robin1234

Yeah that's what came to my mind as soon as I heard the news this morning. Huge gamble from the Prime Minister, since if the SNP do even better than last election, that's virtually a mandate for a referendum.

Giantaxe

I don't see how there won't be a second referendum regardless. May's point - and one I agree with - is that it shouldn't happen until after an EU exit deal - if any - is done and dusted.

In terms of a parliamentary majority, this isn't the slightest bit of a gamble. The current polls have the Conservatives on 43% and Labour on 25%. I can see this being a landslide of similar dimensions to Thatcher's against Foot in '83. Maybe that will be a good thing for Labour if it leads to Corbyn going. I see his current approval rating is 17%.

celticgrid

And in my view that was probably a big chunk of the decision. The Tories will expect to pick up a lot of UKIP votes. Increase majority. Job done.

Then again, there's been a lot of 'strange' electoral results recently...what are the odds on one more?

I do wonder if the general population will be any less dumb when the lies start flying around.

nun

Of course if the SNP don't do as well as they did last election then May will have a good excuse to stall/ignore requests for a new Scottish referendum.

md95065

That isn't exactly setting the bar particularly high is it?

yellowroom

You are correct, but they should be picking up voters who are concerned about traditional Labour strong topics such as the NHS, education and cuts to Welfare, and pointing out it's not the EU or immigrants faults these systems are straining, but the lack of investment by Westminster.

I live in Alan Johnson's constituency - he's not seeking re-election so I have a vague hope that they parachute in David Milliband to stand so he can be a grown-up voice in the rebuilding of Labour after the inevitable tonking they are going to get. Otherwise potential leaders are thin on the ground - someone like Dan Jarvis maybe, but he's not got much of a national profile at the moment.

We desperately need a credible opposition to hold the government to account, otherwise the 1983 comparisons are spot on and we'll continue to have years of labour in-fighting while a rampant Tory government lays waste to what remains of the NHS and the welfare state while we're all distracted by Brexit and Trump/Korea/Syria. In 8-10 years time, we'll look around and ask WTF just happened?

fakey

Its a savvy, bold move by her - & by contrast really highlights the inadequacies of the indecisive, clueless, dithering old fool currently leading the shambles that is the labour party. She has calculated (wisely imho) that labour under 'Jeremy' won't be able to mount any credible resistance & the tories will then be able to control parliament with a significant majority unopposed for the necessary time frame to push through brexit.
I am not pro Brexit (at all) but its obviously going to happen.
May has done the right thing in order to avoid the damaging chaos that dragging it out for years would have meant. So it's a good thing.
And I personally am relishing seeing 'Jezza' & Abbott et al utterly humiliated & kicked down the road. Hopefully this will finally cleanse the British body politic of the nauseating ex 60's Islington student radical types who are so prevalent & so toxic.
And if that happens, maybe the labour party can one day get back to representing the interests of working class British people.
But tbh I doubt that is going to happen.

fakey

Labour were officially pro remain - even though Corbyn has spent most of his career opposed to the EU - & even though, traditionally, socialist ideology is (logically enough) adamantly opposed to the free movement of labour.
So in other words, their posture re Brexit was as incoherent as everything else about them.

mrken30

I think this is the first election where I feel lackadaisical about voting. I have almost resigned to what will happen will happen. What is the point of voting?

It's typical , just as I'm about to visit the UK the exchange rate goes up

nun

Everyone seems to be forgetting the SNP and Plaid Cymru. The winners in this election could be the Tories and the other nationalist parties......I'm basically saying that the Tories are now a de facto English nationalist party and the SNP are the only coherent opposition.

PS. I just donated to the SNP and the LibDems.....LibDems got some money because I feel sorry for them, but they do have some principles I agree with and haven't caved to UKIP inclinations like Labour.

lansbury

Well I see the majority of Labour MPs voted for the election on June 8th. Now that really is turkeys voting for Christmas.

fakey

And that's now - let's see where it is after the sun, mail, express etc have spent 3 months covering their front page with full colour photographs of the clueless pro-ira muslim terrorist supporting half-wit looking ridiculous in his cycling shorts while his poisonous ex-lover Abbott labels every white person within earshot a racist

tantrum

Ooh, is this the thin line between disgust and desire? You secretly can't wait for all those full page colour photos of Jeremy in his tight cycling shorts.

Anyway, the more complacent Tory voters get about wining the lower your turnout will be and the better chance we have of finally getting a Labour PM that is aligned with the party's traditional values.

fakey

Ha- yes absolutely - I am positively moist with lust at the thought of Jeremy Corbyn's puny white chicken legs.
As for tory complacency - like most sensible people (including a majority of the less deranged labour supporters) I think the opposite will happen. Corbyn (in keeping with his career long record of general uselessness) will serve to galvanise and motivate people to get out and vote - against him.
Why do you think May is calling an election now ? Because, like any reasonably smart political operator (i.e. the exact polar opposite of clueless comrade corbyn) she can smell the blood in the water and is taking the opportunity to destroy the labour shambles when they are at their weakest.
And a majority of honest labour supporters agree.

robin1234

Yes, this seems accurate, I'd more or less agree with what you say. (Apart from the relentless trash-talk style that you favour.)

But the point is, how will these honest labour supporters react? Stay home because they are resigned to a bad result? Redouble their canvassing efforts etc. because they know it's an uphill struggle? Vote tactically, depending on the situation in their particular constituency?

I personally don't see why a labour voter wouldn't work hard for a labour victory, just because they don't like the current parliamentary leader. Their motivation should depend more on their own MP or labour candidate.