Things that you are scared about with the new Tory Government

I dread seeing further reports of people being victimised by sanctions leading to health breakdowns, homelessness, deaths.
These things have already been happening under the Tories/libdems so it's not being alarmist to think they might continue.

I could, of course, say "Tralala, I'll have a glass of wine and talk rubbish as it doesn't affect me personally."

Here you are Far giggle giggle have another one . Ooohhh we are being witty aren't we?

On the welfare debate before the election, the Green party representative challenged IDS about the report on those who had died while on sanctions. He was told no such report existed and called a liar by IDS.
I think it might be False Economy trying to get a judicial review on it and getting the details published. The report was supposed to be released before the election.

Far - I agree with you - many of the concerns we are expressing on the politics threads are not about new things happening ( although that will come) but about the continuation of established policies

Not in fact a result of a Tory majority, but the whitewash north of the Border, one thing I am afraid for (seriously) and that is the political future for Scotland. After rejecting independence at the referendum, no other Scottish party is more than a voice in the wilderness now. The SNP do not take account of different shades of the political spectrum and despite Nicola Sturgeon "promising" that the referendum question will not become an issue I do not see what other legitimacy she has.
I know of people who voted for independence but did not this time vote for the SNP. The Scottish Labour Party is in tatters, the Lib Dems likewise and the Conservatives long since gone, so there is no effective opposition within the Scottish parliamentary party.

Same here, Soutra. It makes me wonder how democratic it all is. I know that the SNP were voted for by a lot of the people, therfore it 'is' democratic but for virtually one party to have control of almost the whole country seems wrong, especially when a lot of people didn't vote for them. I'd like to know what the SNP actually wants, what are their aims short term and long term? On top of this there is the referendum over Europe which will cost a lot of money and, quite frankly I'll just vote to stay because I don't know enough about it to do otherwise and my gut feeling is to stay anyway. Talk about 'divide and rule' . I think Cameron got the short straw by winning and I wouldn't like to be in his shoes at this moment in time.

I agree with Eloethan's list.
I would have lots of worries if other parties had won, which is what made the decision so difficult.
I do not like the hold the SNP have in Scotland, where many people didn't vote for them.

I feel a bit diffident talking about Scotland and the SNP from South of the border. But my take fwiw is that firstly, a much greater % of the electorate voted SNP than voted Conservative here in England so there is a lot of legitimacy there. But also that the other 3 parties have only themselves to blame - especially the Conservstives who for decades have ignored the economic problems in Scotland and Labour who took support there for granted and were complacent. You then add to this mix the most amazing leader who gives people hope and something to believe in - that's really potent. I feel disenfranchised and despairing about the sort of society we are and will be in another 5 years. There is no one now in power in the UK who gives a toss quite frankly about the vulnerable - it's fertile territory for someone with passion and charisma to build on and so yes - more divisions, more hatred, more 'othering'. We will be distracted by debates ( as we have already been on GN) about after how many children child benefit should stop, whilst since Friday, some people have spent more on champagne thsn some people earn in a year.

To add to Eleothan's list, I am genuinely scared about the effect of the deep cuts already made to our emergency services and the certainty that more are to come. The government has been quite open about this, but the fact that our police and ambulance services are already stretched paper thin does not seem to have registered as a concern with most people. I suppose it's only when you or yours need urgent help and realise it's not coming that you know what we've lost.

I thought that sensible posts would prevail eventually.
People should be able to air their concerns, whatever their political persuasion. I have probably only voted Labour once or twice in my life, but so what. That doesnt mean that those voters and others from other parties should be shouted down when they have concerns about the new parliamentary term.
I felt that this election was quite pivotal in where the UK is going.

<realises shouted down will be discussed. Ok, smiled at with wine>

soontobe, Michel Gove terrifies me. He terrified me in education and we will no doubt see some of the destruction of the state system continue - also the attacks on teachers.

However, with his move to justice secretary, he will now be implementing the Conservative Party's pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act. That frightens me so much for our children and grandchildren.

I think I am right in thinking that the government will not be obliged to "act" on the result of a referendum to leave The EU. Although in order to ensure their credibility they will need to do something. perhaps they would use the vote as a tool to gain more independent power for the UK?

