Quizzes & Puzzles7 mins ago
Is Bo-Go Our Future?
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I'm not a regular reader of the New Statesman, but was interested by the above opinion piece that a friend sent to me.
"There are two things in particular that the Tories crave that Cameron, in their eyes, is incapable of providing. The first is popularity that reaches beyond core voters, yet without a hint of apology for being Conservative. The second is the firm smack of ideological constancy. In today’s party, those dream attributes come with names attached: Boris Johnson and Michael Gove."
What do ABers think? Is a Johnson-Gove alliance a desirable or likely future, or has the coalition become so toxic that it has no chance of surviving the next election?
I'm not a regular reader of the New Statesman, but was interested by the above opinion piece that a friend sent to me.
"There are two things in particular that the Tories crave that Cameron, in their eyes, is incapable of providing. The first is popularity that reaches beyond core voters, yet without a hint of apology for being Conservative. The second is the firm smack of ideological constancy. In today’s party, those dream attributes come with names attached: Boris Johnson and Michael Gove."
What do ABers think? Is a Johnson-Gove alliance a desirable or likely future, or has the coalition become so toxic that it has no chance of surviving the next election?
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Whether or not the coalition survives will depend largely on what the alternatives are. I still have no idea what Labour under Ed Miliband plans to do. I don't think he does either -- and come the Election that apparent lack of alternative may save the coalition.
Bo-Go the answer? Not really. Gove is filled, as is most of the current cabinet, with arrogance and nonsense in equal measure. Boris seems to be exploiting the fact that he's not in the Cabinet to snipe at it from without, with a mix of popular ideas that probably won't work, to the downright barmy.
Bo-Go the answer? Not really. Gove is filled, as is most of the current cabinet, with arrogance and nonsense in equal measure. Boris seems to be exploiting the fact that he's not in the Cabinet to snipe at it from without, with a mix of popular ideas that probably won't work, to the downright barmy.
It might be the 'dream ticket' for the right wing of the Tory party but lurching to the right in this way is unlikely to secure a win in a general election.
It would abandon the centre ground to the Labour party and historically that doesn't do well nationally.
Besides - Boris first has to gain a Parliamentry seat, then he has to win control of the Tory Party and people like Theresa May aren't about to give up their ambitions without a fight!
I think Boris has his eye on 2020 myself
It would abandon the centre ground to the Labour party and historically that doesn't do well nationally.
Besides - Boris first has to gain a Parliamentry seat, then he has to win control of the Tory Party and people like Theresa May aren't about to give up their ambitions without a fight!
I think Boris has his eye on 2020 myself
I could imagine, hypothetically speaking, some sitting Tory MP in a safe tory constituency deciding to retire in order to give Boris his chance, before the next general election.
Whilst I can imagine many of the tory faithful being delirious at the prospect, I am not sure the country would feel the same way, and moving away from the centre ground has traditionally been a big mistake....
Whilst I can imagine many of the tory faithful being delirious at the prospect, I am not sure the country would feel the same way, and moving away from the centre ground has traditionally been a big mistake....
The Tories can find Boris a safe seat at a moment's notice. They can kick an incumbent upstairs , to the Lords, or simply invite him to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds.
Boris has certainly got more public appeal than Gove has. Cameron and Milliband have little. Cameron will never be a man of the people, but never comes across as someone who understands what it's like to live an ordinary life; even Harold Macmillan had that. Incidentally, who cares about the EU ? It's not on the priority list of the average voter.
Boris has certainly got more public appeal than Gove has. Cameron and Milliband have little. Cameron will never be a man of the people, but never comes across as someone who understands what it's like to live an ordinary life; even Harold Macmillan had that. Incidentally, who cares about the EU ? It's not on the priority list of the average voter.
All the so-called "good" that cuddly old Boris Johnson might do for the Tory party might well be undone by the presence of Michael Gove. I'm puzzled by Gove: he's plainly an intelligent man, but his record in government is a mix of arrogance, incompetence and, to be honest, rudeness. There were guffaws of incredulity on Question Time last night when someone suggested he might be party leader.
Anyway, it looks to me like the Tory party is on the road to self-destruction over Europe. On the other hand it is very frustrating that the Labour Party appears to be sitting back watching the carnage. I'm not sure this is a wise tactic.
Anyway, it looks to me like the Tory party is on the road to self-destruction over Europe. On the other hand it is very frustrating that the Labour Party appears to be sitting back watching the carnage. I'm not sure this is a wise tactic.
Boris Johnson is not going to lead the Tory Party into the next election, for all sorts of reasons.
If the economy picks up before May 2015 the Toris have a chance of winning. If not they don't. Europe is not the issue that will decide the election, unless of course it succeeds in wrecking the Tories beforehand.
If the economy picks up before May 2015 the Toris have a chance of winning. If not they don't. Europe is not the issue that will decide the election, unless of course it succeeds in wrecking the Tories beforehand.
my thoughts as well, that no one from Labour has come up with a credible plan to get us out of the doldrums of our economy, never mind anything else, except that Ed Balls put forward we would have to go ahead and borrow money in the short term, isn't that how we got into this state in the first place. The interviewer did point that out i was glad to see.
If any tory back-bencher gives up his safe seat for a promotion to the Lords or a nice little Government job that position would have to be given to him by the incumbent PM (currently a certain David Cameron) who I can't see being overly pleased with the passage of events.
