UK General election

[Occasional Fan]

It would be too picky of me to point out that the UK is part of Europe! I know what you mean, Kirsty, and I agree completely.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'm not opposed to europe as such, but I think it could be run in a better way. MEPs running the show is OK,(even if no bugger votes for them) but as far as I know its down to the faceless beuracrats (spelling?). Or have I just been lookiing at the daily mail too much ?

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Or have I just been lookiing at the daily mail too much ?

Well, the daily mail does tend to publish all mannor of nonsense about Europe and the EU, but I don't doubt there are issues with the structure of the EU. However, as a general principle I think the UK would benefit if they alllied themselves a little more closely with Europe and a little less closely with the USA!

[Occasional Fan]

Now, it gets a bit controversial here, as it is virtually impossible to give a balanced summary of the announced policies of the major parties who are expected to contest the election. So, I won't even try. However if these policies sound interesting to you:

• Introduction of a 99p coin to save on change;
• Establishment of a common European currency by inviting 24 EU members to adopt the pound;
• Requiring any Home Secretary having more children than necessary to run the House of Commons creche

you need look no further than the manicfesto for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

Remember, this is the party which first campaigned for votes for eighteen year olds AND for 24-hour pub licensing to cut out the need for binge drinking. Maybe they've got something?

Trot along to omrlp.com to see what they can do for YOU! As they say on all their literature, "Vote for insanity: you know it makes sense".

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Introduction of a 99p coin to save on change

This one sounds like a bit of a vote winner to me!

That made me think, I wonder if there is any political party promising to ban all 'top 100 compliation of stupid pointless things featuring a bunch of idots talking out of their backsides' shows on t.v - I'd definatly vote for them!!

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Oliver

I urge you to vote. If only a protest one. Vote for the Green party, the Christian party, the Monster Raving Loony party.
The Scottish National party, the Ulster Unionists, Plaid Cymru, the Independance for Somerset party.

Make a stand. Be a voting statistic. And I don't mean an abstention.

Hmmm. Not always an option. I lived in the Brentwood and Ongar safe tory consituency when I lived in Essex. As it was so safe, in the 20 years I lived there, there were never any other general election candidates than Tory, Labour, SDP and Lib Dem. One instance of the green party standing, but they lost their reserve.

I can't imagine that my new constituency of NFW will have anything other than Tory, Labour, SDP and Lib Dem.

One other thing that annoyed me in B&O was that for 10 years we had a decent Tory MP (can't remember his name - something like McAlpine?) When he retired, some bloated git (Eric Pickles MP) was appointed to be our Tory candidate - and he lived in Bradford (I think he still does) and because there wasn't a cat in hell's chance of him winning the Bradford seat, he was foisted on B&O!!! Gah!

Sounds like we should be forming our own political party for the disenfranchised, doesn't it - rather than sitting here complaining!!

[Alison]

We did discuss things like that at times, it's just quite a number of people were so disillusioned that they didn't believe anything they did politically would make any difference.

[Alison]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Sounds like we should be forming our own political party for the disenfranchised, doesn't it - rather than sitting here complaining!!

Now there's an interesting idea, what do you want to call it and what policies did you want?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Now, you won't hear that from Michael Howard, the Daily Telegraph or the Daily Mail, will you?

Very selective your post if I may say so OF.
The facts in my eyes are that Europe (EU) are the biggest medlamaniacs ever, they have interfered in sooo many aspects of our lives.
We once was a great nation, and that was in my lifetime we are marginalised in the EU, an off shore dumping ground for EU manufatured goods.
we once had a steel industry second to none, and that was after the 50s, we had great shipyards on the Clyde and Northern England, we had a car industry, Leyland Motors, Rover, Austin-Morris MG, we built busses (for Blowers to marvel at), in Leyland not 5 miles from where I live, also waggons lorries.
my town had two foundries, a massive rubber and plastic factory, all gone due to exposure to market forces driven by UK legislation on subsadies, forced on us by EU.
Subsidies are not ideal, but better than a ruined manufacturing sector, we gave all that up, while France prospered funding her industries.
The CAP, well that has been a bane on Britain, Oh yes I remember German part time farmers who had jobs, but recieved CAP cash, because they had a cow.
I remember not long ago, over the Mad Cow saga, the UK obayed every EU regulation, and there was mass slaughter, fair enough, but when out meat was the cleanest in the EU, both France and Germany refused a EU directive to allow British beef in their shops.
Trivia but annoying, the humble Butter Pie, is now not legal, it has to be called "a potato and onion pie", fish cakes are not legal, they have to be called, "a potato slice sandwich containing fish", just a couple of example amongst thousands.
Now what about the pound, Mr Blair wants us to have Euros WHY?, I am happy with GB Pounds, served me ok for countless years, when a country joins a club like the Euro, remember the Euro will only be as strong as the economy of the weakest state, "bring back inflation".

Now I come to a part were I will have to choose my words with care, Britain is engaging in massive defence cuts, at a time when our forces are over streched all over the world, Air Force large cuts, Army Large cuts, Navy small allready, even more cuts.
So why would we cut our defences to the bone, our EU partners are doing the same, so I would read into that, the intention is to merge these smaller units into a large European Army, to rival the US.
we say it is to purtchase smart weaplons, like the ones that were fired at targets in Belgrade, and hit Bulgaria, and the China embassy.
how could a missile miss a full country, and still be called smart.
Danger with a European army, I say with care that such a force given the anti US sentiment in Europe is a threat to world peace, N.A.T.O has bonded us together for 60 years.this is my opinion,not a fact.
I forsee a united Europe coming into conflict with the US over trade, I hope it would stop there.

That is why Michael Howard will get my vote, just on his cautious European policies, otherwise not a lot to choose from.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Alison

Now there's an interesting idea, what do you want to call it and what policies did you want?

Just interesting? Now that's one massive understatement Alison.

Just out of curiosity, down here, 2 years in advane of the next elections, and of my first voting chance, I'm already pretty sure of who I'll vote for, Imran Khan has his own political party, in fact he's the head of his party, and is an MNA as well. Aren't any English cricketers into politics over there? Just out of sheer curiousity this. Nothing else.