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UK General Election

FR7 Baptist

Active Member
They're still wanting to talk to the Lib-Dems and have even offered them a referendum on electoral reform, which is a massive concession for them, but in return for this they want the return of prominent right-wingers to a Conservative-LD administration: Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith and David Davies in particular (look 'em up on wiki!).


I'm more depressed by the fact that we STILL don't have a viable government here and I really do fear the worst when the markets reopen tomorrow morning; we got a breather today because of the Euro bailout bounce but I expect sterling and the FTSE to fall through the floor tomorrow morning (or Wednesday at the latest if we're lucky), with dire consequences for the economy.

I don't think a coalition government will be very stable, especially if it's a Labour- Lib Dem- smaller parties one. I suspect it won't be too long before you head back to the polls. BTW, aren't British politics somewhat to the left of US politics? I've always had that impression. By US standards I'm a left-winger who leans conservative on some social issues; I wonder where I'd fit in on the UK political spectrum.
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Yes, political parties here (and in Europe generally) tend to be to the left of the US political spectrum. Even our Conservatives, in the main, believe in our National Health Service (what some here call 'socialised medicine'). But our political parties, like yours, are in reality coalitions of interest groups: the Conservatives, for example, are roughly divided into patrician 'compassionate conservatives' (historically 'one nation Tories' or 'wets'; typically those from a more privileged, aristocratic background who feel that because they have been blessed with a superior status they have a civic duty to try to better the lot of other less fortunate than themselves) -v- nationalist, monetarist, more libertarian/ small government advocates (historically the Thatcherite or 'dry' wing; typically more middle-class or even blue-collar people who've made good or are doing OK; those most likely to vote Republican in the US); there are also Eurofederalist -v- Eurosceptic factions; and, finally, 'modernisers' -v- 'traditionalists', particularly on social issue eg: same-sex civil unions. These divisions overlap to a degree eg: a 'one nation Tory' may well be a social traditionalist whereas a Thatcherite might be a moderniser.

In order to find out where you might fit in, I'd need you to expand on what you mean by 'left-leaning but with conservative social leanings'...sounds like you might be a socially tradional one nation Tory but I'd need to know more!
 

FR7 Baptist

Active Member
In order to find out where you might fit in, I'd need you to expand on what you mean by 'left-leaning but with conservative social leanings'...sounds like you might be a socially tradional one nation Tory but I'd need to know more!

I'll start a new thread so I don't hijack this one.
 

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
They're still wanting to talk to the Lib-Dems and have even offered them a referendum on electoral reform, which is a massive concession for them, but in return for this they want the return of prominent right-wingers to a Conservative-LD administration: Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith and David Davies in particular (look 'em up on wiki!).


I'm more depressed by the fact that we STILL don't have a viable government here and I really do fear the worst when the markets reopen tomorrow morning; we got a breather today because of the Euro bailout bounce but I expect sterling and the FTSE to fall through the floor tomorrow morning (or Wednesday at the latest if we're lucky), with dire consequences for the economy.
We'll test your theory today. Do you guys ever miss Margaret Thatcher over there?
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Well, the FTSE's down by over 2% but part of that is a revaluation after yesterday's big gain. Sterling marginally down against the dollar but up against the Euro. Maybe tomorrow's going to be the nasty day...

Meanwhile, Cons are talking again to the Lib Dems...
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
It now looks like Labour have thrown in the towel and that we're heading for a Con-LibDem government with David Cameron as PM...
 

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
Now Cameron is a conservative. Hows this going to shake out in the UK. What does this do to Labor? What are the ramifications?
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Um...Cameron's always been a Conservative; difference is that he's now PM. Labour will go into Opposition, with their Deputy Leader Harriet Harman (formerly 'People's Commissar for Wimmin') as Acting Leader until they have a leadership election probably in September. Then they'll have to regroup and re-establish themselves...
 

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
Um...Cameron's always been a Conservative; difference is that he's now PM. Labour will go into Opposition, with their Deputy Leader Harriet Harman (formerly 'People's Commissar for Wimmin') as Acting Leader until they have a leadership election probably in September. Then they'll have to regroup and re-establish themselves...

So now the UK's got a conservative government with labor being in oppossition? What Changes will the Conservatives make?
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Chief priorities: reducing our almighty deficit, strong defence policy, government spending cuts, smaller government, eventually - when we can afford them - tax cuts
 

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
Chief priorities: reducing our almighty deficit, strong defence policy, government spending cuts, smaller government, eventually - when we can afford them - tax cuts

Sounds Good. Will they repeal clown day? Where everything and one wears red noses. That would be a good start as well.
 

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
:D:D
Um...no; that's a charity benefit gig.

Darn. Are they still going to celebrate the fact that parlament wasn't blown up by Catholics by exploding fireworks? I never really got that. Have a celebration that Guy Fox failed. It would be like having a benedict arnold day that celebrated the fact his betrayal didn't work. :d
 

Matt Black

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Oh, we still have November 5th here. In some parts they still set fire to an effigy of the Pope that night!
 
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