Theresa May calls General Election for June 8

[LV-426]

I think Laura Kuenssberg hit the nail on the head as to why May decided to call the snap election:

Brexit deadline a specific factor in snap election move

"Notwithstanding that, nor the factors that have created strong political arguments for taking the plunge in the last couple of months, senior government sources point to a specific factor that changed the prime minister's calculation.

The end of the likely tortuous Article 50 negotiations is a hard deadline set for March 2019.

Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, that's when the Tories would be starting to prepare for a general election the following year, with what one cabinet minister described as certain "political needs".

In other words, the government would be exposed to hardball from the EU because ministers would be desperate to avoid accepting anything that would be politically unpopular, or hold the Brexit process up, at the start of a crucial election cycle.

As one insider put it: "We'd be vulnerable to the rest of the EU in 2019 because they know we'd have to move fast.""

[LV-426]

2 hours ago, bee said:

this election is all about Brexit and we have to follow up the referendum by voting Tory to give Teresa May a workable majority -

I don't normally vote Tory but I definitely will this time because my Conservative MP is pro Brexit -

Pretty much the same here.

My long-deceased, socialist, trade unionist grandad will be turning in his grave

The other element is the Corbyn factor. I was watching a "staunch" Labour voter being interviewed outside Parliament on the BBC earlier, and he stated he'd be voting Conservative as the prospect of Corbyn leading Britain was terrifying.

If that doesn't sum up the disarray in Labour right now, I don't know what does...

[Space Commander Travis]

I got a letter from our lovely Lib Dem today. This was for the little local election though; I suppose they'll have to bring out lots more publicity material now, won't they. People never think of all this do they, all the extra paper that'll be wasted now when they could have brought it all out together if only they'd had a little forethought. People just don't think do they. 

[Space Commander Travis]

* Oh noe! George Osborne Quits as MP!! Perhaps he's realised that no one likes him at all.  

[Still Waters]

Just in -

Quote

Live: Snap General Election gets go-ahead.

The nation gears up for another general election after MPs vote in favour of an 8 June snap poll. All the action, live, here.

http://news.sky.com/story/live-pm-theresa-may-to-make-surprise-statement-10842050

 

[itsnotoutthere]

An absolute master stroke by May. Pop over to the Guardian for a good laugh, they're apoplectic.

[itsnotoutthere]

6 hours ago, bee said:

 

re bolded --- exactly

this election is all about Brexit and we have to follow up the referendum by voting Tory to give Teresa May a workable majority -

I don't normally vote Tory but I definitely will this time because my Conservative MP is pro Brexit - 

I hope UKIP doesn't split the vote unnecessarily but perhaps they can be of some good in traditional Labour areas
where they are a more acceptable alternative to the Conservatives for Labour voters who voted Leave in the referendum - ?

.

I don't either, but I will this time. I've lived through 2 Labour governments & they have been the worst of times with dire consequences.

Besides, after 7 months of being labeled a 'thick xenophobic little englander' by left wing types for voting for Brexit, I feel it's my absolute duty to vote any way which stops them getting a sniff of government.

 

Edited April 19, 2017 by itsnotoutthere

[Chortle]

May has evidently succeeded in rousing a wave of populism to pursuade voters to buy into a general election dressed as another Euro-Referendum. Sadly there appears to be little alternative to it [tory govt] at this point.

Let us not forget other other wonderful things the tory machine has done for this country over the past few years:

- 2015 saw the largest annual percentage increase in mortality rates since the 6.3% rise recorded between 1967 and 1968.

- 400,000 children are now living in poverty, a figure which rose 100,000 in 2015/16. 67% of those are from working families.

- Food bank usage has risen, with over half a million people reliant [paywall] on just the Trussell Trust for food packages.

- In two reports, the UN heavily criticised the Tories for “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights. The government, meanwhile, has severely cut their benefits.

- The past year has seen strikes by junior doctors, rail workers, teaching assistants, library workers, and other public sector staff. Their pay increases have mostly been capped at 1%.

- National debt has increased by more than 50%.

- Homelessness has risen by 54%.

- Corporations have seen tax cuts while the tax gap is around £120bn per year.

- The NHS has seen a real terms cut in the amount of money given to it per patient. While the amount of NHS money paid to ‘independent’ companies has more than doubled to £8bn a year.

- Cuts to social care has resulted in a reduction in the number of adults in need of care and support getting social care by 26%.

- The conservative govt has cut £50m from children’s mental health services.

