Re: General Election Discussion - before and after the event

bluebell Tue 06 Jun 2017, 2:56 pm

Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

Guest Tue 06 Jun 2017, 3:16 pm

There are fewer books available in my area because most of the libraries have been transformed into local hubs and all are now open only five days a week instead of six. My police station was closed three years ago, and now the police are based at the local library, or hub, where they are available to the public one day a week.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:23 pm

Stephen Hawking publicly backs Labour in General Election after previously branding Jeremy Corbyn a 'disaster'

Stephen Hawking, who is regularly referred to as the world’s smartest man, said he is backing Labour in the General Election.

Despite having described Jeremy Corbyn as a “disaster” for the party, he reportedly said he would be supporting them due to concerns over public services.

Following a meeting with Labour’s candidate for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner, the scientist said another five years of a Conservative government would be “a disaster.”

According to Cambridge News, Hawking said: “I'm voting Labour because another five years of Conservative government would be a disaster for the NHS, the police and other public services.”

Cambridge-based Professor Hawking, a lifelong Labour supporter, had previously said of Mr Corbyn: “His heart is in the right place and many of his policies are sound, but he has allowed himself to be portrayed as a left-wing extremist.”

The cosmologist also publicly endorsed his local Labour candidate Mr Zeichner at the 2015 election.

This time around he is competing with Lib Dem Julian Huppert, who won the seat from him in 2010 but went on to lose it again in 2015.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/stephen-hawking-publicly-backs-labour-in-general-election-after-previously-branding-jeremy-corbyn-a-a3557631.html

nannygroves Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:37 pm

candyfloss wrote:It's no worse nannygroves than our dear Prime Minister Mrs May not knowing the UK gives aid to North Korea, something she didn't know when she was asked about it on Question Time the other night.

I actually think it's a lot worse. Theresa May is the Prime Minister and she has appointed Priti Patel to deal with Overseas Aid. It's her remit to know the detail not May's. . Diane Abbott is the Shadow Home Secretary and as such she should be au fait at the very least with Lord Harris's report on dealing with terrorism. Policing and National Security is part of the Home Secretary's remit.

nannygroves Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:42 pm

bluebell wrote:Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

When I was a child I was practically a resident of our local library but we were pretty poor and couldn't afford many books. But come on. Time has moved on and you cannot convince me that there are people so poor today that they cannot buy second hand books if they want them from E Bay, Charity shops or even Amazon where used books can be bought for as little as £1.

froggy Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:47 pm

nannygroves wrote:
bluebell wrote:Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

When I was a child I was practically a resident of our local library but we were pretty poor and couldn't afford many books. But come on. Time has moved on and you cannot convince me that there are people so poor today that they cannot buy second hand books if they want them from E Bay, Charity shops or even Amazon where used books can be bought for as little as £1.

They may not be the right sort of books. A library can provide an extremely wide range covering all sorts of subjects.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:50 pm

nannygroves wrote:
candyfloss wrote:It's no worse nannygroves than our dear Prime Minister Mrs May not knowing the UK gives aid to North Korea, something she didn't know when she was asked about it on Question Time the other night.

I actually think it's a lot worse. Theresa May is the Prime Minister and she has appointed Priti Patel to deal with Overseas Aid. It's her remit to know the detail not May's. . Diane Abbott is the Shadow Home Secretary and as such she should be au fait at the very least with Lord Harris's report on dealing with terrorism. Policing and National Security is part of the Home Secretary's remit.

I disagree, as Prime Minister TM should be fully aware of all her departments spending budget, where and how the money is spent. This is the reason why of course she bottled out of the live debates, for just this reason that she may get caught out.. She was of course Home Secretary herself, and in the 6 years she held the post she managed to lose 20,000 police officers, and terrorism is at it's highest level, not a good record.

Since coming to power people are suffering in this country, the NHS is in chaos, doctors and nurses up in arms, food banks everywhere as people have less and less income, immigration through the roof, old and disabled faced cuts and are suffering with more to come. Hardly any new homes being built, and kicking people out of their homes with the despised bedroom tax. What have they done that is good for this country, apart from make the rich richer?

nannygroves Tue 06 Jun 2017, 4:54 pm

froggy wrote:
nannygroves wrote:
bluebell wrote:Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

When I was a child I was practically a resident of our local library but we were pretty poor and couldn't afford many books. But come on. Time has moved on and you cannot convince me that there are people so poor today that they cannot buy second hand books if they want them from E Bay, Charity shops or even Amazon where used books can be bought for as little as £1.

