Ed Miliband speech

[scotty]

Is anybody else listening to this? Two minutes in and I'm cringing already, who wrote this cr*p for him? And what have they got against him??

[trousers]

I couldn't possibly comment without the forum thought police giving me a ticking off.

[dune]

The sound of his voice is enough to turn most people off voting for Labour.

 

He reminds me of a geek you get in to fix your computer.

[trousers]

Oops....someone just pulled the plug on the BBC's coverage....

 

Edit: all media streams gone aparently...

 

Conspiracy theory anyone...?

Edited 27 September, 2011 by trousers

[scotty]

He really is a monumental liability. The more I hear from him, the more I believe Labour have given up on the next election, either because they think they cant win it, or because they dont want to win it.

[scotty]

Oops....someone just pulled the plug on the BBC's coverage....

 

Still on 5 live.

[dune]

At least they have that likeable Mr Balls and his charming wife in the shadow cabinet. Real vote winners are they.

[trousers]

Still on 5 live.

 

Yep, audio was OK it seems - just pictures lost. Back again now.

[dune]

Nobody does it better....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h03_QbqhHg

 

[Colinjb]

Just listening to a bit of this. This guy is head of the 'Labour' party, right?

[dune]

Just listening to a bit of this. This guy is head of the 'Labour' party, right?

 

Career politician just like Ed Balls/

[scotty]

Career politician just like Ed Balls/

 

Labour really dont have any firepower left. The only half decent politicos they had have been kicked well into the long grass, I'm thinking mainly of Hilary Benn and John Denham. Red Eds brother is in the wilderness, even he would have been a more credible leader than lithping ed the gimp, I suppose theyre trying to keep their powder dry til election time when ed will be firmly shunted out the door.

[Colinjb]

Career politician just like Ed Balls/

 

It doesn't matter which party they are from, any career politician really shouldn't be in a position of power.

[OVER THE HILL]

Only millionaire Etonians can be politicians.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The problem Labour had is Gordon Brown spent 10 years crushing anybody with any leadership qualities in case they stood against him. I've got no time for David Milliband as he should have moved against Brown when Parnell quit. Like Portillo 20 years ago, he tried to box clever, look loyal, and lacked the balls to stand up and be counted.

 

You need a strong opposition to keep a Govt in check, particulary when the Govt is the other 2 main parties. Neither Ed will be able to provide it.

 

 

On the wider point of career politicans, they can not be a good thing, whether left or right.I want me leaders to have run a business, or led a union, or faced some of the hardships that we have to face. I would like to see more retired police chiefs, doctors, businessmen, shop stewards, and other high flyers from various walks of life, enter Westminister. Unfortunatly, the pay is poor and the work/life balance awful, so it will put these types off. You only end up with rich Etonians or Oxford PPE graduates, who have never done a days work in their life.

[dune]

Only millionaire Etonians can be politicians.

 

That's not true. Of course it's easier for those who have been handed a privilidged start in life.

[dune]

The problem Labour had is Gordon Brown spent 10 years crushing anybody with any leadership qualities in case they stood against him. I've got no time for David Milliband as he should have moved against Brown when Parnell quit. Like Portillo 20 years ago, he tried to box clever, look loyal, and lacked the balls to stand up and be counted.

 

You need a strong opposition to keep a Govt in check, particulary when the Govt is the other 2 main parties. Neither Ed will be able to provide it.

 

 

On the wider point of career politicans, they can not be a good thing, whether left or right.I want me leaders to have run a business, or led a union, or faced some of the hardships that we have to face. I would like to see more retired police chiefs, doctors, businessmen, shop stewards, and other high flyers from various walks of life, enter Westminister. Unfortunatly, the pay is poor and the work/life balance awful, so it will put these types off. You only end up with rich Etonians or Oxford PPE graduates, who have never done a days work in their life.

 

Not necessarily high flyers. Just people who have lived in the real world.

[Junction 9]

How he was elected leader infront of his brother is quite incredible. It's like they want to lose the next general election.