Edited April 19, 2017 by Chortle
clarification

[hetrodoxly]

11 minutes ago, Chortle said:

May has evidently succeeded in rousing a wave of populism to pursuade voters to buy into a general election dressed as another Euro-Referendum. Sadly there appears to be little alternative to it [tory govt] at this point.

Let us not forget other other wonderful things the tory machine has done for this country over the past few years:

- 2015 saw the largest annual percentage increase in mortality rates since the 6.3% rise recorded between 1967 and 1968.

- 400,000 children are now living in poverty, a figure which rose 100,000 in 2015/16. 67% of those are from working families.

- Food bank usage has risen, with over half a million people reliant [paywall] on just the Trussell Trust for food packages.

- In two reports, the UN heavily criticised the Tories for “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights. The government, meanwhile, has severely cut their benefits.

- The past year has seen strikes by junior doctors, rail workers, teaching assistants, library workers, and other public sector staff. Their pay increases have mostly been capped at 1%.

- National debt has increased by more than 50%.

- Homelessness has risen by 54%.

- Corporations have seen tax cuts while the tax gap is around £120bn per year.

- The NHS has seen a real terms cut in the amount of money given to it per patient. While the amount of NHS money paid to ‘independent’ companies has more than doubled to £8bn a year.

- Cuts to social care has resulted in a reduction in the number of adults in need of care and support getting social care by 26%.

- The conservative govt has cut £50m from children’s mental health services.

The lowest recorded annual number of births in the twentieth century was in 1977, don't vote Labour they stop you having sex but more likely you don't feel like it under a Labour government.  

[+ouija ouija]

18 minutes ago, Chortle said:

May has evidently succeeded in rousing a wave of populism to pursuade voters to buy into a general election dressed as another Euro-Referendum. Sadly there appears to be little alternative to it [tory govt] at this point.

Let us not forget other other wonderful things the tory machine has done for this country over the past few years:

- 2015 saw the largest annual percentage increase in mortality rates since the 6.3% rise recorded between 1967 and 1968.

- 400,000 children are now living in poverty, a figure which rose 100,000 in 2015/16. 67% of those are from working families.

- Food bank usage has risen, with over half a million people reliant [paywall] on just the Trussell Trust for food packages.

- In two reports, the UN heavily criticised the Tories for “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights. The government, meanwhile, has severely cut their benefits.

- The past year has seen strikes by junior doctors, rail workers, teaching assistants, library workers, and other public sector staff. Their pay increases have mostly been capped at 1%.

- National debt has increased by more than 50%.

- Homelessness has risen by 54%.

- Corporations have seen tax cuts while the tax gap is around £120bn per year.

- The NHS has seen a real terms cut in the amount of money given to it per patient. While the amount of NHS money paid to ‘independent’ companies has more than doubled to £8bn a year.

- Cuts to social care has resulted in a reduction in the number of adults in need of care and support getting social care by 26%.

- The conservative govt has cut £50m from children’s mental health services.

Nothing there to chortle about

[+ouija ouija]

I've just seen a tv party political broadcast for UKIP. I thought 'blimey! They're quick off the mark!', then I realised it was just for local elections.

[LV-426]

49 minutes ago, Chortle said:

May has evidently succeeded in rousing a wave of populism to pursuade voters to buy into a general election dressed as another Euro-Referendum. Sadly there appears to be little alternative to it [tory govt] at this point.

Let us not forget other other wonderful things the tory machine has done for this country over the past few years:

- 2015 saw the largest annual percentage increase in mortality rates since the 6.3% rise recorded between 1967 and 1968.

- 400,000 children are now living in poverty, a figure which rose 100,000 in 2015/16. 67% of those are from working families.

- Food bank usage has risen, with over half a million people reliant [paywall] on just the Trussell Trust for food packages.

- In two reports, the UN heavily criticised the Tories for “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights. The government, meanwhile, has severely cut their benefits.

- The past year has seen strikes by junior doctors, rail workers, teaching assistants, library workers, and other public sector staff. Their pay increases have mostly been capped at 1%.

- National debt has increased by more than 50%.

- Homelessness has risen by 54%.

- Corporations have seen tax cuts while the tax gap is around £120bn per year.

- The NHS has seen a real terms cut in the amount of money given to it per patient. While the amount of NHS money paid to ‘independent’ companies has more than doubled to £8bn a year.

- Cuts to social care has resulted in a reduction in the number of adults in need of care and support getting social care by 26%.

- The conservative govt has cut £50m from children’s mental health services.

The terrible truth is that even though I agree with many of your points, I still can't see an alternative. Putting any other party into power other than the Tories right now would devastate the country.