They may not be the right sort of books. A library can provide an extremely wide range covering all sorts of subjects.

Come on. If the book exists it CAN be sourced from the outlets I mentioned. You're just being defeatist here.

nannygroves Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:00 pm

candyfloss wrote:
nannygroves wrote:
candyfloss wrote:It's no worse nannygroves than our dear Prime Minister Mrs May not knowing the UK gives aid to North Korea, something she didn't know when she was asked about it on Question Time the other night.

I actually think it's a lot worse. Theresa May is the Prime Minister and she has appointed Priti Patel to deal with Overseas Aid. It's her remit to know the detail not May's. . Diane Abbott is the Shadow Home Secretary and as such she should be au fait at the very least with Lord Harris's report on dealing with terrorism. Policing and National Security is part of the Home Secretary's remit.

I disagree, as Prime Minister TM should be fully aware of all her departments spending budget, where and how the money is spent. This is the reason why of course she bottled out of the live debates, for just this reason that she may get caught out.. She was of course Home Secretary herself, and in the 6 years she held the post she managed to lose 20,000 police officers, and terrorism is at it's highest level, not a good record.

Since coming to power people are suffering in this country, the NHS is in chaos, doctors and nurses up in arms, food banks everywhere as people have less and less income, immigration [/b[b]]through the roof, old and disabled faced cuts and are suffering with more to come. Hardly any new homes being built, and kicking people out of their homes with the despised bedroom tax. What have they done that is good for this country, apart from make the rich richer?

And Corbyn will be doing w exactly what about immigration? He says that May is wrong when she quotes her, ''No deal is better than a bad one.'' with regards to the single market. If the EU insist that freedom of movement is part of any single market deal ( and Merkel has said it is so repeatedly) Corbyn will just roll over to achieve a deal, any deal , even if it IS bad.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:05 pm

Jeremy Corbyn‏Verified account @jeremycorbyn · 2h2 hours ago

School forced to reduce lessons, every day, to cope with Tory cuts. It doesn't have to be like this. #VoteLabour

City Academy Hackney Secondary School Forced To Reduce Lessons By 30 Minutes Every Day To Cope With Tory Cuts

Parents attack Government’s educational ‘vandalism’

 06/06/2017 14:23 | Updated 23 minutes ago

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-cuts-force-city-academy-hackney-to-reduce-lesson-time-by-30-minutes-a-day_uk_59369c41e4b013c4816ae35f?0pu&utm_hp_ref=uk

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:06 pm

Ipswich for Change‏ @Ipswi_ch · 19m19 minutes ago

#GeneralElection Shocked about Theresa May's Nazi influence http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/20/the-new-tory-strong-and-stable-slogan-appeared-in-hitlers-mein-kampf-6650077/ … #bbcdp #bbcqt #StrongAndStable @ben4ipswich #ge2017

espeland Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:27 pm

nannygroves wrote:
bluebell wrote:Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

When I was a child I was practically a resident of our local library but we were pretty poor and couldn't afford many books. But come on. Time has moved on and you cannot convince me that there are people so poor today that they cannot buy second hand books if they want them from E Bay, Charity shops or even Amazon where used books can be bought for as little as £1.

If you are one of those who depend on food banks then £1 is indeed a lot of money to spend on a book. You have referred to the time when you were a child and used your library extensively - is it acceptable to you that children today do not all have that facility available? And for them, it's not just the limited libraries that is the problem: class sizes are too big and the shortage of teachers are important for school pupils. And things don't end when they leave school - university students have to pay for their courses, over a very long period, and Colleges of Further Education don't offer those courses that are really needed for our, national, future.

So far today, I've replied to your posts concerning those starting their lives and also those moving towards their death. Is it really any better for those in their middle years? The shortage and cost of housing is a terrible situation - you can't be surprised that so many have a lack of confidence in their future. And what have the Tories have lined up for us? Their prospectus totally lacks financial detail - maybe that's just sloppiness on their part, but maybe they just want to hide their real plans from us - for example, what further cuts are they planning?

