Theresa May calls General Election on 8th June.

[Busaholic]

Indeed. This is election address I've received from our Conservative candidate Theresa May. It's not even written as from the candidate! The thing that really stands out for me is the phrase 'Give me and my candidate your vote' - without even naming the guy (although he is named on the front of the leaflet). It looks to me like it's definitely trying to make the election about Theresa May full stop.

(I'd also say as a piece of communication it's inept. 'Me and my candidate'?!?!?! For the message that's going to send, the text may as well have been 'We don't care about your puny little constituency. Just vote for us anyway')

Being an old cynic, the spending rules on individual constituencies can be driven through with a coach and horse if the 'literature' comes from Central Office.

 

[me123]

So we fire one back and obliterate thousands of innocent people. Seems sensible.

The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (which has the most appropriate acronym imaginable). Essentially - we all nuke each other and obliterate life on the planet. Yay. Some people are quite happy that this acts as a deterrent - with the lunatics that are out there I wouldn't be so sure.

We would probably attack our aggressors in this situation. We'd be preventing further strikes (if the attack was launched on a specific region, this could prevent other regions being attacked shortly after - so an attack on London need not destroy the North). And even if we were to succumb, we would be protecting our allies. Some would advocate striking as pure retaliation - pure vengeance essentially. I don't think that achieves anything.

 

[Domh245]

And some of those apprenticeships being offered are a joke

(I'm thinking along the lines of "apprentice Kitchen Porter" or "Apprentice Stock Maintenance on shelves", which are basically a dodge so that the company can employ someone and pay then Apprentice wages instead of the proper min wage with giving them a piece of paper 6 (or so) months down the line saying "congrats you are now a Kitchen Porter, so keep on washing them pots and pans"


For most students going to university, they will never pay back the full amount of loan, the only students which will benefit are those who will go into higher paying jobs

Or of course, Subway with their "Sandwich Artist Apprenticeship"

I'm not overly fussed about tuition fees, it's the maintenance loans (that everyone always seems to forget) that irk me. The rich can take their minimum loan stick it in some investment with a higher interest rate than that charged on the loan, and then pay it back immediately. Meanwhile I'm on the bare minimum maintenance loan and it comes up about £200 short of the rent each term

There is a reason for this. Most polling companies are estimating a very high turn out for the 18-24 group, who heavily support Labour. This has given them part of the the increase in polls recently.

The only problem with this is the 18-24 group are notoriously unreliable for actually turning up and voting. Last time about 3/4 of young people said they were certain to vote, but only about 40% actually did.

So a large part of this election will be determined by who actually votes.

Other polls released today show Conservative 45% and Labour 34%(ICM), ORB conservative 45% and Labour 36%, YouGov Conservative 42% and Labour 38%.

Again the massive variations are because of the polling companies estimating a high turn out among young people.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a record turnout for the 18-24 category. Plenty of people registered in the run up to the EU referendum, and there have been plenty more in the run up to this. And through a combination of looming brexit talks and Jeremy Corbyns appeal to the youth, they'll hopefully turn out in force - although may not be of any use to labour if they're all in safe seats and by in marginals!

 

[HSTEd]

The number of warheads available would not even come close to destroying human civilisation itself, let alone "all life on the planet".
It would certainly knock back civilisation, but the shear number of people that would have to die to force civilisational collapse is rather impractical.

ESpecially asi n an all out nuclear war most of the warheads would be destroyed before they are detonated.

 

[chris11256]

The conservatives have suspended campaigning today. No word yet on whether Labour will do the same.

 

[Y961 XBU]

The conservatives have suspended campaigning today. No word yet on whether Labour will do the same.

Since May was not turning up to debates i felt like that had already happened

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Being an old cynic, the spending rules on individual constituencies can be driven through with a coach and horse if the 'literature' comes from Central Office.

I don't think that's the reason. I'm not aware of the Conservatives having done any significant other campaigning in this constituency, and one leaflet delivered to every house won't take you anywhere near the local election spending limit. This particular Tory leaflet design looks to me like plain laziness.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The conservatives have suspended campaigning today. No word yet on whether Labour will do the same.

Locally in Erith and Thamesmead we've been told that all campaigning is suspended today. And that seems appropriate to me. not sure whether that's a local or a national decision though.

 

[chris11256]

According to May's statement the suspension is for today only. Plus election will go ahead as normal, despite a few calls go delay it.

 

[northwichcat]

According to May's statement the suspension is for today only. Plus election will go ahead as normal, despite a few calls go delay it.

Really it's too late to postpone it now. If they postpone it then they'd have to reopen applications for postal/proxy votes as some people who will be at home on Thursday would be away on the new date.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't think that's the reason. I'm not aware of the Conservatives having done any significant other campaigning in this constituency, and one leaflet delivered to every house won't take you anywhere near the local election spending limit. This particular Tory leaflet design looks to me like plain laziness.

