Not an election please

varian, I agree, she will never have power to silence voices, this isn't Russia - yet!

I still believe the libs will make better gains than the polls predict.

Oh I do hope so grammargran if they re-instate Hadrians Wall I'll be in Scotland, so won't have to pay anyway. Could make things a bit difficult for my DS who will be living one side and working on the other!

Except, of course, that there is still Brexit happening in the middle of it all, and another election could then be called on the same basis as this one.
There is also the point of the nearly 30 MPs who could end up having just been voted in, then losing their seats straight away.

I'll just be south of it, but won't have to move far, trisher.

Does that mean that you don't want a GE then durhamjen? I thought you may welcome one.

Don't understand, roses.

He has done it again, bloody idiot. Trying to mock May for not taking part in tv debates , I suppose if he is reminded he refused to take part in the Brexit debates he will use the same explanation as calling Hamas his friends, with hindsight I was wrong.

It does seem amazing, doesn't it, Granny23?

I don't trust May one little bit. A GE hasn't been called for the country's benefit and she's delusional if she thinks the country is coming together. The whole speech was full of vacuous soundbites. She's playing political games. The opposition is from her own back benches and the possibility that some Conservative MPs will be charged with electoral fraud and be forced to resign (maybe).

I think Labour are falling into a trap, probably because they are insecure about their own voters and they haven't found a strategy to deal with Brexit. Although 70% of Labour voters apparently supported Remain, 70% of Labour MPs are in constituencies which voted Leave.

Well I think she should debate and I've signed the petition
www.change.org/p/theresa-may-we-deserve-a-debate-what-s-may-scared-of?utm_source=action_alert_sign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=737786&alert_id=hadWwsUwXg_6zfA6Elvcywv5ScNeOtQDY%2B994AwbjNzcspIIBBEBWN8wamvRpAs7RXBDx%2Bp1APb

skwawkbox.org/2017/04/19/police-30-prosecutions-for-toryelectoralfraud-the-reason-for-the-snap-ge2017/

Over 30 Tory MPs now being investigated.

Signed, trisher.

Personally I think that what all the parties ought to be concentrating on is the type if Brexit they would like to see. So we need to be informed as to how they will go about securing farming, environment, business who need migrant labour, the service industry etc etc. On top of that we need to be told what will happen to our NHS, schools, etc. This election is almost too big to deal with. One thing at a time is really more sensible and then we've got Scotland and NI who will throw independent etc into the mix. It is ridiculous.

Ah well! Oxford West and Abingdon is on the LibDem hit list. Any constituents can expect plenty of leaflets and visits.

Is anybody watching PM'sQs? It's just a shouting match. SNPs are abstaining from the vote on a GE.

Sturgeon has said that the SNP will abstain from calling for a GE. I don't know how this will affect Scottish voters. Some of them might be torn between voting SNP and LDs. Both parties are anti-Brexit, but only one is for an independent Scotland. On the other hand, the Remain vote might be split and the Cons might slip in through the back door.

What a mess!

X post grammargran. Sorry, not watching PM's Q. I can't stand it.

Tim Farron wants a TV debate as well- any name calling for him?

Apparently, George Osborne isn't in the HoC. Is he going to stand again? It's not as though he'll be without a job! Tatton has a huge Conservative majority, but voted Remain. Tatton voters have minds of their own. Remember Martin Bell?

PS. Witney, South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt's seat) and Putney (Justine Greening's seat) also voted Remain.

I wonder whether there'll be any Michael Portillo moments. How exciting!

You're right, daphnedill, I'm losing the will to live .........

Many labour MP's want to abstain but have been threatened with deselection if they do

What names do you want to call him trisher?

Will Ukip get a place in this debate? They don't have any MPs, so I hope not.

Breaking news: George Osborne standing down.

Not true, Annie. Nobody has been threatened with deselection. All standing MPs who want to put themselves up for their seats again can do so.

www.theweek.co.uk/general-election-2017/83674/snap-election-call-wipes-45bn-off-ftse-100

This is the Tory party running a good economy.

Skinner has just asked about the Tory fraud. May stands by all her MPs. That's going to be interesting.

Hmm! I don't know the rules. Does it have to be a 2/3 majority of those who vote or a 2/3 majority of all MPs?

Labour MPs need to be brave and think of the long game and I think the public will respect them, even if they are deselected. Some Labour MPs have already spoken out about Brexit, so they risk deselection anyway.

They won't be without a job and will be in a good place to step back into politics, when Brexit turns out not to be what people thought it would be.

grammargran Thought he would.