[LGTL]

How he was elected leader infront of his brother is quite incredible. It's like they want to lose the next general election.

 

I expect they do. 8 years of these current buffons in charge will be enough for anyone, and Labour would probably ease to a majority with Bertie Bassett in charge.

[dune]

I expect they do. 8 years of these current buffons in charge will be enough for anyone, and Labour would probably ease to a majority with Bertie Bassett in charge.

 

It's 5 year terms. 2 x 5 = 10.

[LGTL]

It's 5 year terms. 2 x 5 = 10.

 

I never realised you were good at Maths dune!

[dune]

I never realised you were good at Maths dune!

 

I'm good at lots of things.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

It's 5 year terms. 2 x 5 = 10.

 

TECHNICALLY they are meant to be only four year terms, but our 'constitution' allows it to be extended to five years. Not that anyone cares really.

[Julian H. Cope]

Yay, nine more years!!

[Saintandy666]

In terms of public speaking, Ed Miliband is probably the worst. Just ahead of him is Cameron, and then Clegg is miles ahead in lead. Not that it will do him much good mind.

 

Remember, it's the substance that counts though, not the style!

Edited 27 September, 2011 by Saintandy666

[pap]

They're not fixed terms though.

 

I thought the PM could call an election whenever, as long as it happened before 5 years.

[Saintandy666]

Yay, nine more years!!

 

Come over to the Lib Dems We might be able to suppress them for that entire time. A pure Tory government scares me.

[Saintandy666]

They're not fixed terms though.

 

I thought the PM could call an election whenever, as long as it happened before 5 years.

 

It's meant to be binding for this parliament, so they would have to pass another bill in the next parliament again. 5 years is too long really.

 

Anyways, due to the nature of our constitution it is barely binding... if a majority in Parliament wanted an election, they could repeal that law and trigger an election. So a vote of no confidence could still happen, but bar that the election is 2015... so no going to the polls after 4 years if you are doing well.

[pap]

Blimey.

 

I did not realise that had changed.

 

Depressed now.

[Saintandy666]

Blimey.

 

I did not realise that had changed.

 

Depressed now.

 

It has for one term... but really unless they bring in a rigid constitution like the US(which they won't), it really is quite meaningless.

 

When Labour get back in in a decades timeish max(Oh politics, you are predictable), they won't go for 5 years, they want 4 year terms(at least that is what they say on record), which sounds better.

[bridge too far]

It's meant to be binding for this parliament, so they would have to pass another bill in the next parliament again. 5 years is too long really.

 

Anyways, due to the nature of our constitution it is barely binding... if a majority in Parliament wanted an election, they could repeal that law and trigger an election. So a vote of no confidence could still happen, but bar that the election is 2015... so no going to the polls after 4 years if you are doing well.

 

But still expect to see a big tax giveaway after year 4 just before the next election.

[Saintandy666]

But still expect to see a big tax giveaway after year 4 just before the next election.

 

If the banks are doing well, and we make a slight profit... probably, though there is no guarantee of that the state the economy is in at the moment.

 

Imo, if there is a profit, there should either be a one off rebate to everyone or just use it to further pay off the deficit.

[dune]

But still expect to see a big tax giveaway after year 4 just before the next election.

 

You cynic. Like the Conservatives would do such a thing.

[Saintandy666]

You cynic. Like the Conservatives would do such a thing.

 

I'm not sure if that is trolling or not...

 

But they would probably cut tax, like get rid of the 50% tax band. Parties like the Liberal Democrats and Labour would probably either cut taxes for the poorer or invest in the welfare state with any surplus money.

[bridge too far]

If the banks are doing well, and we make a slight profit... probably, though there is no guarantee of that the state the economy is in at the moment.

 

Imo, if there is a profit, there should either be a one off rebate to everyone or just use it to further pay off the deficit.

 

This is Labour's plan, I believe.

[Saintandy666]

This is Labour's plan, I believe.

