Who will win the UK election ?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I missed the debate last night- went to bed early with a good book. Can anyone do a summary? Still contemplating spoiling my ballot paper as the only viable option.

MrJester

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I missed the debate last night- went to bed early with a good book. Can anyone do a summary? Still contemplating spoiling my ballot paper as the only viable option.

IMO..

Conservatives will make very harsh cuts to child benefit and other vital governement needs to make up the deficit.
Labour want to make up the deficit, but have no clear plans as to how they are going to do that.
Lib Dems seem to know where they are going to concentrate to reduce the deficit without instant drastic cuts to welfare etc.

Thrugelmir

MrJester wrote: »

IMO..

Conservatives will make very harsh cuts to child benefit and other vital governement needs to make up the deficit.
Labour want to make up the deficit, but have no clear plans as to how they are going to do that.
Lib Dems seem to know where they are going to concentrate to reduce the deficit without instant drastic cuts to welfare etc.

Lib Dems are cleverly positioning themselves as the middle ground party. Expecting to be partners in another coalition government.

No party has any idea where the savings are going to come from. Avoiding the issue of where the difficult decisions will have to be made.

Milliband wants an £8 wage and end to zero hour contracts. Member of the audience ran a tourism business so uses zero hours contracts for employees. When the sun shines he has business. When it rains he doesn't. Milliband didn't answer the question directly. The BBC then went to another person rather than allow the questioner to follow up. Really showed the lack of thought (and holes) in some of Labour's proposals.

Milliband was extremely vocal about not having a coalition with the SNP. Be difficult to go back on such a public statement now.

Cameron repeatedly said that creating jobs was the key to the UK's future prosperity. Also that the job was far from done. He wanted another 5 years to finish the job off. I was hoping someone would ask if 5 years was sufficient time.

IveSeenTheLight

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Lib Dems are cleverly positioning themselves as the middle ground party. Expecting to be partners in another coalition government.

No party has any idea where the savings are going to come from. Avoiding the issue of where the difficult decisions will have to be made.

Milliband wants an £8 wage and end to zero hour contracts. Member of the audience ran a tourism business so uses zero hours contracts for employees. When the sun shines he has business. When it rains he doesn't. Milliband didn't answer the question directly. The BBC then went to another person rather than allow the questioner to follow up. Really showed the lack of thought (and holes) in some of Labour's proposals.

Cameron repeatedly said that creating jobs was the key to the UK's future prosperity. Also that the job was far from done. He wanted another 5 years to finish the job off. I was hoping someone would ask if 5 years was sufficient time.

For me, as a Scottish voter, you may be surprised to hear I think that Cameron stood out the best of all three Leaders.

That said, they still are nowhere near Nicola Sturgeon

I thought it was interesting how engaged Cameron was with Sturgeon at last months TV debate.

I got the feeling he would love a strong "Nicola Sturgeon" in his cabinet

Wheezy_2

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I missed the debate last night- went to bed early with a good book. Can anyone do a summary?

David was on first. There was a little Q shaped podium, a stool and a table with a jar of water and a glass. I don't think anyone sat on the stool. David was questioned on where the £12bn welfare cuts would fall, but didn't provide a clear answer. Getting more people into jobs is key. He is also very committed to the NHS. He got a bit sweaty and drank a lot of water.

Ed came on and in an effort to look statesmanlike, kept his left hand in his trousers pocket almost all the way through. He promised to be serious about deficit reduction, and ruled out a deal with the SNP. He insisted on addressing audience members by their first name and greeted them with a humongous smile when they released that bit of info. When he left the podium, he almost tripped over his own feet.

When Nick came on, I took the dog for a walk, so I can't help you there.

CLAPTON

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

I got the feeling he would love a strong "Nicola Sturgeon" in his cabinet

Strange, but totally predicable, how nationalists and authoritarian people, just love 'strong' people, whereas we libertarians democrats prefer people who are fair minded and willing to compromise.

IveSeenTheLight

CLAPTON wrote: »

Strange, but totally predicable, how nationalists and authoritarian people, just love 'strong' people, whereas we libertarians democrats prefer people who are fair minded and willing to compromise.

Hmmmm Authoritarian.
That's a new description for me or is your comment directed to Cameron?

As for Nationalists, if only the UK could light my fire for the UK Nation, unfortunately it's already too split and unfair that we need to look to a more local arrangement.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

"Fair minded and willing to compromise" sounds great; I just don't see much evidence of that in most politicians. More like desperate Yes Men anxious to please by answering in the vaguest possible terms.

I'd rather have more politicians like Sturgeon (crisp, efficient, committed) even if I disagree with their policies.

Sounds like the leaders last night weren't expecting such an unimpressed audience?

Thrugelmir

Wheezy wrote: »

Ed came on and in an effort to look statesmanlike, kept his left hand in his trousers pocket almost all the way through. He promised to be serious about deficit reduction, and ruled out a deal with the SNP. He insisted on addressing audience members by their first name and greeted them with a humongous smile when they released that bit of info. When he left the podium, he almost tripped over his own feet.

Nor did he stay on the podium. That I assume was try and appear to be one of "us".

kabayiri

Thrugelmir wrote: »

...
Cameron repeatedly said that creating jobs was the key to the UK's future prosperity. Also that the job was far from done. He wanted another 5 years to finish the job off. I was hoping someone would ask if 5 years was sufficient time.

I guess if you ask for 50 years you come across as greedy;lacking ambition; or both.

Selling politics is done more like selling a timeshare now.