The Politics Thread

[keveh]

I could refresh this website all day:

http://www.fridgemagnet.org.uk/toys/dave-met.php

yeah - see five posts above yours!

that'll teach me!

[Prufrock]

Tories for PT or maybe the English Democratic Party

How anyone can vote for another 5 years of labour is behond me, a scottish prime minister & scottish chancellor running England / Westminster - its a disgrace.

The UK actually. Why is it a disgrace?

You can't have it both ways - In Scotland they get away with no tuition fees / prescription charges etc...but the English don't and have to pay for both which is totally unfair, and how its allowed to happen is shocking. The Scottish MP's (and Welsh / Irish) get to vote on issues that affect the English but no English MP's can vote on Scottish or Welsh issues.

The opinion that having a Scottish PM & Chancellor is a disgrace, is my opinion - Its ok for the Scots & Welsh to want independence and self govern but not the English ?

If the Scots / Welsh want to go it alone then let them....in fact why not have Brown & the other guy running Scotland and let England also go it alone with an English PM & English Chancellor who have the best interests of England at heart not Scotland.

If we are the same country then all the UK should receive the same i.e. tuition & prescription charges

You look at it from such an anglo-centric position however. Were there to be an English PM, who controlled taxation across the entire UK, what you are saying is exactly the same as a Scotsman in that situation saying, bloody hell why is an Englishman controlling our taxes. He is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, it would be wholly undemocratic not to allow any particular member of the UK Parliament to be it's Prime Minister. Nor does it affect the Chancellor. What would be interesting, would be should the Tories win and implement their plan to ban Scottish MPs voting on issues that only affect England, it would be very difficult to make a case for a Scottish MP to become say, Secratary for Education, which is a point I think Alistair Darling mentioned.

[Peter Thompson]

Probably because I'm English....

And TBH I wouldn't mind everyone going there own way and England having an English Parliament just running England, then the Scots & Welsh could control their own taxes and how they spend it.

The current system is extremely unfair - why should an English child have to pay tuition fees and take on the debt yet a Scottish child does not pay anything- same with prescription fee's, we're either all in it together or we should all be independent - IMO

A Scottish 1st minister running Scotland and a Scottish PM & Chancellor running the UK....its not right and the majority English are bloody daft to be voting for the Scottish PM to continue taking the piss for 5 more years - lets have an English PM, who at least has an interest in England and will look after the English people.

In terms of Education why should our English kids be penalised and the Scots not, the fact that it was allowed to happen says a lot about the current 'Scottish PM' of the so called UK.

[ratbert]

The Scots can argue that they have had English PM's imposing policies on them without a mandate for years. The Tories have been a minority party in Scotland for decades but that didn't stop Thatcher forcing the Poll Tax on them. Look at the uproar that caused (which was instrumental in them getting devolved government in 1999). Anyway, you don't vote for where the PM comes from - its about policy, isn't it (or am I missing something?)

It's more a sign of failure of the electoral system as a whole that the 'West Lothian question' exists. See here for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lothian_question

If the monarchy (and therefore the UK) were abolished (one can dream) then seperate parliaments for each home nation would happen. But without that and an existing UK then there's a difficulty in getting the balance right between Westminster and the nations/regions. Northern Ireland has only just got policing and justice powers, Wales has less powers devolved to it than Scotland. The system works at the moment, but its a fragile one.

Should the current electoral system collapse on May 7, this could be brought more into focus than ever before. The Scots and Welsh nationalists and Northern Ireland parties will have more brokering powers at Westminster than possibly the LibDems, and can name their own price to propping up a government of one or several colours. Whether that's good or bad for democracy... we'll just have to wait and see.

[fatshaft]

Probably because I'm English....

And TBH I wouldn't mind everyone going there own way and England having an English Parliament just running England, then the Scots & Welsh could control their own taxes and how they spend it.

