BS: A hung parliament?

Subject: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 06:23 PM

The pudits predict a hung parliament at the next general election. I don't know about a hung parliament but we deserve a hanged parliament. We've earned it.
Except Dennis Skinner, of course.
Doc John

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 07:16 PM

And if we get a hung parliament (I think a hanged parliament is unlikely) the pundits will talk about people having voted for a hung parliament, which is rubbish. 'Hung parliament' will not appear on the voting papers for us to vote for, and trying to guess what all your neighbours will do and then vote so as to balance it out isn't really possible. Even with a face-thingy campaign I doubt anyone could organise enough voters into groups in order to achieve that deliberately.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 07:41 PM

I thought they just wheeled them back to Madame Tussaud's every few years, then wheeled them out again with new heads.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 08:21 PM

And except Robert Marshall-Andrews, one of the last of the awkward squad, but alas he is not standing again.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: G-Force
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 01:47 PM

Then there's the West Lothian question, which nobody seems to be mentioning. This time we really could get a Tory majority in England but still ruled by Labour because of all the Scots and Welsh Labour MP's, when those two countries have their own assemblies as well.

It's a good job we English are so gentle and peace-loving. Any other lot would be rioting if that happened.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:06 PM

Shouldn't they ALL be hung? Why stop at just a few? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge on the other browser
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:09 PM

HANGED!

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM

YES!

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Young Buchan
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:19 PM

Unless, of course, they are well-hung.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, RBotob (geddit?)
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 04:42 AM

or have been

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Allan Connochie
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 06:53 AM

"Then there's the West Lothian question, which nobody seems to be mentioning. This time we really could get a Tory majority in England but still ruled by Labour because of all the Scots and Welsh Labour MP's, when those two countries have their own assemblies as well."

Funny that nobody ever bothered about the West Belfast question or the more recent Sewel Motions? For most of its existence Northern Ireland sent MPs to Westminster whilst having devolution at Stormont. Hence Westminster has for some time worked on this type of system but it only became an issue for the British media when those darned Scots wanted more democracy - and it took a Scot to point it out an name it. Still you are right. The issue was mostly a theoretical imbalance but it will be more magnified if it becomes a reality. Prior to the SNP administration in Edinburgh the actual working imbalance had been the other way with Labour at Holyrood bypassing the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and having what should have been devolved matters put to Westminster instead. This was the so called Sewel Motion which occurred over 60 or so times.

Of course it is our cock eyed system which makes these anomolies. A clear majority of MPs going down from Scotland to Westminster will be Labour MPs but of course quite a minority of Scots will actually vote for Labour. Likewise more folks in England voted Tory at the last election but Labour still had a reasonable majority of the English seats. As long as Labour are benefiting from an outmoded two party system they won't complain much. And likewise the Tories were happy enough to benefit from Ulster Unionist backing in the past.

Anyway it took 100 years for disaffection in Scotland (which ebbed and flowed over that time) to eventually lead to devolution. If there becomes real disaffection in England because of the next parliament then it will be sorted pretty quickly in comparison. Sheer demographics in parliament itslef would ensure that. Put quite simply the vast bulk of MPs are English.

As to hung parliaments themselves. Well we already have one in Scotland. The minority SNP government have their hands tied on some issues (eg they can't get enough support in Parliament for their independence referendum) but in the main the country hasn't ground to a halt because of it.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 06:57 AM

Horrible thought and one that could be more likely than we may think. The bookies are offering ten to one on that Vince Cable will be the next chancellor of the exchequer.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 07:19 AM

A hung parliament?

Hhhmmmmm!

Not if Not So New labour get back in. Not a decent pair of balls between the lot of 'em.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 08:37 AM

...and what about the lords? Mandleson, Adonis, Sugar, Digby-Jones, not to mention thoses whose claim to power is that their many great grandmother slept with Charles II. Why should we have to put up with Digby-Jones who has the mindset of those mine and mill owners we sing about. Then there's the bishops....
As they are noble I think we should use the axe for this collection.
Exceptions of course: Helena Kennedy, Susan Greenfield, David Ramsbottom and maybe a few others do have something to offer.
Doc John

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 11:13 AM

what are the odds for the different parties,are the liberals 20 to 1,that must be a good bet,if labour voters switch to liberal and ukip take some tory votes,and bnp take some labout votes,it could be a liberal win

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,RBotob
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 03:49 PM

I'll have some of what he's drinking.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 05:38 PM

I don't know which is the more depressing prospect - the English Socialite Party or Cameron's Cuties.

Then again, from the way Cameron's been talking, if he was Prime Minister, we'd probably see the complete break-up of the United Kingdom.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, RBotob
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:09 PM

While it is a shame that there is not a Labour Party running, either "New Labour" or even the Old Etonian Party would be better than the BNP - or their latest shill, what is it called "English Democrats"?

Cable's view on economic reconstruction is too regressive for me to vote for the Don't Know party.

Greens? Dream on!

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:17 PM

The LibDems used to be indecisive.

Now they're not so sure!

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 12:30 AM

Aren't they all hung in the Parliamentary Library? Or is that just the PMs....