General Election July 2024

[Mr Penguin]

OzzyR1 said:

Momentum have been very quiet since opinion turned against Corbyn and them by proxy.

Don't think it will be too long after Labour gain power they'll find their voice again and attempt to oust SKS & replace with their preferred choice.

Momentum have shuffled off to the greens so may not get a vote if it happens. Apparently they haven't finished appointing all candidates which means the central party step in so the hard left will be frozen out and hopefully the adults in Labour can keep control of the party.

[Murph7355]

Mr Penguin said:

Do you really think that Sunak vs Starmer vs Davey is worse than Boris vs Corbyn vs Swinson?

Looking at the policies on offer, I think I do.

Whether I agreed with the latter three or not, there was some clear air between them i n terms of what they were proposing. And they were proposing stuff (mostly - Corbyn's position on the EU was....interesting).

The current three have been all over the place in terms of what they are doing. (And I have a severe pet distaste for Sunak that would almost make me vote for Starmer if he actually had something to offer more than "not being Sunak").

[Ridgemont]

Mr Penguin said:

Murph7355 said:

Get ready to have a lie down in a dark room.

They have no plan. They have flip-flopped left, right and centre and on the bigger ticket items they seem to be suggesting they will do the same as the current govt, only we should trust them more.

If it weren't for the muppets in the US, I'd say we have the sttiest choice of any Western democracy in living memory!

Do you really think that Sunak vs Starmer vs Davey is worse than Boris vs Corbyn vs Swinson?

Interesting point. It’s retail politics right now. The manifestos will be inconsequential/interesting.

The really interesting thing is the impact of third parties; reform, galloway’s outfit etc.

[hidetheelephants]

Mr Penguin said:

Murph7355 said:

Get ready to have a lie down in a dark room.

They have no plan. They have flip-flopped left, right and centre and on the bigger ticket items they seem to be suggesting they will do the same as the current govt, only we should trust them more.

If it weren't for the muppets in the US, I'd say we have the sttiest choice of any Western democracy in living memory!

Do you really think that Sunak vs Starmer vs Davey is worse than Boris vs Corbyn vs Swinson?

How very dare you overlook our future PM Denyer.

[e600]

Has anyone any insight as to why he has called this for July. What tactical advantages could there be in doing so?

[hidetheelephants]

e600 said:

Has anyone any insight as to why he has called this for July. What tactical advantages could there be in doing so?

He's had a nice offer from a silicon valley tech company and needs to be in California in August.

[OzzyR1]

TriumphStag3.0V8 said:

Excellent news. I am looking forward to seeing Labour's manifesto of what they are going to differently, when they are going to do it, and seeing how they are planning to fund it.

I have been told on these forums that it's absolutely not the case that Labour's only policy is "we're not the Tories" (although it does seem that that is enough for many people) and the only reason that their manifesto had not been published was because there was no point as an election had not been called and the Tories would only steal their ideas if they published them.

So now that the excuses are out of the way, let's see what they have got and how it will improve things. They have had plenty of time to prepare it, so it will be ready to go, right? I'm looking forward to the bright future that Keir's government will bring.

The go-to statement for public approval is a promise to increase spending on the NHS so expect that will be in there.

After all, the budget for 23/24 is only £163billion - a mere £440 million a day, every day for a year.

The NHS is amazing and needs to be protected, but that is an astonishing amount of money.
I'm certain that 99% of people do not comprehend the current amount of funding and just react to media soundbites of an "underfunded NHS"
It needs reform/restructure but any suggestion would be reported as "dismantling" so no Govt dares to suggest it

Labour have criticised Tory spending on the NHS in recent years; easy to do in opposition, perhaps not so much when you have to foot the bill - will be interesting to see what changes.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Lot of talk tonight as just why the election has been called and did Sunak wake up, hear something that spooked him and panicked.

Farage has now said that Sunak has only called the election because he is scared of him coming back to lead Reform and the effect that will have on the Conservative vote.

Which is laughable but what’s the real reason?

[Ridgemont]

e600 said:

Has anyone any insight as to why he has called this for July. What tactical advantages could there be in doing so?

This moment was as good as he was going to get. Inflation down, the small boat st over summer not like kicking off, growth looking good, and probably taking labour by surprise.

[The Hypno-Toad]

hidetheelephants said:

He's had a nice offer from a silicon valley tech company and needs to be in California in August.

Would make sense, that’s when the American schools terms start so it would be handy to get the kids sorted and settled.

[OzzyR1]

e600 said:

Has anyone any insight as to why he has called this for July. What tactical advantages could there be in doing so?

