A Political Thread

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

With the right backing and leadership they could have gained ground but people don't vote for them because they think it's waste of time as they'll never gain power. All because of the two horse race/first past the post system.

In fairness Clegg did well on the TV debates (spoke sense, was measured and seemed like fresh alternative to the usual shower) and reached his Everest when he landed the Deputy PM role. He managed to get cabinet posts for Cable and Danny Alexander but the rest of his party didn't get invited to the party. There was always going to some kind of resentment plus the Tories were always liable to blame the Lib Dems when anything went wrong.

But people did vote for them in 2010, they had 23% of the votes and could've been something to build on.
Had things had gone differently I do feel that the Lib Dems could've been a major party by now.

 

[General Melchett]

But people did vote for them in 2010, they had 23% of the votes and could've been something to build on.
Had things had gone differently I do feel that the Lib Dems could've been a major party by now.

Their success in 2010 was largely down to Clegg. They were always going to cop it for jumping into bed with the Tories (from many Lib Dems and centre left floating Labour voters) and Clegg was in the end accused of looking after number one. A centre left Labour / Lib Dem coalition might have been a different story in terms of them kicking on.

 

[ncurd]

A centre left Labour / Lib Dem coalition might have been a different story in terms of them kicking on.

Sadly electoral math made it a complete impossibility in working. I think Clegg et. al. would of happily jumped into bed with Labour instead had it been a legitimate option.

 

[General Melchett]

Sadly electoral math made it a complete impossibility in working. I think Clegg et. al. would of happily jumped into bed with Labour instead had it been a legitimate option.

True. They had an almost once in a lifetime opportunity to gain some power and form a Government with the Tories but ended up taking a hit in terms of their long term prospects as a result.

Not a massive Michael Gove fan but this take down of Corbyn is brutal. One of the best speeches I have watched in the HoP in recent times.

 

[Amiga500]

Does anyone here work in an industry (aside from the lawyers I guess) - where decisions are arrived at by people standing up and talking while presenting no data whatsoever?

You wouldn't run Sammy Wilson's f**king chip van without examining your numbers. Yet the country is run by nebulous and ambiguous words.

Westminster is both a verbal adversarial arena and an echo chamber.

It is of little use for substantial comparison of data and bodies of work that arrive at different conclusions for the best way(s) of adapting legislation to improve the country.

It is long past its sell by date and not fit for purpose.

 

[ncurd]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47282603

Feel really sorry for the people of Swindon this will utterly gut the town not just 3500 direct jobs who work at the plant but all the infrastructure that helps them live and work there.

Pretty angry at the politicians that convinced them their job would not be under threat.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

But people did vote for them in 2010, they had 23% of the votes and could've been something to build on.
Had things had gone differently I do feel that the Lib Dems could've been a major party by now.

23% spread over how many constituencies? Lib Dem's have the support it's just spread too thin to make an impact in a General election. Lib Dems will never form a majority government in its own right under FPTP.

 

[Amiga500]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47282603
Feel really sorry for the people of Swindon

Yep - an utter disaster. There will be a direct supply chain for some items too and not just indirect infrastructure.

The chickens are already coming home to roost and its depressing.

The industrial base of the nation that brought technology to the betterment of the world through the likes of Brunel, Ferguson, Stephenson, Watt and Whittle is... not yet on life support, but certainly a critical state.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Terrible news for Swindon. Believed to be at least partly Brexit related. Bet Swindon wouldn't be 54.7% leave in a second referendum.

Ref the not particularly magnificent 7, Jeremy Corbyn is the Tory gift that just keeps on giving.

 

[Chief Pete]

Currently living in the North East and the murmurings are Nissan's going the same way.. Tragic

 

[Reiser99]

Currently living in the North East and the murmurings are Nissan's going the same way.. Tragic

Well they already cancelled the X-trail investment, but have said they are keeping existing jobs. However once again people ignored the warnings and for the Japanese car companies, it will be cheaper to build them in Japan and export them to Europe, especially as Japan and the E.U have go their new trade deal starting.

One of our biggest selling points for years has been that we are a gateway into the E.U. Now that's going why would companies that want to sell on to the E.U stay here?

