General Election - June 8th

Whereas a May led Government is doing much better.

May seems to be behaving as if she had just been returned with the thumping majority that she expected. There is no sign of re-consideration although she asked the electorate for an endorsement of her policy and she did NOT get one.

Reconsideration of what? I suspect you're expecting her to tell the nation that she's decided not to pursue Brexit after all. You're not alone in that expectation.

Its interesting the Tories dont want either another election (they know they will lose) nor a new leader Europe is the "gift" (poison in |German) that just keeps giving! Northen Ireland is likely to follow

For those that havnt realised Free Market Global Neo Liberalism (DeRegulation) died when the West became a system of state capitalism when we the Tax Payers bailed the banks out, the current state of denial not withstanding,.

Giving the Banks more of our money as yet more debt rather than Socialising them and imprisoning the thieves that created it and seizing their assets is the next step not letting them carry on asset stripping our pension funds with yet more marlarky.

This is interesting:

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2017/06/13/how-britain-voted-2017-general-election/

(I'll just note that the thin orange line is pretty consistent across all measures...)

That's exactly why we shouldn't elect a Momentum government!

Indeed and as the older better off pass on and more and more youngters reach voting age it will get better and better

Not if your MPs shout "I wouldn’t touch you with a manky woman’s c*ck you ugly b*tch" as did Jared O’Mara, the newly-elected member for Sheffield Hallam, to a rather attractive young lady in his constituency recently.

What's going on, Andrew, is there a coup in the offing?

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The Magic Money Tree

With my love Kris finally arrived in UK on Monday I thought I would avoid this section for a few days - without even dipping in to read.

But I just had to say "bravo, sir" - I find myself in almost total agreement!

I shall now retire from the field of battle for another few days - if I can!

Keep it up gents - the jousting is fascinating!

Gerry

P. S. Where's @Timmers - not seen John Bull around recently - hope all is well.

The one lesson the Labour Party never ever learns is the higher the tax rate, the lower the tax take.

Tim Farron is resigning as leader of the Lib Dems - will Vince Cable be the next leader or Jo Swinson?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40281300

Dear Andrew,This last two years have seen the Liberal Democrats recover since the devastation of the 2015 election.
That recovery was never inevitable but we have seen the doubling of our party membership, growth in council elections, our first parliamentary by-election win for more than a decade, and most recently our growth at the 2017 general election.
Most importantly the Liberal Democrats have established ourselves with a significant and distinctive role - passionate about Europe, free trade, strong well-funded public services underpinned by a growing market economy.
No one else occupies that space. Against all the odds, the Liberal Democrats matter again.
We can be proud of the progress we have made together, although there is much more we need to do.
From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith. I've tried to answer with grace and patience. Sometimes my answers could have been wiser.
At the start of this election, I found myself under scrutiny again - asked about matters to do with my faith. I felt guilty that this focus was distracting attention from our campaign, obscuring our message.
Journalists have every right to ask what they see fit. The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader.
A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment.
To be a political leader - especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 - and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching, has felt impossible for me.
I'm a liberal to my finger tips, and that liberalism means that I am passionate about defending the rights and liberties of people who believe different things to me.
There are Christians in politics who take the view that they should impose the tenets of faith on society, but I have not taken that approach because I disagree with it - it's not liberal and it is counterproductive when it comes to advancing the gospel.
Even so, I seem to be the subject of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith is in.
In which case we are kidding ourselves if we think we yet live in a tolerant, liberal society.
That's why I have chosen to step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats.
I intend to serve until the parliamentary recess begins next month, at which point there will be a leadership election according to the party’s rules.
This is a historic time in British politics. What happens in the next months and years will shape our country for generations.
My successor will inherit a party that is needed now more than ever before. Our future as an open, tolerant and united country is at stake.
The cause of British liberalism has never been needed more. People who will fight for a Britain that is confident, generous and compassionate are needed more than ever before.
That is the challenge our party and my successor faces and the opportunity I am certain that they will rise to.
I want to say one more thing: I joined our party when I was 16, it is in my blood, I love our history, our people, I thoroughly love my party.
Imagine how proud I am to lead this party. And then imagine what would lead me to voluntarily relinquish that honour.
In the words of Isaac Watts it would have to be something 'so amazing, so divine, (it) demands my heart, my life, my all'.
Thank you,
Tim

I personally find it disgusting that Tim Farron should be forced to resign over a matter of conscience and that Paddick should hound him for his own personal beliefs is unacceptable.

Many years ago,I would have been shocked, disgusted and extremely worried by the post that Methersgate shared..
I can no longer seem to remember how many years ago that would have been?
Personal religious beliefs are no longer compatible with British politics unless, lets say for example you are from an ethnic faith back ground and you are,lets say running to become the London Mayor etc etc.