Theresa May calls General Election on 8th June.

[AM9]

Although I could see positives in the touted care policy, it's looking like the tory manifesto is being written by the same team that did the Vote Leave promises in the referendum. It should be interesting to see the leading tory lights squirming, just like Boris and others were on June 24th last year.
'Strong and stable', - well, by what measure, does May justify such a description.

 

[DarloRich]

So a non u turn u turn by the Tories on Social care funding. Will that lance the boil and allow them to rebuild the large lead in the polls?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The cap that Theresa May has announced doesn't actually solve the biggest problem with the proposals: That it would cause people who live with and care for their parents to be forced out of the family home when their parents die. Indeed, perversely, the people who would most benefit from a cap are those families where no-one in the family takes any role in caring for their relatives, resulting in more care being provided by the state - since those are the people most likely to hit the cap.

Looks to me like panicking is happening and stuff is not being thought through before announcements are made.

 

[DarloRich]

The cap that Theresa May has announced doesn't actually solve the biggest problem with the proposals: That it would cause people who live with and care for their parents to be forced out of the family home when their parents die. Indeed, perversely, the people who would most benefit from a cap are those families where no-one in the family takes any role in caring for their relatives, resulting in more care being provided by the state - since those are the people most likely to hit the cap.

Looks to me like panicking is happening and stuff is not being thought through before announcements are made.

of course it is panic. But it will work.

This, an other polices in this area, rely on emotion and ignorance of people unwilling to sell up or plan their affairs. Speak to a solicitor and sort out your affairs asap. Use the Tory tools to your benefit.

HowardH - I have read your post on the previous page. It may be too late but I would suggest looking into some estate planning asap. It isnt nice and I know it is hard but it needs to be done. You need to protect yourself and your family.

 

[EM2]

Labour surge ahead in Wales:
http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2017-05-22/poll-shows-labour-reclaiming-lead-in-wales/

Support for the Labour party in Wales has surged in the last two weeks, while the Conservative momentum in Wales appears to have gone into reverse.

These are the key messages to come out of the new Welsh Political Barometer poll, the very latest measure of where the parties stand in the general election battle.

The first two polls of this campaign showed clear Conservative party leads in Wales, and indicated that the Tories were on course for an historic electoral breakthrough.

Our new poll once again asked people how they would vote in the forthcoming general election. These are the voting intention figures that our poll produced (with changes on the last Barometer poll, conducted earlier this month, indicated in brackets):
Labour: 44% (+9)
Conservatives: 34% (-7)
Plaid Cymru: 9% (-2)
Liberal Democrats: 6% (-1)
UKIP: 5% (+1)
Others: 3% (+1)

 

[AlterEgo]

That is quite a reversal!

 

[A Challenge]

I'm glad though!

 

[pemma]

The newly elected Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and witness intimidation. Ironically if the Conservatives hadn't won the Lancashire local elections it wouldn't be so high profile.

There's also been reports of vote Gareth Wilson signs in Wilmslow being stolen or vandalised but vote Esther McVey signs have remained intact. