Conquer Club

The main competitors:

The Conservatives, or Tories (Right, or Centre-Right)- leader- Prime Minister Theresa May

May was appointed PM after the former PM, David Cameron resigned. She's campaigning on the idea of strong and stable leadership, but won't agree to debates.

Labour- the opposition party (Left or Centre-Left)- leader Jeremy Corbyn

Corbyn is also a controversial leader- he has dubious support from his other MPs, but a lot of support from his base. Sometimes seen as too left wing from a party that last got elected under a more centrist Blair.

Lib Dems- traditionally the third party in British politics (Centrist)- leader Tim Farron

The Lib Dems have a younger base than either the Tories or Labour usually, but screwed over their base in a hung parliament by allying with the Tories. Usually they're better at a local level.

SNP- Scottish National Party (Nationalist, centre-left?)- leader Nicola Sturgeon

Focus is very much on Scotland and its Independence from the rest of the UK. Powerful in Scotland, but doesn't run candidates outside of Scotland.

UKIP- (Nationalist, right, and far right, ostensibly UK party, but more anti EU) leader Paul Nuttal

Dificult to say who is really the leader on this one. Used to be Nigel Farage, Close to Trump in both politics and lack of organisation.

Plaid Cymru- (Welsh nationalist, left) Leader Leanne Wood

No standing outside of Wales, but Wales voted for Brexit in spite of it being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the EU.

Green Party- (Environmentalists- Left) Leader Caroline Lucas

They have a lot of fair bit of support locally, but struggle nationally. Bit of a mix of sensible policies and things that are kinda out there.

I've left off the political parties in Northern Ireland because that's more complicated than a cheat sheet needs to go into. Only Corbyn and May have a real chance of being the next PM, but the other parties might have a role in how decisions are passed.

screwed over their base in a hung parliament

let's keep it clean and not talk about people getting screwed by a hung parliament (or even a lesser-endowed parliament)

saxitoxin wrote:

screwed over their base in a hung parliament

let's keep it clean and not talk about people getting screwed by a hung parliament (or even a lesser-endowed parliament)

It's not funny if you explain the joke.

mrswdk wrote:

Symmetry wrote:I've left off the political parties in Northern Ireland because I don't really know anything about them.

i think of northern ireland and ireland and britain like jan and marcia and the brady parents

I'm going to laugh my ass off if May wins without a majority.

go tim farron!

I voted.

mrswdk wrote:

Symmetry wrote:I've left off the political parties in Northern Ireland because I don't really know anything about them.

Well, I know a bit, just not enough to reliably parse them. They also tend to have very little influence in national elections. Feel free to step in if you have a handle on NI politics though.

Today's events show why we need Corbyn. The police can't stop ISIS but maybe Corbyn can get his friends in Sinn Fein and Hezbollah to go after them. Sinnbollah ... our best hope.

Much as I dislike Tony Blair, he doesn't really get enough credit for his government's role in the peace process with Sin Fein and the IRA. Corbyn gets a lot of flak for talking to Hezbollah, and the IRA, but I prefer a politician who talks to people.

One of the most shocking parts of the most recent debate, apart from May's refusal to turn up (if she can't debate other leaders within the UK, how can she really negotiate with the EU?, was how poor Amber Rudd did.

It's as if the idea of diplomacy was beyond the Tories.

48 Hours until we have another friend in power!



Gooooood mornnninnnngg Estonia!

Banksy under investigation for vote buying -

http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news ... ion_fraud/

(yes, I just happen to be an avid reader of the Bridgewater Mercury)

I voted (by post).

Someone ask jones who he voted for, he's clearly dying to tell us.

I don't think it would surprise anyone...

Oh yeah, duh. Plaid Cymru.

mrswdk wrote:Oh yeah, duh. Plaid Cymru.

If only they ran a candidate in Surrey...

Didn't Tom Jones move to California because Labour won back in the day?

Symmetry wrote:Didn't Tom Jones move to California because Labour won back in the day?

No relation.

jonesthecurl wrote:

Symmetry wrote:Didn't Tom Jones move to California because Labour won back in the day?

No relation.

Really, how many people called Jones can there be from Wales?

Your profile pic looks a bit like the guy too actually.