Is Blair going to win it three straight?

[Toad]

Voting on Thursday..... who's handicapping this race?

Will Blair be the first leader in Labour's history to win three terms in a row?

Has any English movie star threatened to move to Canada if Blair wins?

[lada]

Hardly ... during the last election he used to promise that universities will stay free.

But it was just another small lie on his way up, they arent free anymore.

Question is what choise do british have, but this small lair ?

[mora]

LIBERALS!!!!!

[lada]

Originally posted by mora
LIBERALS!!!!!

that sound almost like ALLAH AKBAR!!!

.. is there any meaning or goals behind that term ?

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Mr. Toad
Will Blair be the first leader in Labour's history to win three terms in a row?

Yes.

I made that prediction on this board in 2002, based on the previous election result in 2001, in which Blair won with a majority of 164 seats in the House of Commons. It would be unprecedented within the field of British politics for a majority of such magnitude to be overturned at a single election. But it would NOT be unprecedented for the opinion polls to be out by a significant margin. That happened in 1970, when Edward Heath was trailing Harold Wilson by 7% in the polls, but won with a majority of 30 seats.

My guess is that voter turnout will be low, with many people undecided as to how they will vote, if at all. People are fed up with Blair, but there's no real groundswell for change.

It's the size of Blair's majority that I'll be looking for. Some polls have predicted 100+. I wouldn't have thought it would be that much. My prediction was for between 5 and 50, and I'll put my money (but not too much!) on that. We will know for sure on Friday. Who knows, I might even be wrong!!!

[Saintaw]

Well, when you consider the alternative...

[Skydancer]

If I was Jackal I ought to be telling anyone who isn't English that they are an idiot a hater and to bugger off and mind their own business as they have right to comment on things that are not to do with their country.

Thank god I'm not so I won't.


Well as an Englishman I would say that its likely that Blair will win a third term.

The Liberal democrats will eat up votes from Tories and Labour. But overall I predict a reduced Labour majority.

As for what choice we have the answer is not much. Back in the 80s we had quite polarised politics. The Tories were very right wing the Labour were socialists. Liberals hovered around the middle. Nowadays realising that we Brits are a pretty conservative witha small c lot when it comes to politics most of the main parties have postioned themselves round the middleground so there is not much difference. In essence Labour basicaly represent the idea that Society has a meaning and the well off help support those less well off. University is still free for those from the lowest incomes. Its only families that can afford to pay that still have to. ( And why not when you see peiopkle complaining that their kids have to pay or they do to go to UNI and yet they have a Range Rover on the drive and live in a 200,000 plus home. Its called getting your priorities right )

The Tories in my opinion still bow to the cult of ther individual, I'm Ok jack my taxes are low so sod you. All well and good but not so great when the infastructure of the country falls  apart as there is no money to maintain it.

The Libs well they seem to be more left wing than Labour these days, a rethink on uni fees, council taxand withdrawel from Iraq.

After Voting Labour all my life they have lost my vote over the Iraq war, the fact that they are spending millions replacing a nuclear sub fleet we don't need anymore, and they are losing touch with those that voted them in and begining it seems to dupe the electorate.

The Libs will most likely get my vote though I am torn as on the issue of the economy this govt has done a great job.

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Skydancer
The Tories in my opinion still bow to the cult of ther individual, I'm Ok jack my taxes are low so sod you. All well and good but not so great when the infastructure of the country falls  apart as there is no money to maintain it.

So you think it was right and proper to have a top rate of income tax of 83% - with an investment income surcharge of a further 15%? That's the legacy the tories inherited from Labour. Of course, much of the money was   spent on funding Labour sponsored charity organisations - er..., I mean loss making nationalised industries.

When the tories cut that top rate of tax to 40% - which is what it is today - tax receipts went UP. Did you know that?  Keyword: Incentive.

[Skydancer]

Maybe but they constantly fight elections promissiong tio cut tax yet spend more! It doesn't add up. If you want something you have to pay for it!

I don't mind paying if what I get is good. Take the Health service. Not perfect but one hell of a lot better now than under the Tories. Plus much better than many other countries. I'll be happy to pay taxes for that. Without it  my father and mother would both now be dead.

I can't vote for a guy and his party who's only real message is to appeal to the selfish side of people's nature, rattles on and on about Blair being a Liar and seems only to come alive when making personal attacks ( bit like some people on this BBs )

The tories offer nothing other than a return to the bad old days of the 80's.

[Gixer]

If the Poodle does win dosn't say much for the opposition.


...-Gixer

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Skydancer
Maybe but they constantly fight elections promissiong tio cut tax yet spend more! It doesn't add up. If you want something you have to pay for it!

I don't mind paying if what I get is good. Take the Health service. Not perfect but one hell of a lot better now than under the Tories. Plus much better than many other countries.  

It DOES add up. What you're failing to take into account is the amount of money that is WASTED by Labour. They took wads of cash and simply threw it at the NHS. There was no spending plan at all. So what happened? Assisted by Gordon Brown, the level of bureaucracy in the NHS mushroomed. For every TWO NHS hospital beds, there are THREE NHS bureaucrats!!! I saw a TV programme about this. A Doctor/senior registrar compared the current situation with days gone by. 30 years ago, his hospital was run by two people - himself, and the matron. Now, it is run by layers of NHS bureaucrats - about 150 of them, all seeking to meet "govt. targets", whatever the hell that means. In a period in which nurses' pay has risen 50%, the salaries of all those bureaucrats has risen by an average 70%.

I don't believe the health service is better. I hear it's much worse, with deaths relating to MRSA hospital infections now exceeding the number of people killed on our roads. I vote with my credit card - my BUPA subscriptions cost me £1400/annum. If I believed that the NHS was any good, I would cancel my BUPA subscription and rely on the NHS. I won't be doing that any time soon.

I'm glad your parents are OK, and it's good that those less well off can get free health care, at least free at the point of "sale".

[Schaden]

There's a reason that the phrase "Tory scum" came about...

[Seagoon]

Your quick guide to the British Parties:

Labour: New Labour
Liberals: Old Labour
Conservatives: New Labour Lite
Everyone Else: Also Ran Labour

- SEAGOON

[Skydancer]

Thats pretty accurate!

We differ on many things but here we agree!

[Swoop]

Originally posted by Schaden
There's a reason that the phrase "Tory scum" came about...

Yeah there is. Cos you just made it up.


And on what beet and sky are discussing:

Yep, the Tories are planning on spending MORE on the health service, education, etc......and LESS on indo-spanish black afghani lesbian support groups (just an example).