2024 General Election

[Mussels]

If the job was properly paid I'd take a punt but it's not worth it even if I didn't need to win a vote.

[irie]

The Tories seem to be a big tax and spend party but

They seem to have taken stealth taxes to an art form. Gradually not raising thresholds, for example.

if Labour get in the unions will be putting placard factories on overtime.

Does the UK still have much in the way of card carrying Red Robbo extreme left, underpaid, overworked, factory fodder, etc., union members?

The unions have lost a lot of financial clout as Labour now get more £ support from other sources than them. They're also in a bit of a knot about the green agenda as they're v keen to keep all the North Sea oil jobs going but want to be seen as keen on keeping the planet from hitting regulo 4. So they want to kick up about dropping the green plan but want to 'drill-baby-drill' as well.

Reducing CO2 emissions will not in itself "keep the planet from hitting regulo 4" because increasing CO2 levels are not the cause of global warming but are instead the result of global warming.

[Horse]

Vote winner?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpddxy9r4mdo

The Conservative Party has said it would bring back mandatory national service if it wins the general election.

It said 18-year-olds would have a choice of either joining the military full-time, or volunteering one weekend every month carrying out a community service.

The party is proposing a Royal Commission to consider the details but would plan for the first teenagers to take part in September 2025.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Should help keep things nice and Brexity if nothing else.

[JackyJoll]

One of the reasons they stopped National Service before was because it cost too much. Can they/we afford it now?

It’s hard to judge whether proposing it now is a net winner or loser of votes. Maybe it will encourage “Tory types” to keep voting Tory. Its effect on people who would never vote Tory doesn’t matter.

[Nordboy]

If reintroducing National Service is the best the Tories can come up with, then they're in more of a shit state than I thought they were!!

[JackyJoll]

Bringing back hanging must be the next proposal.

[Horse]

If reintroducing National Service is the best the Tories can come up with, then they're in more of a shit state than I thought they were!!

I have a suspicion it's intended as a vote loser ...

[Horse]

One of the reasons they stopped National Service before was because it cost too much. Can they/we afford it now?

It’s hard to judge whether proposing it now is a net winner or loser of votes. Maybe it will encourage “Tory types” to keep voting Tory. Its effect on people who would never vote Tory doesn’t matter.

1980s flashback

Bernard Woolley:
He thinks it's a vote winner

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Ah. That's more serious. Sit Down. What makes him think that?

Bernard Woolley:
Well, the party have had an opinion poll done. It seems all the voters are in favour of bringing back National Service.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Well - have another opinion poll done showing the voters are against bringing back National Service.

Bernard Woolley:
We can't be for it and against it.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Oh, of course they can, Bernard. Have you ever been surveyed?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes. Well not me actually, my house. Oh, I see what you mean.

....

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Do you think there is lack of discipline and vigorous training in our Comprehensive Schools?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Do you think young people welcome some structure and leadership in their lives?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Do they respond to a challenge?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Might you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?

Bernard Woolley:
Er, I might be.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Yes or no?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Of course, after all you've said you can't say no to that. On the other hand, the surveys can reach opposite conclusions.
Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the danger of war?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Are you unhappy about the growth of armaments?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Do you think there's a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Do you think it's wrong to force people to take arms against their will?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Would you oppose the reintroduction of conscription?

Bernard Woolley:
Yes.
[does a double-take]

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
There you are, Bernard. The perfectly balanced sample.

[Saga Lout]

The Army doesn't want them.
The Navy doesn't want them.
The RAF doesn't want them.

What are we going to do? Set up a new armed force? A yoof version of the Home Guard, perhaps?

The man's not fit to run a corner shop, what's he doing pretending to run the country?

[Horse]

My theory has been, for years, that there are some elections where both sides want to win. And some where neither do.

This one the Cons don't want to win.

They'll still get seats. But overall ... Depends on whether Labour good enough at 'not being the Tories'. I'm not sure they are.

So, a bit like Brexit. There could be a whole raft of "Don't like the Tories" protest votes, for different reasons, that cumulatively topple them.

And the other parallel being a PM jumping out like Cameron did.

[Mussels]

I think Tories have been too good at being Labour, probably hoping they can rebrand while labour are proving they are no better.

[Horse]

Telegraph already see Labour in power.

20240526_120144.jpg (211.11 KiB) Viewed 998 times

Although 'the school has suffered dwindling pupil numbers in recent years'. Can we blame Labour for that too?

[Yambo]

Telegraph already see Labour in power.

20240526_120144.jpg

Although 'the school has suffered dwindling pupil numbers in recent years'. Can we blame Labour for that too?

I suspect that the Catholic Clergy's propensity for child abuse may have been a factor.

[Nordboy]

The Army doesn't want them.
The Navy doesn't want them.
The RAF doesn't want them.

What are we going to do? Set up a new armed force? A yoof version of the Home Guard, perhaps?

The man's not fit to run a corner shop, what's he doing pretending to run the country?

Do a Trump, Space Force.

[cheb]

How do other European nations manage conscription? The Netherlands, Sweden. Austria and Switzerland are ones that I remember have it, the Netherlands on a technicality.

[Cousin Jack]

I suspect that, if it does happen, National Servicemen (and Women) will learn cleaning, polishing and painting skills, and not s lot else.

Whitewashing coal used to be a favourite, no coal now but I am sure suitably daft alternatives will be found.

As a conservative oldie I suspect this idea is supposed to appeal to me. It doesn't, it is almost as daft as the "send them to Rwanda" that didn't happen despite costing £millions.

[mangocrazy]

Reducing CO2 emissions will not in itself "keep the planet from hitting regulo 4" because increasing CO2 levels are not the cause of global warming but are instead the result of global warming.

Nope. You've got it the wrong way around. The rise in CO2 levels is driving global warming, which in turn is driving a feedback loop as temperatures rise globally and unlock greenhouse gases (mainly methane) in thawing permafrost.

[mangocrazy]

As a conservative oldie I suspect this idea is supposed to appeal to me. It doesn't, it is almost as daft as the "send them to Rwanda" that didn't happen despite costing £millions.

Are the Tories deliberately trying to lose the youth vote? They're clueless. In comparison, Labour intend to lower the voting age to 16. Compare and contrast.

[Horse]

Are the Tories deliberately trying to lose the youth vote?

Earlier:

My theory has been, for years, that there are some elections where both sides want to win. And some where neither do.

This one the Cons don't want to win.