The rise of the Lib Dems

[Guybrush]

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

[dfen5]

I'm starting to suspect the BBC are backing them. A lot of air time's being given to them, it's as if it's a two horse race for the BBC, Labour and Lib Dem'.

[5unny]

Nick Clegg goes public on coalition – and looks to the Conservatives

[dazzztay]

Guybrush said:

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

Thats exactly why - if LD's get into power, we are all buggered!

I hope to god they are 3rd! Labour are liars and have disgraced themselves but better the devil you know sometimes; i dont believe any of the other parties are any better (more honest) than labour! Blair had shafted the country a long time before he handed GB the reins! GB got passed the buck when the damage was done and has had a tough time in power.

As for who should be in power next -
LD's who refuse to work with GB, with all their hippy bullst - no thanks!
Labour - more lies - would rather not!
Conservatives - also would rather not!

Looks like i will be voting for the one i disslike the least!

[TankRizzo]

dazzztay said:

Guybrush said:

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

Thats exactly why - if LD's get into power, we are all buggered!

I hope to god they are 3rd! Labour are liars and have disgraced themselves but better the devil you know sometimes; i dont believe any of the other parties are any better (more honest) than labour! Blair had shafted the country a long time before he handed GB the reins! GB got passed the buck when the damage was done and has had a tough time in power.

As for who should be in power next -
LD's who refuse to work with GB, with all their hippy bullst - no thanks!
Labour - more lies - would rather not!
Conservatives - also would rather not!

Looks like i will be voting for the one i disslike the least!

I don't understand - so you will be voting for someone who has definitely ballsed up the country, rather than someone who might?

Strange approach.

[fido]

dfen5 said:

I'm starting to suspect the BBC are backing them. A lot of air time's being given to them, it's as if it's a two horse race for the BBC, Labour and Lib Dem'.

Speaking to some people who work at the Beeb, and i mean the minions rather than the overpaid well-compensated execs .. they are terrified of job losses under the Tories - or at least they think it's going to be worse under the Tories. Might explain some of the bias at least.

[TankRizzo]

One thing I have noticed..

Drove from Portsmouth to Dartmoor and back this weekend, doing the usual Duke of Edinburgh practice. Crossed many different constituencies along the way, and we saw a hell of a lot of Conservative placards in gardens, fields and roadsides. Also saw quite a few Lib Dem ones.

Have a guess how many Labour ones I saw....absolutely none. Zero. I appreciate that we weren't exactly in Labour heartlands, but I would have thought I would have at least spotted one. They must be absolutely skint.

[Puggit]

TankRizzo said:

One thing I have noticed..

Drove from Portsmouth to Dartmoor and back this weekend, doing the usual Duke of Edinburgh practice. Crossed many different constituencies along the way, and we saw a hell of a lot of Conservative placards in gardens, fields and roadsides. Also saw quite a few Lib Dem ones.

Have a guess how many Labour ones I saw....absolutely none. Zero. I appreciate that we weren't exactly in Labour heartlands, but I would have thought I would have at least spotted one. They must be absolutely skint.

Same in Reading (2 seats: Labour Seat and Tory ultra-marginal). I've seen lots of Tory, no LibDem and one Labour placard/poster.

[dazzztay]

TankRizzo said:

dazzztay said:

Guybrush said:

stuff

more stuff about the stuff above

I don't understand - so you will be voting for someone who has definitely ballsed up the country, rather than someone who might?

Strange approach.

Referring to the LibDems - i would rather Labour be in power because i think LD's will make the country much worse than Labour will! I especially hate Cleggs attitude towards GB - the way he says he will 'refuse to work with him' - its unprofessional and not helping things!

Conservatives vs Labour - for me its a tough call! I dont really like many of the Conservative's ideas and DC does not come accross well really IMO - but Labour do not deserve my vote. However should GB get the benifit of the doubt because TB did the damage and GB largely had to ride the wave of st he caused?

I have become 'the undecided voter' - uuurrrggggghhhhhh!

[Bing o]

dazzztay said:

i dont believe any of the other parties are any better (more honest) than labour! Blair had shafted the country a long time before he handed GB the reins! GB got passed the buck when the damage was done and has had a tough time in power.

Where does this bks come from? Seriously? Are you old enough to vote? Do you not see or comprehend the damage that GB did in 11 years in the Treasury??????

dazzztay said:

Looks like i will be voting for the one i disslike the least!

The fact that anyone with such lack of political understanding or grasp of current affairs is allowed anywhere near a polling box saddens me sometimes.

[rs1952]

Bing o said:

dazzztay said:

i dont believe any of the other parties are any better (more honest) than labour! Blair had shafted the country a long time before he handed GB the reins! GB got passed the buck when the damage was done and has had a tough time in power.

Where does this bks come from? Seriously? Are you old enough to vote? Do you not see or comprehend the damage that GB did in 11 years in the Treasury??????

dazzztay said:

Looks like i will be voting for the one i disslike the least!

The fact that anyone with such lack of political understanding or grasp of current affairs is allowed anywhere near a polling box saddens me sometimes.

At least dazzztay has put his thoughts in writing.

I was watching TV last week when some daft old tart picked up off the street was being interviewed. She said she wouldn't be voting consevative






.....





Because she didn't like David Cameron's teeth

[MikeyT]

Read a very good piece in the Independent last week in which a very good case was put forward that basically the UK nowadays is a Lab-Liberal society (obviously not on here) and the press is mostly either Labour or for the most part right wing so all we have had for years is this constant Lab/Con argument - with the public only getting their *feel* for what the country's mood is through the press ... naturally biased either way. The Lib-Dems have received scant coverage as a whole and the other parties have got compl;acent about this.

