General Election: When is the next one and could it be called sooner?

[patman post]

The DUP may be pushing for Northern Ireland to ally itself more strongly into the UK mainland, but business and the economy there is probably not so sure...

https://www.irishnews.com/business/2021/12/10/news/ey-upgrades-economic-growth-forecast-for-northern-ireland-in-2022-2531966/

[Barry]

There can be no doubt that there will be many returning to their spiritual home, but for those who wanted Brexit done they'll want to know what Labours stance on it is, let's face it no bugger does.

I think people in Northern Ireland are still waiting for Brexit to be done.
Labour have said they will not rejoin, but do we trust Mr Starmer?

At the moment, I have no intention of voting at the next election, if the choice is the ConLabDems. If the Tories can become Tory again and stop looking like a bunch of losers, they might get my vote. Can't see it happening under Liz Truss, but hope springs eternal.

[srb7677]

Depends upon who the Tory voters are Steve. The idea on the left appears to be that they are honest, not overly bright workers who have fallen fallen for the Conservative party's lies and who will now repent of their foolishness and return to the kindly embrace of their wiser, socialist betters.

My impression is that they are pushy bastards who got tired of being taken for granted by the Brothers and Sisters and decided to change their butcher.

We shall see.

Those who have voted Tory are not some monolithic, Thatcherite, mass, but include millions of floating voters who have voted for other parties in the past. Tax cuts which mostly benefit the better off will not go down well with many of these, especially if they themselves are struggling.

Until now, most of what tax cutting there has been has taken the form of raising thresholds, which benefits everbody who earns enough to pay tax but in percentage terms  proportionally helps lower paid workers more.

Truss's plans however seem to favour higher earners proportionately more whilst the low paid who are also likely to be most struggling will gain very little.

Starmer must be grinning at the prospect.

[T00ts]

Since the referendum in 2016 we had remainers in Westminster creating havoc bending all rules aided and abetted with the worst Speaker ever - Bercow - while one PM ran, another wasn't so much elected as appointed by MPs who couldn't cope, then an elected PM who promised to get Brexit done and got the biggest majority at the next GE. 

He then proceeded to do what he could on Brexit but no sooner done than Covid hit. We are still in the thrall of Covid. The NHS has got away with murder and spends money like water largely on non essentials no matter how much cash is thrown at it. Doctors grew to like video appointments and many found excuses to retire, and Covid left everyone disgruntled with their lot and many enjoying the office at home life probably being 50% less productive.

Life as the electorate knew it has disappeared and in it's place we have pay demands and millions sick in one way or another and yet no-one seems to allow that this is sparked by a global problem not just us. I don't think it would matter who was in office over the last few years we would still be pretty much where we are now.  Perhaps it would be wise to actually let someone have a bit of space to try and address the problems, but no, the media and MP chickens have thrown the baby out with the bath water and made a far worse situation over a stupid bit of cake.

[patman post]

My guess is that unless Thick Lizzie manages to impress, or Starmer/Labour really cocks-up, it's going to be a Labour-led government in 2025.

This could be the kick in the slats the Tories need to get them to recognise the shortcomings of the economy and life for everyone, and also realise they need to manage the public sector and control the private sector more. 

Unless they do, few new voters are going to be happy voting Conservative again — if it means more of the crappy same...

[Nick]

Depends upon who the Tory voters are Steve. The idea on the left appears to be that they are honest, not overly bright workers who have fallen fallen for the Conservative party's lies and who will now repent of their foolishness and return to the kindly embrace of their wiser, socialist betters.

My impression is that they are pushy bastards who got tired of being taken for granted by the Brothers and Sisters and decided to change their butcher.

We shall see.

There can be no doubt that there will be many returning to their spiritual home, but for those who wanted Brexit done they'll want to know what Labours stance on it is, let's face it no bugger does. 

[Borchester]

Have you forgotten working class Tory voters, and all those who voted Tory in the red wall seats?

Tax cuts for the comparatively well off whilst they are left in utter destitution would gift it to Starmer in 2024

Depends upon who the Tory voters are Steve. The idea on the left appears to be that they are honest, not overly bright workers who have fallen fallen for the Conservative party's lies and who will now repent of their foolishness and return to the kindly embrace of their wiser, socialist betters.