Labour are utterly divided, out of touch with core supporters and led by an unrealistic idealist with his head in the clouds.

Liberals would at worst seek to overturn the referendum. At best they'd be so intent on sucking up to the EU that they'd see Britain shafted in negotiations.

UKIP have pretty much disappeared from the map since the Brexit win and loss of their figurehead, and don't have the experience to govern, nor the support to win a majority.

As much as I dislike it, May is the only one with any sense of leadership about her. Can anyone honestly see Corbyn or Farron leading Britain in the world we live in today, with issues such as the rise of Islamic terrorism, Syria, North Korea, etc.?

Edited April 19, 2017 by LV-426

[Space Commander Travis]

Do the Labour still use those old yellow & red placards? That's a bit Neil Kinnock isn't it.

[spud the mackem]

Vote May in June and celebrate in July

[Chortle]

etce

13 minutes ago, LV-426 said:

The terrible truth is that even though I agree with many of your points, I still can't see an alternative. Putting any other party into power other than the Tories right now would devastate the country.

Labour are utterly divided, out of touch with core supporters and led by an unrealistic idealist with his head in the clouds.

Liberals would at worst seek to overturn the referendum. At best they'd be so intent on sucking up to the EU that they'd see Britain shafted in negotiations.

UKIP have pretty much disappeared from the map since the Brexit win and loss of their figurehead, and don't have the experience to govern, nor the support to win a majority.

As much as I dislike it, May is the only one with any sense of leadership about her. Can anyone honestly see Corbyn or Farron leading Britain in the world we live in today, with issues such as the rise of Islamic terrorism, Syria, North Korea, etc.?

I hear you there certainly hasnt been a viable alternative presented to date. But sometimes I think it prudent to take a moment to sombrely remind ourselves why democracy really sucks sometimes.

The UK must therefore endure Five more years with the blues.

[A rather obscure Bassoon]

May  definately outwitted everyone,I am still elegible to vote and will be voting conservative.

Corbyn the Clown is going to get destroyed.

[A rather obscure Bassoon]

12 minutes ago, Chortle said:

etce

I hear you there certainly hasnt been a viable alternative presented to date. But sometimes I think it prudent to take a moment to sombrely remind ourselves why democracy really sucks sometimes.

The UK must therefore endure Five more years with the blues.

Better five years under May than Corbyn..

[Space Commander Travis]

32 minutes ago, A rather obscure Bassoon said:

May  definately outwitted everyone,I am still elegible to vote and will be voting conservative.

Corbyn the Clown is going to get destroyed.

Do you consider that Labour (they still spell it with a u in Canada, don't they) have had it altogether, then? Who do you think is likely to be the new opposition party? 

[Chortle]

 

33 minutes ago, A rather obscure Bassoon said:

Better five years under May than Corbyn..

I prefered neither frankly but that option doesnt apparently exist. But please dont let me quell your nationalistic sentiment we havent quite enjoyed enought of May-poll dancing yet on UM.

[A rather obscure Bassoon]

12 minutes ago, Manfred von Dreidecker said:

Do you consider that Labour (they still spell it with a u in Canada, don't they) have had it altogether, then? Who do you think is likely to be the new opposition party? 

While Corbyn is in Charge Labour haven't got a prayer, they may just hold on to opposition status.The SNP could give them a good run for their money .

Edited April 19, 2017 by A rather obscure Bassoon

[A rather obscure Bassoon]

5 minutes ago, Chortle said:

 

 But please dont let me quell your nationalistic sentiment

Don't tell me you voted Remain and still slinging the same old mud.

[Chortle]

17 minutes ago, A rather obscure Bassoon said:

Don't tell me you voted Remain and still slinging the same old mud.

Nope I abstained.

[Chortle]

..but more topically the major parties are beginning to make theirs positions known: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39643804

It will be interesting to see where lines are drawn moving forward. I wonder what the major battleground topics (aside from brexit) will be.

[itsnotoutthere]

3 hours ago, Manfred von Dreidecker said:

Do the Labour still use those old yellow & red placards? That's a bit Neil Kinnock isn't it.

Yes, Socialist Worker have a stockpile of them.

Edited April 19, 2017 by itsnotoutthere

[itsnotoutthere]

2 hours ago, Chortle said:

etce

I hear you there certainly hasnt been a viable alternative presented to date. But sometimes I think it prudent to take a moment to sombrely remind ourselves why democracy really sucks sometimes.

The UK must therefore endure Five more years with the blues.

After 13 years of the Blair omni-shambles five years of conservatives will be a breeze.