 

[General Melchett]

Currently living in the North East and the murmurings are Nissan's going the same way.. Tragic

I used to work at the European HQ of a Japanese company. The Japanese Government has a lot of influence over it's companies and most if not all are likely to follow the same route as Honda and now potentially Nissan. They don't want their European HQs and Operations to be based outside the EU.

 

[Bill]

Yep - an utter disaster. There will be a direct supply chain for some items too and not just indirect infrastructure.

The chickens are already coming home to roost and its depressing.

The industrial base of the nation that brought technology to the betterment of the world through the likes of Brunel, Ferguson, Stephenson, Watt and Whittle is... not yet on life support, but certainly a critical state.

None of whom - I think I'm right in saying - were Japanese.

But anyway, we adapt. If we can't do that anymore, we do something else well instead.

Look at it as an opportunity.

 

[ncurd]

Look at it as an opportunity.

Yeah I bet thats what the people of Swindon are thinking to themselves right now. Look at the oppertunity guys we have all this experience and years working a huge manufacturing plant and now that is gone we can all retrain and fill those 3.5k jobs in the area that are dramatically understaffed.

Sorry I'm not up for opportunity bullshit when people are loosing their livelihood that will take years possibly decades to rectify unless some great manufacture strolls in to take their place. Mayve supreme Brexiteer Janes Dyson will oh no he's buggered off to Singapore anf build he's cleaners there and Malaysia

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Well they already cancelled the X-trail investment, but have said they are keeping existing jobs. However once again people ignored the warnings and for the Japanese car companies, it will be cheaper to build them in Japan and export them to Europe, especially as Japan and the E.U have go their new trade deal starting.

One of our biggest selling points for years has been that we are a gateway into the E.U. Now that's going why would companies that want to sell on to the E.U stay here?

But wouldn't they (Nissan and Honda) have gone anyway regardless of whether Britain were staying in the EU or not? My reading is it was a matter of when not if once the EU signed the trade deal with Japan to remove tariffs that they were going to return manufacturing these cars in Japan. It's not like they are moving back to another EU country.

But others moving their European HQs out of Britain is another matter like Sony Europe and Panasonic Europe are another matter linked to Brexit.

 

[ncurd]

But wouldn't they (Nissan and Honda) have gone anyway regardless of whether Britain were staying in the EU or not? My reading is it was a matter of when not if once the EU signed the trade deal with Japan to remove tariffs that they were going to return manufacturing these cars in Japan. It's not like they are moving back to another EU country.

But others moving their European HQs out of Britain is another matter like Sony Europe and Panasonic Europe are another matter linked to Brexit.

I think it a combination and its goes against what Honda have said. Honda's only EU plant is in the UK they no longer have to pay tariffs but they will have to pay for shipping. One imagines that they'd probably have slowly closed down the UK plant or changed its production lines to reduce shipping costs. However with prospect of tariff both on the import of parts to the UK and export to the EU one can't help think this just eases the decision.

Basically the EU screwed us and we screwed ourselves into making the problem larger.

 

[Amiga500]

But anyway, we adapt. If we can't do that anymore, we do something else well instead.
Look at it as an opportunity.

Opportunity to become a laughing stock. The politicians are certainly leading by example there.

Currently stiff competition from the yanks, but I'm confident MPs can collectively channel the spirit of Cornwallis and prevail.

 

[General Melchett]

It's funny how the Fantasy Brexiteers don't seem to be available for comment when announcements such as the recent Honda one are made. Maybe Liam Fox is getting a consortium together in order to use the factory to re-launch the Morris Minor as a way of ramping up that bulldog spirit.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Reports are that Shamima Begum has been "deprived" of her British Citizenship. Didn't think that was legal under International law.

 

[ncurd]

Reports are that Shamima Begum has been "deprived" of her British Citizenship. Didn't think that was legal under International law.

Only of she isn't a recognised citizen of another state recognised of the UN.

Still will appease the Brexiteer so they don't think too much about Honda, Indepdent Group or that Labour just readmitted Derek Hatton.

You know exactly the same tactic we've used the EU for, in the last few decades a distraction from real news and the problems of our leaders.