My impression is that they are pushy bastards who got tired of being taken for granted by the Brothers and Sisters and decided to change their butcher.

We shall see.

[srb7677]

Folk who don't want tax cuts don't usually vote Tory anyway.

Have you forgotten working class Tory voters, and all those who voted Tory in the red wall seats?

Tax cuts for the comparatively well off whilst they are left in utter destitution would gift it to Starmer in 2024

[Borchester]

A recent poll has put Labour on 43% and the Tories on 28%.

Another has put Labour on 42% and the Tories on 32%

Another with a track record of lower Labour leads has Labour 8 points ahead when their previous poll put them only 3 points ahead.

It seems like the prospect of Truss in charge is going down like a lead balloon with the electorate, and gifting a lead to Starmer which is wholly undeserved.

The public do not want tax cuts which primarily benefit higher earners like MPs and Truss herself. They actually do prefer handouts to help them with the cost of living. That Truss has said the exact opposite is not going down well.

The news that has recently come out into the open that she thinks we are all poor because we are lazy, and she wanted to charge us for seeing GPs, cut doctor's salaries by 10%, and cut NHS spending is also not going to endear her to the electorate.

This all may sound wonderful to the Tory party members, but they appear to be making the classic error of putting their own desires ahead of what is most likely to win them an election.

The last thing I want to see is a majority Labour government led by Starmer which will only convince them all that his shallow vapidness is the way to win. So it depresses me to see the Tories working so hard to gift exactly that to him.

Folk who don't want tax cuts don't usually vote Tory anyway.

If Truss wins and reduces taxes then she might well be in with a chance come 2024

[Nick]

The public do not want tax cuts which primarily benefit higher earners like MPs and Truss herself. [highlight]They actually do prefer handouts to help them with the cost of living.[/highlight]

  

SHOCKER!!v

[srb7677]

A recent poll has put Labour on 43% and the Tories on 28%.

Another has put Labour on 42% and the Tories on 32%

Another with a track record of lower Labour leads has Labour 8 points ahead when their previous poll put them only 3 points ahead.

It seems like the prospect of Truss in charge is going down like a lead balloon with the electorate, and gifting a lead to Starmer which is wholly undeserved.

The public do not want tax cuts which primarily benefit higher earners like MPs and Truss herself. They actually do prefer handouts to help them with the cost of living. That Truss has said the exact opposite is not going down well.

The news that has recently come out into the open that she thinks we are all poor because we are lazy, and she wanted to charge us for seeing GPs, cut doctor's salaries by 10%, and cut NHS spending is also not going to endear her to the electorate.

This all may sound wonderful to the Tory party members, but they appear to be making the classic error of putting their own desires ahead of what is most likely to win them an election.

The last thing I want to see is a majority Labour government led by Starmer which will only convince them all that his shallow vapidness is the way to win. So it depresses me to see the Tories working so hard to gift exactly that to him. 

[srb7677]

True, but I dare say that the current government will be happy to leave matters until 2024. The Tories are 5% behind Labour and will welcome the chance to improve their vote.

There is the danger of Truss being the gift that keeps on giving for Starmer, and the last thing the country need is either of this pair in charge.

[Borchester]

Except that it isn't. The FTPA was repealed, as stated in the article.

True, but I dare say that the current government will be happy to leave matters until 2024. The Tories are 5% behind Labour and will welcome the chance to improve their vote.

[Barry]

The issue is that BoJo was all mouth and no f**king action where it really mattered so we're still lumbered with Nick f**king Clegg's fixed term Parliament's act despite the damage it did with a zombie parliament for years until Johnson allowed us to take our revenge on the bastards.

So the answer is STILL 2024, 2029 ...

Except that it isn't. The FTPA was repealed, as stated in the article.

[srb7677]

The issue is that BoJo was all mouth and no f**king action where it really mattered so we're still lumbered with Nick f**king Clegg's fixed term Parliament's act despite the damage it did with a zombie parliament for years until Johnson allowed us to take our revenge on the bastards.

So the answer is STILL 2024, 2029 ...

An average parliament used to be about every four years. Now it is five by law so we are stuck with the bastards for longer. Unless the Commons votes to circumvent it again.