Next Tory Leader

[Darth Rotor]

I predict the reinstigation of mandatory archery training.

While I like your answer ( ) I am more interested, not being up on UK politics, in understanding what changes you see, if any, in the Conservatives taking over.

I read Economist, but they aren't free of bias.

DR

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Well, they are going to start cutting the deficit this year, which Labour was strongly opposed to (believing cuts should start in 2011). I suppose that is one of the larger features and will start within the first 6 months. So rather than raising taxes on those of middle-income (Which under Labour's plan would have raised 6 Billion), they will probably have to slash public services a fair bit to make up the cash.

They both wish to bring in a US-style of democracy in which you elect your police chiefs or whatever (seems a bit daft to me), which might cover the first 6 to 30 months.

And then they both wish to introduce an elected upper house, which will probably take the lifetime of three parliaments.

On Afghanistan, all parties broadly agreed on Obama's plan.

Oh, and reducing the number of MPs (Lib Dems want to reduce it to 399, the Tories 580 or something). Seeing how we are coming out of a major political scandal with MPs claiming for duck houses and manure, it is probably the last thing you should do if you want MPs to be less aloof and accountable to their constits.

 

[Soapy Sam]

While I like your answer ( ) I am more interested, not being up on UK politics, in understanding what changes you see, if any, in the Conservatives taking over.

I read Economist, but they aren't free of bias.

DR

In general, a distancing from Europe wherever possible. We surely won't be entering the Eurozone any time soon.
This implies a leaning towards America. Interestingly, Obama just gave Cameron a vote of approval, even going so far as to mention the "special relationship" widely believed to have foundered. (I note he carefully avoided mention of British Petroleum today).

While the approval of Bush was something of a poisoned chalice to Blair post Iraq, Obama is actually a lot more popular here than he seems to be in much of America at the moment, so this matters.


What I'm curious to see is what regulation of the bank / finance industry emerges from compromise between Lib and Con.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Well, they are going to start cutting the deficit this year, which Labour was strongly opposed to (believing cuts should start in 2011). I suppose that is one of the larger features and will start within the first 6 months. So rather than raising taxes on those of middle-income (Which under Labour's plan would have raised 6 Billion), they will probably have to slash public services a fair bit to make up the cash.

Understood. Won't the LibDems mitigate/curtail that a bit?

They both wish to bring in a US-style of democracy in which you elect your police chiefs or whatever (seems a bit daft to me), which might cover the first 6 to 30 months.

We don't elect chiefs of police. Based on where I have lived, I know that some counties in some states elect sheriffs. Some states elect some judges. It varies.

Huh? Why would US style democracy be an improvement over how the UK works now? The system you have seems to have worked well so far ...

And then they both wish to introduce an elected upper house, which will probably take the lifetime of three parliaments.

Right, make HoL more functional?

On Afghanistan, all parties broadly agreed on Obama's plan.

Did they get blasted for being puppets of Obama? (I hope not) .

Oh, and reducing the number of MPs (Lib Dems want to reduce it to 399, the Tories 580 or something). Seeing how we are coming out of a major political scandal with MPs claiming for duck houses and manure, it is probably the last thing you should do if you want MPs to be less aloof and accountable to their constits.

Keep the same number of bums, just toss a bunch of the current bums out. Right?

 

[Darth Rotor]

In general, a distancing from Europe wherever possible. We surely won't be entering the Eurozone any time soon.
This implies a leaning towards America. Interestingly, Obama just gave Cameron a vote of approval, even going so far as to mention the "special relationship" widely believed to have foundered.

Good. It is something I have seen work on the nuts and bolts level, and wish to see maintained indefinitely.

While the approval of Bush was something of a poisoned chalice to Blair post Iraq, Obama is actually a lot more popular here than he seems to be in much of America at the moment, so this matters.

OK.

What I'm curious to see is what regulation of the bank / finance industry emerges from compromise between Lib and Con.

Similar curiosity in me, on both sides of the pond. We have some clean up to do at our end. Not sure who gets stuck holding the toilet paper when all is said and done.

DR

 

[Soapy Sam]

You & me, bro.
As usual.

 

[Darth Rotor]

You & me, bro.
As usual.

That's the way to bet.

 

[geni]

Understood. Won't the LibDems mitigate/curtail that a bit?

Nope. The deal reached is that the 6 billion cut goes through. In theory at least that should fall within the relm of what can be done with out too significant a loss of services.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Understood. Won't the LibDems mitigate/curtail that a bit?

Maybe, don't know if there are many tax less and slash more MPs within the Lib Dem ranks. They have mostly tried to distance themself from Labour's notoriously massive government with its tax and spend ways.

We don't elect chiefs of police. Based on where I have lived, I know that some counties in some states elect sheriffs. Some states elect some judges. It varies.

My ignorance about state V Federal law knows no bounds!

Huh? Why would US style democracy be an improvement over how the UK works now? The system you have seems to have worked well so far ...

Well, I'd like it if we could take a few things from you. Fixed terms for example, which seems to be agreed on by all parties. And a Republic..

Right, make HoL more functional?

In a sense, do away with the House of Lords as it stands and introduce a directly elected Lords. At the moment they are only appointed. Labour made large constitutional changes (Perhaps the largest in 1000 years) in getting rid of hereditary Lords (Lord Bumbling-Bottom Pinches son getting his fathers seat when he croaks happens less often than it did).

Did they get blasted for being puppets of Obama? (I hope not) .

Hey, this is a time when it is fashionable to be the dribbling poodle of Obama.

How is this being covered in the States? Is it seen as fairly important (The second most after the States?) or on the same par as Germany's recent one?