Farage & Russell Brand

Reading so many people saying they are not racist but will be voting UKIP really scares me witless. As said before- be careful what you wish for. I totally understand why people feel disnefranchised and want to use their 'protest' vote. Many people will do the same in France with Marine LePen- but due to the election system- she will get through the first stage, but fail at the second. Due to the First Past the Post system- Farage could actually do much better than intended by a 'protest' vote, and the consequences could be absolutely dire. Scares me witless.

Sorry about getting the name wrong- it was the Tory woman who was 'sensible but had nothing to say = vague waffle' - it was really late here as we are 1 hour ahead, and had to get up early to teach. The journalist made some excellent points.

You're welcome to him, KatyK!

I'm not sure NF is the answer, but I'm pretty certain the two Eds aren't. Not a fan of Cameron's lot either (contrary to popular assumption!) so I'll have to wait and see what transpires a bit nearer to election time.

It certainly is interesting how people can have completely different impressions of a tv 'debate'. I don't recall Camilla doing any waffling, nor do I recall Mary Creagh coming over well albeit shrewishly! I'm not questioning others' impressions, just rather amazed at the disparity.

How odd ( the woman with the blue fringe) That's my name. ( La Roche)
She must be 'one of ours' lol. It's common name in France but not in the uk.

I have no particular political allegiance but I find Nigel Farage sinister. He is extremely patronising to working class people with his 'look at me I've got a pint and a fag, I'm just like you' attitude. He knows who he is aiming for. I can see why people like Petra are fed up. I live in a bit city which has its fair share of problems. I'm not sure Nigel Farage is the answer. Give me Russell Brand any day.

And I don't want anyone spouting their socialist credentials at me. My Father stood at the dock gates with Jack Dash( union leader) I was brought up with every colour under the sun in our house.
He would turn in his grave if he heard the things I say!. But I think even he would say: enough is enough.
I have not long moved. Previous to this I lived in a beautiful flat in an Edwardian building. One of the flats was let to some Turkish people. We had an awful problem explaining to them that it wasn't appropiate to throw dirty nappies into our beautiful garden. I know there are English people who might do this but the problem was: they couldn't speak English. 4 men, 1 woman and a baby and nobody worked. How did they live!!!

^'Blue-haired woman' has been identified by some on Twitter as campaigner Bunny La Roche, a Socialist Worker's Party organiser and a Stand Up To UKIP member.

A woman believed to be her - the camera did not pan back to show her face - was later criticised by another audience member for interrupting again, who told her: “You are the rudest woman I've ever met!”^

Blue hair and she is not a Tory.

henetha

Did you miss the woman with bright blue hair shouting at the back?

Well, I must admit that I did fall asleep for a while, somewhere in the middle of QT...

Seriously, I think Russel Brand makes some good points
I can't remember a single point he made, and I wasn't asleep. Trying to sort the wood from the trees - or trying to disentangle a valid point from all the rubbish was impossible as far as I was concerned.

I am sure you must be able to deface the ballot paper in Australia, absent and I am sure NF knows that too!

I'm a huge devotee of Question Time, and last night's was top in terms of entertainment!
Seriously, I think Russel Brand makes some good points. If only he would mature a bit and learn to control himself.
As for Nigel Farage, well, like him or not, l I shall be voting UKIP simply because I am fed up with successive governments completely ignoring our growing concerns about immigration. I am not racist, not one bit, and I resent being considered so just because I think this country is becoming overcrowded.

petra I agree with you, good post. I shall be voting UKIP and also know a lot of other people who will be doing the same.

I'd like to know who would own up to voting for Ed Miliband with the Labour Party's track record!

Does this make any difference? We've stopped watching QT because it's just a bear garden. Any Questions on Radio 4 is still just about worth listening to and Any Answers is vastly improved since Dimbleby stopped presenting it. www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11664279.VIDEO__Chislehurst_man_who_clashed_with_Russell_Brand_on_BBC_Question_Time_is_UKIP_MEP_s_brother/

I'm sure an Australian gransnetter will correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think you have to vote in Australia; it is permissible to deface the ballot paper.

That's right, petallus and I feel sympathy for anyone in petra's position. It is easy for people who are not affected except in a positive way to take a sometimes 'lofty' attitude towards immigration. Many of us will have been cared for by health care staff from abroad, used plumbers from Europe and eaten fruit and vegetables picked by immigrant workers and are glad to do so.
However, the downside is as petra describes and, having worked for the CJS, I know it to be true.

I sympathise with your position petra. It's easy for those of us who are not 'swamped' and only know of a few polite hard working Eastern Europeans to take a high moral tone.

I suppose if we all agreed all the time on everything we wouldn't have the need for elections
(that would save a lot of money)

As I say, rosequartz, I only saw the second half, but it seemed to me that Mary Creagh was well prepared generally for the programme but it's a pity she appears to have no sense of humour. I have just read a couple of reviews on the internet and both opinions were that she had done well. That doesn't necessarily mean I agree with her politics, though! The two reviews, however, were at odds with my opinion of the journalist as they thought, like you, that she had done well, which I mostly did not. In fact, I found her rather embarrassing. Nigel Farage is good at maintaining his cool, I always think. He also seems to be a good listener and focusses on what the questioner has asked rather than going off on wild tangents like some others - Russell Brand springs to mind here!

Was I watching the same programme as you, NotTooOld? I thought Mary Creagh was absolutely hopeless and was flummoxed a few times when questioned by Dimbleby (most unusual for him to nail a Labour politician!). She had no idea what she was talking about and seemed to have no clue about her party's history re the NHS or immigration when they were in power for 13 years.

As I say, if I had watched the programme without knowing any previous, I would have been most impressed by Nigel and would be rushing out to vote for him.

Camilla the journalist came over extremely well, but then she is a political commentator not a decision maker.

I only saw the second half but I thought Camilla, the journalist, was terrible as was the Tory MP - both just woffled. Mary Creagh came over well, if rather shrewishly, as she at least showed she had done her research and knew what she was talking about. Russell Brand always looks and speaks like a petulant child and is frequently impossible to understand, mate. As for Nige, well, you don't have to agree with his views but, as ever, he was polite and did actually answer the question, which many of the panellists never do. I also thought he did well to remain dignified at the end when RB made a somewhat unwarranted dig at him. David Dimbleby has a difficult job but I think he does it well.

I'm a nice person and I will be voting Ukip. Unlike a lot of people I'm not afraid to nail my colours to the mast.
I'm sick of my town being swamped, yes swamped by immigrants. In the past month we have had 3 brothels shut down. Some of our Publicans are constantly being threatened by thugs for protection money. And these thugs aren't even from a country from the EU, but soon will be.
How many Roma do you have in your town? Are you on constant alert when your in your shops because of their pickpocket skills. How many of your DGC can't get into their local primary because they are full?
I think you are maybe fortunate that you don't have to live with these and many other issues that have been caused by our open door policy on immigration.

It's a sad reflection on politics in this country when two such clowns are featured on a serious current affairs programme.

Camilla did look/sound good but that was probably because everyone else were so amatuerish ...

The journalist was Camilla.

Camilla was indeed 'sensible' but just waffled vaguely and had nothing to say of any particular value. Our massive problems in the UK will not be solved by being 'sensible' - unless it goes with some genius too, and she really didn't seem to have that at all.

I thought Mary did excellently- I have to say. The mask of politeness Farage was clearly wearing, which came off a few times- frightens me to death- he is far too clever and calculated and ing- and give me the heeby jeebies. Brand is what he is- but he certainly was not made mince meat off by Farage.

The journalist, whose name I forget- made some excelllent points and would make a good politician.