Oliver Sutton Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) Being strongly denied though. Grauniad - Labour hints Charles Kennedy to defect from Liberal Democrats Labour stepped up its attack on the Liberal Democrat wing of David Cameron's coalition government by hinting Charles Kennedy, the former Lib Dem leader, has been in talks to defect to Labour and take several of his party colleagues with him. Will be the end of the coaliton if this happens. New Labor back in power by xmas !!! Edited August 21, 2010 by barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guillotine Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Being strongly denied though. Grauniad - Labour hints Charles Kennedy to defect from Liberal Democrats Will be the end of the coaliton if this happens. New Labor back in power by xmas !!! Did you not hear, New labour died? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclefester Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 All hot air Kennedy wouldnt jump until he knew who was going to win the Labour leadership election Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveinHope Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) New Labor back in power by xmas !!! If that happens I think it will be flip flop flip Whatever party holds power, the pain will be so great for the 'masses', and the medication will be so unpalatable, that I could imagine any alternative offering might seem good for a while. I look all around me and I see totally unaffordable lifestyles of unnecessary luxury. People who have every toy imaginable They will miss being able to sustain them. Someone I know, who runs a chain of country pub-restaurants, and with whom I used to have discussions about what would happen to discretionary spend (I used to get the look that Capt Mainwering gave private Pike), until a few weeks ago ran 3 Range Rovers. It is now a BMW saloon and a Freelander. While, I hope he survives because he has worked hard, his success is only because of the easy money. Lastly, and I am on unknowledgeable ground with this anecdotal as I don't know the market, however, at the end of last week I started looking for a second-hand working boat, about 9-10m. Charter type vessel, not for charter but as a research platform. I was surprised at the number of price reductions in the order of 10% on what appeared very tidy, relatively new boats. Edited August 21, 2010 by LiveinHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errol Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 I'm struggling to see how the loss of Kennedy would be significant. He's been completely irrelevant for some time now (as a result of well known problems). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldbug9999 Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 I wish simon hughes would FO to labour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dances with sheeple Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 I'm struggling to see how the loss of Kennedy would be significant. He's been completely irrelevant for some time now (as a result of well known problems). Agreed, his image just goes hand in hand with a large whiskey bottle for me, add that to Liemores best leadership candidate being a very poor liar and looking like a popular 1970`s action doll then you just have Labour looking weaker and weaker. All good IMO. Sensible, career minded Lib Dems will stay close to the fuzzy glow from the fires of power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dances with sheeple Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 If that happens I think it will be flip flop flip Whatever party holds power, the pain will be so great for the 'masses', and the medication will be so unpalatable, that I could imagine any alternative offering might seem good for a while. I look all around me and I see totally unaffordable lifestyles of unnecessary luxury. People who have every toy imaginable They will miss being able to sustain them. Someone I know, who runs a chain of country pub-restaurants, and with whom I used to have discussions about what would happen to discretionary spend (I used to get the look that Capt Mainwering gave private Pike), until a few weeks ago ran 3 Range Rovers. It is now a BMW saloon and a Freelander. While, I hope he survives because he has worked hard, his success is only because of the easy money. Lastly, and I am on unknowledgeable ground with this anecdotal as I don't know the market, however, at the end of last week I started looking for a second-hand working boat, about 9-10m. Charter type vessel, not for charter but as a research platform. I was surprised at the number of price reductions in the order of 10% on what appeared very tidy, relatively new boats. Future not too good for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Storm Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 New Labor back in power by xmas !!! Did you not hear that Torys would get a majority in their own right if there was another election? