Re: The UK General Election Thread

[Basil]

Lib Dems actually coming out in front in some of them, but they would probably need high 30's before they could even think about being the largest party never mind a majority... Labour could easily finish third in percentage terms but have the most seats.

Then we can kiss goodbye to first-past-the-post in any subsequesnt general election.

I don't get this 'first past the post' scenario, sounds like something Zardari of Pakistan would encourage to remain in power till death, how has the UK allowed it for so long?

Because the anomaly of a party polling fewer votes but gaining more seats than its rivals is a rarity. It makes the democratic process a farce if that scenario comes to pass.

[beamer]

I guess the advantage of it is that it produces stable majority governments most of the time and gives everyone their own MP - does tend to exclude smaller parties though, and in a three-way split obviously has the potential to produce some anomalies.

[Basil]

I guess the advantage of it is that it produces stable majority governments most of the time and gives everyone their own MP - does tend to exclude smaller parties though, and in a three-way split obviously has the potential to produce some anomalies.

Germany has manged quite nicely without majority governments.

[Allan D]

New ComRes poll due out at 10pm rumoured to give Tories 9-point lead over both Labour + Lib Dems (35-26-26). It ain't over till it's over.

[vilkrang]

New ComRes poll due out at 10pm rumoured to give Tories 9-point lead over both Labour + Lib Dems (35-26-26). It ain't over till it's over.

The Tories are going to walk this election, I don't know what you were ever panicking about.

[beamer]

Rumours of both that and the same in favour of the Lib Dems are flying around, will know shortly which (if either) it is...

[Basil]

New ComRes poll due out at 10pm rumoured to give Tories 9-point lead over both Labour + Lib Dems (35-26-26). It ain't over till it's over.

The Tories are going to walk this election, I don't know what you were ever panicking about.

That would still put the Tories 27 shy of an overall majority on the basis of a uniform swing (which we know won't happen)

[Zat]

Sorry to spoil a good story with the facts but McCain, who had trailed Obama in the polls upto that point, actually went ahead after he picked Palin. It was only the banking collapse in September that caused Obama to surge again.

Nothing to do with McCain being as likeable as tinea of the groin, and Palin being a nutter? OK, sure...

[Allan D]

Another example of Lib Dem consistency:

The Liberal Democrat leader, who was criticised by David Cameron for his "holier-than-thou" attitude in the first of the televised leaders' debates, has written an article for The Church of England Newspaper in which he claims that Christian values are "central" to his policies....

Curiously, he could not find space anywhere in the article to mention that he does not believe in God.

Atheist Nick Clegg discovers religion in time for polling day

[JKLever]

New ComRes poll due out at 10pm rumoured to give Tories 9-point lead over both Labour + Lib Dems (35-26-26). It ain't over till it's over.

That's only 1 of 4 polls out tonight - the others...

Populous CON 32 LAB 28 LIB 31

Angus Reid CON 32 LAB 23 LIB 33

Yougov CON 31 LAB 26 LIB 34

More significantly all those 3 polls were taken yesterday and today and that ComRes poll is a day older and given the others are more or less are within the margin of each other, i'd put that Tory 9 point lead down as a rogue poll.

[Bradman]

Another example of Lib Dem consistency:

The Liberal Democrat leader, who was criticised by David Cameron for his "holier-than-thou" attitude in the first of the televised leaders' debates, has written an article for The Church of England Newspaper in which he claims that Christian values are "central" to his policies....

Curiously, he could not find space anywhere in the article to mention that he does not believe in God.

Atheist Nick Clegg discovers religion in time for polling day

To be fair you can live your life by Christian principles without actually believing in God. As embodied in the Ten Commandents, what's wrong with not 1)killing people, 2)cheating on your wife, 3) stealing.

[Allan D]

Nothing at all except the Decalogue occurs in the Old Testament as part of the Mosaic Law and therefore precedes Christ but what about:

Believing in God (1st Commandment)?
Believing in no other gods (2nd Commandment)?
Not committing blasphemy (4th Commandment)?
Keeping the Sabbath Day holy (5th Commandment)?

Religion is not like the Liberal Democrat manifesto where you can pick and choose what pleases you and discard the rest.

How about obeying the specifically Christian commandment:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal

Gospel According to St Matthew, Chap.6, v.13.

MPs' expenses: Nick Clegg defends £84,000 expenses on 'modest' second home

[horace]

time the brits had a cultural revolution and these crooks were put out into the rice fields and coal mines ...erm ...don't know where I got the rice fields bit.

[Zat]

Because the Chinese have bought half of Britain, just like they have the rest of the world?

[vilkrang]

I'm an atheist but live by many Christian principles, my Mum is one and brought me up as one. I think that the whole God thing is clearly nonsense as there is just as much chance of a giant penguin having created the world, but the values instilled in me from a Christian upbringing are generally good I would say.

If that was the point that Clegg was trying to make then I see nothing wrong with it.