Will you watch tonight’s debate on BBC at 7:30pm?

I think anyone thinking of voting Labour should be aware that there are things going on behind the scenes that the public may not be aware of. Here for example we have Angela Rayner promising Muslim voters that if they vote for her then Labour will recognise Palestine. The video is very revealing, the desperate babbling and the reaction of those around her.
Angela Rayner appeals to Muslim voters

It's interesting that when Keir Starmer waited politely for Sunak's lies to finish he was criticised with the 'rabbit in the headlights' cliche, but when Angela Rayner tried to argue with Penny Mourdant she is criticised for doing that. I understand confirmation bias, and will be guilty of it myself, but in this campaign it seems to be worse than ever. People are commenting using cliches they've been fed in advance, seemingly without listening to what is being said.

This is where Farage gains ground, as he's very good at dog-whistles, and can think on his feet in interviews and play to the gallery without clowning around like Ed Davey or Boris Johnson. He can sound statesmanlike even though he doesn't actually say anything about his policies (if he has any).

Obviously Reform won't win, but the Tories are doing so badly that Reform may become the opposition, as Farage is clearly hoping. His strategy is to try to nudge people towards seeing them as a viable alternative to the Tories. Much as I don't like Tory policies and would like to see them in the wilderness for a decade or so, I would rather see them in opposition than Reform, as the opposition can drive the narrative, and all I hear Farage talk about is immigration, low tax and how he believes in people paying for the NHS.

Also, I know he's a Trump supporter, which is a worry, as if Trump is re-elected in the US the last thing we need in the UK is for him to ally himself with the opposition here, and try to scupper the government's attempts to improve things, whoever wins.

You are right ... it is very hard to get your hands on the manifestos. Joining a party mailing list to receive it just results in begging letters.

Excuse my ignorance, but will we be able to view the manifestos online when they come out?

Have tried to look it up about them, but can’t seem to find much.

Politics seem to bring out the worst in people - and sadly often out of the politicians themselves. This is why I am not watching any of the debates or election speeches. I will look at the manifestos.

I am happy to have leaders who have integrity whatever their accent or "limited vocabulary".

Iam64

No the truth doesn’t hurt. Nasty, uncalled for personal attacks - well they’d hurt if they meant anything

I've not made any personal attacks on the thread to other posters only you have. Anyway carry on, life's too short.

Well said, Iam.

When people admit to listening to someone's accent and grammar, rather than what they say, it's proof enough that now's the time for the UK to have a change of direction, I'd say.

We've had 14 years of being ruled by public schoolboys, and they've med a reet arse of it. Let someone else have a go.

No the truth doesn’t hurt. Nasty, uncalled for personal attacks - well they’d hurt if they meant anything

Nicenanny3

Iam64

I watched it. I enjoyed the support the audience gave to the SNP and Plaid Cymru when they pointed out we need immigrants to work, especially in care/nhs.
The government/right wing have it wrong, our society is more compassionate and liberal than they think.

As for the nasty, bigoted, snobby comments about Rayner - she’s worth 20 of you

Seems the truth hurts, well I certainly got your goat, she's worth 20 of you really, sounds like somethings a little kid would say in the playground so silly and petty and I thought this forum was for grown ups.

You gratuitously goad other posters who have different opinions to yourself Nicenanny3, and there’s no need for it, it does you no credit whatsoever.

Nicenanny3 for the third time, please can you tell me which parts of the Deputy Prime Minister’s role Rayner won’t be able to do?

Iam64

I watched it. I enjoyed the support the audience gave to the SNP and Plaid Cymru when they pointed out we need immigrants to work, especially in care/nhs.
The government/right wing have it wrong, our society is more compassionate and liberal than they think.

As for the nasty, bigoted, snobby comments about Rayner - she’s worth 20 of you

Seems the truth hurts, well I certainly got your goat, she's worth 20 of you really, sounds like somethings a little kid would say in the playground so silly and petty and I thought this forum was for grown ups.

I watched it. I enjoyed the support the audience gave to the SNP and Plaid Cymru when they pointed out we need immigrants to work, especially in care/nhs.
The government/right wing have it wrong, our society is more compassionate and liberal than they think.

As for the nasty, bigoted, snobby comments about Rayner - she’s worth 20 of you

There are as many ways of looking at it as there are people who saw it Sparklefizz, and plenty of people who didn’t even watch it seem to have a view too, which is not to do with the debate itself at all. None of the people I expected to do well particularly shone purely on their performance during the debate, I thought the best was Stephen Flynn on the night.

Last night for example. Raynor is an excellent debater, and she was surprisingly constrained last night. But her constraint gave Mordaunt a lot of rope with which Mordaunt duly hung herself.

Maybe Rayner just didn't know what to say, or maybe had been advised not to get carried away in case she began calling people "scum"??

There are two ways of looking at it.

I’ve just posted on the poll thread.

The right wing press are desperate to pin a boo-boo on Starmer/Rayner to try to get some movement in the polls, but Labour are playing them at their own game and not giving them an inch. This has resulted in a pretty boring election from Labour so far - but it is working!

Last night for example. Raynor is an excellent debater, and she was surprisingly constrained last night. But her constraint gave Mordaunt a lot of rope with which Mordaunt duly hung herself.

Less is more folks!

Unless you are Sunak who really should show patriotism and turn up at commemorations of some of the country’s most important events.

“Well developed” is being kind Casdon, I’d say more over the top!

I think that’s fair comment actually Pantglas2. Johnson had a very well developed sense of occasion.

Well whatever you say about him, Boris would never have left early, would’ve made himself centre stage somehow and you’d all be moaning about that now…!

Granniesunite

“Getting her words wrong”

My take on that is are the words lies or just bad grammar?

I can put up with the bad grammar it’s the lies I will not tolerate.

A very interesting article MayBe 70 you might have to retweet that a few times…

I doubt if some people will read it DH and I kept saying the other day how relieved we were that Johnson wasn’t representing us at the D D ceremony.

Rayner is a firebrand and probably will become deputy PM, time will tell whether she becomes a stateswoman and a competent minister of state. She will have her chance it’s up to her

“Getting her words wrong”

My take on that is are the words lies or just bad grammar?

I can put up with the bad grammar it’s the lies I will not tolerate.

A very interesting article MayBe 70 you might have to retweet that a few times…

Nicenanny3

Why shouldn't she be criticised she had better get used to it. Nothing to do with Northern accents, my husband and 2 children have Northern accents, nothing wrong with coming from up North. My point is she is potentially going to be our next Deputy PM and she keeps getting her words wrong if you think that OK well your choice but put her next to someone educated like Penny Mordaunt and the cracks start to show in my opinion and I am allowed to have one.

And then she kept rudely pointing her finger at Mordaunt didn’t she? How commonOh, hang on a minute….

My point is she is potentially going to be our next Deputy PM

Can you please tell me which elements of the role you believe she wouldn’t/wont be able to do?

She shouldn’t try to use words which are outside her normal (limited) vocabulary.

Not our choice, Nicenanny3, the choice of the electorate. You’ll be spitting feathers before much longer.