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Sutton Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 If that happens I think it will be flip flop flip Whatever party holds power, the pain will be so great for the 'masses', and the medication will be so unpalatable, that I could imagine any alternative offering might seem good for a while. I look all around me and I see totally unaffordable lifestyles of unnecessary luxury. People who have every toy imaginable They will miss being able to sustain them. It would be nice to see them have to clear up their own sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveinHope Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) Future not too good for him? As I said, I hope it will be good for him as he works hard, employs people, and he has made money. However, I believe his moderate 'portfolio', its worth and turnover was solely enabled by the credit expansion in the economy. They are not 'true' country pubs by any means. As such, he, like many others, has ridden the credit boom and he will probably have to revisit his business model if he wants to survive. Spending a fortnights home food bill on a meal out mid week may soon come to require 'a thought in the world'. If he fails at all, it will be because he did not realise that what most people were spending was unsustainable, and he cannot react. Personally, for the last 15 years I have felt like a bystander as all my friends spent money they did not have and had a lifestyle they could not afford. Now I need to be clever enough to survive too. Edited August 21, 2010 by LiveinHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Sutton Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 Did you not hear that Torys would get a majority in their own right if there was another election? Labor are at 37% in the latest poll. They won a 60+ majority with only 35% before. Plus this would give them a boost. A new leader would give them another boost. "Everything was OK under labor (and house prices were rising again) - look what the tories are doing taking money out of the economy" etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishman Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 The Liberals have a history of falling apart. When the Labour party became a genuine political force at the start of the 20th century, it was the Liberals doom to become the make-weight in pacts and coalitions between right and left. Being the junior member of such means they have to abandon more of their policies and suffer the backlash of their supporters. Since the election we've had a bit of a 'phoney war' mentality amongst politicians. The real battle will start when Labour has a new leader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveinHope Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) Did you not hear that Torys would get a majority in their own right if there was another election? I agree with you on the poll. I think people now realise there is a problem, and that it was generated by Labour/GB and they see Tory action proposed. No longer does anyone tell me about how much their property has increase in value during the time it takes me to drink my coffee. in fact many look scared. But the pain hasn't started yet. And Labour are not an opposition at the moment I don't think it is at all predictable Edited August 21, 2010 by LiveinHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Charlie leaving could be seen as a bonus for the coalition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveinHope Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) I wish simon hughes would FO to labour. No, I wish he would just FO (edited to add: unless you are thinking 'poison chalice') Edited August 21, 2010 by LiveinHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Storm Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Charlie leaving could be seen as a bonus for the coalition. If someone changes party does it trigger an automatic election for their seat? If it doesnt, it should! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profitofdoom Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) Did you not hear that Torys would get a majority in their own right if there was another election? A very curious reading of the current psephology. No GB would be a very significant boost to Labour with any other leader than Diane Abbott and the return of the votes lent to the LD's would most likely put them in 40% territory.Without redrawing the boundaries,which cant be done before about 2014 Labour would most likely walk back in with a good majority.The electorate may be stupid but not stupid enough to believe that a milk sop like Boy George has turned bust into boom in 100 days. Kennedy's defection would not surprise me in the least.Most likely followed by Ashdown,Steel and Campbell. (And it's Tories BTW) Edited August 21, 2010 by profitofdoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Storm Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 A very curious reading of the current psephology. No GB would be a very significant boost to Labour with any other leader than Diane Abbott and the return of the votes lent to the LD's would most likely put them in 40% territory.Without redrawing the boundaries,which cant be done before about 2014 Labour would most likely walk back in with a good majority.The electorate may be stupid but not stupid enough to believe that a milk sop like Boy George has turned bust into boom in 100 days. Kennedy's defection would not surprise me in the least.Most likely followed by Ashdown,Steel and Campbell. (And it's Tories BTW) The question is, are the electorate stupid enough to vote for more daft labour policies that have wrecked the economy and resulted in the period of austerity they are now facing. Probably yes. I fully understand just how dumb the average person is, all of us on here should do. It wasnt the banks agreeing to borrow 6x earning, it was the dumb people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profitofdoom Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 The