Lest you think I'm a true Socialist, I'm not. In my time, I've repeatedly changed my voting habits. But things have moved too far to the right. It's time to change direction to ease up on those cutbacks.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:30 pm

I have added a poll as to who you think will now win, after this long campaign, with less than 2 days left.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:37 pm

Banned song now in the UK top ten Liar Liar.............

Theresa May says she is 'not very happy' about the top ten hit song 'Liar Liar GE2017'

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-says-not-very-happy-10569832

nannygroves Tue 06 Jun 2017, 5:47 pm

espeland wrote:
nannygroves wrote:
bluebell wrote:Just a reminder about the cuts to library services we have suffered with the Conservative government :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12102686/14-million-fewer-books-available-in-libraries-than-when-David-Cameron-took-office.html

14 million fewer books available in libraries than when David Cameron took office
Official statistics reveal the depth of library cuts under the Tories as campaigners brand approach 'abysmal and appalling'

When I was a child I was practically a resident of our local library but we were pretty poor and couldn't afford many books. But come on. Time has moved on and you cannot convince me that there are people so poor today that they cannot buy second hand books if they want them from E Bay, Charity shops or even Amazon where used books can be bought for as little as £1.

If you are one of those who depend on food banks then £1 is indeed a lot of money to spend on a book. You have referred to the time when you were a child and used your library extensively - is it acceptable to you that children today do not all have that facility available? And for them, it's not just the limited libraries that is the problem: class sizes are too big and the shortage of teachers are important for school pupils. And things don't end when they leave school - university students have to pay for their courses, over a very long period, and Colleges of Further Education don't offer those courses that are really needed for our, national, future.

So far today, I've replied to your posts concerning those starting their lives and also those moving towards their death. Is it really any better for those in their middle years? The shortage and cost of housing is a terrible situation - you can't be surprised that so many have a lack of confidence in their future. And what do the Tories have lined up for us? Their prospectus totally lacks financial detail - maybe that's just sloppiness on their part, but maybe they just want to hide their real plans from us - for example, what further cuts are they planning?

Lest you think I'm a true Socialist, I'm not. In my time, I've repeatedly changed my voting habits. But things have moved too far to the right. It's time to change direction to ease up on those cutbacks.

Hi there
First off, my daughter in law is a teacher in a deprived area so I do have knowledge of the worsening state of schools. Since we have been members of the EU with free movement of members pupil numbers have multiplied , way over what was originally forecast. Many of the children at my daughter in law's school arrive unable to speak even basic English so this puts an additional pressure on the school's finances besides the sheer numbers of arrivals. This is also true of the NHS. It's impossible to preplan costings because the numbers are unknown and unknowable. Jeremy Corbyn is very vague on immigration and as I said in an earlier post since 'a bad deal is better than no deal' for him , free movement of EU members may well be the price he is willing to pay. Agreed May's performance hasn't been much better but then it could never be whilst we remained in the EU. At least she puts a number on it. Corbyn doesn't.
I DO have children and own my house so the Tory Manifesto was a disappointment to me also . However although they may not inherit as much as I'd like them to on my death , what they WILL INHERIT under Corbyn is debt , debt and more debt. And so will their children. Who can forget Liam Burns' message to his successor, '' No money left in the kitty. All gone.'' ( or words to that effect ) ? May isn't a wonderful choice by any means but by golly the alternative terrifies me. I appreciate that we don't all think alike .Viva la difference.

Andrew Tue 06 Jun 2017, 6:00 pm

... The momentum is certainly with Labour.

Be interesting and intriguing how this pans out.

T.M will remain though, IMO. That decision was made a while ago regardless.

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 6:06 pm

I don't know about debt and more debt under labour, it is a fact that this Government has borrowed more in three years than labour in 13 years...

George Osborne Has Borrowed More In 3 Years Than Labour Did In 13

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/21/uk-borrowing-_n_4316084.html

The Myth: Excessive government borrowing got us into this mess
The reality: The last government did not borrow excessively and it was the banking crisis that caused the recession

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-myth-excessive-government-borrowing-got-us-into-this-mess-8601390.html

Conservatives the biggest borrowers..

The Conservatives have been the biggest borrowers over the last 70 years

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/03/13/the-conservatives-have-been-the-biggest-borrowers-over-the-last-70-years/

bluebell Tue 06 Jun 2017, 6:09 pm

candyfloss wrote:Banned song now in the UK top ten Liar Liar.............

