General Elections 2010

[Tubby Beaver 209]

yeah Big-will, I think it would. There was a guy from New Zealand interviewed by the BBC who said that after the 1st couple of problem years it settles down and you get a good working system....but then he went on to say that its almost impossible in New Zealand for 1 party to win outright. what's the point then? I could do without this crap every time theres a bloody election

[RobBright 35]

So David Cameron is PM then?

[NoFakie 45]

To misquote Hot Chocolate

 

Everyone's a loser baby, that's no lie, that's no lie

You always fail to satisfy (to satisfy-aye)

(dumma dumma dumma dumma dumma dumma daba!)

 

Libdems sound like they've written their own suicide note in marginals. Some Labour folks seem to think they are best out of power. I suppose they've seen the books, so maybe they're right. Under the surface, there have got to be massive LibDem/Tory tensions. Obama's taken a bipartisan approach and his government has been completely crap. He's heading for defeat.

 

Anyway, this was a golden opportunity for the Tories to get in, do what they want, and gerrymander themselves in for years to come. Thank God they effed it up.

[BagOfCrisps 24]

Yes, that would be an absolute nightmare after the wonder of the last few years of Labour's incredible achievements, wouldn't it.

[grungy-gonads 54]

They certainly did a magnificent job.

[big-will 7]

Economic measures for an agreement which has deficit reduction "at its heart"

 

• £6b in year cuts in non frontline services subject to the advice from the treasury and the bank of england (Tory)

 

• Scrapping of national insurance rises (Tory)

 

• A substantial increase in the personal tax allowance from April 2011 with a focus on low and middle income earners, with a "long term goal" of a £10,000 personal tax allowance. There is no a timetable for this, but there is a promise to make further real term steps each year towards this objective. This is described as a "funded increase". It will be funded by taking the money the Tories had planned to use to increase the employee threshold for national insurance, and by an increase in capital gains tax for non business assets to bring it closer to the level of income tax.

 

• Marriage tax allowance. The liberal democrats have agreed to abstain on this, which gives the Tories a "real chance" of getting that through.

 

Lib Dem pledges that have been dropped

 

• Tax relief for higher rate pensioners will not be pursued

 

• Mansion tax

 

Tory pledges that have been dropped

 

• Raising the threshold on inheritance tax which is described as "unlikely to be achieved in this parliament".

 

Lib Dems priorities that have been secured

 

• Referendum to bring in some form of alternative vote system. Coalition members will be subject to three-line whip to force the legislation for a referendum through, but they will be free to campaign against the reforms before referendum.

 

• New pupil premium to be introduced, steering more funding to schools for every child they take from poor homes. Both parties back this policy, but the Lib Dem version attaches more money to it.

 

• Reducing the tax burden on low earners. This could go some way towards the Lib Dem aim of lifting tax threshold to £10,000.

 

• A wholly or mainly elected house of Lords.

 

• More equal constituency sizes

 

• Fixed term parliaments, including this one. The next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015. Legislation will mean such agreements can only be broken by an enhanced majority of the House of Commons.

 

Tory priorities that have been secured

 

• A cap on immigration and an end to child detention immigration controls (the latter was a Lib Dem proposal).

 

• Welfare reform programme to be implemented in full.

 

• School reform programme providing all schools are held accountable.

 

• A commitment to maintaining Britain's nuclear deterrent. Renewal of Trident will be scrutinised to ensure value for money. Liberal Democrats will be free to continue the case for alternatives.

 

• The government will make no proposals to join the euro.

 

• No proposals to transfer new powers to the European Union.

 

• A referendum lock will ensure that any proposal to transfer new powers must by law be put to a referendum.

 

Areas that were already in agreement will see a major programme of civil liberties

 

• A great repeal or freedom bill to scrap the ID card scheme and the national identity register and the next generation of biometric passports

 

• Extending the scope of the Freedom of Information bill to provide greater transparency

 

* Adopt protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database

 

• Protecting trial by jury

 

• Reviewing libel laws to protect freedom of speech

 

• Further regulation of CCTV and other items

 

• Measures to boost economy in key areas such as low-carbon industries and investment in infrastructure. A green investment bank, a smart grid, retention of energy performance certificates while scrapping home information packs.

 

Areas of opt outs for either party

 

• Lib Dems will be free to maintain their opposition to nuclear power while permitting the government to put forward the national planning statement for ratification by parliament so that new nuclear construction becomes possible.

