The UK political thread (formerly independence thread)

[Tet]

Any specific motions there that you are against? Upon a quick skim read (with a friend atm so kinda busy) it seems mostly reasonable.

A few obvious ones:

• If Tories are in government, fight them. Not fight the policies that you might dislike or feel are bad for students. No, just fight the Tories for being in government, no matter what they're doing.
• If Labour are in power, demand an end to austerity and a reversal of cuts. How about a 5 bedroom mansion with a swimming pool for everyone while you're at it?
• Nationalising banks.

All stupid suggestions. But more than that, why on earth is a student union getting involved in any of those things? How do they benefit students? Oh that's right, they don't. A student union should be working to improve the lives of the union members. But no, the NUS is just a plaform to further the political aims of the extreme left minority, just as it was in my day.

[houston4044]

I can understand the broad points if they are basic summaries of more detailed points

- With Tories campaigning on harsh spending cuts I'm not surprised a union whose membership relies heavily on government funding have stated they will fight them. Non-starter of a point.

- Even though they brought in university fees Labour are popularly perceived as being more lenient on students especially that they're campaigning to be less strict on spending cuts.

- I would imagine the NUS believe a nationalized bank would be more willing to lend money to cover vital student funding (that current student loans don't cover) doesn't meet. Which I understand, not extravagant levels of funding but at least a minimal which current levels are not at. With govt cuts I doubt you'd see them raising student finance levels as that would push up benefits which no govt would countenance so loading it onto a separate balance sheet would be more likely.

So I can see why the NUS are getting political, and to a degree I support them. The union existed long before the current period of uncertainty for the NUS so I can understand now why it's become so politicized.

[Gandalf the Red]

It does help to remember which football team you pretend to support.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32463038

[Gandalf the Red]

Is there anyone more Welsh than Leanne Wood?

[cthulhu]

Been up at Eradication this week and we parked the car in front of the office of the Liberal Democrats in Cardiff...interesting to note that it seems to be a common place for picking up hookers...there's a joke in there somewhere but at half 3 i'm too tired to find it.

[houston4044]

Is there anyone more Welsh than Leanne Wood?

Is there anyone more Australian sounding than Harriett Bennet?

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Been up at Eradication this week and we parked the car in front of the office of the Liberal Democrats in Cardiff...interesting to note that it seems to be a common place for picking up hookers...there's a joke in there somewhere but at half 3 i'm too tired to find it.

Joke would only work if it was a rentboy zone

[houston4044]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32486544

When we're supposedly a knowledge economy and a meritocracy it seems stupid that these kind of plans don't extend to University; I know few people would believe a Lib Dem pledge regarding Universities but considering most jobs now ask for degrees why are the Lib Dem's not even mentioning it?

[Andy (Dr Sin)]

Just watched the debate. Ed got a new Arsehole torn.

I'd say Cameron came out top, Clegg with a solid second, and Red Ed stone dead last.

[WorMzy]

Didn't watch it, but this popped up on BBC news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32543510

Urgh. Everything wrong with British politics.

"The PM'll either be Ed Milliband or David Cameron, you have to decide between them".

Great. Encourage a two party system where the majority of voters get screwed over. Well done, you spineless back-pedalling shitstain.

[houston4044]

Out of all the English debates I'd say:

Farage: personally did the best in terms of advancing his party yet got the most loaded responses from the presenter that will dent them.

Cameron: Managed to look the most competent of the bunch while pressing for massive cuts.

Clegg: Just gave away any semblance of credibility in favor of any power. I just love his red lines though, he's playing hard to get with the Tories and Labour parties who apparently want to take him into a darkened room.

Miliband: Just lost himself an election. Made Cameron look strong even though he's introducing massive cuts somewhere *hinthint* welfare.

[Danroush]

A couple of things worth noting. The crowd were significantly more aggressive towards Milliband, and whilst Cameron got less flustered, he directly ignored questions about the bedroom tax and similar issues.

[VizardAmata]

FFS if Conservatives get in again I just give up on humanity. I'd still have a shred of hope left, though, which is more than I can say if the racists got in.

[keera_envenomed]

Didn't watch it, but this popped up on BBC news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32543510

Urgh. Everything wrong with British politics.

"The PM'll either be Ed Milliband or David Cameron, you have to decide between them".

Great. Encourage a two party system where the majority of voters get screwed over. Well done, you spineless back-pedalling shitstain.

Britain has been a 2 party system for a very very long time so I doubt that'll change any time soon.

[Gandalf the Red]

It always was a two party system. Just that the parties changed.

Tory/Whigs
Conservative/Liberal (virtually the same as above)
Conservative/Labour