UK General Election 2017

[Alan Burns]

Dear Mr Burns,

Christian values You really are a lovely poster boy for the religion of Churchianity

Gonnagle.

If only we followed the Maker's instructions there would be far less problems.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Watching World,

Hey!! They are not footmen they are footwomen, sorry footpersons, maybe we can rename them, Footlers, the Queens own Footlers

Gonnagle.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Jak,

The numbers are not there, to form a government you have to get a Queens speech through, 329 MP's would block it. Which is why Scotland have voted to in effect to keep the Tories in power, if it were not for the 12 seats gained in Scotland the Tories (with DUP) would only have 317. If it were not for this gain Corbyn would be odds-on for PM.

What you are proposing is like contemplating a SNP \ Tory deal!

Well, Jezza seems to think he could make the numbers work. Given the Daily Mail's vitriol about his history with Sinn Fein, what I wonder will they make of May getting into bed with the terrorist-endorsed DUP?   

[Anchorman]

Seen elsewhere 'The DUP manifesto is basically just the Bible, with fortnightly bin collections'

Correction:
The Bible with most of what Christ said missing.

[Shaker]

If only we followed the Maker's instructions there would be far less problems.

Which "instructions" according to which "maker"?

[Gordon]

My wife and I prayed for a government which would return to traditional Christian values, but with no idea how this could be brought about with all the main parties all drifting away from such values.  So we now have the possibility of a coalition with the DUP which is very pro life and anti gay marriage.  So thank you God! 

So we have you to thank for a strategically inept PM being supported by a bunch of science-deniers: one would have thought God would be a little more politically savvy. Will await with interest to see what the DUP will demand by way of return: perhaps a green-tinged version of the 'Noah's Ark' theme park in Kentucky being built in leafy Strabane.

I suspect it will all end in tears before long, and the ballot boxes will be used again before the year is out.

[Shaker]

It seems Ballsup Burns's prayers for people here to see the light have fallen on deaf ears however 

[Gordon]

If only we followed the Maker's instructions there would be far less problems.

You want the Ikea ones then: they are always clear and also you get those handy wee allen-key thingies.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Gordon,

I suspect it will all end in tears before long, and the ballot boxes will be used again before the year is out.

Thanks for that cheery thought, oh God!! no not blasphemy a heart felt Prayer.

Gonnagle.

[jakswan]

It isn't that I disgree with you voting Tory that is the issue.

It is the pretence (clear for all to see) that somehow you were seriously considering voting for Corbyn instead. All you have done throughout the past few weeks is carp and criticise Corbyn and Labour (and I'm not fan of the former, no longer a member of the latter and didn't vote Labour). You were going to vote Tory all along, that's clear for all to see. Just start being honest.

Perhaps its best we just ignore each other, its demonstrably not true that all I have done in the last few weeks is carp and criticise Corbyn and Labour, some examples:-

I don't think Corbyn is running on a socialist manifesto most of it seems fairly sensible.
To be honest I find the Tory manifesto pretty bland
I like the Labour policies generally
I could vote Tory, I think May is a very poor politician and I'd vote for a centrist Labour led party without hesitation
I'm not thinking about voting for the Tories I'am thinking about voting Labour.
I think generally Labour has better policies, I'm sold on that.
I think he has played a blinder. (Corbyn)
Hung parliament that could be a great result all round!
Again I was basing my vote on the fact that I used to think May would be the better leader, I'm now basing it on who I think has the best policies, Labour.

What do you call it if someone makes a claim that is demonstrably untrue, not very honest...?

And the notion that the social care policy turned you into a don't know is just laughable given that you spend post after post defending it when I was critical.

I do think the Social Care policy, is a good idea, I was turned off by the cap.

[Bubbles]

Looking at the voting map I'm surprised how blue Scotland is, I thought you guys didn't like the conservatives?

 

[bluehillside Retd.]

Just heard May announce that she'll form a Gov't in "partnership" with the the DUP, press on with Brexit etc. Not one mention of the election though.

Has no-one told her the result?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Rose,

Looking at the voting map I'm surprised how blue Scotland is, I thought you guys didn't like the conservatives?

The geographic and the demographic maps don’t correlate.

[Anchorman]

Looking at the voting map I'm surprised how blue Scotland is, I thought you guys didn't like the conservatives?

 

Most of the Tory gains were in rural (and therefore larger) constituencies - or in areas where rich or upper middle class retired - such as Ayr.
In essence, the old Tory heartland. The SNP vote held up - but the Labour voters voted tactically; in effect a unionist vote.
Actually, 59% of the electorate in Scotland voted SNP, and they still won more seats than everyone else put together - by quite a margin.

