Thread: The UK General Election 2019

The Brexit Party has announced that it will not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives at the 2017 general election.
Party leader Nigel Farage said standing candidates across the country could increase the chances of another EU referendum taking place.
But he said the party would stand against all other parties - and focus on taking seats off Labour.
It had vowed to stand more than 600 candidates. The Commons has 650 seats.
Launched in April, the Brexit Party does not hold any Commons seats - but the party was the clear winner in the UK's European elections in May.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move, calling it "a recognition that there's only one way to get Brexit done, and that's to vote for the Conservatives".
But Tory chairman James Cleverly added there was still a "danger" the Brexit Party could split the vote in target seats, leading to the election of MPs who could "frustrate the Brexit process".

• LIVE: Farage 'giving Johnson half a chance'
• Lib Dems, Greens and Plaid agree election pact
• What is tactical voting?

Explaining his decision to supporters in Hartlepool, Mr Farage said Mr Johnson had recently signalled a "big shift of position" in his approach to Brexit.
He cited a pledge by the PM not to extend the transition period that would follow the UK's departure from the EU. This would see Britain sticking to the European Union's rules on issues such as freedom of movement until December 2020.
Mr Farage also said he was encouraged by recent commitments from Mr Johnson to seek further divergence from EU rules in a post-Brexit trade deal.
He added that this was a "huge change" from the kind of trade pact that had been planned under former PM Theresa May.
'Unilateral Leave alliance'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Donald Trump "got his wish" when Mr Farage announced his electoral strategy.
He said the Brexit Party leader was offering a "Trump alliance" that would lead to "Thatcherism on steroids" and threaten the future of the NHS.
The US president had previously urged the Mr Farage to team up with Boris Johnson, saying they would be "an unstoppable force".
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Farage's decision "shows the Conservatives and the Brexit Party are now one and the same".
Mr Farage had previously offered to not to stand candidates against the Tories in certain seats if the prime minister changed aspects of his Brexit deal.
But the proposal was rejected by Boris Johnson, who said deals with "any other party" would "risk putting Jeremy Corbyn into No 10".
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionMr Farage made the announcement in Labour-held Hartlepool - a top target for his partyPolling expert Sir John Curtice said it was "pretty clear" the Tories would benefit from Mr Farage's move, although it was "not as big a boost as we might imagine".
He said Mr Farage's strategy would not provide assistance to the Tories in marginal seats they are hoping to take off Labour.
"Nigel Farage's offer doesn't really give the prime minister the price he would really want, which is a free run against the Labour Party," he told BBC News Channel.
Mr Farage said he had "genuinely tried" to forge a so-called "Leave alliance" with the Tories, but his efforts had gone nowhere.
"In a sense we now have a Leave alliance, it's just that we've done it unilaterally," he added.
Mr Farage has already confirmed he will not be standing himself in the election, saying he wanted to concentrate on helping his party's candidates.
Mr Farage will not contest seats where the Tories are running - a "big step in the right direction", says one Cabinet minister.
"It really clarifies it for a significant subgroup who were still very torn," says another member of the government.
Hypothetically, the decision by the Brexit Party leader makes it notionally easier for the Tories to keep seats they hold already.
But it's a million miles away from giving them a clear run.
Read more from Laura.
Pro-Remain election pact

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said the Conservatives have "effectively become the Brexit Party".
She added that defeating the Tories in Scotland "will help deprive Boris Johnson's increasingly extreme and right-wing party of the majority they crave".
Anti-Brexit parties Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have agreed not to stand against each other in 60 seats across England and Wales.
Their pact means that, in Wales, two of the parties will agree not to field a candidate, boosting the third candidate's chances of picking up the Remain vote.
In England, it will simply be a two-way agreement between the Lib Dems and the Greens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50377396


This whole tactical voting is not how it should be; that said, it was the Libdems, green party etc who started it....


Never the less i'm voting Labour now...

