Re: June 8th General Election
 

May is an old-school interventionist whereas Thatcher is a free trade non-interventionist.
I'd say Theresa May is on a par with New Labour and a lot to the left of Thatcher!

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Left/right doesn't seem quite as easy to measure now. You have left-wingers advocating for open markets and right wingers who want price controls.

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Yes. This was most clearly seen with Theresa May's adoption of the former Labour policy of price controls on energy companies though the current labour party has moved leftwards itself.
As others have said, the divide now may be more free trade v protectionism than left v right. Maybe leaving the EU won't prevent this crack in the Conservative Party from opening.

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Most people abstaining isn't a statement, it's because they can't be bothered to move their arse off their sofa. They'll then spend the next 5 years moaning...
(In the EU referendum Leave only got 17 million out of the 46 million electorate, ignoring those not registered to vote, apathy rules)

Making voting compulsory with an abstention box on the voting form if you don't think any of them are worth your vote. It would give people some exercise/ fresh air if nothing else. Abstention might win the election though !

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Only 17 Million? I like how you diss the biggest democratic outcome in terms of vote count seen since about 1992.

This actually beat the 1975 voter tally to join the European Economic Community, as it was known as then.

Last year, over 33 Million people voted in the EU Ref. Some 72% Turnout. In 1975, it was only 62% at just under 26 Million total votes. I guess Apathy ruled here too, and had more people voted back in 1975, we could have avoided joining that pile of garbage. :rolleyes:

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Yeah but everyone knew what they were voting for when we joined but not when we decided to leave. :rolleyes:

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Yep seems so with some of the liberal attitudes on here. ;)

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Yes there's far too many Liberal Democrats on here, I'm sick to death of them , they're pure evil :D

Re: June 8th General Election
 

If everyone had voted MrK perhaps leaves majority would have been bigger i know a few who didn't vote because they didn't think leave had a chance of winning but you'd still be complaining if leaves majority had been 10,000,000 so does it really matter. Personally this election isn't about who is going to win it's about how large a victory it will be and whether it will be labour or the lib dems as the second biggest party.

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Given all the dire warnings and pressure from HMG, IMHO it was remarkable that so many people voted to leave. Good job too and it appears most remainers agree that we need to get on with it now.

https://order-order.com/2017/02/17/6...nt-get-brexit/

Maybe Bliar was the Brexit campaign's secret weapon... :D

Re: June 8th General Election
 

I think it's a given that New Labour led by Theresa May will win, followed by Old Labour misled by Jeremy Corbyn in second place.
The interesting point will be that as some of Theresa May's recently-announced policies will not appeal to pensioners (eg means-testing the winter fuel allowance, not guaranteeing the triple lock) her lead over Corbyn may narrow as the electorate start to understand her manifesto.

Re: June 8th General Election
 

It is narrowing, don't think pensioners liked her manifesto...
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Interesting, just a difference of 9% between the two, and could narrow further as the implications of the Conservative manifesto become more publicised. From that website:
As a footnote, apparently the fox-hunting vote was put in the manifesto to placate the farmers. There will be substantial reform of agricultural subsidies when we leave the EU as it cannot simply be ported across into UK legislation which won't appeal to many farmers. What is termed "flanking legilation" is required. This is one reason why Theresa May called the election as a large majority will be useful in getting controversial legislation through.

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This is rather scary though!
https://twitter.com/SarahMPol/status...858945/photo/1

Re: June 8th General Election
 

Or rabid right wingers.;)

By the way l am no liberal.:)

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Parties underestimate the grey vote at their peril.

Re: June 8th General Election
 

That is going to be the down full of the Tory party.