 

Yep, though Andrew Neil was having a go at Ed Balls about it saying it was a gimmick as any profit is predicted to be about £3bn, so not much in the grand scheme of things. The banks should go for a hefty amount though which will help to reduce interest payments instantly.

[scotty]

How he was elected leader infront of his brother is quite incredible. It's like they want to lose the next general election.

 

Ive been saying exactly this since Labour shoehorned Ed into place at the helm. I am certain that they have already given up on the next election and Ed is the bullet catcher.

[hypochondriac]

In terms of public speaking, Ed Miliband is probably the worst. Just ahead of him is Cameron, and then Clegg is miles ahead in lead. Not that it will do him much good mind.

 

Remember, it's the substance that counts though, not the style!

 

How often do you get that from any politician though, much less a potential PM.

[dune]

This is Labour's plan, I believe.

 

Labour have a plan?

[badgerx16]

Labour have a plan?

It's simple, hang around until the ConDems implode and walk back into Downing Street as the other 2 parties fight their civil wars - The LDs will lose a lot of support to the tree huggers and the blue rinse brigade will defect from the Tories and boost UKIP into 3rd place nationally.

The worrying thing is that none of them deserve to run the country.

Edited 27 September, 2011 by badgerx16

[dune]

It's simple, hang around until the ConDems implode and walk back into Downing Street as the other 2 parties fight their civil wars - The LDs will lose a lot of support to the tree huggers and the blue rinse brigade will defect from the Tories and boost UKIP into 3rd place nationally.

The worrying thing is that none of them deserve to run the country.

 

I tend to agree and it wold be brilliant to see UKIP emerge as a major player. If and when this happens I envisage defections from the conservative parliamentary party.

[scotty]

I tend to agree and it wold be brilliant to see UKIP emerge as a major player. If and when this happens I envisage defections from the conservative parliamentary party.

 

Thats an interesting point right there Dune. The idea of the country accepting multi-party coalitions as the norm, rather than an aberration ,would mean that minority parties would suddenly take on more importance than they otherwise would have. Ukip and others would suddenly become a hell of a lot more relevant than they have been up to now, and we wouldnt have to fart about voting "tactically".

[Johnny Bognor]

I tend to agree and it wold be brilliant to see UKIP emerge as a major player. If and when this happens I envisage defections from the conservative parliamentary party.

 

I think with the implosion of the Euro Zone and the end of the Euro as we know it, UKIP might have nothing to fight for

[scotty]

I think with the implosion of the Euro Zone and the end of the Euro as we know it, UKIP might have nothing to fight for

 

Cant see that happening myself Johnny. They will have to kick out greece, ireland and portugal, possibly italy and maybe even spain, but the core of the eurozone will retain the currency. Its a german/french project when alls said and done.

[trousers]

But still expect to see a big tax giveaway after year 4 just before the next election.

 

Political parties in pre-election vote maximisation revelation shocker... ;-)

[Kev]

That's not true. Of course it's easier for those who have been handed a privilidged start in life.

 

I'm good at lots of things.

 

Were you handed a privileged start in life, Dune?

 

Are you good at spelling?

[Special K]

He inspires about as much confidence as back street abortionist.

[bridge too far]

Political parties in pre-election vote maximisation revelation shocker... ;-)

 

But Dave said that a fixed term parliament would stop pre-election vote maximisation.

[View From The Top]

Ed is insipid at best and his simply keeping the seat warm for his brother IMHO.

[trousers]

But Dave said that a fixed term parliament would stop pre-election vote maximisation.

 

Link to his exact words?

 

Off the top of my head, I think he said it would deter parties from setting a date purely based on when it thought was the best time for it to win, but that doesn't stop parties of any persuasion coming up with policies or dangling carrots at the fixed time of the election.

 

Would be interested to see a transcript of what he said. I suspect he (like every politician) worded it craftily enough to not rule out the dangling of carrots per se, just that he was making it more difficult for parties to determine the timing of an election based on the size of said carrots.

 

It's a load of vegetables whichever way you look at it.... ;-)