The Politics Thread

[Lord Kangana]

Regardless of the language designed to elongate the point, the net result remains the same. You can't give your house away and expect to live in it for free with no comebacks.

[bedwetter2]

Has anyone else noticed the lack of discussion throughout all the analysis on television news programmes about the status of quangos in all the fuss over budget cuts/tax increases- or have I missed it?

It seems to me that certain Quangos are surefire candidates for shrinking or complete abolition if "tough" decisions are being made. Equalities Commission anyone? Arts Council? Regional enterprise councils? Regional Healthcare bodies?

What would your targets be for an early spending cut and why?

[William the White]

Has anyone else noticed the lack of discussion throughout all the analysis on television news programmes about the status of quangos in all the fuss over budget cuts/tax increases- or have I missed it?

It seems to me that certain Quangos are surefire candidates for shrinking or complete abolition if "tough" decisions are being made. Equalities Commission anyone? Arts Council? Regional enterprise councils? Regional Healthcare bodies?

What would your targets be for an early spending cut and why?

What would you replace them with?

[bedwetter2]

I can state my views if you like but the purpose of the question was to determine whether people on this forum know what large budgets some of these bodies handle - make up your own mind whether they do so in an efficient or inefficient way. It may well be that the unelected boards of quangos are paragons of even-handedness whilst presiding over a very low cost of administering the monies they are provided with by this Government.

On the other hand perhaps many quangos are pointless, inefficient and riven with internal conflict. If so would the general public notice much difference if many quangos were consigned to history and not replaced with anything else at all funded by the public purse.

So Will the White, what do you know about quangos? Is the Lottery Commission politically influenced, for example?

[William the White]

I can state my views if you like but the purpose of the question was to determine whether people on this forum know what large budgets some of these bodies handle - make up your own mind whether they do so in an efficient or inefficient way. It may well be that the unelected boards of quangos are paragons of even-handedness whilst presiding over a very low cost of administering the monies they are provided with by this Government.

On the other hand perhaps many quangos are pointless, inefficient and riven with internal conflict. If so would the general public notice much difference if many quangos were consigned to history and not replaced with anything else at all funded by the public purse.

So Will the White, what do you know about quangos? Is the Lottery Commission politically influenced, for example?

Not much - but is the argument about funding certain activities - such as the arts - or equalities - or regional health - or is it about whether quangos are the right way to do it? Best not to conflate the two, i think.

Any minute now we'll have Tango rambling on about bricks in the Tate...

[TANGODANCER]

Not much - but is the argument about funding certain activities - such as the arts - or equalities - or regional health - or is it about whether quangos are the right way to do it? Best not to conflate the two, i think.

Any minute now we'll have Tango rambling on about bricks in the Tate...

Why? Has Tracy Emin taken up bricklaying now?

[Bruce Rioja]

I note that not a single vote's been cast in favour of Plaid Cymru.

There'll be a post up next - Wanted, guitarist and backing singer.........

[Worthy4England]

I note that not a single vote's been cast in favour of Plaid Cymru.

There'll be a post up next - Wanted, guitarist and backing singer.........

[thebish]

how many people are gonna stay up all night and watch the election unfold?

I quite like the look of Channel 4's offering as a warm up - with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. Not that fussed about Carr - but the other two can be very amusing...

then it'll be the good old Beeb until the moment cameron is declared victor at which point I will down a large glass of scotch and go to bed for five years...

[CAPSLOCK]

Watching the Election results would be like watching Rocky XXV

You know the winner before the opening credits roll

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

how many people are gonna stay up all night and watch the election unfold?

I quite like the look of Channel 4's offering as a warm up - with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. Not that fussed about Carr - but the other two can be very amusing...

then it'll be the good old Beeb until the moment cameron is declared victor at which point I will down a large glass of scotch and go to bed for five years...

Sounds like a plan, Bish.

I still think it's very very close, and my prediction is that 'we' will gain enough Labour seats to get a majority, but then lose enough Lib/Cons marginals to ruin it.

Like you, I hope I'm wrong!

[thebish]

Watching the Election results would be like watching Rocky XXV

You know the winner before the opening credits roll

OK Caps - what will the result be then? (so you can save us all from staying up)

overall Tory majority
hung parliament with labour in second (in terms of seats)
hung parliament with labour in third (in terms of seats)
summat else


(maybe you're SirNuts supernatural Brian?)

[thebish]

how many people are gonna stay up all night and watch the election unfold?

I quite like the look of Channel 4's offering as a warm up - with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. Not that fussed about Carr - but the other two can be very amusing...

then it'll be the good old Beeb until the moment cameron is declared victor at which point I will down a large glass of scotch and go to bed for five years...

Sounds like a plan, Bish.

I still think it's very very close, and my prediction is that 'we' will gain enough Labour seats to get a majority, but then lose enough Lib/Cons marginals to ruin it.

Like you, I hope I'm wrong!

