General Election to be called today?

I am so happy for you, all of you, that you will have a chance to VOTE‼️

Sooner, rather than later, unlike our U.S. election season which drags on forever and only makes for more division and hate within the country, not to mention the amount of (wasted) money.

Everyone is looking for change. I wish you peace, fairness, reason and calm. Let the people speak‼️
USA Gundy

Oh, whoopee. Nearly 6 weeks of every flipping news bulletin being devoted to where this or that leader is making tedious speeches that day, and which Minister or Shadow has been wheeled out to try and score some tiny point.

And the chance at some point to enjoy a Sunak-Starmer debate. Pass the cocoa . . .

Casdon

It’s fascinating, MayBee70, and exciting for the politics watchers, because it’s so hard to predict what’s going to happen next. I’m expecting a sweating Boris Johnson with a big shiny weapon of victory on a white unicorn along any minute.

Supposedly he phoned his dad up to see if he wanted to stand in one of the constituencies. He’s 83!

Casdon I don’t think the Conservatives want to win the next election and are hoping for a hung parliament with maybe an early election 18 months later. But the image of a sweaty Boris Johnson isn’t going to happen in the 2024 election but further down the line I guess! Oh dear …. What a mess…..

I agree Maybee, I also think hes had enough. I suppose I dont really get a sense of a strong commitment to politics from him.

It’s fascinating, MayBee70, and exciting for the politics watchers, because it’s so hard to predict what’s going to happen next. I’m expecting a sweating Boris Johnson with a big shiny weapon of victory on a white unicorn along any minute.

My gut feeling is that he’s had enough. I can’t quite believe what’s actually happening at this moment in time.

I keep reading that Sunak May throw in the towel before the election.

Probably wishful thinking on some of the right wing if th3 Tory party.

Babamaman

I heard Rishi knows he’s going to lose the GE. And that he’s off to work for a tech company in the US!
As if he really needs the stress here in the UK

I also think he’s stabbed the MP’s in the back that were ganging up against him. Hubris methinks. He’ll want to get his children settled into their new schools before the autumn.

I heard Rishi knows he’s going to lose the GE. And that he’s off to work for a tech company in the US!
As if he really needs the stress here in the UK

Ultimately we have to choose which party represents us most, as the chances are high that no one party will reflect our views exactly

Agreed Doodle, which is why it’s a bit daft when people say they’re voting this way or that based on one single issue. Support for a party, whichever party that is, should be decided upon by looking at the bigger picture.

Cossy

To be totally honest so long as trans-gender people are treated with respect and not discriminated against or given “special” treatment, I think there’s so many other things to put right and to care about that will benefit us all collectively.

Like anyone else they are entitled to be treated with respect, I hope no-one on here is thinking otherwise. However, if biological fact becomes in itself discriminatory according to their ideology or group-think, then we are in trouble, and it's going to dominate the political landscape and probably become a Left versus Right issue which of course the media will latch on to. It is no more, nor no less, important than all the other matters that are occupying people's minds at election time.

Purely from a self-interest POV, I'm more concerned now with the state of our public services which I think are under threat again in terms of more cuts. The IMF has warned against the much-loved by the Tories tax-cuts but which, I think, they are keen to institute as a 'bribe' to the faithful and the floating voter. Such tax cuts will, inevitably, mean more cuts to our public services. And these services affect everyone.

Yes Dickens, the belief that people are either left or right wing, and therefore must subscribe to a particular package of beliefs is simplistic and reductive, yet it crops up all over (including on here, when people arguing for biological reality are compared with the KKK and told we are in league with right wing Christian fundamentalists in the US 😵‍💫). I read recently (in the Observer) that Billy Bragg's beef with JKR is because at a dinner they both attended she was sitting with people he decided had 'the wrong sort of political views'. I used to love his songs back in the day, although they were never known for sophisticated analysis, but he's become a parody of himself. His idiotic comments about JKR were in lieu of an ability to actually argue with anything she's said or written.

There is far too much of that sort of thinking IMO. People have to vote for one person or another, some people join political parties and support their manifestos, but none of us is obliged to go along with everything that a party believes, or is being disloyal or hypocritical if they disagree with some of those things. I don't approve of private health or education, for instance, but I don't think that someone who votes Labour yet uses either or both is a hypocrite, and I think that those who accuse them of that are clutching at straws.

Ultimately we have to choose which party represents us most, as the chances are high that no one party will reflect our views exactly.

To be totally honest so long as trans-gender people are treated with respect and not discriminated against or given “special” treatment, I think there’s so many other things to put right and to care about that will benefit us all collectively.

Doodledog

*I used to cringe at people who said things like, "political-correctness-gone-mad", and now I'm in danger of becoming one of them.*
Yes, I know what you mean. I never thought I'd quote from the Telegraph and consider their view on women's rights as more sensible than that of the Guardian either. I don't see this debate as remotely a left/right one politically, yet it has turned old certainties (or expectations at least) on their heads. I have never seen political affiliation in terms of buying into a package of pre-ordained beliefs, but this is something very far from usual. If I were a conspiracy theorist who worried about the destabilising of Western civilisations, I might be polishing my tin hat at the thought of all this. . .

