egg

You previously said that elections are "100% a popularity contest" and that "Every single election in my lifetime has been decided based on personalities". That's massively different to policies first, and personality's selling them, which is what you now appear to be saying. I agree that personality goes a long way, but your previous suggestion that it's all about personalities is wrong.

I'm many things, but I'm not a cyclist!!

But you said it's all about personalities. LD'd post focuses on policies. Anyways, Reform are gaining traction because people buy into their populist policies, and don't believe in the other parties. Sadly the comments I see from their supporters on social media suggests that they can't join up the dots. They simultaneously want the fuel allowance restoring, but taxes reduced. They want a better NHS but support a party who want rid of it, and want less immigration to staff it, and less tax to fund it. I fear we'll end up with this lot in power though, regardless of the personalities involved.

This. And who actually gives a monkeys. There are people on this forum who plainly have/have had other logins. Why, no idea, but each to their own.

I think we'll only see how good it bad the deal is when we know what deal the EU negotiate with India. On the face of it though, reduced tariffs both ways is a positive. People seem to be getting upset about the NI breaks but overlook that short term Indian workers won't get a state pension, and will contribute to the NHS via immigration charges. Anyways, we have skills shortages, and post Brexit it's understandable that we'll look to other countries to help fill the void.

I can't work out whether his primary problem is that he's delusional, stupid, or dishonest. He's certainly all of them though. In no other place than his head is a trade deficit losing money or being ripped off.

Jaffa Cakes. Small and joyous.

I suspect he'll lean towards Pakistan because you don't smash up another country because of the actions of terrorists. The same for Gaza. Nothing to do with religion.

That's bollox. Starmer wasn't voted in on his personality. Farage ain't exactly Prince Charming.

Popularity of principles and policies, not personalities. People that vote based on the latter not the former are idiots.

I've never voted labour, but I sure as well wouldn't join the massive band of non thinkers and vote reform. Charisma FFS. Elections aren't a popularity contest. I couldn't give a monkeys whether I'd like to have a chat down the pub with our PM. If charisma is what drives people's choice on our governance, god help us.

You would hope, although my feeling is that the masses will dislike Keir, see the Tories as a busted flush, see Lib Dem as a wasted vote, and be so desperate for change, that they'll vote for that lot and only realise the error of their ways when it's too late.

It's not worse or better, but people are supporting reform because of their noise, and a complete lack of thought as to Reform's thoughts on the NHS, welfare etc. The same people who are up in arms about people who didn't need the winter fuel allowance losing it, now want a party who pretty much want to eliminate the welfare state. Turkeys/Christmas.

So the fool would want American Werewolf 2 in London, to be filmed in Chicago. That'll work.

The idiot seems to tweet the first thing that comes into his head.

Adults who do this "may the 4th" nonsense. You're not 12.

They've had no easy options for sure, and any decision impacts some portion of society. Hypo's point that I agree with is that they ain't appealing to either the left or the right. With a lame duck Tory party z they're leaving the door wide open for Reform..

Yep. It's hard to see who labour can appeal to at the moment. They were handed a shit hand, but they've played it badly.

Jesus wept. The fool gets dopier by the day.

72 seats suggests they're pretty popular. I don't know what a typical lib dem voter looks like, but I reckon that they'd do better if people didn't think they have to try to back the winner rather than voting for what they agree with/want.

Yep, and situations and decisions are imposed upon them that cause further financial woes, ie tribunal decisions obliging them to find expensive school placements, accomodating looked after children, social care, asylum seekers, etc. They have zero room for manoeuvre, and really their decision making is where to avoid/cut spending. Sad state of affairs.

Ha!! What do Lib Dem voters vote for?

Indeed. I've seen plenty of posts this morning from NHS needing, benefit supported, Trump haters, saying how great Reform are, and how we need them. I'm a man for democracy, but people really don't know what they're voting for.

Perhaps my prejudice led to my conclusion!!

I'm not sure how you drew that conclusion. He was merely saying that the idiot on the bike nearly caused an accident. As they often do. Without insurance against their monumental risk to other, insured, road users.