Election strategies (mine!)

Biden doesn’t hate the UK. We just aren’t important to the US now we aren’t a gateway to Europe (politically as well as geographically).

It’s possible that I will be in hospital on Thursday, so I may annoy the rest of the ward watching the results.

grandMattie

Just to stir things up a bit... Biden professes to loathe the UK and does his utmost to damage it, whilst Trump (disgusting man, horror of horrors!) is very pro British! what a choice

So happy that I don't have to choose either of them. Why does Biden loath the UK? Is it just to get the 'Irish' American an vote?

Hell will freeze over before I vote Lib Dem.
I've never voted Tory.
I despair of KS and Labour. My family have always voted Labour. Dad was a shop steward.

I'm politically homeless. I have five other options, or I can spoil my ballot which is what I did at the last GE.

I’ve had leaflets from greens. LibDems. Tories, Labour , Reform and the workers party has banners a couple of miles away, oh yes and an Independent.
I’ll vote for my neighbour, our Labour candidate
I might have a sleep then get up about 3 am to see what’s happening

fancythat

As to my "strategy".
I am pretty much surrounded by people who are very interested.

Probably the last two elections, I have got up in the night.
Not sure I will do that this time. Even though I have nothing in my diary yet, that week.

Still nothing in the diary. And as it happens, been confined to the house for days.
So I may be up in the night watching. Perhaps.

I shall be mostly on the golf course or in the garden. I'm Election day I am starting my new Writing for Pleasure Group.

For all those trying to make sense of the Election babbling, over a period of 6 decades, I've been voting, despite masses of evidence that our Govts are populated with incompetence, a willingness to put their and party interests above ours, and occasionally a smattering of corruption.

So don't expect too much from any of them! For those trying to make detailed analyses, well, people vote for this way or that for the most bizarre of reasons, current policy, past policy, some crook in their midst, some strange comment a Minister or Shadow made, all sorts of reasons. So whatever you choose, somebody somewhere will have made a more tenuous choice!

And for 5 more weeks our TV news gets dominated by pundits spouting guesswork about that day's press conference burblings. I wish I had a giant custard pie for the lot of them. Oh, and to add insult, Nigel Farrago is trying to actually win an election here, so let's hope Clacton voters do the right thing and pick someone else???!

For GSM, the only thing in Chump's favour is, well, nothing really. In the recent trial, he claimed to be "very innocent". In fact he had admitted all that stuff back in 2016, in a set of press conferences over several weeks. [They could have shown the films at the trial?!]. He may not consider paying off hookers IS a crime, but there are rules about campaign expenses, and he broke them.

But he's been well exposed anyway as a racist, sexist, fraud, serial liar and braggart, so what's new? If the American public is willing to forgive someone who suggested bleach was a good antidote for Covid, or someone who did nothing about gun laws after the Las Vegas massacre (2017 -- only about 60 dead, hundreds wounded, "hey, salute my pals the NRA"), or the instigator of the attempted Capitol revolution, well, Mencken had it about right back in the 30s:- "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public".

Oh, and if he gets back in, remember he was referring to Putin as his pal, when he took office before.

Amalegra

Someone here says there is a ‘simple’ choice between Conservatives and Labour. In my humble opinion it’s really not that simple. Would that it was! Both parties are so similar these days, the choice is not as stark as it once was. Both parties, when in power, have had some pretty miserable failings. Both promise the earth but so much is undeliverable without large injections of cash which is near impossible with the economy in such poor shape. The NHS is a perennial thorny question but the amount of money it would take to bring it up to standard is eye watering. It costs so much now that other, much needed, departments suffer. Should we be looking at another model of funding? No one’s brave enough to say that out loud, are they? The politicians carry on, playing to our insecurities and fears, making ridiculous statements and attacking each other. I have no faith in any of them. I fear this country is in a state of managed decline and we have no visionary leader to head it off.

👋👋👋

I live in a safe seat and have joined Make Votes Matter to promote Proportional Representation. We have boundary changes this year which has moved us into another equally safe seat.... although I would say the other party seem to be working hard to make inroads. I get so annoyed about elections where my vote simply doesn't count - nor I might add do the 24,999 votes received in excess of the one needed for the First Past the Post system. I appreciate there are issues with having many parties represented in parliament, but I so wish I had a vote that actually matttered.... The Brexit vote was the first time I ever felt counted.

Two main parties will spout the usual shite. No back bone either of those leaders- but I do think labour will will win hands down- but my vote will go to reform as this country is going down the pan & that is thanks to the Blair government & the tories letting all these migrants in

madeleine45

I will, of course, be voting in the election, and will be prepared to look at the various ideas laid out - using my own brain to choose between lists of 1. sensible suggestion 2. total carrot for election purpose only 3. unbelievable 4. con etc etc. But I also have my own after 9 pm , or I think in my case probably after 7 pm deadline when it comes to tv or radio, where the off button and the mute button will come into play, as I do not want to go to bed seething or furious. I have already practised this whenever I have see that lunatic in the USA Trump talking rubbish. It is fine when you are able to discuss in person with others whatever you wish , and good to hear other points of view , but when you are alone it is no good shouting at the tv! I am a rugby fan and do not follow football at all. I used to have a friend who came round to get away from a house full of football. I might offer a politic free zone for a break as the election gets nearer!! Think it might be quite popular.

Trump may talk rubbish but at least we can understand the man, on the other hand, Biden talks gibberish- it’s embarrassing to listen to & shame on his wife letting him get up on that podium, I would yank him right off that stage if he was my husband 😩

Freya5

Wheniwasyourage

Surely you wouldn’t prefer the idiot Trump,*Freya5*? No reason why any US president should like us, is there?