[Nearly Sane]

Most of the Tory gains were in rural (and therefore larger) constituencies - or in areas where rich or upper middle class retired - such as Ayr.
In essence, the old Tory heartland. The SNP vote held up - but the Labour voters voted tactically; in effect a unionist vote.
Actually, 59% of the electorate in Scotland voted SNP, and they still won more seats than everyone else put together - by quite a margin.

The percentage is wrong it was 37% of those that voted and was down 13%.

There is a long essay to be written in where we are now but not for today.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rose,

Looking at the voting map I'm surprised how blue Scotland is, I thought you guys didn't like the conservatives?

It's a very complicated relationship, let me try and uncomplicate it for you ( uncomplicate, aye that is a word ).

1. First we have the Caffy's and the Proddy's they don't like each other, the Proddy's are Unionists ( I am a Unionist and a Proddy but some of my best friends are Caffy's, told you it was complicated ).

2. So the Proddy's can't vote for SNP, they could vote for Labour but they wanted to shut up oor Nicola over Independence and I think they have.

3. throw into the mix, the Scots whose conversation focuses on, catchment area's, mortgages and those terrible people who live off benefits and should jolly well go out and find a job, oh and the fact they are foodbank blind, what foodbank where!!!

4. So the people in number three can't vote for Labour, Jeremy Corbyn doesn't talk about catchment area's or mortgages and he loves those wastrels who live on benefits.

Now Dear Rose are you any the wiser, if so could you please, pretty please explain it to me.

Gonnagle.

[floo]

My wife and I prayed for a government which would return to traditional Christian values, but with no idea how this could be brought about with all the main parties all drifting away from such values.  So we now have the possibility of a coalition with the DUP which is very pro life and anti gay marriage.  So thank you God! 

The DUP mob are very unpleasant indeed, especially as they are evil bigots!

[jakswan]

Jak,

Well, Jezza seems to think he could make the numbers work. Given the Daily Mail's vitriol about his history with Sinn Fein, what I wonder will they make of May getting into bed with the terrorist-endorsed DUP?   

Maybe Abbott is doing the math. #prayfordiane

The DUP are pretty dire but not really sure there was any other option.

[floo]

It said on the lunchtime news that none of the senior Tories had been available to comment on the result of the election, like the buffoon Boris. I wonder what is going on behind the scenes?

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Well played by Labour.

I did not support many of Labour's manifesto commitments - nice as they are I did not think they were economically viable.

For a start increases in Corporation Tax means more people have an incentive to pay accountants additional fees to save them from paying additional taxes. Accountants often charge a percentage of the tax saved so higher tax rates would probably mean the government collects less tax to spend on public services.

Secondly my experience is that there are very few people in a private sector business who have the ability to make a significant impact on profits. My experience is that a talented few put in crazy hours because they are competitive and delivering results matter to them - they define themselves by it - and then delegate work and manage and monitor the people below them, who wouldn't achieve those results without their managers to manage resources, take risks, make strategic decisions. The few who are so good at their job that they are hard to replace (and the business would take a big hit without them) get paid a bigger share of the profits to retain them. Everyone else is not good enough at their jobs to be irreplaceable, regardless of how much training they get, because it's about drive, not education.

Thirdly I support private and grammar schools - helps people with drive compete against other people with drive and the competition leads to higher achievements for the few. I know - Labour's manifest is for the many, not the few. If private and grammar schools were abolished, the smart or driven kids in the state school system would improves state school standards. But those smart or driven kids won't achieve what they could have achieved in the private or grammar school system. 

However, my very active Labour MP (she campaigned against local hospital closures) phoned me and said Labour have no chance of winning so don't worry about tax policies and education policies, vote for me if you think I do a good job in Opposition of asking the government awkward questions and holding them accountable. So I did vote for my Labour candidate - because I wanted someone to hold the government accountable rather than giving them free rein.
 

[Gonnagle]

Dear Floo,

Licking there wounds and sharpening their knives for poor Mrs May, the Tory smoke and mirrors is falling apart, they are now the party in disarray.

The EU are laughing at us, why? Tory mismanagement, the mirrors are smashed the smoke is clearing, more and more people are seeing through their bluff, they tried to be the respectable face of UKIP, they failed, they kept on with their austerity measures, this has also failed, I personally suspect that Doctors, Nurses and Police who might have ordinarily voted Tory have woken up to Tory failure.

Gonnagle.

[floo]

Corbyn is in a win, win situation he is the hero of the election campaign, but doesn't have the task of actually having to fulfil his election promises!

[jakswan]

Corbyn is in a win, win situation he is the hero of the election campaign, but doesn't have the task of actually having to fulfil his election promises!

Except he lost.

[floo]

Except he lost.

Maybe but his rating in now in the ascendency, whereas May's is in the sewer!

[ProfessorDavey]

Maybe but his rating in now in the ascendency, whereas May's is in the sewer!

I'm really struggling to see how May can survive after this.