geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Hmm - no having met him, he is so much better in real life.  Got a bit of a crush if truth be told!! Even my other half has a man-crush on him. (but then he also fancies Hilary Clinton - who in turn has flirted with DM - could be a very interesting 3-some and subsequent You-Tube posting).  OH dear, I have gone too far and now have to go and have my dinner!!!

Adios! 

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
They have thr ight to TRY and form a government but they shouldn't be allowed to by changing their manifesto, that as I say shows them for what they really are.

It really is still up in the air though, no one seems to know what's really going to happen.

 jools wrote: 
There's just something about that man that doesn't sit right with me, can't put my finfger on it. It's as if he's not being caught with his fingers in the till or something, know what I mean?

 jools wrote: 
Balls!?   I like Harriet Harman but I htink David Miliband is probably the answer.  Alan Johnson is always easy to listen to.  I have great respect for Jack Straw but he's the wrong man for the job and the wrong generation.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Alan Johnson - but he is a) too old and b) tainted by being a union man.  He would get my vote if it wasn't for the fact that the only way the Labour Party will get back on track is by having a young dynamic charisimatic leader with no "previous".  Not much choice except one of the Millibros.  We met David earlier this year and he is very good - really!

Go in Peace.....! 

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Don't worry about disagreeing with me!  We're just batting thoughts around.

I DO think that the Tories need to have a go at forming a government (and not just because they'll be a litigeous bunch of windbags if they don't).  They are the closest to a majority by far.  My pref would also be lib/lab but the numbers don't stack.  If the LibDems are seen to have brought down a potential Tory administration they'll be slaughtered by the electorate next time around.  If the Tories want power- and they clearly do- they'll have to pay the price of some compromises. 

The economy is also my biggest worry and I have very grave concerns about Tory plans— the least the libs can offer on that is abstention from all finance bills- and maybe they can offer cooperation if some key measures are softened.

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
I have to disagree here I'm afraid and here's the reasons why.

The tories have said throughout they are not open for electoral reform, Lib Dems have said all along that that's their most vital issue, Nick Clegg even mentioned the unfairness of the voting system after todays election so if the tories stick to their manifesto and don't change then the libs really shouldn't form a coalition with them. Not only would that show Clegg as weak but would also alienate his whole party against them. Also there's the economy. Again, Nick Clegg has disagreed with the way the Tories said they would handle the economy throughout the election campaign, he can't change his mind now surely?
At the end of the day, the tories did not get the majority and going by the constitution they banged on about all the way through the election, they cannot expect to be in government without a majority and as I say, the only way they should be able to is by forming a coalition with the lib dems but given my reasons above that should not be possible.
It would not surprise me in the least however if the tories change their long held views on electoral reform just to get into power showing them for the lying,cheating hypocrites they are.

God, am I cream crackered or what.  I didn't bother even trying to sleep last night and then I had a load of stuff to do at work today. 

On the subject of the greens- they are massively under-represented as they definitely have a modest but consistent level of support nationally.  They are not the party for me- they are too single issue but there are always people not represented by their chosen MP in the House of Commons- that's the fundamental problem of first past the post.

Like many poeple in this country I have NEVER been represented by an MP that I have voted for but I live in hope and some form of PR is the answer!!  On the libdem stuff the only mathematical solution that can work is libdem -tory so they have to try to make a go of it for the sake of the country.  Feels like getting into bed with the devil to me but maybe they can restrain Cameron from the more right wing end of his agenda.

 jools wrote: 
Oh I'm not a buddhist, just like some of their views I suppose.
Millibands? No way. I do have a sneaky feeling though that once Brown resigns/get's sacked on eof them will be leader. I really hope not. I'd like to see an old head, an old socialist as the leader but i'm not sure the labour party has any left!

Good luck with your dealings, i feel for you.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
LOL! If you join the Labour Party now, you can vote for the new leader - that's something to think about (so long as it is one of the Milli-boys...!) I'm sure you'll find at least one Labour MP who is a buddhist - or at does yoga at least!

