Bollitics: VT General Election Poll #4 - Leaders Debate one

[thetrees]

Here's a suggestion:

Ban political parties.

All parliamentary candidates stand as independents and have to publish a manifesto to a standard template, outlining their stance on major issues - economy, defence, law & order, etc.

Once the parliamentary election is complete, the MPs have a second, internal election for the PM and cabinet posts, along similar lines.

Of course, informal "party" allegiances would develop, but there should be no whips, and a free vote on every issue.

Be careful for a knock on the door. Sensible suggestions are not welcome at this, or any other General Election.

[wiganvillain]

need somewhere over 80% to come first.

meh .. they should require at least 146% of the vote to come first

I don't see why that's so difficult, Mugabe managed it.

Really Mike,

Bobs vote was that low, the opposition must have had a good campaign :winkold:

[snowychap]

Further to a theme on the previous thread:

The "businessmen" who supposedly support the Tory stance on NI are then rewarded immediately by glorified ads and product endorsements by Cameron and Gideon.

Or the odd nomination for a peerage:

Tories nominate for honours two business leaders who attacked Labour

Two of the prominent businessmen who helped lead the charge against Labour's rise in national insurance have been nominated to become working peers by the Conservative party.

Simon Wolfson and Anthony Bamford were among the high-profile signatories to a letter supporting the Tory proposal to scrap the increase – a move that left Labour flatfooted and gave the Tories an early advantage at the start of the general election campaign.

The peerage nominations have been accepted by the appointments commission and will be announced imminently. But the disclosure is bound to raise questions over the party's continued interest in appointing prominent donors and supporters as working peers.

...

Wolfson, the chief executive of Next, has donated £238,250 to Conservative central office since January 2006 in seven donations. He was reported as one of the leading figures behind the round-robin letter calling for Labour's increase in national insurance to be scrapped and efficiency savings be found instead. He has worked closely with the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, in developing the Conservatives' economic policy.

Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of construction equipment maker JCB, has given the Tories more than £1m over the past five years either in his own name or through the family-controlled firm, according to the Electoral Commission. He has also given money to the shadow cabinet.

Lord Oakeshott, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, said: "This is too close for comfort. The ink is hardly dry on the letter riding to the rescue of George Osborne over his national insurance plans. It looks like they may be paid off even before polling day. It confirms the letter about NICs was a Tory front, and we are still living with big money politics."

The Tories said the letter came from the business community, and there was no difficulty in finding opposition to the NICs rise in that community. The news came as details were leaked to the Guardian of Labour plans for a 300-strong elected second chamber to replace the House of Lords. There is anger in some Labour circles that the party has not done more to highlight its plans for constitutional reform, including a referendum on an elected second chamber.

Cameron says he supports a largely elected second chamber, but has not said what priority it will be for his party, highlighting instead the need to cut the cost of politics first.

A Conservative spokesman said: "Any suggestion that the new peerages are linked to the campaign against Labour's jobs tax is complete nonsense. The names were submitted to Downing Street in January long before the campaign started, or was even envisaged."

The new list of working peers will include some Labour working peers, including party officials such as the finance director, Ray Kennedy, and national executive member Diane Hayter.

...more on link

[tonyh29]

Good news for Euan Blair today it seems as he has just received a six-figure bonus from investment bank Morgan Stanley, where he has worked for the past three years ... lucky his dad was not only able to secure him a job but also put in the place the policies that allowed the banking bonus culture to go unchecked with disastrous consequences

More bad news today for Labour as well as it appears Cherie has been out offering support to a local Labour MP ..so that's him doomed

but on a serious note , the Sky tracker seems to be showing a slight downward slop on the Lid Dem graph .. does that mean the policies don't stand up to scrutiny or have the other 2 parties offensive against the woollies started to pay off ?

[snowychap]

the Sky tracker seems to be showing a slight downward slop on the Lid Dem

That's hardly impartial of them. :winkold:

[tonyh29]

That's hardly impartial of them.

well to be fair they are using ICM , Yougov and Comres for their figures , not just Murdochs new love of the Tory party

[LJRM050389]

If the Tories get in I can't see Chris Grayling being made Home Sec, didn't shine on the home sec debate on BBC 2 today. I don't think any did to be fair, which probably means A Johnson did best as he was defending a record (Labout har on )

Anyone else think that Andrew Neil is really going for the Lib Dems with his questions since last Thursday? Likewise Paxman to a certain extent.

