general election

[walpurgis]

Philip May looks rather different since he gave up the day job.

[tapid]

Maybe, but here s another point, now peeps have seen Jeremy so close to power how may hands are going
to tremble when they go to place there cross on the ballot paper for Labour. Not younger people i m sure
but more older folk who voted for them to punish May for her dementia tax, etc. , assuming that the con s
make a better fist of there manifesto next time of course ! Interesting times!

[chris@panteg]

But without them having the necessary working majority, to properly enforce their policies, it means little.

As an aside, I wonder how many gay people (men and women), who voted Tory in this election, would have done so if they'd thought that the staunchly anti-gay DUP would've ended up as being part of the equation....?

And here's the thing... When (not if, for me) we have another general election in six months time, how many of them will vote Labour, in order to get the DUP out?

Even aside from the gay aspect, there's the anti-abortion thing too, and various other 'unsavoury' and controversial aspects of the DUP, which their new-founded alliance with the Tories, will turn off many Tory voters, so that in itself will have a significant bearing on the outcome of the next election, and not in the Tories favour either!

Fundamentally, Tory voters voted for a Tory-only government, not for the DUP to tag along too, so *that* (rather important) issue is going to have to be addressed, and sooner rather than later.

Marco.

Absolutely right Marco, this is a dangerous alliance and there is the question of rising tensions amongst the Republican community in northern Ireland as well, oh what a poisoned chalice the tories are drinking from.

[Macca]

But without them having the necessary working majority, to properly enforce their policies, it means little.

As an aside, I wonder how many gay people (men and women), who voted Tory in this election, would have done so if they'd thought that the staunchly anti-gay DUP would've ended up as being part of the equation....?

And here's the thing... When (not if, for me) we have another general election in six months time, how many of them will vote Labour, in order to get the DUP out?

Even aside from the gay aspect, there's the anti-abortion thing too, and various other 'unsavoury' and controversial aspects of the DUP, which their new-founded alliance with the Tories, will turn off many Tory voters, so that in itself will have a significant bearing on the outcome of the next election, and not in the Tories favour either!

Fundamentally, Tory voters voted for a Tory-only government, not for the DUP to tag along too, so *that* (rather important) issue is going to have to be addressed, and sooner rather than later.

Marco.

Major's government relied heavily on the Unionists for 4 years, this is nothing new. You need a parliamentary majority to pass new legislation (assuming it is opposed and not everything is), but you can govern without it.

The reactionary views of the DUP are fairly irrelevant. Even with their assistance it would be impossible to get anti-gay legislation through the Commons, let alone the Lords. That isn't going to be something they will be asking for. NI already has different laws on such matters anyway. Their entire concern will be the NI situation.

Ask yourself this: would Labour have done a deal with the DUP if it was the only way they could get a working majority? I suspect yes.

[Marco]

Sorry, Martin, my views on that are more in line with those of Chris (above).

Also, it not about passing anti-gay/abortion laws, of course that would never happen; it's about gay/pro-abortion Tory voters, and those who fundamentally disagree with DUP policies, finding this new 'alliance' rather distasteful, and when given an appropriate opportunity, voting them out.

I believe that when May's time is up, and a second election is called, the above will have a significant bearing on the outcome.

Marco.

[Stratmangler]

I believe that when May's time is up, and a second election is called...

Another election?
Unlikely before the next one is due, in 5 years time.
If May goes it will be business as usual, with whoever gets voted in as Conservative party leader.

[Macca]

Oh yes. All those hordes of tory voters for whom lesbian and gay rights are such an important issue...don't think so somehow.

[struth]

Trump says he is not going to come here if anyone protests against him

[Marco]

Oh yes. All those hordes of tory voters for whom lesbian and gay rights are such an important issue...don't think so somehow.

So you don't think that, UK wide, there would've been a significant number of gays and lesbians who voted Tory? It would be interesting to see the stats (were such things available). Who got in, in Brighton, for example - was it Tory or Labour? I haven't checked.

Marco.

[Macca]

Brighton was won by Green Party again.

I suspect there are very few L & G Tory voters although never seen any stats.