UKC

I just wanted to thank everyone for their contributions to political discourse over the past couple of months, and indeed beforehand.

Although my circumstances deliver strong empathy for traditional right wing policies I'm a classic floating voter with an evenly distributed voting record. And in my household this time round, votes were shared by the three main parties with a minority win for the LibDems.

Nevertheless I'm a businessman at heart and it's a tough ask delivering the view of enterprise to an overwhelmingly left-leaning audience. This with the lonely and reasoned support of NeilH. Sometimes you have to wear the "dislikes" as a medal. So I'd like to pick out the contributions of PMP who at times stood tall and with good humour against a relentless onslaught of contrary and sometimes personal arguments. The forum would at times resemble a lifeless echo chamber without your voice, Pat.

And there were powerful arguments from the left. Austerity played a strong role in calming nerves at the start of the decade but for some time I've been wishing for its end. Surely the Brexit referendum taught us that its time was up and it was May's fatal miscalculation to ignore this. I'd like to thank, amongst many but above all, Jon Stewart and JKarran for articulating the broader sentiment around continued spending cuts with great passion. You made me think and that's the highest compliment I can pay.

I have to mention Krikoman for his unswerving support for the new messiah. Corbyn still lost despite the most naked of bribes to the electorate. Inducements which his manifesto could not possibly deliver and it was his huge good fortune to come up against a suicidal opponent who offered up her core vote for the taking. Now that Corbyn will be taken seriously in the re-run, his economics will come under much stronger scrutiny and we should expect (and we should all hope for) a softening of the Tory approach which plays better at the ballot box. I'm fascinated to see if Corbyn will move further to the centre where victory lies. He was the star of the election and his smiles in defeat tell the story. Krikoman you may yet be vindicated.

To everyone else, Trevers, Yanis, Moley, Robert Durran, NoMoreScotchEggs, AndySay, Big Ger, and many more, thank you. Summo, yes we know it's nicer in Sweden. And a final nod to the apocalyptic vision of Rom, the Nostradamus of UKC.

My online life would be poorer without any of you.

In reply to BnB:

Great to see such an appreciation, and you probably speak for many of us.

In reply to BnB:
Thanks for your kind comments. Without wanting to start a round of mutual back slapping I regard you and NeilH as two of the most reasoned and reasonable posters on UKC. Unlike me you are nearly always able to suppress your exasperation! If "dislikes" are a badge of honour I believe I am now the most honoured person on UKC

I agree that, with the occasional exception, UKC provides a good humoured and relatively well informed opportunity to debate the issues of the day. I've never come across another forum that comes close. All the names that you mention help to make the forum as interesting, thought provoking and exasperating as it is. . Yes, even you Rom! Oh, and I'd add MG to your list.

PS.Message to jkarran: having had a closer look I retract my comment that your comments were offensive. Wrong bloke I guess.

In reply to BnB:

"his smiles ( Corbyn) in defeat tell the story. "

I saw that as relief that he had not won.

In reply to BnB:

Noble sentiments. There are many debates on here that make me reflect and, as you say, that's the highest compliment you can pay.

I know it can get heated at times but there are frequently great insights on the most divisive of topics. Long may it continue.

In reply to Shani:

And sorry that I didn't namecheck you in the OP as you are definitely one of the standout posters. MG as Pat suggests and I enjoy EdwardGrundy's remanifestation. Too many to mention!!

In reply to BnB:


Ah - it's all good. Even at my most arrogant and pompous i am always trying to reflect on both what i think, and why. There's more than a few on here that force me to do that!

It's hard as a species to acknowledge when we are wrong (i guess it is seen as a sign of weakness), and it (rightly) takes a lot for us all to change our positions on a topic. But one positive of robust debate is that the space is created for us to adapt to new information. There is certainly a wealth of opinion, knowledge, experience and expertise on UKC. A lot of people bring value to this place. Definitely one of my favourite online forums.

And we're all climbers! How cool is that?