Nigel is really a fraud, he used to sell cars or stocks, right? so deceiving his customers with bullshit comes naturally for him

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Nigel is really a fraud, he used to sell cars or stocks, right? so deceiving his customers with bullshit comes naturally for him

Timeshares.

I'm not liking this, stinks of collusion to be followed by betrayal; my money says revoke/stay or revoke/Ref2 in 2021.

Really going out on a limb there, jabby.

Tell me, is it nornally a good idea to bet on three outcomes?

Originally Posted by squirrel

Really going out on a limb there, jabby.

Tell me, is it nornally a good idea to bet on three outcomes?

Ever heard of the Grand National, roulette, or any other wager involving more than 2 possible outcomes?

FFS grow up, squirrel, ain't gonna happen but you could try!

Check the latest opinion poll trends with the poll tracker, which measures how people say they are going to vote at the next general election.
Party support: 12 November 2019

PartyAverage (%)Likely range
CON38(34-42)
LAB28(24-32)
LD16(12-20)
BRX9(5-13)
SNP4--*
GRN3(0-7)
PC1--*
UKIP0(0-4)
TIGfC0(0-4)



Trend line showing average voting intention, based on individual polls


FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49798197

The BoJo majority is looking more and more certain. Tremendous news if one is looking for closure - civil war in NI leading to unification, Scottish independence, full blown EU tariffs with a mass evacuation of EU manufacturers and the Nips, and a £ at 32 baht.

2020 is shaping up to be a great year indeed.

Macron is praying on Bony's tomb that BoJo wins a landslide and Britain hard Brexits.

the way the system is structure, Boris will win with a comfortable majority, simply because he gets shit moving, and that's a major advantage to all the other clowns who just stand there like street prostitutes

Vive Boris, Vive le Brexit

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

the way the system is structure, Boris will win with a comfortable majority, simply because he gets shit moving, and that's a major advantage to all the other clowns who just stand there like street prostitutes

Funnily enough, this is a perception among the French observers and an opinion of Macron.

But it is quite, quite untrue. He achieves progress in the way that an idiot hurtling around a blind corner overtaking everything on the way is reckless and quite stupid. He achieved nothing whilst London's mayor other than photo opportunities in connection with projects which all failed and cost money.

He is leading the country to a chaos that will cost billions and dismantle the union in fractious circumstances - that is not progress, it is change but Macron sees it as the only way he can be rid of Britain and the ERG faction.

As an Irishman I can enjoy the spectacle but for the Brits it sure ain't progress.

BoJo is a liar and buffoon and there it is.

Welcome to the Circus but don't think it's going to be progress.

yes, we need to get rid of the English traitors ASAP, and Boris is the ticket for it, he has the full support of the French government

I am little bit worried that after 10 years failing to negotiate anything, you guys come back begging to join back, and Macron won't be there to veto it, probably some other idiot French leader will instead accept it

If he gets a sound majority he will claim an authority to quit without a deal and foist a hard Brexit on the people in a fashion they simply are too stupid to comprehend.

The watershed moment will come when all the motor manufacturers quit as indeed will Airbus and the world grasps the new reality that the City of London is no longer the epicentre of Euro finance.

When real jobs haemorrhage and the service sector contracts and the £ falls to near parity with the $ leading to rampant inflation then I can see the time when a new government will form on the basis of sanity and Britain will re-join but this time it will not be with that tremendous discount.

I can see Farage destroy himself, his party and ultimately Brexit with his reasoning for standing down in Tory held seats, based on a throwaway comment by Bojo. He blundered bad by trusting May's insincere 'leave' refrain, and recovered well, but he won't get away with making bold moves on the flimsy word of two dishonest PMs in a row.

Donald Tusk said this morning" it will be the end of the British Empire", wtf!!!

Trying some reverse phychology, don't let the door hit him on his way out and hope his EU pension gets swallowed up.

Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said the party's 32-hour week policy would "apply to everybody" - including NHS staff.
The party wants to introduce the plan - the equivalent of a four-day week - over a 10-year period.
Earlier, the shadow health secretary said claims the NHS would switch to a four-day week were "nonsense".
But Mr McDonnell said Jonathan Ashworth was just referring to a suggestion that it would be "an overnight thing".
The shadow chancellor was speaking at an event to set out plans to spend more on the NHS in England than the Conservative Party if Labour wins the general election on 12 December.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Labour's "chaotic" plan for a four-day week "is a cost the NHS can't afford", saying it would "cripple our economy and cost the NHS billions every year".

• Latest from the election campaign trail
• Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS
• What is Labour's four-day working week plan?

When asked on BBC Breakfast whether the NHS was part of Labour's 32-hour working week policy, Mr Ashworth said: "No."
"John McDonnell wants to set up a commission to see if there are ways in which, in 10 years' time, people's working hours can be reduced," he said.
"The idea that the NHS is going to go to a four-day week on 13 December if Labour get in is just for the birds - it's nonsense."










https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50404399

Originally Posted by jabir

I can see Farage destroy himself, his party and ultimately Brexit with his reasoning for standing down in Tory held seats, based on a throwaway comment by Bojo. He blundered bad by trusting May's insincere 'leave' refrain, and recovered well, but he won't get away with making bold moves on the flimsy word of two dishonest PMs in a row.

He's still pulling the strings and keeping a few hundred irons in the fire, In Nige we trust....

General election 2019: Nigel Farage refuses to stand aside in 300 seats, saying Tories 'must be held to account' on Brexit - latest news
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/11/14/general-election-brexit-party-news-latest-candidates-farage/

So what's been happening today?
It's been another busy day on the campaign trail.

If you're trying to catch up tonight, here's a re-cap of what's been happening:

Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk urged British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit
Labour unveiled a plan to close the gender pay gap by the year 2030
In his first big speech of the election campaign, Boris Johnson promised to close "the opportunity gap between rich and poor" after the UK leaves the EU
The prime minister earlier faced hecklers while on a visit to flood-hit areas, with some residents critical of the government's response
Jeremy Corbyn has been in Scotland, where he had to clarify Labour's position on a second independence referendum
The SNP said it will take legal action over its exclusion from an ITV election debate
The Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said her party would not make deals with Mr Corbyn's Labour

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Donald Tusk said this morning" it will be the end of the British Empire", wtf!!!

Trying some reverse phychology, don't let the door hit him on his way out and hope his EU pension gets swallowed up.

Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said the party's 32-hour week policy would "apply to everybody" - including NHS staff.
The party wants to introduce the plan - the equivalent of a four-day week - over a 10-year period.
Earlier, the shadow health secretary said claims the NHS would switch to a four-day week were "nonsense".
But Mr McDonnell said Jonathan Ashworth was just referring to a suggestion that it would be "an overnight thing".
The shadow chancellor was speaking at an event to set out plans to spend more on the NHS in England than the Conservative Party if Labour wins the general election on 12 December.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Labour's "chaotic" plan for a four-day week "is a cost the NHS can't afford", saying it would "cripple our economy and cost the NHS billions every year".

• Latest from the election campaign trail
• Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS
• What is Labour's four-day working week plan?

When asked on BBC Breakfast whether the NHS was part of Labour's 32-hour working week policy, Mr Ashworth said: "No."
"John McDonnell wants to set up a commission to see if there are ways in which, in 10 years' time, people's working hours can be reduced," he said.
"The idea that the NHS is going to go to a four-day week on 13 December if Labour get in is just for the birds - it's nonsense."










https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50404399

Can't have it both ways, if they want a more effective NHS it'll be an 8-day week.
And that probably needs to be paid for, much like free tuition with higher teacher wages and penthouses for all. Thank gawd for the money trees.

Originally Posted by cyrille

You seem to be missing all the very similar 'giveaways' from the tories.

