UK 2015 election campaign officially begins - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79817000/jpg/_79817572_badd8f05-13fe-4188-b8b4-d5de16151ef0.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30477250[/url] [quote]The 2015 general election campaign officially begins on Friday, meaning candidates' spending will be subject to strict rules and limits. The "long campaign" runs from 19 December until Parliament's dissolution and introduces the first limits on individual spending in constituencies. From 30 March, the "short" campaign period will be triggered, and even tighter restrictions will apply. Election spending is regulated by the watchdog, the Electoral Commission. They apply to anyone who wants to become a candidate at a UK parliamentary election, which is to be held on 7 May 2015.[/quote]

So basically everything that comes out of a politician's mouth in the next six months is definitely bullshit rather than just probably bullshit.

And now the countdown until Scotland turns even more yellow.

Here come the clowns again. [QUOTE=Flapadar;46741582]And now the countdown until Scotland turns even more yellow.[/QUOTE] This will be the only bright spot in what I expect will be a very grim election.

[QUOTE=Craigewan;46741591]Here come the clowns again. This will be the only bright spot in what I expect will be a very grim election.[/QUOTE] What about Nick Clegg's inevitable resignation?

[QUOTE=smurfy;46741594]What about Nick Clegg's inevitable resignation?[/QUOTE] Oh, that is a good point that I hadn't considered. Well, that ought to be worth a laugh, too.

Are there parties in UK who don't want limmits on EU migration or possibly exiting the EU?

[QUOTE=godfatherk;46741598]Are there parties in UK who don't want limmits on EU migration or possibly exiting the EU?[/QUOTE] SNP and maybe the Greens? (Not had any Green manifestos pushed through my door lately, just Malcom Bruce MP imploring me to vote Lib Dem. Hah)

[QUOTE=Flapadar;46741582]And now the countdown until Scotland turns even more yellow.[/QUOTE] Without Salmond and the loss of the referendum it'll probably be the last time they will have that much power.

[QUOTE=Deng;46741694]Without Salmond and the loss of the referendum it'll probably be the last time they will have that much power.[/QUOTE] You've not been paying too much attention, have you? SNP is the only party that came out of the Referendum (That was heavily involved in it. SSP and Green also became more popular) having increased in popularity this side of the border. Their (actual, paid-up) membership soared, and a lot of people actually prefer Sturgeon to Salmond (Who is still running for MP in the Gordon constituency, iirc). It appears that a rejection of Independence by the Scottish people (and by a small majority at that) was not a rejection of the SNP. (Scottish Labour's choice of Jim Murphy as their new leader is really not going to state their case well as he is not as popular up here as they believe he is)

[QUOTE=Craigewan;46741705]You've not been paying too much attention, have you? SNP is the only party that came out of the Referendum having increased in popularity this side of the border. Their (actual, paid-up) membership soared, and a lot of people actually prefer Sturgeon to Salmond (Who is still running for MP in the Gordon constituency, iirc)[/QUOTE] Except the loss of the referendum means that independence won't be happening, so they'll have to busy themselves in other matters which is where I think they will come short. Sturgeon may be more popular but I don't think she's as good at being a politician as Salmond is. Salmond is the guy who turned a party of fringe nutters into a coherent and rather powerful political force. It remains to be seen if Sturgeon can replicate that success for the next few years.

[QUOTE=Deng;46741722]Except the loss of the referendum means that independence won't be happening, so they'll have to busy themselves in other matters which is where I think they will come short. Sturgeon may be more popular but I don't think she's as good at being a politician as Salmond is. Salmond is the guy who turned a party of fringe nutters into a coherent and rather powerful political force. It remains to be seen if Sturgeon can replicate that success for the next few years.[/QUOTE] SNP isn't a party that was formed purely for Independence, though? That was Salmond's vision for the party (which admittedly doesn't seem to be dying any time soon), but what they are also is a generally competent Social Democrat leaning party (Also Salmond/Sturgeon's vision for the party, as prior to them it was more conservative), which the Scottish people generally like, especially given Labour's failings in that area of politics. Sturgeon has been a pretty strong voice of influence in Salmond's SNP, so I think it is in pretty good hands, especially as he is still around to provide advice. (And they'd be mad not to listen to him) You're falling down at the assumption that the SNP is a one-trick pony (Independence/Salmond) which it is manifestly (and manifesto-ly) not.