Perhaps he's realised it's not worth the grief.

No idea why anyone would want to be PM; its obviously a massive responsibility with huge pressure but that's in the job description.

Add in people digging into your family's personal and financial histories, the lack of ability to lead any kind of private life, absurd levels of media attention at all times etc and it's a different proposition.

I wouldn't do it, even more so if my wife was a billionaire!

[Crippo]

I don’t want Politians to do it for the money anyway. Much prefer conviction over Career.

[bitchstewie]

carlo996 said:

bhstewie said:

Don't think the mishandling of Brexit was a global event.

Don't think Johnson being crooked as scoliosis was a global event.

Don't think the nutjob membership choosing Truss and her mini-budget after Johnson was a global event.

You get the idea.

Shall we look back at Labours failings

Be my guest.

Did you notice Sunak stood there and said he would "restore pride and confidence in our country" yesterday?

Remind me who was in charge for the last few years whilst he thinks we've lost it?

[tim0409]

e600 said:

Has anyone any insight as to why he has called this for July. What tactical advantages could there be in doing so?

One of the reasons cited in a (well informed) article I read was that Sunak didn’t want to be accused of “clinging on” as the year progressed. Also, whilst a flight to Rwanda may take off between now and July, small boat crossing are likely to increase during the summer months. The chances of further tax cuts in the Autumn would be close to zero, and if they did it people would see it as trying to bribe the electorate.

So essentially, July is as good as it is going to get for them. I also think they are worried that by pushing the date out they would give a possible Farage return/led Reform more time to establish a foothold, which would further undermine their chances of retaining seats.

[JagLover]

p1stonhead said:

Imagine having a functioning brain and thinking Labour could actually be worse.

Those with a functioning Brain might think that things might be much the same as they are now, just with higher taxes.........................

[Collectingbrass]

The Hypno-Toad said:

Lot of talk tonight as just why the election has been called and did Sunak wake up, hear something that spooked him and panicked.

Farage has now said that Sunak has only called the election because he is scared of him coming back to lead Reform and the effect that will have on the Conservative vote.

Which is laughable but what’s the real reason?

I wonder if the number of letters to Brady had been climbing as is rumoured, despite the plotters saying they had given up after the locals. If that was the case and he didn't go now, the plotters would have time to get 50+ letters in, get him out, shoe horn in their chosen one, launch them and the #SnappyG at the conference meaning he is cast aside. Bringing in Cameron showed he can catch people out and this is another one. At least this way he is on control of his own destiny, like Humza in Scotland...

I did wonder if he had timed it to catch a bounce off the Euros, or to have the media & football fans distracted meaning the other parties coverage doesnt cut through and turnout in the redwall is down, but I think he is too inept for that.

I was surprised he didn't do the announcement inside flanked by cabinet to present a united front though, although I am not surprised many of them didn't want to.

[croyde]

Chris Type R said:

I wouldn't expect the first rate cut to be significant - 25bps I'd guess. Not sigificant enough to be something to swing voters.

Well having my rate rocket from 1.25 to 6.25 forced me to sell the house. Completion next month after 9 months, so it will be far too late

[JagLover]

chrispmartha said:

Surely his advisors actually want him out?

That was his time to set his stall out and he’s royally fked it up

I think his advisors don't have much of a clue, that has been clear from the start. They scramble to react to easily foreseeable events and have no understanding about politics beyond the level of an opinion piece in media.

[p1stonhead]

I read he was about to have a leadership challenge so did it to beat anyone to that. Fair play if he did.

One thing everyone should be thankful for is the chance to actually elect a PM? The only one actually elected by the public was Boris.

How about this list of ‘please let us never see them ever again!’
Has there ever been anything close to this awful before?

Sunak
Braverman
Badenoch
Mogg
Coffey
Jenkins
Gullis
Anderson
McVey
Raab
Zahawi
Fox
Smith
Keegan
Mercer
Truss

[turbobloke]

p1stonhead said:

I read he was about to have a leadership challenge so did it to beat anyone to that. Fair play if he did.

One thing everyone should be thankful for is the chance to actually elect a PM? The only one actually elected by the public was Boris.

How about this list of ‘please let us never see them ever again!’
Has there ever been anything close to this awful before?

Sunak
Braverman
Badenoch
Mogg
Coffey
Jenkins
Gullis
Anderson
McVey
Raab
Zahawi
Fox
Smith
Keegan
Mercer
Truss

It would be interesting to name a few names from what was until recently the rank and file shadow cabinet and its wannabes, but apart from Reeves and Lammy who are they?