UK Politics (9 Viewers)

Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
Not spending half the time being ruled by a government that almost no-one in Scotland voted for is rather appealing. The Conservatives won only one seat in Scotland out of a possible 59 at the last election.

That would allow Scotland to remain a broadly centre-left country, while England is centre-right and heading further right in general.
Why is that? What's so appealing about Cameron and all the other muppets?
 

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Red

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Nov 26, 2006
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  • Thread Starter #342
    Which bit are you referring to?

    What's so appealing about Cameron and all the other muppets?
    I don't think anyone out there particularly likes Cameron.

    The issue, essentially, is that Thatcher changed British politics.

    There is no longer any strong left. Labour became New Labour (which was much more centrist than the left-wing Old Labour), the Trade Unions have little power, the press is predominantly right-wing.

    When a party like the Greens pop up, the are denounced as a marginal, hippy party that won't do anything because they have silly policies like tax and spend and wanting to move to cleaner energy sources.

    When a right wing party appears, such as UKIP, they get huge coverage, their xenophobic policies appeal to all the Little Englanders who hate foreigners, immigrants, the EU, Britain no longer having a mighty empire, etc. and so the main parties make another move to the right to make sure they don't lose votes to them, and so the whole politics of the UK keeps going right.
     

    Boksic

    Senior Member
    May 11, 2005
    13,377
    Not spending half the time being ruled by a government that almost no-one in Scotland voted for is rather appealing. The Conservatives won only one seat in Scotland out of a possible 59 at the last election.

    That would allow Scotland to remain a broadly centre-left country, while England is centre-right and heading further right in general.
    Voting comes in trends. The only reason the Conservatives got in is because Labour did such a bad job the previous time in government. Just because Scotland has a deep routed dislike for Conservatives mainly from the Thatcher era is no indication that we will stay as a centre-left country and that England will go to the right.

    The independence campaign has been driven by incredibly bad economics, empty promises and no concrete answers. I really expected a more prepared and enticing campaign from them.

    I genuinely cannot see why people would vote 'yes' other than for the Tartan Army/Braveheart emotion behind it all.

    Anyway, this is the Serie A thread so I won't continue my rant but thought i'd give me thoughts.
     

    Martin

    Senior Member
    Dec 31, 2000
    56,913
    Which bit are you referring to?
    The right wing thing

    I don't think anyone out there particularly likes Cameron.

    The issue, essentially, is that Thatcher changed British politics.

    There is no longer any strong left. Labour became New Labour (which was much more centrist than the left-wing Old Labour), the Trade Unions have little power, the press is predominantly right-wing.

    When a party like the Greens pop up, the are denounced as a marginal, hippy party that won't do anything because they have silly policies like tax and spend and wanting to move to cleaner energy sources.

    When a right wing party appears, such as UKIP, they get huge coverage, their xenophobic policies appeal to all the Little Englanders who hate foreigners, immigrants, the EU, Britain no longer having a mighty empire, etc. and so the main parties make another move to the right to make sure they don't lose votes to them, and so the whole politics of the UK keeps going right.
    What about Scotland, what's the climate there?
     
    OP
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    Nov 26, 2006
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  • Thread Starter #346
    What about Scotland, what's the climate there?
    There is simply much less interest in parties peddling right-wing social policies.

    The Scottish Socialist Party had some success in Scottish elections a few years back.

    Scotland is not anti-Europe in the way so much of England seems to be.
     

    Ocelot

    Midnight Marauder
    Jul 13, 2013
    18,943
    Thatcher only really did half the work of destroying the UKs left. Tony Blairs "third way" (I'm not sure if that expression is commonly used in English), which had very little to do with the political ideas the Labour party, as a socialdemocratic workers party, always stood for, conviently did the rest.
     
    OP
    Red

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    Nov 26, 2006
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  • Thread Starter #348
    Thatcher only really did half the work of destroying the UKs left. Tony Blairs "third way" (I'm not sure if that expression is commonly used in English), which had very little to do with the political ideas the Labour party, as a socialdemocratic workers party, always stood for, conviently did the rest.
    Yeah, the 'third way' is a recognised term.

    My point Thatcher started moving things right.

    Plenty of people since has been at fault for not fighting against that trend.

    You are now viewed as unelectable if you have anything resembling left-wing policies.
     

    Fred

    Senior Member
    Oct 2, 2003
    41,113
    Voting comes in trends. The only reason the Conservatives got in is because Labour did such a bad job the previous time in government. Just because Scotland has a deep routed dislike for Conservatives mainly from the Thatcher era is no indication that we will stay as a centre-left country and that England will go to the right.

    The independence campaign has been driven by incredibly bad economics, empty promises and no concrete answers. I really expected a more prepared and enticing campaign from them.

    I genuinely cannot see why people would vote 'yes' other than for the Tartan Army/Braveheart emotion behind it all.


    Anyway, this is the Serie A thread so I won't continue my rant but thought i'd give me thoughts.
    @Red , your response?

    I'm very interested to see if most Scots actually want independence from the central UK government. The referendum is in less than a week, no?
     

    Nicholas

    MIRKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Jan 30, 2008
    38,737
    18th I believe and the No vote is back in the lead according to today's polls. Unfortunately the Scottish people are being screwed by their employers who would move their operations down South if they voted yes, and in this day and age they cannot afford to let that happen.

    Furthermore, Alex Sammond dodges every question going and as a Scot I'd be very rue to put my trust in him when it's such a massive decision for the Scottish people.

    Probably @Red would be better versed.
     
    Jul 1, 2010
    26,336
    I think that Scotland should push for a federal system rather than separate. In Canada we have a federal system and Quebec is almost de facto independent due to the federalist system and numerous concessions. Scotland would probably be better off with a similar arrangement and I think that this would benefit not only Scotland but the whole of the UK bar London.

    Being in a unitary system with the financial monster that is the City of London is not good for the regions.
     

    Boksic

    Senior Member
    May 11, 2005
    13,377
    Scotland has its own government and would still be getting more powers if we vote 'No'.

    For some reason many Scots have the belief that we are living in Somalia and will turn into Monaco once if we become independent. In truth, we live in a good country that looks after its citizens.
    @nicolas is correct the leader of the campaign (Alex Salmond) dodges virtually every tough question and sticks his head in the sand. The main issue is on whether we could still use the pound after leaving. The UK government says we would not be able to have a currency union with them, but yet Salmond's response is just to say that they will. The arrogance and lack of coherent plans is astonishing.

    The economy is the main reason for me to vote 'No', any high school student could tell you the importance of being able to use interest rates to control an economy (something we would no longer be able to do if we are independent). Yet, the 'Yes' voters seem to ignore this fact despite many top economists making this point.

    Plus our economy is reliant on the oil industry which is volatile, a finite resource and mainly owned by a set of Islands who themselves are rumoured to not want to be part of an independent Scotland and in theory could leave and take their oil with them.
     

    Bianconero_Aus

    Beppe Marotta Is My God
    May 26, 2009
    77,001
    Reminds me of our referendum in 1999. Fucking monarchist twats were a majority at the time, and voted to keep us part of the Commonwealth, and part of the Monarchy.

    I can't wait for the day another referendum comes along, and we as a country are all grown up and eventually break away from mummy England's tits and become a republic.
     
    OP
    Red

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    Nov 26, 2006
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  • Thread Starter #360
    @Red , your response?

    I'm very interested to see if most Scots actually want independence from the central UK government. The referendum is in less than a week, no?
    I'm not going to respond to someone who can't understand the other side's viewpoint, even if they don't agree with it.

    And the 'Braveheart' thing is just pathetic.
     

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