We just got a generic letter in Tatton. Mine's gone in the shredder but someone shared an annotated version of it on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13sarahmurphy/status/866551436917825536

The other side of the letters were badly mail merged. They said Dear <First Name> <Last Name> rather than Dear <Title> <Last Name> or Dear <First Name>, which is how you would normally start a letter!

 

[southern442]

Why exactly is campaigning being suspended?

Why does the attack last night warrant campaigning being suspended?

 

[me123]

As a mark of respect, and because it's hardly appropriate to be politicising at a time like this.

That said, I have little doubt that the intention of this attack was to disrupt the election. A day without campaigning is probably the right balance.

 

[Busaholic]

I don't think that's the reason. I'm not aware of the Conservatives having done any significant other campaigning in this constituency, and one leaflet delivered to every house won't take you anywhere near the local election spending limit. This particular Tory leaflet design looks to me like plain laziness.

My wife and I are receiving election communications every day from both Conservatives and LibDems, so it would impact on spending limits in a constituency such as mine.

 

[southern442]

As a mark of respect, and because it's hardly appropriate to be politicising at a time like this.

Why? Why is it a mark of respect?
"The terrorists did this to disrupt our daily life so out of respect we will disrupt our own campaigns" Sounds like respect for the terrorists to me.

Call me a fool but we should not let this disrupt the democratic process. Can't believe I'm saying this but only UKIP seem to have the right idea with regards to campaigning at the moment. We should continue to let the people know that we can make their voices heard in parliament, not force the whole country to make time for terrorism.

 

[Busaholic]

Why? Why is it a mark of respect?
"The terrorists did this to disrupt our daily life so out of respect we will disrupt our own campaigns" Sounds like respect for the terrorists to me.

Call me a fool but we should not let this disrupt the democratic process. Can't believe I'm saying this but only UKIP seem to have the right idea with regards to campaigning at the moment. We should continue to let the people know that we can make their voices heard in parliament, not force the whole country to make time for terrorism.

I think it's only the 'national' aspect affected, and then only until this evening: local campaigning continues, even if only stuffing leaflets into envelopes: there's an empty shop being used as a constituency campaign HQ a hundred yards from me and it's busy. I suspect that BBC/ITV etc may have an influence on this too if they considered it inappropriate to carry on with Marr/Peston etc, but these may be screened this evening (?)

 

[me123]

Why? Why is it a mark of respect?
"The terrorists did this to disrupt our daily life so out of respect we will disrupt our own campaigns" Sounds like respect for the terrorists to me.

Call me a fool but we should not let this disrupt the democratic process. Can't believe I'm saying this but only UKIP seem to have the right idea with regards to campaigning at the moment. We should continue to let the people know that we can make their voices heard in parliament, not force the whole country to make time for terrorism.

It's not truly disrupting the democratic process though - that resumes tomorrow. The election is going ahead. The terrorists haven't won, and they haven't been shown any respect.

It's just recognising that those who were affected by the attack (obviously going above and beyond the seven who've lost their lives - families, friends, those in the surrounding area, hospital staff, police...) probably don't want to hear politics today. In fact, very few of across the country us do. Presumably, it also minimises the risk that some individuals will distastefully use the loss of life to capitalise for their party.

We are relatively restrained when it comes to things like this. Lots of countries will declare quite long periods of national mourning (something I've always found a bit odd) following an attack of this nature. We've just shut some politicians up for 24 hours.

 

[Darandio]

We've just shut some politicians up for 24 hours.

Well we haven't, Corbyn is speaking in Carlisle later today.

And i've absolutely no problem with it.

 

[southern442]

Well we haven't, Corbyn is speaking in Carlisle later today.

And i've absolutely no problem with it.

I say good on him for carrying on as normal, and good on Paul Nuttal for doing the same. All that has happened is a mild disturbance in the democratic process. I highly doubt that people are going to feel better and more respected. In fact I don't see at all why we even continue to report on these attacks for more than a day.

 

[chris11256]

Well we haven't, Corbyn is speaking in Carlisle later today.

And i've absolutely no problem with it.

I think it was stated in the initial announcement that the suspension for both main parties was until this evening only.

 

[northwichcat]

It seems the Conservative propaganda mailing in Tatton has broken The Data Protection Act. Rather stupid of them considering the ICO is based in Wilmslow!

 

[HSTEd]

It seems the Conservative propaganda mailing in Tatton has broken The Data Protection Act. Rather stupid of them considering the ICO is based in Wilmslow!

Do you have a link or such to this development?

 

[Cantab26]

Really it's too late to postpone it now. If they postpone it then they'd have to reopen applications for postal/proxy votes as some people who will be at home on Thursday would be away on the new date.

The issue of postponement raises an interesting constitutional question: is it even possible to do so?