I suspect the Clegg factor will burn away like morning mist and we will awake to a gurning cameron outside number 10

(though - he'd best get inside pretty quick as I have heard him list over the years about 8 major things he is going to do on "day one"!)

the lib dems are specialists at false dawns!

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

how many people are gonna stay up all night and watch the election unfold?

I quite like the look of Channel 4's offering as a warm up - with Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. Not that fussed about Carr - but the other two can be very amusing...

then it'll be the good old Beeb until the moment cameron is declared victor at which point I will down a large glass of scotch and go to bed for five years...

Sounds like a plan, Bish.

I still think it's very very close, and my prediction is that 'we' will gain enough Labour seats to get a majority, but then lose enough Lib/Cons marginals to ruin it.

Like you, I hope I'm wrong!

I suspect the Clegg factor will burn away like morning mist and we will awake to a gurning cameron outside number 10

(though - he'd best get inside pretty quick as I have heard him list over the years about 8 major things he is going to do on "day one"!)

the lib dems are specialists at false dawns!

Maybe, and I haven't been around the block as many times as you (:D), but my feeling is that it's different this time, and there's even a genuine prospect of the Lib Dems coming second in number of votes.

I'm not going to bet on that, but I'll bet you ten internet pounds that the Conservatives lose more seats to the Lib Dems than they gain from them.

[thebish]

Maybe, and I haven't been around the block as many times as you (:D), but my feeling is that it's different this time, and there's even a genuine prospect of the Lib Dems coming second in number of votes.

I'm not going to bet on that, but I'll bet you ten internet pounds that the Conservatives lose more seats to the Lib Dems than they gain from them.

hmmm... but the "second in number of votes" is a total irrelevance put about by the lib dems as if it means something. It shouldn't be - but it is. The system should be changed - but right now - it hasn't. so - it's number of seats however much they wish it to be otherwise - that will determine any hung-parliament power-play.

it's like wenger talking as if pretty-football somehow means Arsenal should have won the premiership title....

the lib dems have told us "this time it is different" at every election since the pope lost his virginity....

I'll believe it if/when I see it!

[thebish]

I'm not going to bet on that, but I'll bet you ten internet pounds that the Conservatives lose more seats to the Lib Dems than they gain from them.

I'll not be taking you up on that - as mathematically that would always seem more likely with the fact that the tories hold hugely more seats than the lib dems and are therefore being challenged by lib dems in a lot more seats than lib dems are being challenged by tories...

[CAPSLOCK]

Watching the Election results would be like watching Rocky XXV

You know the winner before the opening credits roll

OK Caps - what will the result be then? (so you can save us all from staying up)

overall Tory majority
hung parliament with labour in second (in terms of seats)
hung parliament with labour in third (in terms of seats)
summat else


(maybe you're SirNuts supernatural Brian?)

Not sure why you chuck in 'in terms of seats' seeing as it's the only measure thats important

Makes me smile a touch that many of those wanting reform would no doubt want to chuck in a rider that the BNP aren't allowed MPs

As for the result

1 Tories with overall majority
2 Labour
3 One of the minor parties, SDP, UKIP, BNP, PC...who cares

[thebish]

Watching the Election results would be like watching Rocky XXV

You know the winner before the opening credits roll

OK Caps - what will the result be then? (so you can save us all from staying up)

overall Tory majority
hung parliament with labour in second (in terms of seats)
hung parliament with labour in third (in terms of seats)
summat else


(maybe you're SirNuts supernatural Brian?)

Not sure why you chuck in 'in terms of seats' seeing as it's the only measure thats important

Makes me smile a touch that many of those wanting reform would no doubt want to chuck in a rider that the BNP aren't allowed MPs

As for the result

1 Tories with overall majority
2 Labour
3 One of the minor parties, SDP, UKIP, BNP, PC...who cares

I chucked it in to avoid confusion as plenty of lib dems are muddying the water by describing it as if it matters (you're right - it doesn't, as I pointed out above)

are you suggesting the SDP (whoever they are??) UKIP or BNP will get more seats than the liberal democrats?

[Bruce Rioja]

how many people are gonna stay up all night and watch the election unfold?

Hmm, yes see. I've booked Friday off because I've got a chappie coming round from the estate agents. I know full well that I'll end up staying up all night watching it all unfurl and then sleeping through when the guy's outside knocking on the door.

[Prufrock]

Watching the Election results would be like watching Rocky XXV

You know the winner before the opening credits roll

OK Caps - what will the result be then? (so you can save us all from staying up)

overall Tory majority
hung parliament with labour in second (in terms of seats)
hung parliament with labour in third (in terms of seats)
summat else


(maybe you're SirNuts supernatural Brian?)

Not sure why you chuck in 'in terms of seats' seeing as it's the only measure thats important

Makes me smile a touch that many of those wanting reform would no doubt want to chuck in a rider that the BNP aren't allowed MPs

As for the result

1 Tories with overall majority
2 Labour
3 One of the minor parties, SDP, UKIP, BNP, PC...who cares

You don't think Lib Dems will be in the top three?