question is, are the electorate stupid enough to vote for more daft labour policies that have wrecked the economy and resulted in the period of austerity they are now facing. Probably yes. I fully understand just how dumb the average person is, all of us on here should do. It wasnt the banks agreeing to borrow 6x earning, it was the dumb people. But the jury is out on these policies.Personally I think the drastic cuts and the up front doom mongering is doing more damage than Labour ever did.At least they had the excuse that the problem was imported from the US due to sub prime.Everybody acknowledges that cuts are required,it's just a matter of how deep and how fast. My business has been down around 40% since May compared to 2009 and I seem to be doing quite well compared to some of my local competitors.What is clear however is that people with any significant amount to spend have simply disappeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lets get it right Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 A very curious reading of the current psephology. No GB would be a very significant boost to Labour with any other leader than Diane Abbott and the return of the votes lent to the LD's would most likely put them in 40% territory.Without redrawing the boundaries,which cant be done before about 2014 Labour would most likely walk back in with a good majority.The electorate may be stupid but not stupid enough to believe that a milk sop like Boy George has turned bust into boom in 100 days. Kennedy's defection would not surprise me in the least.Most likely followed by Ashdown,Steel and Campbell. (And it's Tories BTW) But you'd have to ask yourself - if they defected now - why the hell did they allow the coalition to go ahead? Four former leaders - surely they have some sway over their party. If they defect it proves one thing - the current generation of Liberal politicians do not want power. They want the trappings of power - the salaries, expenses, fame and pensions - but they don't want to take difficult decisions and stand up and be counted. I have voted Liberal in the past - being socialist in my heart but unable to vote for them with my head - and finding it difficult to vote for a Conservative party that still contains a load of upper class twits (I mean the duck pond and moat merchants, not Cameron or Osborne) - but if the current crop of Liberals haven't got the stomach for the job and want to run back to dear old opposition where everything is warm and nothing is their fault - they'll sign the death sentence of their own party. I always thought Kennedy was a fool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dances with sheeple Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Labor are at 37% in the latest poll. They won a 60+ majority with only 35% before. Plus this would give them a boost. A new leader would give them another boost. "Everything was OK under labor (and house prices were rising again) - look what the tories are doing taking money out of the economy" etc etc A new leader who looks like Action Man and who squirms when telling lies to Kirsty on Newsnight won`t work for them I`m afraid. Action Man reminds people of the 70`s, strikes, inflation and Evel Knievel wind up dolls. In their heyday Blair or Brown would have eaten kirsty alive in a TV debate, the cat is out of the bag, sheeple know the party is over and that the government we have is the only hope of a fix, Liebour are finished as a political force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 youd have to be pissed to join the Labour Party of many colours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 If someone changes party does it trigger an automatic election for their seat? If it doesnt, it should! No, it doesn't . The way it works is that we vote for the candidate, not the party. Of course, most of us don't, but that's the way it works. So if whatsisname walks to Labour he becomes a Labour MP and his constituents are stuck with him until the next election. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lets get it right Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 A new leader who looks like Action Man and who squirms when telling lies to Kirsty on Newsnight won`t work for them I`m afraid. Action Man reminds people of the 70`s, strikes, inflation and Evel Knievel wind up dolls. In their heyday Blair or Brown would have eaten kirsty alive in a TV debate, the cat is out of the bag, sheeple know the party is over and that the government we have is the only hope of a fix, Liebour are finished as a political force. It never ceases to amaze me who political parties come up with as leaders. Neil Kinnock for example. Gordon Brown as another example. Blair you could understand - he looked and sounded normal and seemed genuine and reasonably competent. But Kinnock! If you were interviewing him for a job you'd never give it to him - even if he were the only candidate. No wonder he stayed in politics all his life. No wonder he stood as MP in a constituency where a pig wearing a voodo mask would get voted in if it were the candidate for Labour. Now they are going to inflict David Milliband on us. Ye Gods - is he the best man they can come up with out of the thousands of people who are in the Labour party. Why him? How did he get himself into the position that his colleagues seriously think he will make a good leader and Prime Minister. Cameron (and I'm no Tory) looks born to the job by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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