Here's the link..

http://www2.labour.org.uk/

I was in planning and now I am freelance, I have to battle with them on a daily basis!

 jools wrote: 
Yeah I would like to see them have a coalition with Labour under a new labour leader with electoral reform. Then as you say, ahve another election in a year or so. To be honest if i was to describe my political stance i'd say i was a left wing socialist with perhaps a leaning towards the teachings of Buddha, hard to find a party that fits in with my view really.
I worked in Housing Benefits about 10 years ago now.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Hmm - not sure - might want to see them hang themselves while Labour elects a new leader and we have another election later this year.

Where did you work?  I was there until 2004. 

 jools wrote: 
If Clegg ends up sleeping with Brown, I'll be happier.




Yup, council is crap, used to work there too, useless.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Ok - lets' see how it all pans out - Cameron is having a long snog with Nicky boy at the moment - so it may all be academic.  Brighton is great - you're right and I couldn't live anywhere else (except the south of France if I could afford it!)  Just wish the council wasn't so crap!!!

 

 jools wrote: 
I'm saying that her, along with other fringe parties CAN have some say, more of a say than before. Also, I trust her to do what's best for Brighton, much more than I would do for any Tory candidate (which was a possibility given the anti-labour folk). Brighton could do a lot lot worse than having a green party in parliament. Anyway, you know Brighton, it's always being a bit different, It's why i like it.
As for hove being posh, well, some parts are, the areas with the blue rinses generally

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
I think you are over-estimating the power of 1 single fringe MP - that is what she is.  She is not a King Maker.  Just do the math as they say!

Well done for tactical voting in Hove (posh? Hove? nah!) 

 jools wrote: 
Difference is she will have a bigger say because it's likely there is going to be a govenment that doesn't have an overall majority leaving many smaller parties like heres with a bigger say in things. If say the Tories are trying to pass a controversial bill through and they do not have enough seats in parliament to push it through, they then rely on the fringe parties to make up those numbers, meaning she can ask for something in return which favours her party and her constituents, that's politics.
As for 'you lot who didn't vote labour', well i didn't, I voted lib dem as I was pretty certain there was going to be a hung parliament, i was right. Given that the tories said they wouldn't allow electoral reform, it seems rather odd that the lib dems are going to be talking with them first given that's their main priority within a coalition. My opinion is that most lib dem voters would rather lib dems joined up with Labour than the tories, lib dems have always been more to the left than to the right. See what happens I guess but if Clegg goes with the tories without electoral reform, that party will die a very quick death and will take another hundred years to get back to anything again.The lib dem voters and members will NEVER forgive him, never!

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
The Green Party will never, ever have any real influence in the House of Commons  - if the Lib Dems can't do it do you think they will??? Even the Tories had some "green" policies.  And Labour's core green policies are virtually identical.  A lot has already been done by the (still) current government - for example - the Code for Sustainable Homes - a fundamental breakthrough in ensuring that all new houses are more sustainable.There is nothing unique about the Green Party- what they espouse is now entrenched in mainstream policies.At the end of the day, we are likely to get a Tory-led government (one less seat to Labour due to Ms Lucas). I am of an age when I can still feel the hurt and anger of the Thatcher years; I am so sorry for my poor kids who are unlikely to see a Labour government again until they have their own families.  

Still you lot that didn't vote Labour  will get the government you all truly deserve - cuts to public services, higher taxes, loss of benefits to those who need it and - oh - more breaks for the super rich.  Shame the rest of us will have to suffer - but at least we will have a clear conscience. 

 jools wrote: 
I have to disagree. On the back of the last election, this was the first real chance to get a green mp into parliament and they felt they had to put who they consider their best person up for it, their leader. I think the fact she only won by around 1200 votes shows it was a good decision, she's slightly better known because of her leadership, had they chosen a regular green member the result may have been a lot different. One for in the door, hopefully now they can spread their wings a bit and get other green party members in other parts of Brighton and the UK.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Um - yes I do know who she is/was etc.  But what was wrong with putting one of the GENUINELY local Green Party members (some of whom I know personally BTW) up as MP?  That's what should have happened. But no, they bring in their MEP/leader and parachute her in to be a fashion accessory vote.  If one of the other parties had done the same - they would have been slaughtered in the press.  I am not against the Greens per se - might have even voted for them locally, But I do object to the fact that MY MP (not yours - you got a Tory ha ha) doesn't have the first idea about what matters to me and my family.