+- Sports Babble - sports forum (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk)
+-- Forum: Off Topic / General Discussions (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=40)
+--- Forum: Abstract Chat (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=152)
+--- Thread: On political analysis (/showthread.php?tid=5323)
RE: On political analysis - ritchiebaby - 30-05-2017
Theresa May seems to be intent on throwing away a massive certain win with her tactics - she's not engaging with any critics or answering any relevant awkward questions - and is worse than Thatcher. At least Maggie had the courage of her convictions.
Jeremy is keeping in with the SNP in readiness for a likely hung parliament. He needs the SNP support, perhaps not as a coalition, but as an informal working arrangement. He might not be the brightest button in the box, but he knows what works and what doesn't - witness his leadership campaigns.
Nicola is once again backtracking on the independence referendum timetable. Now it's to be after the Brexit negotiations according to the SNP manifesto. The referendum is now the tenth most important item in the manifesto.
The joys of politician watching!
RE: On political analysis - 0762 - 30-05-2017
Note Nicola also wants representation at the Brexit negotiating table and I don't think that is unreasonable from a Scottish perspective - requested almost from the 'off' anyway! Also I think the SNP stance re another indy ref 2 is based on the premise there is gonna be a UK govt 'cock up' on exiting the EU that will be hugely detrimental to Scottish economic interests. Therefore the move for indy ref 2 must logically be initiated after said negotiations/cock up and the evidential case presented to the Scottish people before pushing on with the 'new way forward' for Scotland. It's all pre-planned with Brexit providing the 'change of circumstance' to justify this move.
RE: On political analysis - hibeejim21 - 30-05-2017
Looks like corbyn has chucked kez under a bus and is pushing for a hung parliament.
She can have no complaints.
RE: On political analysis - ritchiebaby - 30-05-2017
(30-05-2017, 20:11)0762 Wrote: Note Nicola also wants representation at the Brexit negotiating table and I don't think that is unreasonable from a Scottish perspective - requested almost from the 'off' anyway! Also I think the SNP stance re another indy ref 2 is based on the premise there is gonna be a UK govt 'cock up' on exiting the EU that will be hugely detrimental to Scottish economic interests. Therefore the move for indy ref 2 must logically be initiated after said negotiations/cock up and the evidential case presented to the Scottish people before pushing on with the 'new way forward' for Scotland. It's all pre-planned with Brexit providing the 'change of circumstance' to justify this move.
No, 0762, the SNP change their stance on the referendum timetable on a regular basis. I totally agree that what they are now proposing is logical, but it was Theresa May's logic, not Nicola's. Not pre-planned at all.
RE: On political analysis - 0762 - 31-05-2017
Well in that case retrospectively lets reflect on the yo yo antics of the Labour Party re being in favour or against the possibility of indy ref 2! Where are we on this isuue? We know, clearly, that Kezia Dugdale might back independence in a second referendum, except that she definitely won’t, and that she doesn’t think the UK government should block it, except it should, and Labour are absolutely fine with it happening, but they’ll do everything they can to stop it, although they won’t try to stop it, and Dugdale’s deputy is not opposed to another vote, except in the sense that he’s totally opposed to another vote, and that Labour’s manifesto (on both sides of the border) contains a cast-iron commitment to blocking a new indyref, but not if the Scottish Parliament votes for one, which it already has done. This summary is based on the yo yo comments that Dugdale and Corbyn have uttered for approx the past 18 months. I trust that finally puts an end to any ambiguity from them lol!!!! It also places a criticism of a 'timetable change' to be tenuous in the extreme compared with some of the nonsensical remarks and insinuations of shameless opponents who are desperate TBF and reeks of trying to find any reason to shoot down the SNP while others are far more culpable in the way they go about their political skulduggery and try poorly to disguise their real agenda! Notice that both unionist party leaders, Davidson and Dugdale have both commented in public (televised interviews) that they are against a democratic mandate by the Scottish people to push on with a new indy ref - now that is scary and one could construe such a view that a peaceful quest for Scot indy, as it always has been peacefully orchestrated north of the border, would be well nigh impossible under the ridiculously biased conditions/views of this par of twerps!!! Lastly, as I've previously suggested to any free-thinking Scottish voter - please just listen to the comments that are being made by the likes of Nicola Sturgeon and other SNP govt officials + the Greens and then compare with the antics of all the unionist allied parties/opponents and come to your own straightforward conclusion re what is the most genuine political party that will represent Scotland and it's interests under the difficult circumstances that we have been forced into!!