[QUOTE=Craigewan;46741736]SNP isn't a party that was formed purely for Independence, though? That was Salmond's vision for the party (which admittedly doesn't seem to be dying any time soon), but what they are also is a generally competent Social Democrat leaning party (Also Salmond/Sturgeon's vision for the party, as prior to them it was more conservative), which the Scottish people generally like, especially given Labour's failings in that area of politics.[/quote] The SNP appealed to Scottish people in that way because it tried to include as many people as possible for the matter of independence. It's a party not for particular policies, but sees them as tools in the quest for independence. Of course the SNP can't keep up their popularity forever, especially once their failings become evident and politicians gain experience within the Scottish parliament and are able to pose an actual challenge to it. [quote]You're falling down at the assumption that the SNP is a one-trick pony (Independence/Salmond) which it is manifestly (and manifesto-ly) not.[/QUOTE] Except you have to provide an explanation as to why they received a massive boost in popularity during and after the referendum campaign. The massive boost in membership numbers won't last for very long.

[QUOTE=Deng;46741772]Except you have to provide an explanation as to why they received a massive boost in popularity during and after the referendum campaign. The massive boost in membership numbers won't last for very long.[/QUOTE] I don't think there is a single, solid reason. Dissatisfaction with Labour A 45% YES vote (Which was considered ludicrous at the start, it really energized people later on) A general boost in third-parties votes and members (Greens, UKIP, etc) It won't last if they don't get as many votes/don't get any powersharing deal after the election. But I can see them becoming a really big player if we get a labour coalition government next year.

Well at least it'll be the first election in 23 years where the outcome hasn't been utterly predictable. The opinion polls indicate that either party could win and it'll probably be decided in the last couple weeks of the campaign. Whatever happens, it's certainly going to be exciting.

con-ukip coalition confirmed

[QUOTE=Bobie;46743418]con-ukip coalition confirmed[/QUOTE] I don't see it happening. UKIP won't win enough seats, and Tories will probably lose a few to Labour. Lab-SNP maybe. Parliament will be hung like a donkey and it will be awesome.

[IMG]http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/BGround.jpg[/img] Based on recent polls labour majority or labour coalition with SNP/lib dems is most likely outcome (bearing in mind that the SNP will not make a coalition with tories)

[QUOTE=MrEndangered;46743472]I don't see it happening. UKIP won't win enough seats, and Tories will probably lose a few to Labour. Lab-SNP maybe. Parliament will be hung like a donkey and it will be awesome.[/QUOTE] A Labour-SNP coalition would be interesting. At least the two parties would be relatively close to each other ideologically :v:

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;46744679]A Labour-SNP coalition would be interesting. At least the two parties would be relatively close to each other ideologically :v:[/QUOTE] I wouldn't really say that. Labours swung quite far right recently.

[QUOTE=Flapadar;46744697]I wouldn't really say that. Labours swung quite far right recently.[/QUOTE] I'm hoping that Milliband is talking bollocks about all this right-wing stuff (although it's a lose-lose situation because if he is lying, then he's bloody lying), because at this rate Labour's going to surpass the Tories. Would be interesting to see a polarity switch, though.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;46744704]I'm hoping that Milliband is talking bollocks about all this right-wing stuff (although it's a lose-lose situation because if he is lying, then he's bloody lying), because at this rate Labour's going to surpass the Tories. Would be interesting to see a polarity switch, though.[/QUOTE] With the appointment of good old blairite Jim Murphy, Scottish Labour will literally be the red Tories. He's one of their most right wing. I think the whole party is going that way.

It has been ever since Blair came to power.

Exactly, they're conservatives with more centrist/left-wing party members than the Tories. But they're still Tories.

[QUOTE=Flapadar;46744723]With the appointment of good old blairite Jim Murphy, Scottish Labour will literally be the red Tories. He's one of their most right wing. I think the whole party is going that way.[/QUOTE] I find it ironic that in Scotland everyone's so caught up in accusing everyone else of being Tories that they forget that the only real alternative in Scottish politics are the Tories. The SNP, Labour and the Lib Dems are all left-leaning Social democrats.

[QUOTE=The mouse;46749392]I find it ironic that in Scotland everyone's so caught up in accusing everyone else of being Tories that they forget that [B]the only real alternative in Scottish politics are the Tories.[/B] The SNP, Labour and the Lib Dems are all left-leaning Social democrats.[/QUOTE] Wait, so people actually believe this? Like if you don't vote Labour all we get is Tories?

Honest question, what happens if every single constituency votes independent?

I'll be voting labour (In my first ever vote!) but I have little faith in Clegg, sadly.

this is pretty much the first election in which i honestly dont think i'd want to vote for any of the three main westminster parties.

[QUOTE=bravehat;46749398]Wait, so people actually believe this? Like if you don't vote Labour all we get is Tories?[/QUOTE] I'm not saying that the SNP don't exist, I'm saying that the SNP, Labour and the Lib Dems are so alike that the Conservatives are the only real alternative party in Scotland. Also I find it funny that almost everyone in Scotland blames all their woes on the Conservatives when the Conservatives are the only party in Scotland who have never been in the Scottish executive.