Topic: The first General Election of 2017

[Purple Red]

And I agree with you also.  But on the upside for NI the worst of the troubles have subsided over the past 20 odd years.  Now perhaps this investment will help kickstart development, but it's important to remember Liverpool wouldn't be where it is without EU Objective One funding, and we're likely not alone.  The last Labour government got pissy with Liverpool over £170m for Merseytram ffs.

Bottom line is that if the government can get away with giving you funding, they will.

Absolutely. There is no doubt that this deal by the Tories is purely out of self interest and the DUP will be under no illusions otherwise. Indeed, they have made this deal not because of the Tories but because of self interest also. The same is true for NI regarding EU funding. So much of the great work that has been done here since the Good Friday Agreement has been thanks to peace funding from the EU as opposed to investment from Labour/Tory governments.

[12C]

Catholic and Protestant businesses were both guilty of not hiring members of "the other side of the house" but you're right that this wasn't beneficial to the economy. I think you're referring more to structural inequality in the public sector though. Discrimination was more of an issue in unionist councils, and to a lesser extent nationalist councils due to those being a minority, as opposed to the private sector. The most serious blows to the private sector were still a result of the Troubles. It was held back by the inefficiences you described but only brought to the brink of destruction from the late sixties/early seventies.

Interesting article re the decline of H&W (and the problems faced by private sector) in Belfast due to the sectarian divide
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sectarianism-and-the-shipyard-1.916936

[the 92A]

Brexit put the 'little' in Englander rather than the 'great' in Britain, shamelessly stolen from this which is Gary Younges explanation of why everyone was so wrong about Corbyn not giving him a chance and why it was possible to get it so wrong.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2017/jun/23/a-shock-to-the-system-how-corbyn-changed-the-rules-of-british-politics-podcast

[SP]

Interesting:

It's a couple of weeks old, but I missed it. It the Sun wot could not be arsed to turn up.

https://www.indy100.com/article/sun-readers-vote-newspaper-election-conservative-ukip-labour-turnout-yougov-exit-poll-7789206

[Trada]

Bloody young people and their baseball caps talking back to their elders.

 Sophia Butt‏ @SophiaAB81

Hero of the Day goes to Elliot,absolutely nailed it! Victoria LIVE

Video

https://twitter.com/SophiaAB81/status/879653182359699456

[Yorkykopite]

Hero of the Day goes to Elliot,absolutely nailed it! Victoria LIVE

You see 'Elliot' is one of those names like 'Corbyn' that gets increasingly used as a first name. The Americans have always been big on that but that lad sounded English to me which is interesting. Perhaps we are importing the American habit. Is it possible that little girls - or boys - will be called 'Abbott' in future?  Or 'Thornberry'? Thornberry's quite nice actually.

Shit, sorry, wrong thread. I thought it was the Labour party one.

[Alan_X]

You see 'Elliot' is one of those names like 'Corbyn' that gets increasingly used as a first name. The Americans have always been big on that but that lad sounded English to me which is interesting. Perhaps we are importing the American habit. Is it possible that little girls - or boys - will be called 'Abbott' in future?  Or 'Thornberry'? Thornberry's quite nice actually.

Shit, sorry, wrong thread. I thought it was the Labour party one.

[SP]

You see 'Elliot' is one of those names like 'Corbyn' that gets increasingly used as a first name. The Americans have always been big on that but that lad sounded English to me which is interesting. Perhaps we are importing the American habit. Is it possible that little girls - or boys - will be called 'Abbott' in future?  Or 'Thornberry'? Thornberry's quite nice actually.

Shit, sorry, wrong thread. I thought it was the Labour party one.

938 Elliott, 926 Elliot, 33 Eliot, 17 Eliott, 3 Elliott-James

There were 51 named Abbas - maybe in honour of Diane.

16 Thorin (-berry)
13 Thor (-nberry)
8 Huckleberry ( definitely after Emily)

No Nugees.

[Yorkykopite]

938 Elliott, 926 Elliot, 33 Eliot, 17 Eliott, 3 Elliott-James

There were 51 named Abbas - maybe in honour of Diane.

16 Thorin (-berry)
13 Thor (-nberry)
8 Huckleberry ( definitely after Emily)

No Nugees.

Tea spilt you bastard.

[killer-heels]

Sturgeon to 'reset' referendum timetable. Basically, they won't be having one any time soon.

[Purple Red]

Sturgeon to 'reset' referendum timetable. Basically, they won't be having one any time soon.