In reply to BnB:

Always enjoy your thoughfuk post.

Pity the Calder Valley didn't manage to successfully join in the kick back against austerity. Craig Whittaker looks even more lame an MP then pre election.

In reply to Removed UserDeleted bagger:


I was shocked that he won. Did you pick up on the "where's Whittaker" meme? I think he's actually terrified of the upper valley.

In reply to BnB:

"I have to mention Krikoman for his unswerving support for the new messiah. Corbyn "

I, also have been an admirer of Krik's unrelenting and immovable support of JC. ...
Looks like he was (and the 313,209 members who elected him) were right.

In reply to Lusk:
He was certainly right in believing many would vote forher. No doubt there. Still not convinced Corbyn will be PM, or successful if he does, mainly because I think May managed incredible feat of being less electable and capable than him. But maybe I am wrong again: I'll wait and see now.

In reply to BnB:

Yes a big thank you to all.

In reply to BnB:
Thanks for the name check.

I've enjoyed the last couple of weeks too.

I have at some point in the past 18 months or so I've specifically stated, "he's not the messiah".

As a business man myself, I don't see that a Labour party would be a disaster but we'll leave that there for the time being

I've always seen him as someone different, someone who really cares and a person of integrity and I think that might be what we need in our politics.

I look forward tot he next election, in a couple of months.

I love you all (well most of you) XXX

In reply to krikoman:

I'm pretty sure that one little tweak would deliver power to Corbyn. An innovation that safeguards his socialist principles but satisfies the all-important centre ground. But I'm not going to blurt it out on here. How well do you know him?

In reply to BnB:

Noble sentiments - but jaysus wept you share your house with a Tory voter?

In reply to Removed User:

How do you know it isn't that BnB shares a house with a Lab and a couple of Lib Dem voters? He made no claim as to which one he is!

In reply to Removed User:


I'm not sure, but BnB may have outed himself, apologises if not. I likd to think the best of people though, so maybe he didn't help re-elect Craig Whittaker

In reply to TobyA:

Either way there's nothing worse than a floating voter, shame they decide elections eh!

In reply to BnB:

Very nicely put.

Despite acting something of an agent provocateur here, I do appreciate the thoughts and stimulation of the debate which UKC, but more importantly, the membership here, provides.

It would be a very boring world if we all agreed on everything.

Thanks to B&B for this salutary reminder, and to everyone here for their forbearance and tolerance, not to mention their insights.

In reply to BnB:

Just seen this by a young person who refutes, your accusation of bribery gaining their vote ( at least for her )

Very eloquent and some very valid points;

https://www.facebook.com/phoebe.carr.33/posts/1408016009258354?pnref=story

In reply to The New NickB:


I was accused of being a Tory yesterday because I received a gift from my currency broker (I assure you, not a regular occurrence). On the politics front, I rather agree with Ian Hislop. Hung parliaments and minority governments require politicians to compromise and negotiate - imho no bad thing in today's climate of highly polarised opinions. That might be the closest we get to a centrist government for some time.

In reply to planetmarshall:


I'd wondered the same thing. It appears as though a strong government would have delivered a faster Briexit negotiation, but not necessarily a better one in the round.

In reply to BnB:


Not necessarily a faster negotiation, as I suspect the timetable is dictated by the treaty. But I think it's likely, had May got the majority she planned for, we would have had a result that half the population were happy with, and half were emphatically *not* happy with. Instead there is at least some prospect we might get a result we can live with, even if it's not exactly what any of us would have wanted. I think that is a better reflection of a truly democratic result.

In reply to BnB:

A bit odd given that my views often end up being pretty much aligned with that of the liberal mainstream economic press, which I guess, as a business person, you must read frequently. I guess we are all just knights of the apocalypse then.

In reply to BnB:


I tend to agree - although it has also the effect of increasing the risk of a disorderly brexit, so, a mixed blessing.

In reply to RomTheBear:


Agreed.