[tonyh29]

Anyone else think that Andrew Neil is really going for the Lib Dems with his questions since last Thursday?

tbf he crucified Saint Cable months ago before they become the party of the people , I think he just dislikes woollies :-)

[Reality]

Andrew Neil looks more and more like a badger each week.

He's a die hard Tory.

[bickster]

Here's a suggestion:

Ban political parties.

All parliamentary candidates stand as independents and have to publish a manifesto to a standard template, outlining their stance on major issues - economy, defence, law & order, etc.

Once the parliamentary election is complete, the MPs have a second, internal election for the PM and cabinet posts, along similar lines.

Of course, informal "party" allegiances would develop, but there should be no whips, and a free vote on every issue.

Welcome abord, it is what I've been saying for years

[tonyh29]

seems the tricks have started ... of course he didn't " break the rules" but he might have to be a bit more careful next time he claims his party did no wrong with the expenses scandal

Nick Clegg today vowed to sell his taxpayer-funded second home within months.

The Liberal Democrat leader also pledged to return to the taxpayer any profit made on the semi-detached house in the Sheffield Hallam constituency. He has sought to portray the Lib-Dems as less caught up in the expenses scandal.

But at a press conference, Mr Clegg was challenged over why he had claimed thousands of pounds for a new kitchen, gardening, a garden wall and Ikea items.

Mr Clegg said the house was in a state of “complete disrepair” when he bought it, adding: “It's a home on loan to me from the taxpayer.” There is no suggestion he broke Common rules.

Evening Standard

[LJRM050389]

Does anyone know what the BBCs reporters political alegncies are

I know that Nick Robinson and Andrew Neil are Tories.

Stephanie Flanders I think is more a less Tory, some of her recent blogs suggests she may be

I'd guess that Andrew Marr is Labour

Robert Peston is the son of a Labour Lord I think?

Paxman? etc

[bickster]

Paxman hates idiots so I presume he has no political allegiance

[tonyh29]

Does anyone know what the BBCs reporters political alegncies are

neutral .......

anyone seen the quote from Boris about the TV debate

"was one of those times when there seems to be only one solution to the problems of British politics, and that's to dissolve the electorate and summon a new one". :-)

I read a piece in the paper years back that Boris believe he could be PM one day .. with the new TV debate style over substance could Boris actually quip his way to the top ?

[TheWalletInspector]

Here's a suggestion:

Ban political parties.

All parliamentary candidates stand as independents and have to publish a manifesto to a standard template, outlining their stance on major issues - economy, defence, law & order, etc.

Once the parliamentary election is complete, the MPs have a second, internal election for the PM and cabinet posts, along similar lines.

Of course, informal "party" allegiances would develop, but there should be no whips, and a free vote on every issue.

Welcome abord, it is what I've been saying for years

I'm in.

[Bazdavies79]

Does anyone know what the BBCs reporters political alegncies are

I know that Nick Robinson and Andrew Neil are Tories.

Stephanie Flanders I think is more a less Tory, some of her recent blogs suggests she may be

I'd guess that Andrew Marr is Labour

Robert Peston is the son of a Labour Lord I think?

Paxman? etc

Paxman, socialist I believe, Flanders leftie, your correct on the rest.

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

Paxman, Socialist???

Well I never.

[Chindie]

I will now not be voting whatsoever. A combination of me not finding out until today that Aber automatically registers you here, and the uni net going down for about an hour and a half before I could fix that and sign up for a postal vote (last minute style) means I'm not bothering to vote here.

[LJRM050389]

Paxman, Socialist???

Well I never.

He is anti establishment to be fair.

Quick internet search shows that he once applied to be New Statesman editor, which is left in nature!

[LJRM050389]

Just saw a Tory candidate on C4 News from Eaton I must add, just say that in his constinstuincy they speak the Queens English...

Oh dear, is this modern Conservatives DC?