With reference to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011:

• The date cannot be postponed using a section 1(5) order because there is no parliament before which to lay it for approval under section 1(6); and
• A polling day has already been appointed by proclamation under section 2(7).

In these circumstances, it is not at all clear whether the existence of the section 2(7) proclamation renders the Queen 'functus', such that there is no power to gazette a replacement proclamation with a different appointed day.

This is probably one of those questions that it is best not to ask.

 

[Busaholic]

The issue of postponement raises an interesting constitutional question: is it even possible to do so?

With reference to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011:

• The date cannot be postponed using a section 1(5) order because there is no parliament before which to lay it for approval under section 1(6); and
• A polling day has already been appointed by proclamation under section 2(7).

In these circumstances, it is not at all clear whether the existence of the section 2(7) proclamation renders the Queen 'functus', such that there is no power to gazette a replacement proclamation with a different appointed day.

This is probably one of those questions that it is best not to ask.

There is absolutely no reason to postpone the election, but I think we'd basically have to be at war for it to happen anyway.

 

[northwichcat]

Do you have a link or such to this development?

All I know is someone has reported it to the ICO as it was an addressed marketing communication which didn't contain instructions for opting out of future mailings. I should have noticed that 2 weeks ago but I filed the communication in the paper shredder. The Lib Dem mailing does contain opt out instructions, while the other parties distributed unaddressed leaflets so don't need opt out instructions.

 

[me123]

Well, TM's speaking now as well.

This may not be campaigning per se, but she's using the event to gather support for her proposal to regulate the internet (which is in the Conservative manifesto, so I think this counts as campaigning).

Theresa May says the internet must now be regulated following London Bridge terror attack

This is exactly the reason why I'd be happy to shut down campaigning - politicians are using the attack for their own political gains. The man with the tiny hands in Washington's been doing exactly this.

All I know is someone has reported it to the ICO as it was an addressed marketing communication which didn't contain instructions for opting out of future mailings. I should have noticed that 2 weeks ago but I filed the communication in the paper shredder. The Lib Dem mailing does contain opt out instructions, while the other parties distributed unaddressed leaflets so don't need opt out instructions.

Hmm... shall have to check if the Tories have done the same here. Hopefully I haven't filed my personalised election flier in the same place you did.

 

[Howardh]

Brexit has given May the complete power she wants with the internet; no Brussels to help us to maintain our rights any more. They wanted control...you've given them control.
Now naturally we all want terrorist material controlled on the web, but it won't stop there. They will control news, opinions, journalists and so on in the name of protection.

Slippery slope.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Brexit has given May the complete power she wants with the internet; no Brussels to help us to maintain our rights any more. They wanted control...you've given them control.
Now naturally we all want terrorist material controlled on the web, but it won't stop there. They will control news, opinions, journalists and so on in the name of protection.

Slippery slope.

Labour would do the same but worse, I had some goon from Labour asking if I've vote for them - well with the gold reserve being sold of cheaply, the near bankrupcy of the country, the backdoor attemt are holding Britain to random in regards to Brexit and the continuous pulling of the race card (I asked them if they could name me another race other than human, they couldn't answer) I think not.

I'd rather have another five years of the Tories before we boot them out and replace them with UKIP or SDP in 2022, than I would with Labour who would destroy the country within a year especially with Captain Birdseye at the controls.

 

[najaB]

The problem is any answer other than 'Yes, absolutely I would launch a retaliatory strike' undermines the whole point of having it in the first place. Anyone who might consider attacking the UK needs to be convinced that, if pushed too far or attacked by nuclear weapons, we will retaliate. Prevaricating is not an option.

Indeed. It's the whole point of the deterrent - there's no point having nuclear weapons if potential enemies don't think you'll use them.

And, to a certain extent, you don't even need the weapons as long as potential enemies think you do - cf Israel. Everyone *thinks* they have nukes but they refuse to say one way or the other.

 

[Barn]

The problem is any answer other than 'Yes, absolutely I would launch a retaliatory strike' undermines the whole point of having it in the first place. Anyone who might consider attacking the UK needs to be convinced that, if pushed too far or attacked by nuclear weapons, we will retaliate. Prevaricating is not an option.

Personally speaking I agree with Corbyn on this issue. If by some very strange twist of fate I became PM then I wouldn't order a retaliatory strike and my letters of last resort to the submarine commanders would instruct them not to retaliate. But if a journalist asked me the question my answer would be an unequivocal 'Yes, absolutely I would launch a retaliatory strike' because that has to be the answer.

Completely right. The system provides for a pacifist option and it's quite likely that some of the letters written have chosen that option. Mine might as well, if I were PM, although I'd probably sit on the fence and go with the "take orders from the nearest allied country" option.

Corbyn hasn't figured out the difference between a locked safe on a submarine needing two keys and a broadcast interview. It sounds mean but, to be honest, I think it is actually a lack of cognitive ability on his part and it is irresponsible for journalists to even ask him for that reason.