Yes Doodledog, the debate is a bit like the Brexit debate where some assumed / insisted that 'Lefties' wanted us back in Europe PDQ, and Tories all voted Leave.

And I believe this is what skews and damages constructive debate, which becomes impossible if there is, at the outset, such preconceived ideas about Left and Right.

This isn't helped by the media who frequently frame various issues as L versus R, nor social media which often follows suit. I remember an 'issue' being discussed on an SM site where I was accused of being a right-wing fanatic by one poster and further down the conversation, a 'woke-leftie' by another. Because they had predetermined the political affiliation by the subject. Or else they're not aware that there is a colour which is grey and it's neither black nor white, but they don't know that because they've never seen it!

If I were a conspiracy theorist who worried about the destabilising of Western civilisations, I might be polishing my tin hat at the thought of all this. . .

LOL I've thought along similar lines. You do have to wonder what has caused the collective madness of supposedly intelligent people who are more than willing to castigate those who find themselves in a position where they are forced to point out a biological fact; people who suddenly appear to subscribe to a subjective emotion that can override science, biology, and alter chromosomes... I mean, let loose, what else are they going to latch on to?

If that was a dig at me, undines, I am being herded sheep-like nowhere. I was being ironic in my post, which I thought would be clear, but these things do get lost in written communication, I realise.

I think the transgender issue is paramount, not because of itself, per se, but because it does give rise to people having to swear black is white to save their careers, in politics, the media, education and elsewhere. It's Orwellian, and I believe there IS an agenda. I think we should be wondering and asking repeatedly what is actually going on and not be worried about being called 'conspiracy theorists'. Can anyone seriously believe there are no high-level conspiracies, as those in power want to hang on to power or enhance what they already possess? And can anyone doubt that they have the ability to conceal their 'conspiracy'? Do we seriously believe that people in power can be trusted? 'All power corrupts...' Shouldn't we question the neat way all such debates are shut down, because no-one wants to be labelled 'conspiracy theorist'? It seems to me that entertaining the idea that conspiracy is possible is more intelligent than being herded, sheep-like, into the scoffers enclosure.

I don't think LD will ever go into coalition with the Tories after last time. Also their politics have moved so far apart now.

All political parties have one or two barmy ideas and a few cranks but it's important to vote on their main policies and leadership unless tactical voting is needed. I'll hold my nose and vote Lib Dem to get the Tory out locally, otherwise I would vote Labour. I just hope the Lib Dems don't rat and go into coalition with the Tories again if the GE has a close result though I think that's unlikely this time after 14 years of chaos.

The problem is that politicians are too worried about saying what they really think, where all this is concerned.

I make no secret of how I feel about all gender/biological sex stuff, but I’m going to be voting on the economy, NHS, housing etc.

My local hospital has had to set up mixed “ward beds” in corridors. Patients stay there indefinitely. Not because of ideology - simply because of lack of beds.🤷‍♀️

I used to cringe at people who said things like, "political-correctness-gone-mad", and now I'm in danger of becoming one of them.
Yes, I know what you mean. I never thought I'd quote from the Telegraph and consider their view on women's rights as more sensible than that of the Guardian either. I don't see this debate as remotely a left/right one politically, yet it has turned old certainties (or expectations at least) on their heads. I have never seen political affiliation in terms of buying into a package of pre-ordained beliefs, but this is something very far from usual. If I were a conspiracy theorist who worried about the destabilising of Western civilisations, I might be polishing my tin hat at the thought of all this. . .

Smileless2012

Didn't you know that the Scottish Green Party expelled 13 members for signing a declaration which said "sex is a biological reality" *LizzieDrip? They defended their decision saying those who'd signed the Scottish Green Women's declaration were breaching the party's code of conduct.

Looking at this in the abstract...

Could anyone have foreseen there would come a time when there would even be a need for a declaration of a biological fact... and that signing it could end your political career?

I used to cringe at people who said things like, "political-correctness-gone-mad", and now I'm in danger of becoming one of them.

I should think he and his family will be off to California on 5th July.

I have just worked out why the election is 4 July - Rishi Sunak has two daughters in school and it’s less disruptive to family life if removal vans are called at the start of the school holidays.
It also gives the family holiday time together to get over any disappointments. Rishi Sunak seems to have a very supportive partner so hopefully he won’t feel too upset for very long.

Wyllow3

I don't want 6 debates between leaders, but wouldn't mind seeing more key figures debate.

I don't think I'll learn anything more in terms of what Starmer and Sunak are like in this format.

Its one particular adversarial method which doesntmean they would be good PM's.

It excludes other parties which is all wrong.

Key figures will be mostly fiction just like Johnson’s, they are just aspirations what they hope to achieve eventually, as others have said if the economy has improved in 5 yrs that will be a good achievement.