UK General Discussion

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Apparently there are now enough anti-Cameron backbenchers to trigger a confidence vote but they aren't ready yet.

http://www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2013/05/26/tory-backbenchers-reportedly-tell-cameron-he-may-have-to-break-up-the-coalition-to-remain-leader/

Probably too close to the summer recess for them.

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Apparently there are now enough anti-Cameron backbenchers to trigger a confidence vote but they aren't ready yet.

http://www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2013/05/26/tory-backbenchers-reportedly-tell-cameron-he-may-have-to-break-up-the-coalition-to-remain-leader/

Probably too close to the summer recess for them.

I hope they gain some momentum soon, the hilarity that would ensue would be priceless.

He'd win a ballot, surely?

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Apparently there are now enough anti-Cameron backbenchers to trigger a confidence vote but they aren't ready yet.

http://www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2013/05/26/tory-backbenchers-reportedly-tell-cameron-he-may-have-to-break-up-the-coalition-to-remain-leader/

Probably too close to the summer recess for them.

I hope they gain some momentum soon, the hilarity that would ensue would be priceless.

He'd win a ballot, surely?

Could any of you Brits explain why Tory backbenchers (and much of the party's base) hate Cameron so much? I mean, other than on some "moral issues" like gay marriage he has been pretty right-wing, particularly when you consider the coalition with the Lib-Dems. Is the hate just due to anti-EU obsessiveness, or are there other reasons as well?

He's out-of-touch with large sections of his party.

He's never been popular with them, but they turned a blind eye when polling was good 2005-2011.

Is the Tory party in its present incarnation fundamentally impossible to lead?

It has been since round-and-about Black Wednesday.

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Interesting question over at Political Betting. Who'd take over from Ed should he fall short in 2015?

I think 2010 shows that it's not as simple as "Oh, it'll be Yvette, surely".

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Downing Street sex scandal!

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God help us if any 2015 Labour government starts to be viewed like a sort've Hollande Anglais.

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Ed Balls struggling to defend his announcement today to Paxo...

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So Ed Balls announces that Labour will stick to Tory spending targets if they win the next election. Always a joy to hear.

No need for me to remember to vote at the next general election then..

That's not quite what he said (from Labourlist):

"But we cannot rely on George Osborne to see sense. So Labour must start planning now for what will be a very difficult inheritance in 2015.

The plans in this year’s spending review will be our starting point, but we will have to find efficiency savings and switch resources to Labour’s priorities. And we will also need to set out plans to invest in the homes, schools and infrastructure we need to build for the future".

Basically, a lot of what the Liberals and the Tories have done is irreparable.

And it's true what Ed said about priorities. With the country in the state it's in, the poor especially, giving child benefit back to the better off isn't exactly what a Labour chancellor should waltz into the treasury and do on day one.

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Angus Robertson and the SNP must be pretty vile to get me agreeing pretty fervently with Nigel Farage on last night's QT.

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What was that Nige'? "Corrupt establishment"?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-farage-set-up-offshore-1972988

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Anyone fancy telling me why he has never like this between the years 2007 and 2010?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqp-E3kAFqQ

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While 2010 was a nice election to lose, there's nothing fun about opposition.

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I seem to recall people being very enthusiastic about Brown's Citizens UK speech (?) a couple of day before the 2010 election.

Yeah, he went out on a high in the last week (post-Duffy) to be fair.

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I seem to recall people being very enthusiastic about Brown's Citizens UK speech (?) a couple of day before the 2010 election.

Yes, that was a very good speech. Credit where it's due.

He even handled the hecklers amazingly.

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This surely can't do Plaid any good.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-23048194

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Tom Watson resigns over Falkirk. Nips any suggestion that it's to undermine EdM in the bud.

http://labourlist.org/2013/07/tom-watson-resigns-from-the-shadow-cabinet/

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Miliband HQ have been pushing for a 'clause 4 moment' since day one. This is it.

The unions'll grin and bare it, they elected the bloke at the end of the day, because who else are they gonna jump behind, the Tories? the Liberals? ... Respect?

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I think what all sides, especially the Tories, forget is that for the vast majority of voters, it's really a case of 'Len McWho?'.

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A question I've been trying to mull over for the past few days that I'm sure you lot can try and answer for me:

With such a massive drop-off for the LibDems since the election, what is the "image" of a stereotypical Liberal Democrat voter in their remaining 8-12% base? What sections of society remain (relatively) strong for them?

We, of course, know (generally) what kind of people the Liberals have lost, but who's left still voting for them?

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Seems to be a collective "WTF!?" aimed at the Guardian after their antics on the unions story a few days ago.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23180965

Dave's KRudd moment?

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UKIP at 7 seems... odd.

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Just to annoy everyone with that age-old cliche:

The only poll that's accurate is the election.

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The Tories appear to be gunning for a resignation from Burnham over this care report.

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If Ed Balls has anything to do with it, in a hung parliament situation, the heads of the key Orange Bookers will be demanded. Eye for an eye over the last lot of negotiations and their demands for Brown's resignation.

The Liberals won't be in the best position when negotiating with Labour or the Tories, considering what their election result will presumably look like. The big two will have the upper hand and bankbenchers on in both of the big two will be unsympathetic.