Theresa May says she is 'not very happy' about the top ten hit song 'Liar Liar GE2017'

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-says-not-very-happy-10569832

[b]

It's a very catchy little song I think Laughing

O/T but Queen's song Liar was one I've always felt was especially for TM Rolling Eyes

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 7:09 pm

Great turnout at Telford today for Jeremy Corbyn earlier.

John Prescott
✔ ‎@johnprescott

This is a picture of Jeremy Corbyn addressing a crowd in Gateshead.
We never pulled crowds like this in 1997. #GE2017

8:34 PM - 5 Jun 2017

General Election Discussion - before and after the event - Page 13 1

Scott Nelson‏ @SocialistVoice · 2m2 minutes ago
Jeremy Corbyn attracts bigger crowds than Labour did in 1997, says John Prescott

General Election Discussion - before and after the event - Page 13 -ZMyQjlQ?format=jpg&name=600x314

General Election Discussion - before and after the event - Page 13 -ZMyQjlQ?format=jpg&name=600x314

Election 2017: Jeremy Corbyn attracts bigger crowds than Labour did in 1997, says John Prescott

Approximately ten thousand come to see the Labour leader speak in Gateshead

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech to crowds numbering in their thousands at a rally in Gateshead Getty Images

Jeremy Corbyn is attracting crowds bigger than the Labour party achieved in 1997, according to John Prescott.

The former Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007 has claimed Labour under Tony Blair was not able to attract audiences as large as Mr Corbyn's in the run-up to the party’s historic landslide win a decade ago.

Mr Corbyn held a campaign rally in Gateshead and estimates suggest approximately 10,000 of his supporters turned up to see him speak.

Another 5,000 were not able to get close and were forced to watch the speech nearby, according to the Chronicle Live.

Despite the poor weather, the audience seemed in good spirits and chanted the Labour leader’s name as he walked on to the stage.

Mr Prescott used social media to share a picture of the crowd, as well as a brief clip

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-2017-jeremy-corbyn-attracts-bigger-crowds-labour-party-1997-john-prescott-tony-blair-a7775316.html

**candyfloss** Tue 06 Jun 2017, 7:20 pm

Very good article...

Why should I vote for the Labour Party in the UK general election 2017? The stories which show why Jeremy Corbyn should be next Prime Minister

Ros Wynne Jones has seen the Tory assault on humanity - and argues a vote for Labour is the only way to stop it

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/should-vote-labour-party-uk-10564578

Mimi Tue 06 Jun 2017, 8:07 pm

@ nanny groves - Amazon`s postage is £2.80 for books.

I have tried to order books from my library before and they just don`t have them.

The ones I do want on Amazon are rarely £1., but more like £15-£20.

I have no doubt that the Tories will win this election - I would even be willing to place a bet on it but I expect the odds are too narrow now. My neighbourhood will vote Tory because we have a lot of people living in big houses in certain sections of this constituency. Our new Tory MP is proving himself to be useless and voting for what the whips tell him to - he`s a good boy. I have written to him on one serious matter and he hasn`t even replied (he probably checked our my address and found I only live in a small house). The only time we see him is when there`s an opportunity to get his face in the papers - or getting the local rag to photograph him coming out of church (with his nice wife and nice children !)

I must say our last Tory candidate was excellent and would take time to help people no matter how poor or where they lived.

coppernob Tue 06 Jun 2017, 9:29 pm

Until 18 months ago I worked for my local authority, I loved my job but could no longer stomach the cuts and the gradually dwindling support I could offer. I now work in the private sector as I could not afford to pay my mortgage plus feed my family on a public sector wage. I'm voting labour.

Mimi Tue 06 Jun 2017, 10:19 pm

coppernob wrote:Until 18 months ago I worked for my local authority, I loved my job but could no longer stomach the cuts and the gradually dwindling support I could offer. I now work in the private sector as I could not afford to pay my mortgage plus feed my family on a public sector wage. I'm voting labour.

Tactically I suppose I should - just to get our Tory one out the way (I won`t say where we are).

coppernob Tue 06 Jun 2017, 10:29 pm

Hah, thank you Mimi Laughing

Evening by the way

AndyB Wed 07 Jun 2017, 8:15 am

candyfloss wrote:I have added a poll as to who you think will now win, after this long campaign, with less than 2 days left.

There's no option for a hung parliament

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