Is A Con/lab Pact Getting More Likely.....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31897835
NS seems to "preparing for government" - Would you rather ED and Dave did a deal than have the Sweaties "overhauling" us?

[ludwig]

It's not as ridiculous as it sounds. Labour and Tory have more in common with each other than either of them do with the SNP.

[New Judge]

Best not to bother with the trouble and expense of a General Election.

[sunny-dave]

I agree NJ - is there not a bunch of Army Officers who could take over and get the litter cleaned up and the trains running on time?

[Old_Geezer]

Precisely.
If they can make a pact it shows there is nothing of substance to choose between them.

Trouble with pacts with the SNP is that they, by definition, stand for getting the best for one part of the UK inevitably at the expense of the rest. Not good for a whole of the UK government, and consequently not a political block one wants to be too close too.

[youngmafbog]

Your right Ludwig, the Tories and Labour have got so close it is sometimes difficult to tell them apart.

But then, that is why the fringe parties are becoming so popular - because there is little choice.

The sweaties are going to be a real problem for the rest of the UK. One way or another they will hold us to ransom for more cash north of HAdrians wall.

What a state of affairs, pity they didnt go.

[jim360]

I wonder how much imapct this speculation will have -- I expect there will be some floating voters who might tip back to Labour/ Tory if it means having a better chance of avoiding all of the apparent mess caused by speculation over all the possible coalitions/ minority governments that we might be left with. A Tory/ Lab coalition possibly makes a mockery of the whole process more than any other result, as NJ suggests -- but it's really too early to be discussing that as a serious option.

[ichkeria]

The Tories and Labour are actually further apart than they have been for a long time. With Sturgeon and Farage mouthing off all the time, effectively lumping the two main parties together as some sort of evil axis, it is easy to forget that.
I do hope we hear very little from NS soon

[ichkeria]

There will be no Con Lab pact. Is that a serious suggestion?

[youngmafbog]

//I do hope we hear very little from NS soon//

Why, it is them that are forcing the very little differences we do have?

[ToraToraTora]

I agree it's unlikely ichkeria but the question was: "Would you rather ED and Dave did a deal than have the Sweaties "overhauling" us?"
I'd have to say yes, in fact I think I'd rather have a Labour governement than the sweaties lording it about no 10. Can you imagine Nicola Sturgeon as DPM! gawd help us.

[Pete65]

Could you explain "Sweaties" and "gawd", please?

[Old_Geezer]

Sweaties has been explained many times Pete. It's rhyming slang. Sweaty socks - Scots.

Gawd is a corruption of God for those who feel it is blasphemous to mention his name in vain.

[New Judge]

The problem with the two main parties are that they are both terrified of offending anyone. They spend their political lives treading on eggshells so as not to upset any of their “core” voters or anybody whose support they are trying to gain from elsewhere..

Well they’ve certainly both achieved their aim. The Tories are not worthy of the name, being more concerned with foreign aid (sorry, I keep making the same mistake, overseas “development”) than they are about the defence of the Realm. The Labour Party has forgotten why it was formed and presents no credible opposition to the Most Vile and Evil Government the World has Ever Known (i.e. the current one).

The result is that supporters of both parties (who almost certainly make up a large majority of the electorate) have nobody to vote for. That’s why the “fruitcakes and loonies” (and the SNP) are stealing support and that’s why the next election will have a far worse outcome than in 2010. Everybody will get what nobody wants. Both parties need to resatblish themselves by appealing firstly to their traditional supporters. Then they can try to catch the floaters.

[Pete65]

Thank you, Old Geezer.
Always learning!
Is Sweaties not a bit offensive?

[Old_Geezer]

Many of us think so, but not all. As usual it is in the intent, which is difficult to know in the written word.

[Old_Geezer]

"the Most Vile and Evil Government the World has Ever Known"

What those at Westminster ? I don't think a lot of them either but that may be a minor exaggeration looking elsewhere in the world and at other times in history.

[Pete65]

Again, thank you, Old Geezer!
Very well put!

[New Judge]

That's not my view of the, OG. I think they are a bunch of inept wets. The description I used was that portrayed by their opponents.

[ichkeria]

"I'd have to say yes, in fact I think I'd rather have a Labour governement than the sweaties lording it about no 10. Can you imagine Nicola Sturgeon as DPM! gawd help us."

I was about to say that I would rather have a Tory government than SNP ministers in a Labour SNP coalition :-)

[ToraToraTora]

so ich, common ground right there!