Given that her dogmatism on the referendum cost her a large number of seats to the Tories and helped keep them in power, I would imagine so.

[killer-heels]

Given that her dogmatism on the referendum cost her a large number of seats to the Tories and helped keep them in power, I would imagine so.

In hindsight she was probably better off waiting until after the election before requesting a independence referendum.

[Elmo!]

In hindsight she was probably better off waiting until after the election before requesting a independence referendum.

At the time she requested it, an election was not on the table and wasn't expected.

[killer-heels]

At the time she requested it, an election was not on the table and wasn't expected.

Ah yes, that is true, my mistake.

[classycarra]

At the time she requested it, an election was not on the table and wasn't expected.

It wasn't expected, but it was heavily speculated. Assume it probably factored into her strategic thinking for when to announce - in terms of trying to achieve most traction, which she definitely managed - but they decided it was ultimately worth the risk.

[12C]

938 Elliott, 926 Elliot, 33 Eliot, 17 Eliott, 3 Elliott-James

There were 51 named Abbas - maybe in honour of Diane.

16 Thorin (-berry)
13 Thor (-nberry)
8 Huckleberry ( definitely after Emily)

No Nugees.

There are kids running around this area called Armani, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, as well as Chardonnay. Capitalism gone mad. Elliot seems tame!

[SP]

There are kids running around this area called Armani, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, as well as Chardonnay. Capitalism gone mad. Elliot seems tame!

19 Armanis. I don't have the Girls list open.

[Claire.]

Did anyone read the list, get to 'Steve' and laugh?

[Elmo!]

It wasn't expected, but it was heavily speculated. Assume it probably factored into her strategic thinking for when to announce - in terms of trying to achieve most traction, which she definitely managed - but they decided it was ultimately worth the risk.

It really was not expected back then - as I remember it the feeling was that if May was going to have an election it would have been after she was elected PM, and she had repeatedly ruled it out. I think that was the last thing the SNP wanted to happen after calling for the referendum.

[[new username under construction]]

Any chance of getting her and these fuckers out of power any time soon?

[killer-heels]

Any chance of getting her and these fuckers out of power any time soon?

Do we actually want that right now?

[Red Beret]

Isn't this DUP deal supposed to be only for two years or something?  That suggests it's either up for renegotiation, or the entire government self destructs right after Brexit.

The only realistic way to bring them down is five Tory by-elections.  That would wipe out whatever working majority the coalition has.  The odds of sufficient numbers of Tory MPs turning on the government is pretty low, although not non-existent.

I suppose it's possible that the DUP could ask Labour what it's worth to help bring down the Tories, but that would probably just be a tactic to force concessions from May.

[Trada]

My quote of the day.

Jon Snow 'I have no recollection' of chanting 'fuck the Tories' at Glastonbury

[Wigwamdelbert]

Isn't this DUP deal supposed to be only for two years or something?  That suggests it's either up for renegotiation, or the entire government self destructs right after Brexit.

The only realistic way to bring them down is five Tory by-elections.  That would wipe out whatever working majority the coalition has.  The odds of sufficient numbers of Tory MPs turning on the government is pretty low, although not non-existent.

I suppose it's possible that the DUP could ask Labour what it's worth to help bring down the Tories, but that would probably just be a tactic to force concessions from May.

The deal is for 5 years, the additional investment is over 2 years. And no, the DUP would never contemplate any discussion with Corbyn

[Red Beret]

The deal is for 5 years, the additional investment is over 2 years. And no, the DUP would never contemplate any discussion with Corbyn

Well I said Labour, not Corbyn, but I take your point.

[gazzalfc]

1st test of the confidence-and-supply between the tories and DUP went through without issue with a 323 to 309 vote against amendments to the queens speech.

That £1 Billion has saved her for now. Be very interesting when voting on matters where the whip isn't enforced.

[Zeb]

Stella Creasy's amendment to the Queen's Speech has been accepted for a vote. It's a cross-party amendment to allow women from Northern Ireland to access the mainland NHS free of charge for abortions (they typically get charged £900 - £2000). Vote is at 5pm so worth poking your MP to ask them to support it. Three Tories have signed up to the amendment from the start, and others are also flagging their concerns with the government. Do doubt it'll pass, but the government may have to make concessions to keep their own backbenchers onboard with it. And that at least will be something if it's put forward a little later with eg a free vote.

[SP]

The election is over. The Queen's Speech has passed. I am sure that someone will start a new topic for this Parliamentary session.