The current system is extremely unfair - why should an English child have to pay tuition fees and take on the debt yet a Scottish child does not pay anything- same with prescription fee's, we're either all in it together or we should all be independent - IMO

A Scottish 1st minister running Scotland and a Scottish PM & Chancellor running the UK....its not right and the majority English are bloody daft to be voting for the Scottish PM to continue taking the piss for 5 more years - lets have an English PM, who at least has an interest in England and will look after the English people.

In terms of Education why should our English kids be penalised and the Scots not, the fact that it was allowed to happen says a lot about the current 'Scottish PM' of the so called UK.

You are voting for (not directly obviously) a BRITISH PM, not an English one or a Scottish one. Ironically if it hadn't been for the actions of an English born PM (as Ratty says) , with no mandate in Scotland, and who decided to give Scotland first taste of her most unpalatable policies, you wouldn't be having this gripe.

When at any point in history has the nationality of a party leader ever been brought up before? Never, even Blair's Scottishness seemed to escape the dim-witted bigots. There have been 52 Prime Ministers, 8 Scots and a Welshman amongst 43 Englishmen, so about bang on for the population split, with Scotland taking a couple of Wales' quota it seems.

But the minute an overtly Scottish character took the reigns, there were immediate cries from many down here of "why do we have a Scottish PM, we didn't even vote for him" as being regurgitated now by you. Well thickos, you did actually, his name was Blair, but because he sounded like Jeremy Paxman rather than Rab C Nesbitt you thought that was ok eh?

As for your point about tuition fees and prescription charges, surprisingly for one so ignorant, you've once again totally missed the mark, no it doesn't say anything at all about the current PM actually, becasue it had sod all to do with him, nor could he have done anything about it, as it came down to the budget set by the Scottish Assembly, and they decided to allocate a large portion of their funds to those two areas.

[fatshaft]

Tories for PT or maybe the English Democratic Party

How anyone can vote for another 5 years of labour is behond me, a scottish prime minister & scottish chancellor running England / Westminster - its a disgrace.

The UK actually. Why is it a disgrace?

You can't have it both ways - In Scotland they get away with no tuition fees / prescription charges etc...but the English don't and have to pay for both which is totally unfair, and how its allowed to happen is shocking. The Scottish MP's (and Welsh / Irish) get to vote on issues that affect the English but no English MP's can vote on Scottish or Welsh issues.

Yes they can, on all issues that are not devolved, which is most.

The opinion that having a Scottish PM & Chancellor is a disgrace, is my opinion - Its ok for the Scots & Welsh to want independence and self govern but not the English ?

And where do you get that from? I'd be perfectly happy to see Independence for Scotland & Wales, it would automnatically mean independence for England, or is that beyond your grasp? Do you think there would still be a UK, consisting of England, and errr, England?

If the Scots / Welsh want to go it alone then let them....in fact why not have Brown & the other guy running Scotland and let England also go it alone with an English PM & English Chancellor who have the best interests of England at heart not Scotland.

Totally agree. Nothing to do with your anglo-centric borderline bigoted view that 'it's one of our own for PM and no-one else'. Incredible that it's okay to have an English PM, just not a Scottish one. last time I checked, the British parliament has always had a British PM!

If we are the same country then all the UK should receive the same i.e. tuition & prescription charges

Totally agree, but when a succession of English PM's could not stand by that notion, and treated Scotland as a lesser partner, the proles finally rebelled, and asked that if we weren't going to be treated fairly, then we'd look after ourselves tyvm.

Got a problem with devolution, (you have it seems because you seem to have no grasp at all of what powers the assemblies have) then look no further than a succession of Englishmen & women!

[Lord Kangana]

Anyway, can't decide whether this belongs in the angry thread or here, but has anyone else found themselves shouting at the TV when people blame Brown for whats been happening with travel over the last few days? We have some right dingalings in this country.

[BWFC_Insane]

Anyway, can't decide whether this belongs in the angry thread or here, but has anyone else found themselves shouting at the TV when people blame Brown for whats been happening with travel over the last few days? We have some right dingalings in this country.

