8 June 2017 - the UK elects, generally...again

[yoshi]

So, this just happened in Downing Street:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39629603

It could yet be voted down, as you can't just hold an election when you feel like one without getting 2/3rds of the Commons on your side - but as Labour say they'll vote with the government, that's extremely unlikely to happen. So, it's pretty certain that we're going to be getting in on the act of major European elections in 2017 in 6 weeks time. 

[Rob2012]

And relax....

Edited April 18, 2017 by Rob.

[krow]

lol you have 6 weeks of election coverage. 

ours last 6 years, which is longer than the president is even in office so

[Rob2012]

Yes, but we've also had Scot Nat referndum, General Election and a EU referendum since 2014.

I know who I'm voting for, so I'm disengaging till I go to the polling station.

[zekekelso]

Every time I think how idiotic the US election system is (and it's really stupid at times) I look at other countries and feel better. 

Who sets up a system that allows the leader to say, "I'm way up in the polls, let's have an election right now to prove it."

[Rob2012]

40 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

Every time I think how idiotic the US election system is (and it's really stupid at times) I look at other countries and feel better. 

Who sets up a system that allows the leader to say, "I'm way up in the polls, let's have an election right now to prove it."

Actually, believe it or not, that's not the case anymore! The Fixed Term Parliament Act introduced a few years ago by the coalition government changed it so that an election outside of the normal five-year cycle can only be held if 2/3rds of Parliament votes in favour. This was introduced precisely to stop governments calling elections when they're riding high in the polls.

Trouble is, freak circumstances have blown a huge hole in this. Therasa May has been mocked by opposition parties for not having a mandate as PM (she wasn't elected PM, Cameron was) or - more importantly - a mandate for her Brexit stance for negotiations with the EU. So opposition MPs have backed themselves into a corner. They can't mock a PM for not having an electoral mandate for her Brexit policies and then oppose the idea of an election prior to the Brexit negotiations which will determine if she has a mandate or not! So Labour will vote for the election and the 2/3rds majority will easily be reached.

Edited April 18, 2017 by Rob.

[Ripley]

2 hours ago, zekekelso said:

Every time I think how idiotic the US election system is (and it's really stupid at times) I look at other countries and feel better. 

Who sets up a system that allows the leader to say, "I'm way up in the polls, let's have an election right now to prove it."

Was thinking about what would happen in the US if there was evidence that the presidential election result had been tainted by Russian dirty tricks and the collusion of the trump campaign team... surely the election would need to be held again?? 

[zekekelso]

4 minutes ago, Ripley said:

Was thinking about what would happen in the US if there was evidence that the presidential election result had been tainted by Russian dirty tricks and the collusion of the trump campaign team... surely the election would need to be held again?? 

There's no mechanism for that. Even if you had proof Trump himself had paid Russian hackers to go into the systems and change votes, he is still POTUS. At best, Congress can vote to impeach him, but that just kicks him out of office and makes elevates the VP. There aren't any do-overs. 

[Roger87]

The real question of this, which party will end as the opposition of the Tories? Because under Corbyn, Labour seems to go for a full implosion.

[Frenchy]

Those who voted for Brexit last year in order to "stick it up to Cameron and the Tories" without realising the mother of all $h1t-fest it would entail might be wise enough to vote Lib-Dem this time round.....

[JMarkSnow2012]

On 19/04/2017 at 10:18 AM, Frenchy said:

Those who voted for Brexit last year in order to "stick it up to Cameron and the Tories" without realising the mother of all $h1t-fest it would entail might be wise enough to vote Lib-Dem this time round.....

Lib-Dem? Sadly, Tim Farron hasn't yet managed to do anything useful with them.

[Roger87]

34 minutes ago, JMarkSnow2012 said:

Lib-Dem? Sadly, Tim Farron hasn't yet managed to do anything useful with them.

And unfortunally, he's more competent as the leader of Opposition.

[Alexjc]

YeeeHAAA...U.K.

1979 is turning out to be an awesome year!!!...Oh hey wait a minute. 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2017 by Alexjc

[Roger87]

Normally the local elections tend to be victories from the opposition party, but sweet lord, that Labour defeat is telling... The Tories are coming for a full dominion.

[Roger87]

Sorry for the analogy,

What the hell is happening in Britain? This Brexit chaos is becoming a dumpster fire across the pond. Reading news from UK internal politics is like watching a trainwreck. Reading things like this destroy the faith in humanity srly,

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/07/tories-intensify-attacks-brussels-saying-supports-labour

[StefanMUC]

2 hours ago, Roger87 said:

Sorry for the analogy,

What the hell is happening in Britain? This Brexit chaos is becoming a dumpster fire across the pond. Reading news from UK internal politics is like watching a trainwreck. Reading things like this destroy the faith in humanity srly,

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/07/tories-intensify-attacks-brussels-saying-supports-labour

Conveniently blaming EU for NHS failure...sounds familiar. Thank God they'll soon be able to invest those 350 million GBP per week into it once the Brussels yoke is gone.

And why should any EU27 country be interested in making Brexit a success if that means they will have to pay the price for 51% of Brits falling for the xenophobic press and Tory lies?

Those people need a reality check soon and hard, but instead they'll get a hige majority with such a foolish opposition right now.

[Rob2012]

Poor bus is having an identity crisis...

 

[Roger87]

Currently polls are giving more advance to Labour, in part thanks to the Tory manifesto. Still, they may be another Tory card around there.

[Roger87]

The polls are out of place lol. I wonder if this is becoming another 2015 election, because Theresa May and co. really screw this opportunity.

[yoshi]

Well this election period has been pretty lacklustre - till now. Things just got very fun, very quickly:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40208731

tldr - we're hung. Very hung. Again

[Roger87]

This could be one of the most amazing upsets in politics. There are 3 scenarios:

1) The exit poll is wrong and the Tory's maintain a slight majority
2) There is a hung parliament and May rules as PM with a minority (although there would be a big push for her to resign)
3) Extremely unlikely but Labour form some sort of coalition with the SNP and the other nationalist parties.

Any way, in any of these scenarios, the biggest loser is Theresa May and her days as P. M. are probably numbered at this moment.

 

[StefanMUC]

Either way, it's so fun to see that this whole plan about calling a snap election to get a "strong and stable" government for the Brexit negotiations has so spectacularly backfired (unless the exit polls are really far off!).

[Rob2012]

First time I've ever laughed out loud at an exit poll.

Sorry, but this is hilarious.

[Roger87]

53 minutes ago, StefanMUC said:

Either way, it's so fun to see that this whole plan about calling a snap election to get a "strong and stable" government for the Brexit negotiations has so spectacularly backfired (unless the exit polls are really far off!).

Speaking of that, I wonder if Theresa May and company are just another collateral damage of Trump. From going to a new special relationship ala Reagan-Thatcher to twitter feuds with British mayors and scandals of security vulnerability.

[Roger87]

Hung Parliament!! George Osborne's face said everything - A catastrophe.