Reply to: What next in British party poliics?

[minestrone]

Len McCluskey's ramblings certainly cheered me up, Yvette Cooper will probably win the selection, Len will go postal, Yvette will say people up and down the country on doorsteps in conversation told her to win.

Joy.

[Zero Liability]

Not much longer till we find out, anyway.

[minestrone]

I suspect Cameron does not have a clue at this point in time what he wants to renegotiate on. Being in a trade zone but outwith EU politics is the dream of the eurosceptics, what I would like to see, but Europe are never going to go for it.

Let's get the tanks ready.

[TheFaQQer]

It'll be largely contingent on what Cameron can achieve in his bid to negotiate reform. This piece does make me a little sceptical about the proposed timing, however; as it is, I think negotiating reform will be difficult enough in and of itself. Carney and Hammond both appear quite eager to have the referendum pulled forward to 2016, probably because they'd rather have the rest of the Tories' reign free of any major uncertainty. Methinks Carney is eager for plain sailing at this point, especially given his desire to see rates rise at some stage next year, otherwise he has very few policy "tools" at his disposal come the next recession.

As the all-conquering hero of the election, he won't need much of a "win" to persuade the likes of Gove to u-turn and campaign for an "in".

[minestrone]

I'm just glad the SNP have nothing to do with UK budgets of foreign policy.

Bunch of screw ball reactionary populist nutjobs the lot of them.

[minestrone]

Plain sailing is definitely the way I would wish to see the economy going in the next 5 years, we went into the recession a complete mess thanks to labour and we seem to be coming out reasonably strong.

MY view on the election was always wanting George Osborne to win. While he may not be a guiding light of economic genius he seems to have been proven right by the simple philosophy of cutting spending just enough and hiding for 5 years. Cameron can do his wishy washy, big society, hug a hoodie, new conservative nonsense above that.

[Zero Liability]

It'll be largely contingent on what Cameron can achieve in his bid to negotiate reform. This piece does make me a little sceptical about the proposed timing, however; as it is, I think negotiating reform will be difficult enough in and of itself. Carney and Hammond both appear quite eager to have the referendum pulled forward to 2016, probably because they'd rather have the rest of the Tories' reign free of any major uncertainty. Methinks Carney is eager for plain sailing at this point, especially given his desire to see rates rise at some stage next year, otherwise he has very few policy "tools" at his disposal come the next recession.

[minestrone]

In the referendum we will probably just about vote to stay in the EU. I think Cameron pitched it right, negotiate then have a vote. It will be interesting to see what happens if Cameron get's told to GTF on requests and what side he pitches up on.

I think I'm just tired of politics interfering in life, I've had a Scottish referendum, GE and now Scottish elections and then the EU vote to come.

[Zero Liability]

I am broadly in favour of UKIP's central issue of the UK removed from the EU's governmental structure.

But in the last week UKIP have really shown why they can be nowhere near a functioning UK government. In that respect the voting system has worked.

I don't see why. A bit of noise from some people inside the party against Farage - the only person who can credibly utilise the party's momentum in influencing the upcoming EU referendum in such short time - is not really indicative of anything of the sort. The same system had Labour in power for some 10 years, a party which managed to leave this country in such a state that it is now necessary for the Tories to cut back on government to the degree that they are. And even that probably still won't be enough.

I think all eyes will be on Cameron, to see whether he is capable of delivering a fair, even-sided, transparent referendum, or whether this will be a stitch-up like Ireland's. There is a lot at stake, as this referendum represents the desire of a good chunk of his party.

[minestrone]

I think the Chilcot Inquiry is going to be a major disaster for labour whenever they get around to publishing it.

It will ensure there is no mid term popularity dip for the conservatives.

[minestrone]

I actually think Cameron is the most publically focused PM we have had for generations.

You can't go 5 seconds without someone in New Labour spouting some nonsense about "conversations on doorsteps" and "understanding the public's message" but I think Cameron is fairly switched on in that regard.

[darmstadt]

Actually all you have to do is tell the Great British Public what they want to hear, get elected and then ignore them. Most elections seem to have been won that way and for a second term, rinse and repeat

[SueEllen]

People said similar things when Howard / IDS / Hague were leading the Tories - as soon as they got someone who could do the soundbites (in the same way that Labour found Blair), they were electable.

Moral of the story is get yourself an electable leader - preferably one with hair, hair that is brownish and who must not be from Wales - then stick to the centre ground and you will be elected when the country gets fed up with the other party.

[TheFaQQer]

Despite having the most unelectable leader imaginable labour still got 9.4 million votes, the conservatives for 11.3 million.

People said similar things when Howard / IDS / Hague were leading the Tories - as soon as they got someone who could do the soundbites (in the same way that Labour found Blair), they were electable.

[minestrone]

And UKIP got 3.8 million?

Voting change needed - but electorate did not want that in 2011.

Things could get messy! But looks like a Tory government for a while to come.

I am broadly in favour of UKIP's central issue of the UK removed from the EU's governmental structure.

But in the last week UKIP have really shown why they can be nowhere near a functioning UK government. In that respect the voting system has worked.