No there isn't and no I don't. We have had a good working relationship with the US Presidents, until Biden, although why your twisted thoughts should mention Trump I dont know, I didnt.

Thank you for accusing me of having "twisted thoughts"!

It was you who called Biden "bigoted" and in spite of the odd independent candidate who might or might not appear, the only alternative for the poor Americans is Trump, so you may be able to understand why I could assume that you would prefer him.

weeducky

Just wondering how many of you have received election flyers, canvasing or any info at all about candidates in your area. We have received a total of ONE which was from our local MP (Coservative) who fairly regularly does a news leaflet. I have no idea who is standing, how many are standing or which parties are standing so I think I have a no brainer decision.

NONE so far — South West Wales here!

ixion

Undecided?
You are not alone!

Quite….my only decision so far is keep Farage FAR FAR AWAY from any form of government post!

Thank you for pointing that out Seakay, I was getting ahead of myself. Will be a bit more patient and hope for some more info through the post etc. My inclination is usually to vote for the person rather than the party but this time it seems more difficult ....old age I guess!

Amalegra

Someone here says there is a ‘simple’ choice between Conservatives and Labour. In my humble opinion it’s really not that simple. Would that it was! Both parties are so similar these days, the choice is not as stark as it once was. Both parties, when in power, have had some pretty miserable failings. Both promise the earth but so much is undeliverable without large injections of cash which is near impossible with the economy in such poor shape. The NHS is a perennial thorny question but the amount of money it would take to bring it up to standard is eye watering. It costs so much now that other, much needed, departments suffer. Should we be looking at another model of funding? No one’s brave enough to say that out loud, are they? The politicians carry on, playing to our insecurities and fears, making ridiculous statements and attacking each other. I have no faith in any of them. I fear this country is in a state of managed decline and we have no visionary leader to head it off.

One of the reasons that the NHS costs so much now is that it has been being slowly privatised since Margaret Thatcher required outsourcing, and the taking of the cheapest bids (whether they did the best job or not) and Tony Blair insisted on using private money to take on structural repairs and project.
The interest from PFI is still being taken out of the NHS budget, as is the cost of Dido Harding's £37million test and trace scheme, which the NHS always said wouldn't work and it didn't, but they still have to pay.
Blood work and other lab testing is no longer done 'in house' so there is competition to get the cheap and easy work and difficulties and expense trying to process the rest.
Every time an appointment goes to a private hospital or clinic (because 'choice' and 'getting queues down') it costs the NHS extra, and if anything goes wrong the patient comes back to the NHS because private medicine has no Emergency Dept ot facilities or insurance for less than usual cases.
If the money which has gone (and is going) to private companies (and their boards and shareholders) had all gone to the NHS then the buildings might not be deteriorating and the funds for actual care might still be there

I know who I'm voting for and it won't be Conservative
Rishi is a dictator and totally out of touch with the poorer members of our society.

weeducky

Just wondering how many of you have received election flyers, canvasing or any info at all about candidates in your area. We have received a total of ONE which was from our local MP (Coservative) who fairly regularly does a news leaflet. I have no idea who is standing, how many are standing or which parties are standing so I think I have a no brainer decision.

Deadline for selection of candidates is 7th June. Only previous MPs who have not retired or been deselected know they are running for sure, so others won't have put out personal literature yet. Campaigning is generally on party lines until next weekend.

07-JuneFriday
Deadline for submitting or withdrawing a nomination (4pm)
Publication of statement of persons nominated (5pm)
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/timetable-for-the-2024-general-election/

Given modern communications I doubt one can avoid the GE. What we do need to avoid is another 14 years of the likes of Johnson and Truss

Freya5

fancythat

The "special relationship" thing is really a one way street. From us to them. Not vice versa unless it suits. In my opinion,

Tha ended when bigoted Biden was elected. No other Presidnt has shown such dislike for the UK. Learnt at his Grannies knee no doubt.

Well at least he didn't barge the late Queen out of his way!

I live in a 'safe' Conservative seat and haven't had a flier from them for years. However, the Liberal Democrats, who do a good job locally, drop regular newsletters and will probably drop a flier. I don't know what the other parties might do but I suspect Labour will.

Just done a search.
The UK and 12 other countries, including the US, do not admit convicted felons. There are about 22 who do not allow entrance if a felony is discovered. However there are others, including Russia, that do allow felons.

Just wondering how many of you have received election flyers, canvasing or any info at all about candidates in your area. We have received a total of ONE which was from our local MP (Coservative) who fairly regularly does a news leaflet. I have no idea who is standing, how many are standing or which parties are standing so I think I have a no brainer decision.

Someone here says there is a ‘simple’ choice between Conservatives and Labour. In my humble opinion it’s really not that simple. Would that it was! Both parties are so similar these days, the choice is not as stark as it once was. Both parties, when in power, have had some pretty miserable failings. Both promise the earth but so much is undeliverable without large injections of cash which is near impossible with the economy in such poor shape. The NHS is a perennial thorny question but the amount of money it would take to bring it up to standard is eye watering. It costs so much now that other, much needed, departments suffer. Should we be looking at another model of funding? No one’s brave enough to say that out loud, are they? The politicians carry on, playing to our insecurities and fears, making ridiculous statements and attacking each other. I have no faith in any of them. I fear this country is in a state of managed decline and we have no visionary leader to head it off.

Always stay up for the results.
Listen to debates but they will never sway me. Given th choices there is only one party with reasonably decent morality and decent MP’s. It’s about the ethics and what they stand for not particular policies which can fail or not be sanctioned in the future