 

Banking reform

 

• A banking levy will be introduced.

 

• Bonuses will be tackled.

 

• A "more competitive banking industry".

 

• More credit to flow to businesses. The proposals of the respective parties will be looked at before deciding which is the better one.

 

• An independent commission will be set up to consider Lib Dem proposals to separate retail and investment banking and the Tories' proposals for a quasi separation. An interim report will be published within a year.

 

• The Bank of England could be given control of macro prudential regulation and oversight of micro prudential regulation under proposals to be put forward.

[thursday 1]

Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister. They do look alike don't they.

 

An Etonian running the country again.

[brit-gob 9]

Cleggy for Deputy PM. What is that anyway.

 

But, didn't he do well for someone who no-one knew 4 weeks ago.

[thursday 1]

Alas another Scot at no.10

[pie-eater 207]

This Cameron dude is Scottish?

[Tubby Beaver 209]

Originally Posted By: thursday

Alas another Scot at no.10

who??

[grungy-gonads 54]

Davd and Nick. Best buddies. Ah, sweet isn't it.

[RobBright 35]

It is....

 

[grungy-gonads 54]

[BagOfCrisps 24]

Quote:

Within weeks, George Osborne, the new Chancellor, is expected to set out plans for a rise in capital gains tax on the sale of second homes, buy-to-let properties, shares and other investments. Many people rely on these to fund their retirements.

The tax could more than double from the current 18 per cent in a move that will affect hundreds of thousands of Britons. Last night, estate agents reported a surge in people seeking to sell properties as details emerged.

Lovely.

Quote:

The Conservatives have also been forced to abandon plans to scrap inheritance tax for everyone except millionaires. It now has little chance of being introduced before 2015.

A long time ago, "millionaire" once used to sound impressive and really rich. Now it doesn't. The current inheritance tax is madness.

[Curt 1]

Mr Clegg seems to have done very well for himself. Especially for someone whose party came third with less seats than before.

 

So heartening to see them now be the best of friends. How will they squirm out of all the pre-election bullshit they said about each other?

[bobby12 0]

Nice to hear they are going to do something to lower house prices and make properties homes again instead of investment vehicles that keep the rich rich and the poor poor. I would have expected this to come from labour not the tories though.

[2pints-mate 0]

Originally Posted By: bobby12

Nice to hear they are going to do something to lower house prices and make properties homes again instead of investment vehicles that keep the rich rich and the poor poor. I would have expected this to come from labour not the tories though.

But what about the people in the middle whose lovely homes are homes, not 'investment vehicles', but have worked hard their entire life to get where they are?

I'll be much happier when I hear what they indend to to cut out the huge amounts of waste spent on the professionally poor and people happy to do nothing other than leech.

[bobby12 0]

If it is about "second homes, buy-to-let properties, shares and other investments" then it shouldn't affect those genuine home owners.

 

Agree with you about the leechers, I hated it in the UK - the more you earn the more you get taxed. Or another way, the less you earn the more freebies you get. Demotivating.

[js 0]

Interesting comment on ABC TV (OZ) this morning. The hosts were interviewing some political analyst via satellite in the UK who, on seeing footage of the two walking side by side across the lawn dressed in suits quipped:

 

'They look like they're going to a (gay) Civil Ceremony.'

 

Gotta admit, they look too much alike and too chummy.

 

I think the same person also noted that they: 'look like Tony Blair's love children'.

[Tubby Beaver 209]

Originally Posted By: SubZero

Interesting comment on ABC TV (OZ) this morning. The hosts were interviewing some political analyst via satellite in the UK who, on seeing footage of the two walking side by side across the lawn dressed in suits quipped:

'They look like they're going to a (gay) Civil Ceremony.'

Gotta admit, they look too much alike and too chummy.

I think the same person also noted that they: 'look like Tony Blair's love children'.

they do look like Blair's love children, probably with himself though, cos he loved himself the most!!
Cameron has an incredibly giant head!!

[BagOfCrisps 24]

They look too chummy.

 

Funny, they 'hated' each other a week ago.

[thursday 1]

The bum chums.

[loaf of bread 0]

 

Wonder if they have consulted with Hooky.

He didn't seem to keen on the idea.

[thursday 1]

perhaps it's a dinosaur tour