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BS: A hung parliament?

25 Mar 10 - 06:23 PM (#2871923)
Subject: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Doc John

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


25 Mar 10 - 07:16 PM (#2871976)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, topsie

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.


25 Mar 10 - 07:41 PM (#2872005)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Dave MacKenzie

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


25 Mar 10 - 08:21 PM (#2872039)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Richard Bridge

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


26 Mar 10 - 01:47 PM (#2872612)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: G-Force

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.


26 Mar 10 - 08:06 PM (#2872911)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe

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


26 Mar 10 - 08:09 PM (#2872914)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge on the other browser

HANGED!


26 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM (#2872923)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe

YES!


26 Mar 10 - 08:19 PM (#2872926)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Young Buchan

Unless, of course, they are well-hung.


27 Mar 10 - 04:42 AM (#2873062)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, RBotob (geddit?)

or have been


27 Mar 10 - 06:53 AM (#2873101)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Allan Connochie

"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.


27 Mar 10 - 06:57 AM (#2873103)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Fred McCormick

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.


27 Mar 10 - 07:19 AM (#2873118)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T

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.


27 Mar 10 - 08:37 AM (#2873174)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,Doc John

...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


27 Mar 10 - 11:13 AM (#2873264)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Sandman

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


27 Mar 10 - 03:49 PM (#2873454)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST,RBotob

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


28 Mar 10 - 05:38 PM (#2874168)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Dave MacKenzie

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.


28 Mar 10 - 06:09 PM (#2874197)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: GUEST, RBotob

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!


28 Mar 10 - 06:17 PM (#2874206)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T

The LibDems used to be indecisive.

Now they're not so sure!

Don T.


29 Mar 10 - 12:30 AM (#2874381)
Subject: RE: BS: A hung parliament?
From: The Fooles Troupe

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