Keep Calm and Carry On

[andrewducker]

As I write this, there are 44 seats to announce and the Conservatives need 39 to get a majority. This seems somewhat unlikely, although I don't know exactly what areas are left, so I can't be sure.

However, even if we get a Tory government, it won't be the end of the world. No, I wouldn't vote for them. No, they aren't my idea of good government. But life would carry on, there are limits to what they can change in 4 years, and they're unlikely to roll back the minimum wage, halve the spending on the NHS or repeal the legislation allowing civil partnerships.

In short, the Tories are not demons from Hell, summoned to lay waste to Britain, but politicians who have different ideas about how to run the country - and would probably fit right into the Democrats in the USA. The level of panic I'm seeing seems to be more suitable for the former than the latter.

Now, if the BNP got in _then_ I'd be panicking.

Comments

[fjm.livejournal.com]

roll back the minimum wage, halve the spending on the NHS or repeal the legislation allowing civil partnerships.

The only one of those that's safe is the NHS and that's only because Cameron appreciates it personally. For the rest, you are kidding yes? The Tories have been complaining about the minimum wage for ever, and gay marriage could prove a useful sop to the loony wing.

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

The Conservatives have been in favour of the minimum wage since 2005. It was in their manifesto in 2006 election and has been ever since. I really can't see them repealing civil partnerships either.

I'm no fan of the Tory party, but whilst they may well lower taxes for the rich or cut public spending harder than the others were proposing, they are not about to start torturing puppies in the street.

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

There's more than one way to skin a puppy tho: for example I would be surprised if a first tory term resulted in complete repeal of the min wage laws but I would expect them to allow it to lag behind inflation and wither naturally, regardless of what their manifesto says.

[pete stevens (from livejournal.com)]

Of course what matters is the after tax pay in real terms. Raising the minimum wage and NI and not increasing the tax bands all at the same time may or may not be worse than increasing tax bands with inflation, not increasing NI and a slower rate of growth of the minimum wage.

However, I'd have to do some sums to try and work out the answers.

[khbrown.livejournal.com]

Only because there are no votes in torturing pupppies in the streets ;-)