So that backbencher would be gambling on Boris winning the leadership of the party and the General election.
Now that might be an attractive proposition if you're looking at defeat in a marginal but much less so if you're sitting in a safe seat!
We'll see I still think Boris is hoping for a run at if after a rocky 5 years for Ed Milliband.
If he goes now he'll have the Tory party in civil war in the run up to an election and that will guarantee defeat.
Much better to stand in the General election and fight May and Co. for the leadership in 2015 and have 5 years to prepare for 2020.
He's young enough - at least that's what I'd do in his place - wouldn't you?
So that backbencher would be gambling on Boris winning the leadership of the party and the General election.
Now that might be an attractive proposition if you're looking at defeat in a marginal but much less so if you're sitting in a safe seat!
We'll see I still think Boris is hoping for a run at if after a rocky 5 years for Ed Milliband.
If he goes now he'll have the Tory party in civil war in the run up to an election and that will guarantee defeat.
Much better to stand in the General election and fight May and Co. for the leadership in 2015 and have 5 years to prepare for 2020.
He's young enough - at least that's what I'd do in his place - wouldn't you?
// isn't that how we got into this state in the first place.//
No it's not - we got into this state by borrowing a huge amount to bail out banks and underwrite their losses - that's a one off capital borrow.
That's different from a regular borrowing to meet running costs.
It's the difference between a mortgage and an overdraft.
The Tory plan was to massively cut borrowing (way quicker than strictly necessary) and use that as a cover to reduce the size of government - which they want to do for ideological reasons.
It's ideal for them as they get to blame their cuts on 'the previous Labour government' They never miss a chance to chant that mantra do they?
The plan went wrong though because the private sector was meant to pick up the slack, expanding and taking on those laid off in the public sector.
But they spent so much time talking about what a mess we were in that they destroyed confidence and growth never happened.
The Labour plan is push the delicate borrowing balance further along, taking more people off the dole and into work, spending less on benefits and getting money back in tax means that while this is not free it costs a lot less than it sounds. This should give the private sector the boost, financially and in terms of confidence to start to grow.
The cry from Osbourne was 'you can't do that or we'll lose our tripple A rating' - well there's been no growth and that has happened already.
The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome - If you see George, tell him!
No it's not - we got into this state by borrowing a huge amount to bail out banks and underwrite their losses - that's a one off capital borrow.
That's different from a regular borrowing to meet running costs.
It's the difference between a mortgage and an overdraft.
The Tory plan was to massively cut borrowing (way quicker than strictly necessary) and use that as a cover to reduce the size of government - which they want to do for ideological reasons.
It's ideal for them as they get to blame their cuts on 'the previous Labour government' They never miss a chance to chant that mantra do they?
The plan went wrong though because the private sector was meant to pick up the slack, expanding and taking on those laid off in the public sector.
But they spent so much time talking about what a mess we were in that they destroyed confidence and growth never happened.
The Labour plan is push the delicate borrowing balance further along, taking more people off the dole and into work, spending less on benefits and getting money back in tax means that while this is not free it costs a lot less than it sounds. This should give the private sector the boost, financially and in terms of confidence to start to grow.
The cry from Osbourne was 'you can't do that or we'll lose our tripple A rating' - well there's been no growth and that has happened already.
The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome - If you see George, tell him!
The electorate isn't interested in the EU and less interested in a referendum, in fact, they, like me do not understand the terminology.
We have Cameron and Osbourne, the Tory is splitting itself apart in an area that very few people care about...the economy is flat, unemployment is rising as i suspect is the cost of living...the Election is 18months away AND at the recent Mori poll Labour is 4 points ahead.
No......the Tories don't need a change at the top....but Labour might.
We have Cameron and Osbourne, the Tory is splitting itself apart in an area that very few people care about...the economy is flat, unemployment is rising as i suspect is the cost of living...the Election is 18months away AND at the recent Mori poll Labour is 4 points ahead.
No......the Tories don't need a change at the top....but Labour might.
aog, you think that the EU is a top issue for voters, alongside immigration? It does not even rate 9 per cent for mentions in answer to the question "What do you see as the most important issues facing Britain today?" [Economist/Ipsos MORI poll , January 2013]
Race relations/ immigration 22 Others: Economy 52, Unemployment 29, NHS 21, Crime/Law and order 18, Inflation/ prices 14 Education/schools 12, Pensions and benefits 10,Housing 9.
Race relations/ immigration 22 Others: Economy 52, Unemployment 29, NHS 21, Crime/Law and order 18, Inflation/ prices 14 Education/schools 12, Pensions and benefits 10,Housing 9.
AOG
When it comes to a General Election people are more concerned with the economy and whether they are feeling the pinch or not. Immigration and Europe are not things people are much interested enough in. The latest MORI poll has just 7% sayong Europe will be a factor in their voting intentions.
The latest MORI poll on issues influencing voters reads:
Economy 52%
Crime 15%
Education 13%
Europe 7%
http://
Of course people on the right want it to be the main issue because the Government are dismally failing on the economy.
When it comes to a General Election people are more concerned with the economy and whether they are feeling the pinch or not. Immigration and Europe are not things people are much interested enough in. The latest MORI poll has just 7% sayong Europe will be a factor in their voting intentions.
The latest MORI poll on issues influencing voters reads:
Economy 52%
Crime 15%
Education 13%
Europe 7%
http://
Of course people on the right want it to be the main issue because the Government are dismally failing on the economy.
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