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English Matt

Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 8:47 am Post subject: Welcome to Cameron Land |
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/poverty-and-injustice-in-david-cameronrsquos-model-borough-1962318.html#mainColumn#mainColumn
I'm not planning on returning to live and work anytime in the near to mid term, but I really hope, for the sake of the most vulnerable in British society, that we see a hung parliament in the election tomorrow.
The article, whilst clearly a little partisan, raises some worrying questions about what Britain will look like under Cameron......having worked in the (already chronically underfunded) homelessness sector in the UK, I am really worried what will happen if we see homeless shelters being closed across the country.
I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Wouldn't being in prison be a step-up from being homeless?  |
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Depths of My Soul
Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Location: In The Sun
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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A hung parliament is the best we can hope for. Go Lib Dems! |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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This is the first thread apart from my own ( a few weeks ago) that Ive seen on our election so far. Shows how little it matters internationally!
Anyway, it seems to be down to a Hung Parliament vs Conservative majority. Hung Parliament would mean change and would be something new, Ive got my fingers crossed for that.
However, it looks more and more likely the Tories will win.
Another Labour win would be nearly as bad as a Tory win for me but theyve had their day now.
My experience of the Maggie/Major government era was me Dad nearly losing his job. Obviously Ive heard about it a lot since and being Northern she is the closest thing to the devil incarnate in these parts.
Apart from what they might do to the EFL industry with immigration visa crackdowns which could see me out of a job, it's ironic (after being a prominent anti-Tory mouthpiece for many years) that I would probably be ok under a Tory government. We have moved on quite a bit since the last Tory government.
As has been pointed out here it is gonna be the already marginalized that get the kicking.
So myself aside Im really hoping for a coalition government here, because you just know that David Cameron is full of sh*t. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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The UK is broke. This next few years are going to hurt:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7111963.ece
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As the leaders of the three main political parties prepare themselves for tonight's final, economy-themed TV debate in Birmingham, the warning ringing in their ears is that the job of Prime Minister could be a poisoned chalice.
David Hale, a US economist, revealed that Mr King made the comments to him during a meeting last week.
�I saw the Governor of the Bank of England last week when I was in London and he told me whoever wins this election will be out of power for a whole generation because of how tough the fiscal austerity will have to be," Mr Hale said in an interview with Australian television.
There was no comment from the Bank on his reported remarks, although it is understood that the two men met in London in early March rather than last week, as Mr Hale suggested in his interview.
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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mises wrote: |
The UK is broke. This next few years are going to hurt:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7111963.ece
Quote: |
As the leaders of the three main political parties prepare themselves for tonight's final, economy-themed TV debate in Birmingham, the warning ringing in their ears is that the job of Prime Minister could be a poisoned chalice.
David Hale, a US economist, revealed that Mr King made the comments to him during a meeting last week.
�I saw the Governor of the Bank of England last week when I was in London and he told me whoever wins this election will be out of power for a whole generation because of how tough the fiscal austerity will have to be," Mr Hale said in an interview with Australian television.
There was no comment from the Bank on his reported remarks, although it is understood that the two men met in London in early March rather than last week, as Mr Hale suggested in his interview.
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Yeah without a doubt. Who would want to be the next PM? The newspapers are saying we are one of the most broke in Europe, it's a mess. |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Early doors yet but there is already a big swing towards the Tories. I wouldnt be surprised at all if they won |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like the Lib-Dems really matter this time. Let's hope they push for some much-needed electoral reform. |
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Fox

Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: Welcome to Cameron Land |
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English Matt wrote: |
I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted. |
From my limited understanding of ASBOs, they are complete rubbish. As far as I can see, they allow court officials to ban you from a certain type of activity or going to a certain location (without you being allowed to present evidence contradicting their case for banning you), then send you to prison if you don't comply. They seem very totalitarian to me. |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Welcome to Cameron Land |
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Fox wrote: |
English Matt wrote: |
I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted. |
From my limited understanding of ASBOs, they are complete rubbish. As far as I can see, they allow court officials to ban you from a certain type of activity or going to a certain location (without you being allowed to present evidence contradicting their case for banning you), then send you to prison if you don't comply. They seem very totalitarian to me. |
ASBOs are pretty silly. Theyre supposed to shame people into behaving themselves but theyre almost a status symbol for the underclasses. Im waiting for the day when I get ASBOed out of all Manchester pubs.
I have had a few friends who have been electronically tagged, which is effectively a curfew. Hahaha. |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Looks like the Lib-Dems really matter this time. Let's hope they push for some much-needed electoral reform. |
The Tories havent been making the great gains they need thus far, it's looking more and more like a hung parliament. 5live is saying theyve already begun the legal battle over who has the right to govern. Either the LibDems push for reform or there will be a long and bitter battle resulting in reform.
Good. It is stupid how so many votes are basically worthless. This is the most positive thing that can happen tonight. I reckon there's a fair chance Brown will step down too. |
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Depths of My Soul
Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Location: In The Sun
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 3:46 am Post subject: |
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Like I needed an extra incentive to leave here.
Arrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh! FIX FIIIIIIXXXXXXXXXXXX!
I'd be extra pissed off if I were a Scot. Tories got about 2% of the vote there, yet they'll also be ruled by the rich elite (largely located in the rural South and East of England). |
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gunners girl
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Location: London
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:15 am Post subject: |
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i'm finding this election genuinely fascinating. i really really hope nick clegg doesn't agree to a con/lib dem coalition - i just find it really hard to believe that they could work together as their policies seem quite different. would much prefer a lab/lib dem coalition. suppose we just have to wait and see.... |
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Welsh Canadian
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: |
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I voted Lib Dem. But lab got into power in the Rhonda area. |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 8:09 am Post subject: |
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British Popular Vote for Each Party
May 7th, 2010
The BBC has calculated the number of votes received by each party, for the 648 districts for which results have been released. These figures will change slightly when the last two districts are counted.
Conservative 10,681,417, 36.1%
Labour 8,501,441, 29.1%
Liberal Democrat 6,805,665, 23.0%
UK Independence 914,811, 3.1%
British National Party 562,977, 1.9%
Scottish National Party 491,386, 1.7%
Green 284,566, 1.0%
Sinn Fein 171,942 .6%
Democratic Unionist Party 168,216 .6%
Plaid Cymru 165,394 .6%
Social Democratic & Labour Party 110,970 .4%
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists � New Force 102,361, .3%
English Democrats 64,826, .2%
Alliance Party 42,762 .1%
Respect-Unity Coalition 33,251 .1%
Traditional Unionist Voice 26,300 .1%
Christian Party 18,623 .1%
Independent Community and Health Concern 16,150 .1%
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 12,275 .0%
Scottish Socialist Party 3,157 .0%
others 319,891 1.1%
Final Tally, House of Commons, for All Ten Parties
May 7th, 2010
With only two seats undecided, the party line-up in the new House of Commons is:
Conservative 305 seats,
Labour 258,
Liberal Democratic 57,
Democratic Unionist 8,
Scottish National 6,
Sein Fein 5,
Plaid Cymru 3,
Social Democratic & Labour 3,
Green 1,
Alliance 1,
independent 1.
One of the two undecided seats will probably be Conservative and the other undecided seat will probably be Labour. Because a majority consists of 326 seats, there is no majority party, for the first time since 1974.
Even combined, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democratic Party cannot form a government without a minimum of two additional parties. |
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