Sunak skips off early from the D Day commemorations

Whitewavemark2

maizie I know exactly where you are coming from.

I have to believe though.

I have to believe though

My feeling, too.

I have to believe there's more in the pipeline which has not yet been revealed - for obvious reasons.

Investors will invest when there's something to invest in.

Ladyleftfieldlover

We’re going to Devon.

Switzerland. It's a double Big Birthday trip.

We’re going to Devon.

Holden was our MP. I'm sure that he said he wasn't standing for re-election about a year ago. But since then he was made party chairman... He's standing for an Essex constituency now, isn't he? They're welcome to him.

I'm starting a holiday on 5th July, too. Are we all going to the same place 😆.

Hopefully there will be multiple Portillo moments!

Whitewavemark2

Ladyleftfieldlover

We’re also going on holiday on the 5th and would have liked to stay up and watch the election shenanigans. But, from past experience from 10.05 pm on onwards, once the polls have closed and the exit polls examined, we should know the worst - or the best! I remember back in 2019, being at a friend’s place and getting a text from younger son just after 10 pm with the predicted results which proved to be correct!

Yes I know, but I so want to experience that Portillo moment.

Even if I go to bed I know I’ll be up and down like a Jack in the box

I wonder if the Portillo moment will be renamed as a Moggment?

WWM, yes. And now, asked by ITV news for a comment on Holden avoiding questions about his selection, the Conservative press office replied with this drivel.

So now we have a Prime Minister avoiding the press, a Party Chair avoiding questions, a press office avoiding issues… It would be funny, if this wasn’t the most recent actual government.

Ladyleftfieldlover

We’re also going on holiday on the 5th and would have liked to stay up and watch the election shenanigans. But, from past experience from 10.05 pm on onwards, once the polls have closed and the exit polls examined, we should know the worst - or the best! I remember back in 2019, being at a friend’s place and getting a text from younger son just after 10 pm with the predicted results which proved to be correct!

Yes I know, but I so want to experience that Portillo moment.

Even if I go to bed I know I’ll be up and down like a Jack in the box

Did anyone see the Sky interview 🙄 with Richard Holden.

😄😄😄 what an idiot!

We’re also going on holiday on the 5th and would have liked to stay up and watch the election shenanigans. But, from past experience from 10.05 pm on onwards, once the polls have closed and the exit polls examined, we should know the worst - or the best! I remember back in 2019, being at a friend’s place and getting a text from younger son just after 10 pm with the predicted results which proved to be correct!

Yes, 5th will be the day of reckoning for all the parties - I’m glad I’m not going on holiday that day though Whitewavemark2, I bet you will be tired.

How can they get the results out so quickly in France Joseann, is voting electronic?

I’m going on holiday in the 5th.

I always stay up to watch the results!

That will be a tiring day.

Casdon

maddyone

I also think you mean the 4th. It’s the 4th July I think.

No, I got 5th right - the morning after, when the results are in.

There's the day the votes are cast, and then the next day we know the results. So, both really. I'm always amazed at how the French system can know the outcome on the day itself, though maybe we enjoy the overnight agony in the UK?

maddyone

I also think you mean the 4th. It’s the 4th July I think.

No, I got 5th right - the morning after, when the results are in.

maizie I know exactly where you are coming from.

I have to believe though.

I'm bumping to push this up past the numerous scam posts this morning

Reported

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

He or she might write none of the above.

Urmstongran

Starmer probably doesn’t need that luxury Whitewave as the voters are more than ready to give the Tory party a good kicking in four weeks’ time.

I think they are Urms, but they're not necessarily going to vote Labour - or even at all.

You know how the disillusionment sets in, and I'm not sure these TV head-to-head debates help either - certainly not in the current format. "Oh, they're all the same" people say.

I think I preferred the old-fashioned Party Political Broadcast - with a bit of 'stirring' music and the appropriately coloured rosette mushrooming on the TV screen... you could at least hear what was being said.

Where will a 'traditional' disillusioned Tory voter put his or her cross?

Dickens

Whitewavemark2

Dickens

MaizieD

I would prefer a different economic system.

The current model has broken many countries, not just the UK. That's why the populist right is becoming favoured; the free market, small state ideologically based economic system has enriched a few but left sufficient people behind to be able to empower the populists with their simplistic soundbite 'solutions'.

Abandoning Keynesianism in the late 1970s was a huge mistake.

I agree.

But I think we are a minority.

And that's why I have little enthusiasm.

We are going to have a different engine-driver driving the same train.

But possibly a little less recklessly.

I’m not entirely sure neither of you are right.

Labour are talking about growth, they have said that they are not increasing tax nor inflicting more cuts.

So to me the obvious route is to stimulate growth and the economy by government funding public infrastructure etc. The have hinted as much with the GB Energy, and the fact that Reeves will charge the Treasury to focus entirely on growth.

So to me the obvious route is to stimulate growth and the economy by government funding public infrastructure etc.

Yes, it is the obvious route.

Starmer has talked about growth quite a lot.

Do you remember in the 2020 leadership campaign when he highlighted his "ten pledges"? I think most have been 'revised' or even abandoned.

I hope he is going to remodel how the state operates.

Labour can talk about growth until it's blue in the face, but it isn't going to come from the tiny amounts it is saying it's going to get from fiddling with a few taxes which aren't going to scare the 'wealthy' or business investors. But it's not talking about the sort of serious state investment that will be needed before the private sector can be induced to invest.

In fact, it seems to be boxing itself into a corner at every opportunity.

I also think you mean the 4th. It’s the 4th July I think.

You’re right Urmstongran, I do. The dog got me up at quarter to five this morning, so my neurological function is diminishing tonight.

I think you mean July. 😁

It’s interesting now I think. I saw the Express report a poll result today predicting the Tories would be down to 39 seats. That’s obviously nowhere near the reality - I think the right wing media tactic now is to make it look absolutely catastrophic, so that on 5th May they will already be the phoenix rising from the ashes.