Tax cuts top of list of Tories’ election sweeteners - but can they afford it?


TAX cuts, a petrol duty freeze and free child care are at the top of a list of election sweeteners promised by Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party today.
But critics immediately waded in saying the promises would cost the country a fortune. The Tories have plans to raise the starting threshold for paying 40p tax from £50,000 to £80,000 and to raise the threshold for national insurance from £8,632 to £12,500. Other areas believed to be a part of the party’s manifesto are a pledge to continue the fuel duty freeze and extending free childcare for three and four-year-olds.Mr Johnson may also cut stamp duty on all homes worth £500,000 or less as he attempts to stimulate the property market.


But financial think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that the tax cuts would cost billions of pounds and benefit Britain’s wealthiest the most.


The think tank said that raising the higher-rate threshold in income tax would cost £8 billion a year and would see the Government borrowing £50 billion next year.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr Gove said: “It’s about making people’s lives better.


“And that means taking steps to ensure people can keep more of what they earn. And that people can deal better with some of the cost of living challenges that we face, but also making sure that we have proper investment in public services.


“Boris throughout the leadership campaign made the point that you need a dynamic economy to fund public services but you also need strong public services in order to ensure people have the skills they need and the peace of mind they require in order to contribute.”

But of course Tory giveaways are different. Firstly, because they mostly benefit the already wealthy and secondly because they are going to be funded by (no no...don't laugh)...a booming post-BREXIT economy.

In total, I doubt the proposed Tory spending/tax cuts is even 20% of that proposed by the Labour Party, so no they are not the same.

Slaughtering good education, 32 hour week, free everything for everyone (education, broadband, child care...) - except the wealthy who are gonna pay more across the board.

We obviously need a more balanced society and that would include some social reforms, some support for the working class to prosper, but that should be in the form of sustainable opportunity not free stuff from government borrowing...

Tory giveaways funded by...

Originally Posted by cyrille

a booming post-BREXIT economy.

Labour giveaways funded by...

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

free stuff from government borrowing...

This has been the bs pumped out by most of the mainstream media since forever.

Did you not like the true answer to your question for some reason?

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Everytime I look at the newspaper, Labour are offering something else "free to everyone" - today it's broadband "free to everyone".

This is the same as they did last time and were quite successful - but, how the fuk are they gonna pay for it all???

Originally Posted by cyrille

The broadband will be paid for by higher taxation for tech companies and a partial re-nationalisation of BT.

Lower private profits for companies that have been coining it in = lower expense for the public.

Lower private profits for companies that have been coining it in = lower expense for the public.

Yes, greed politics and greed business practices have been dominant since the 80s, so there's certainly a balance to be made there. Perhaps, at best 20% of Labour's promises can be gotten from there. Then maybe another 20% from borrowing (never a good idea...).

But what about the other 60%?

What about actually stimulating the economy rather than just giving stuff away. Where is the job creation coming from? How are businesses going to be incentivised rather than just taxed taxed and taxed again? Where are new nurses and teachers coming from? How about linking training with needs - linking vocational training, support for individuals and job creation in needed areas together? I don't see an approach to unify society and its needs, I just see give aways. Where are the long term improvements coming from rather than boom or bust (whether from greed economics or socialist borrowing leading to debt and stagnation).

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Where is the job creation coming from?

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Where are new nurses and teachers coming from?

Your second question helps answer your first, no?

The conservatives plan to spend 20 billion on the NHS, Labour 26 billion. Is it the extra 6 billion that leaves you with your questions about Labour's policy, but none about the Tories policy?

Is it the extra 6 billion that makes Labour's policy 'a giveaway' and the tories policy 'an approach to unify society and its needs'?

Because it looks like your approach to the election is simply that you're cheering for your team.

The fact is that both parties are planning to spend big because they realise austerity has been a massive vote loser and (possibly) that the country badly needs regeneration.