Indeed, its clearly Megson's fault!

[Peter Thompson]

Shaft

I have no problem with devolution at all, in fact I'm all for independence....the sooner Scotland (and Wales) get their independence the better IMO.

'anglo-centric borderline bigoted view', so its ok for the Scots to want independence but not the English - get a grip are they bigoted then ?

and just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm ignorant - we are all entitled to an opinion and a vote regardless of whether it differs to yours, and I don't want a Scottish PM running the UK - I want an English PM

So do you think its fair that Scottish kids get free University places and the English kids have to pay outrageous fee's - after all arn't we all part of the same uk

[fatshaft]

Shaft

I have no problem with devolution at all, in fact I'm all for independence....the sooner Scotland (and Wales) get their independence the better IMO.

'anglo-centric borderline bigoted view', so its ok for the Scots to want independence but not the English - get a grip are they bigoted then ?

and just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm ignorant - we are all entitled to an opinion and a vote regardless of whether it differs to yours, and I don't want a Scottish PM running the UK - I want an English PM

Go and re-read what I spent quite some time typing out for your pleasure. I said independence for England is not only fine, but inevitable if every other country becomes independent, DUCY?

As for your bigotry, when you will not stand for anyone but an Englishman as PM of Great Britain, you see why you're bordering on bigoted or xenophobic there I presume?

So do you think its fair that Scottish kids get free University places and the English kids have to pay outrageous fee's - after all arn't we all part of the same uk

I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous reply to the same question.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

If the monarchy (and therefore the UK) were abolished (one can dream)

Would you honestly prefer to break up the UK and have elected heads of state?

[Lord Kangana]

No, we know our place.

[Bruce Rioja]

I have no problem with devolution at all, in fact I'm all for independence....the sooner Scotland (and Wales) get their independence the better IMO.

OK, so what happens re - the armed forces?

[CAPSLOCK]

We blow the Taffs n Jocks to bits

Simpleas

[hisroyalgingerness]

I have no problem with devolution at all, in fact I'm all for independence....the sooner Scotland (and Wales) get their independence the better IMO.

OK, so what happens re - the armed forces?

We re-invade Scotland

[William the White]

Candidate for the fiefdom of somerset NE is Old Etonian chip-off-the-very-old-block something Rees-Mogg (Julian?)...

Today's C4 news revealed his nanny is out canvassing for him...

Tory modernisation obviously going very well in the West Country...

But, obviously, hobo needs to know he may be missing a trick...

[hisroyalgingerness]

Is it me or is Salmond promising to increase spending and to maintain lots of free services that aren't available in England and Wales? Does he not see that every party, including the monster raving looney party are generally accepting the need for cuts.

Re Monarchy. Strikes me that these people are at the forefront of environmental campaign, well-respected in foreign affairs, charitable and have fought in the war in Afghanistan. Much more than our moat-cleaning elected friends seem to be capable off.

[TANGODANCER]

On our island, all that divides England from Scotland and Wales is a wall and a few signposts, oh, and a few accent differences. Mind you, you could quote Birmingham, Newcastle and even Wingates on that. Like's been said, we're British in name,, maybe time to be so by nature.

[William the White]

On our island, all that divides England from Scotland and Wales is a wall and a few signposts, oh, and a few accent differences. Mind you, you could quote Birmingham, Newcastle and even Wingates on that. Like's been said, we're British in name,, maybe time to be so by nature.

Unless the Scots and Welsh don't want to be... In which case we should wave goodbye amicably and occasionally meet up for coffee in years to come...

[CAPSLOCK]

On our island, all that divides England from Scotland and Wales is a wall and a few signposts, oh, and a few accent differences. Mind you, you could quote Birmingham, Newcastle and even Wingates on that. Like's been said, we're British in name,, maybe time to be so by nature.

Unless the Scots and Welsh don't want to be... In which case we should wave goodbye amicably and occasionally meet up for coffee in years to come...

And if me and my mates want to opt out, can we do so too?