But in the TV debates, the Lib Dems have got 100% UNEDITED coverage along with the other two and lots more people ahve been able to find out what they are about. hence their current surge in popularity - which is somewhat to do with their policies attracting certain types but also because they are NOT the other two parties ... the print media editors HATE the idea of these live TV debates as the people are seeing the leaders speak for 90 minutes AND THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT for once.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Guybrush said:

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

Funny how Clegg has manaed to avoid mentioning road-pricing during the debates - why hasn't Cameron bought the issue up?

[Bing o]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Guybrush said:

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

Funny how Clegg has manaed to avoid mentioning road-pricing during the debates - why hasn't Cameron bought the issue up?

Because they are no better?

[dazzztay]

Bing o said:

dazzztay said:

stuff

Where does this bks come from? Seriously? Are you old enough to vote? Do you not see or comprehend the damage that GB did in 11 years in the Treasury??????

dazzztay said:

stuff

The fact that anyone with such lack of political understanding or grasp of current affairs is allowed anywhere near a polling box saddens me sometimes.

I am as aware as most people are about GB and Labour - but if you think the others are better then may be it is you with your head in the clouds. Conservative's before labour were full of lies and scandals also, remember! And most MP's or career politions are in it for their own personal gain and not to genuinly improve the country.

But thanks for your condescending thoughts and sorry for making you sad!

[CatherineJ]

TankRizzo said:

One thing I have noticed..

Drove from Portsmouth to Dartmoor and back this weekend, doing the usual Duke of Edinburgh practice. Crossed many different constituencies along the way, and we saw a hell of a lot of Conservative placards in gardens, fields and roadsides. Also saw quite a few Lib Dem ones.

Have a guess how many Labour ones I saw....absolutely none. Zero. I appreciate that we weren't exactly in Labour heartlands, but I would have thought I would have at least spotted one. They must be absolutely skint.

Same around Wiltshire, I have yet to see a Labour poster or placard.

[PJ S]

Puggit said:

peterpeter said:

Puggit said:

Nick Clegg refuses to prop up 'irrelevant' Brown

I should have read the Sunday Times before starting this thread

he is on bbc with Andrew Marr now.

And Cbeebies is on our telly

[Chimune]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Funny how Clegg has manaed to avoid mentioning road-pricing during the debates - why hasn't Cameron bought the issue up?

I was intrigued about this road thing so s i looked it up. This say that the last (2008) LibDem policy is:

a) Introducing revenue-neutral motorway and trunk road pricing within ten years by:

i) In the first parliament creating viable alternatives to cars and reducing carbon emissions by investing in public transport. This investment would be funded through a national road pricing scheme for lorries (including foreign lorries) and a domestic surcharge to Aviation Duty (excluding lifeline flights). As an interim measure, more steeply graduated Vehicle Excise Duty would be introduced for new cars in order to encourage environmental efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions.

ii) In the second phase, reducing fuel duty and abolishing VED in order to introduce road pricing on motorways and trunk roads for all vehicles. This would be introduced across the UK after discussions with the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

b) Increasing the graduation of the proposed ‘showroom' tax on the purchase of new cars, reducing the cost of low-emission vehicles (bands A and B) by increasing the tax on the highest bands (bands F and G). Under our ‘green tax switch' proposals, any additional revenue raised will be used to reduce taxes on income.

c) Creating an independent car parking regulator, protecting motorists through national standards on issues such as appeals procedures and safety.

d) Working with the EU to introduce mandatory average vehicle emissions targets and supporting UK research and development into low-carbon technologies.


I cant see a lot wrong with that - bearing in mind that all the main parties are anti-motorist. I'd much rather pay per mile/road rather than a blanket insanotax on petrol. Plus as i live in the countryside, its a lot fairer than fuel duty.

They also say they will price the roads on a local level, not a national one.

Anyone want to discuss the Tory or Lab plans? Coz they aint gonna be better than that !

[MikeyT]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Guybrush said:

The people don't seem to be checking the Lib Dem small print. Remember the massive opposition to road pricing? Well, the Lib Dems would introduce it. Are you aware of the massive tax payer-funded subsidies the rail and other public transport systems have had? The Lib Dems would increase them. They would massively increase car tax also. And disarm ourselves just as China and Iran are strengthening their military capabilities. They would not invest in nuclear power but would rely on windmills and other inefficient forms of power generation. It goes on and on - they are worse than Labour - further to the left - don't fall for the chessy Bliar look - they are Labour squared.

Funny how Clegg has manaed to avoid mentioning road-pricing during the debates - why hasn't Cameron bought the issue up?

Do the Tories say anywhere in their manifesto they are NOT going to do it for sure?

Once they're in (and if any of the three were to get in, I hope it's them, although some of their policies are flawed - like the others) - wouldn't surprise me if they brought it in at some point.

Listened to the Shadow Culture Minister being interviewed on Radio 5 late Friday night (can't remember his name he was that forgettable) - he really WAS pathetic and hopeless, no answers at all - and this is in opposition - people rang in in ther droves afterwards to say how poor he was - if that's the standard of the Tories team in 2010 tey really are no better. Hate to say it but Milliband (either) would have sounded like Einstein compared to him.

[s2art]

Chimune said:

I cant see a lot wrong with that - bearing in mind that all the main parties are anti-motorist. I'd much rather pay per mile/road rather than a blanket insanotax on petrol. Plus as i live in the countryside, its a lot fairer than fuel duty.

They also say they will price the roads on a local level, not a national one.

Anyone want to discuss the Tory or Lab plans? Coz they aint gonna be better than that !

LOL. Have you thought about just how road pricing would be implemented? Do you fancy having all your car journeys monitored, average speed computed, more cameras (in fact cameras everywhere or a spy in the sky), a big database of car movements etc?