Is May about to call an election?

now they just don’t get a decent salary

Yeah, the poor lambs start out with three times the average wage, then add on generous expenses and a gold plated pension. It’s a wonder they survive.

There’s a dearth of political talent on all sides ATM.

Talented people (Chukka?) just can’t be arsed to endure high office.

I blame the press for making the life of all candidates miserable, plus the expenses crackdown. Expenses was the back door way to pay MPs a decent salary, now they just don’t get a decent salary and quality candidates just go into the private sector.

I don’t see any of this changing any time soon.

or imagine, politicians who actually have conviction and beliefs rather than a career path after a select few public schools followed by doing PPE at Oxford/Cambridge…

politicians who actually have conviction and beliefs

You mean like Hannan, Raab and Rees-Mogg?

Had the radio on all day today. All I’ve heard is stuff about police numbers, failures to follow up leads, and in a couple of reports a comparison of May’s ‘enough is enough’ soundbite to ‘brexit means brexit’. Even Laura Kuensberg has put the boot in. You’d assume that something like this would play to the tories strength, and Corbyn’s weaknesses, but as with other issues, May is doing a great job of highlighting her shortcomings.

What station?

Sounds rather interesting if the BBC have chosen to run with that.

Yeah, the poor lambs start out with three times the average wage, then add on generous expenses and a gold plated pension. It’s a wonder they survive.

The PM earns less than some of our (not even top) sales guys. Despite what the sales guys would have you believe I imagine the PM (and MPs under him/her) have rather more responsibility, plus a much shorter career.

Not a chance would I take on that level of responsibility for that money.

I imagine the PM (and MPs under him/her) have rather more responsibility, plus a much shorter career.

You’re quite right: ex-PMs are often to be found grovelling in the dole queue.

Looks like Corbs is getting the hang of this campaigning lark:

He argues the election is about what kind of country you want to live in. “Do you want a government that will say to Donald Trump: ‘You’re wrong about climate change?'” he asks.

“I’ll say that to him.”

Cashing in on anti-Trump sentiment whilst at the same time being truthful (as it’s not hard to be anti-Trump).

The PM earns less than some of our (not even top) sales guys. Despite what the sales guys would have you believe I imagine the PM (and MPs under him/her) have rather more responsibility, plus a much shorter career.

Not a chance would I take on that level of responsibility for that money.

Any idea how much Tony Blair charges for a speech or consultancy as a direct result of having been PM?

Sounds rather interesting if the BBC have chosen to run with that.

Was on radio 5. Just been in the car and they were still talking about it. Seems like labour are winning this one by keeping the focus on police cuts rather than Corbyn’s supposed weakness on security. Of course they’ve been enormously helped by May effectively trashing her own record in the home office by saying not enough has been done. No doubt that’s her arrogance and complacency showing again, they think all they have to do is say something and no one will scrutinise or question it. That may have been true before the campaign but not now.

Any idea how much Tony Blair charges for a speech or consultancy as a direct result of having been PM?

So you are saying that people are willing to pay more to hear him speak (with no consequence) than some are for him, or anyone, to lead a country….

Eh?

I’m saying that any PM is paid bugger all for the level of responsibility they have. Compared to after dinner speaking, footballing etc.

OK, and I’m saying that being PM opens up lots of money-making opportunities – it’s not just about the salary they get paid while in office.

You mean like Hannan, Raab and Rees-Mogg?

While I don’t agree with the likes of Rees-Mogg, I have respect for the fact he appears to have principles and beliefs that he sticks too rather than what he thinks would advance his career.

Just about sums up this election campaign.

Here’s maybot in a dark warehouse earlier today. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15329378.Why_was_Theresa_May_hiding_from_the_voters_in_a_dark_warehouse_on_the_edge_of_Edinburgh_/?ref=fbshr. And Ruth Davidson selling her soul to the maybot. Take a look at @AngrySalmond’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/AngrySalmond/status/871765683364921346?s=09

My god dazh that is seriously embarassing.. feel sorry for the poor woman.

It’ll be an absolute travesty if she wins though.

How they presented the scenario in Daz’ bottom pic in most of the media:

lol shes on a bus trip round britian giving speeches to the same 40 people.

I’m going to have a punt on May not being the leader of the Tory party by the weekend

I’m going to have a punt on May not being the leader of the Tory party by the weekend

She’ll be gone within six months whatever happens.

Unlikely the leader of the winning party will stand down?

Unlikely the leader of the winning party will stand down?

Anything less than a substantial increase in their majority will be seen as a failure.

she’ll cling on and ride the brexit elevator all the way to the bottom, dragging us all down with it

I’m going to have a punt on May not being the leader of the Tory party by the weekend

Good idea. Think I’ll take a look at the odds. Not saying it’s the probable outcome but worth a punt.

On Saturday I took 9/1 at the bookies on Labour winning the most seats. Looking around various forums and listening to what people are saying about the different parties, leaders and policies it actually didn’t seem that much of a long shot.

After all, the bookies and the polls have been wrong on both Brexit and the US election in the last 12 months.

With a large spread in the polls it means a lot of uncertainty.

Bookies odds are as much about risk to the bookies as the probability of the event your betting on.

Unlikely the leader of the winning party will stand down?

I am not sure she will be given a choice in the matter. Might take 6-12 months but unless she pulls something rather impressive out of the bag the plotting is going to be underway. Particularly since there is no real way of keeping all the factions happy. Her persona of capable leader is badly damaged and various people will be thinking about another leadership contest.

kimbers – Member

Here’s maybot in a dark warehouse earlier today. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15329378.Why_was_Theresa_May_hiding_from_the_voters_in_a_dark_warehouse_on_the_edge_of_Edinburgh_/?ref=fbshr.

I mentioned this on the Corbyn thread, but last week I literally just bumped into him in the street, walked up and had a wee friendly chat with the man, and so did anyone else that wanted to. He had a crowd about the same size as May’s invited audience there, who just turned up while I was watching- actual civilians. No vetting, no minders, no fluffers, no closed doors, no cameras. The contrast is ludicrous.

Are you lot still doubting PM May? 😆

It’s over – my vote has been settled (my mum received this the other day)

ninfan – Member
It’s over – my vote has been settled (my mum received this the other day)

Very colourful … 😀

@ninfan – if that’s the quality of election literature on tyneside….i’m moving back! 😆

Interestingly my 96 year old grandmother in law is planning on voting labour for the first time in her life, solely because she doesn’t trust May on the dementia tax. A few others in her WI group are saying the same. Talk about alienating one of your core voter demographics!

I will be surprised if that doesn’t lead to less votes that it appears. I think a lot of older people just won’t vote as they can’t vote for tory dementia tax but can’t see life long/old tories switching to another party.

polls still all over the place 1 pt in it for Goodmorning Britian, 11 pts for the Guardian.

@ninfan

I’m a bit worried. I looked at that and thought – actually some of those policies aren’t bad, it’s just that it’s riddled with phrases like ‘we will work towards’ and ‘we will work to make this so’

and then I realised – so are everyone else’s, just on better paper.

(apart from Brexit, which doesn’t seem to have quite such a defined plan but at least it has a more refined set of colours 😉 )