funds.

Yes a well run Reform effort may sink the Tories and one thing I’d def bet on, Reform won’t get a seat

[SithHappens]

We all know what happened in 92. I think a coalition is a possibility, although both labour and lib dems have ruled it out but suspect if they needed to form one they would.

[Geoff Parkstone]

It's not going to happen but I'd love to see the state of "gammonness" that would engulf rA if the Tories overcame the odds and retained power! That, along with a return of Trump across the water, may see blood pressure levels reach unprecedented levels, so be calm rA, we need you.

[MadAmster]

Red Tories it is then. Very little will change... IMO.

[Geoff Parkstone]

FYI rA I have only ever voted conservative once (to get Bliar out) and never labour: Green since the disposal of Bliar. I might vote for a left-centre party but it would need to change it's name from "labour" as that name has too many negative overtones to attract me.

[ramAnag]

FYI rA I have only ever voted conservative once (to get Bliar out) and never labour: Green since the disposal of Bliar. I might vote for a left-centre party but it would need to change it's name from "labour" as that name has too many negative overtones to attract me.

Good for you. I was only, in AF speak, ‘joshing’ in response to your ‘gammoness’ mischievousness.
Maybe, as we both live in ‘pig with a blue rosette’ constituencies, we should both agree to vote Green, although I will be unashamedly hoping that Starmer becomes PM in six weeks time.

[swaledale]

FYI rA I have only ever voted conservative once (to get Bliar out) and never labour: Green since the disposal of Bliar. I might vote for a left-centre party but it would need to change it's name from "labour" as that name has too many negative overtones to attract me.

I have never voted Conservative and never will, I know a few "decent" Conservatives but the main party always reverts to type and latterly gone beyond even that.

I think I've voted labour once, otherwise its generally the candidate most likely to challenge the Tory incumbent.

Interesting that you voted conservative to "get Bliar" out, obviously didn't work, because in 2010 a vote against labour would have removed Brown, who IMO was one of the better PM's we have and paved the way for Clegg to make his disastrous decision (not for him given his role at meta obvs) to go into coalition with Cameron and usher in the last disastrous 14 years.

I'd vote green, but they do rather get their undergarments in a twist over gender identity, whereas sticking to the case for building a "green" economy would be more beneficial, but again realistically they aren't going to be in a position to change anything. Note I don't have an issue with people changing gender, but its been spun into something more than it really is on both sides of the debate. Such matters are never settled in a political arena and frankly don't impinge on most voters.

So this time it will again be weighing who is best placed to beat the Tory incumbent, if I have to hold my nose and vote labour I will, much as I dislike the shift to the right, and despite the undoubted missteps and faults of labour when in power previously, its clear that almost everything, be it NHS, poverty levels, the economy were all in much better shape before the current rabble took charge.

I will never vote Lib Dem ever again, Clegg's duplicity and selling his soul for power has done for that.

Unfortunately under the current FPTP voting system, its a 2 horse race, unfortunately also, the "Overton Window" has shifted to the right, meaning a true centre left party would struggle to gain enough votes across the country to get into power. Without a government that is at least reasonably sympathetic to the "average" citizen in the UK then the rampant crony capitalism will continue.

A sad state of affairs but the eality.

[Geoff Parkstone]

it was 2005 and it didnt work, but hey ho

[swaledale]

it was 2005 and it didnt work, but hey ho

That's the trouble with politics, it requires compromises and a realisation that to work it requires most people to get something they like whilst accepting they will also get things they would prefer not to.