Living here in the north east we depend quite a lot on Nissan. They are a huge employer and pass work down in tiers to their suppliers, so there are many hundreds of small businesses who depend on Nissan being there. There is little doubt that if (by any remote chance) we did leave the EU, Nissan would almost definitely leave the UK. Renault (France) are already chomping at the bit to get the "new Nissan Juke" for themselves.

Many people do not understand the full implications of leaving the EU although I hope DC is strong enough to negotiate us a better deal.

Our voting system created a situation in which, however much support a party might get in Scotland, if England voted differently - the Scots would be governed by a party which they had perhaps very strongly rejected.

In England there was very little protest about a system whereby the majority of a country's population were quite often, in effect, left politically unrepresented. Unsurprisingly the Scots have tired of being a political irrelevance, but now that they have decided to challenge the situation and vote for the SNP there are rumblings about it being "undemocratic".

Aside from that issue, had the Tory Party up until 1964 and the Labour Party from then onwards paid some attention to the issues that mattered to Scottish voters and not taken their votes for granted perhaps the SNP would not have thrived in the way it has.

Whilst not totally in agreement with all Tory policies I personally would have been more worried if any other party had been elected.

Michael Gove as Justice Secretary.

Soon -I admire the fact that you keep joining in without trying to derail but please why do you have to use the phrase 'being shouted down'. Disagreement is not shouting down - clearly if there are more posters disagreeing with you than agreeing you might feel outnumbered but that's not shouting down. If you read the left of centre posts on all the political threads you will find thought through reasonable well informed discussion. We do not use the passive aggressive techniques that were so in evidence last night by a group of posters trying to derail serious discussion. I'm well known for my sharp tongue and admire those posters who stay calm, cool and rational when I've had enough but I think that along with others I put forward reasons for my views. Shouting down does not imply doing that.

Gilly - I really can't see why the rest of Europe would care about our leaving when if there is an out vote. They can't give us concessions without giving the same to other countries - why would they? We have no friends in Europe now. Also, if DC ignored an out vote, can you imagine how his swivel eyed right wing would behave? They'd wreck all other votes -remember how Major and Thatcher suffered at their hands? The really poor regions of the UK have vastly benefitted from a whole range of EU grants and investments, as you illustrate. Anyone voting conservative in this election knew that leaving the EU was a very distinct possibility

I will leave the shouting down/what is an argument/ etc comments and opinion for another thread, another day.

Surely there will be some flexibility in the wording of a referendum though GrannyTwice ? It need not be as simple as IN or OUT which could be extremely dangerous if voters do not understand the consequences of the result.

Here in the NE so many people rely on Nissan (directly and indirectly) for employment that I think it would probably be easy to canvass a "stay" vote. Unfortunately those people who think they won't be effected are harder to convince.

The problem though is that referenda always have simple questions. And who is going to explore the consequences of leaving? I know I'm always banging on about the right wing press but what their owners decide will be IMO very influential. Will they lead DC or will he lead them? I'm sure he wants to stay in but he really does have a large hard core of MPs who don't want to. Why will they change their minds? The many advantages of membership are just not known about. I still remember before the introduction of the Social Chapter when workers were not entitled to paid holidays - how many DM readers know that and do they think that was acceptable?

I know there are a few MP's who are all for exiting the EU, accepted.

The majority however believe we would be better staying in, accepted.

My question is I have never heard any one of those who believe staying in is the best thing for the UK not admit or accept that the EU needs reform. It's always said "I believe we should stay in the European Union but it has to be a reformed European Union", even Clegg and Miliband always said this.

My point is the EU is so corrupt, so determined to become the dictator of Europe from wanting a European Army, overriding members states sovereign laws etc. I think Cameron is on the nail in trying to get some reform for the UK, then tell us what /where we stand and let us decide. I don't think Cameron is as friendless as the media portray him to be. Why? Because too many countries are having similar issues and if the UK pull out they will be left to fill the cash pot required to the tune of billions.

GrannyTwice why do you always assume that People who read the DM are stupid and know nothing ? I'm sure we all know people who read that or other media news that come from all walks of life and a full spectrum of abilities.

Well I'm at a loss really to understand why anyone reads the DM and it certainly will never never never provide a balanced account of the pros and cons of EU membership. Actually I know lots of people who read the Guardian and they are all far from stupid

I'm sickened by protesters attacking the police and defacing the memorial to the women of WW2. We had a democratic election - that's how it works. I also feel disenfranchised. I don't understand why the environment wasn't at the top of manifestos. If we haven't got clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, what's the point of anything?