RE: On political analysis - ritchiebaby - 31-05-2017
0762, I certainly wouldn't argue against your points re the yo-yo antics of the Labour Party. Obviously Scottish Labour are a different animal to the Labour Party. A bit like the Scottish Conservatives and the Conservative Party - Winter Fuel Payments anyone? At least the SNP are united, although they appear to want a 50% top rate of tax for the UK, but not in Scotland only where they have the power to introduce it.
RE: On political analysis - 0762 - 31-05-2017
That is indeed one of the most noticeable differences when you study the general behaviour of the SNP and it's officials down the years ritchie - they are not perfect but there is a unity and direction about the party/govt compared with the other highly questionable credentials of the old unionist allies and opponents of the SNP and I believe that's why lotsa Scots now back the SNP and realise that backing Scotland is not just a meaningless slogan - they mean it and are passionate to make Scotland a better country by improving it!! Re the tax issue? It's a red herring IMO!!! As soon as I heard that the Scottish govt were finally given tax-raising powers last year, my immediate thoughts centred on political opponents who would 'pounce' on any rise in tax and try to capitalise on the difference and I was 'spot on' in that respect - a little 'trap' that the SNP and Sturgeon would be very wary of and I would have been extremely disappointed if that wariness was not evident! We /they are dealing with some real 100% c#### when it comes to stuff like this and being 'streetwise' is part n parcel of political survival in this country.
RE: On political analysis - ritchiebaby - 01-06-2017
The tax issue is not a red herring. The SNP want more powers, they got more powers and are now scared to use them. They feel that increasing taxes is a big vote loser. Not for me it isn't. Admittedly they don't have to use them, but it's sad to see Nicola not have the courage of her convictions to help her pay for all the freebies the SNP offer in order to gain favour. It's apparently all right for the UK to have a higher tax rate, but not Scotland. Hypocrite! If she bases her adoption of policies on the possibility that another party might criticise her, then she's in the wrong job.
I'd happily pay extra taxes if it helped the NHS or Social Services in my country. I'd happily forgo the Winter Fuel Allowance and "free" bus passes and prescriptions if it did the same. I've always believed in paying my way and will gladly continue to do so if I'm able to do it. Hopefully I'm not alone in thinking this way. Anyway nothing is free, somebody has to pay for it and it's the taxpayer, so we're already paying for it, except it's hidden.
That's enough from me - no politician really deserves my vote and thankfully I'll not be voting. Rant over!
RE: On political analysis - 0762 - 01-06-2017
Well the first thing I'll say, as said to apathetic (on occasions) kids, is many people in history fought for the right to vote! If you don't vote then forget the grounds for criticism - use your vote and vote for the best option that you think will make a difference to the future of our country. Re the tax issue, I disagree and will respectfully suggest that it is all about timing and Nicola Sturgeon/the SNP will indeed have the courage and conviction to eventually do it from a very strong position. As you yourself acknowledge, it's a vote loser but it's an extra governmental power that will be utilised at some stage and for the reasons that you suggest. However, I want the Scottish govt to be given the extra powers that were promised in 2014 and we've not even been given a min requirement of devomax. Why are so many people so fickle on that fact/broken promise alone??? My personal reasoning for paying additional tax (note my Council Tax, and others 'in the same boat', is up anyway!) is to 'blooter' the two tier education system into touch and push on with a top quality ed system for all our kids in Scotland - not just creating the best opps and plum jobs for private/public school kids to people who are buying it in for them and know exactly what they are getting for it - it's a 'them and us' situation that should not exist in this context! There is something inherently wrong with this set up that persists in a small country like Scotland with a relatively small population.
RE: On political analysis - hibeejim21 - 01-06-2017
Interesting polling today,the tory lead is between 3 and 12 per cent depending who you believe and how its weighted but the raw data looks pretty close. It looks like labour have made inroads in getting the young to register,if they turn up on the day it could be close.
Labour now well in front in London.
And now the first poll backing corbyn for PM over may.
Whatever happens this time next week may has run one of the worst campaigns in political history. I'm starting to think she doesn't want to win.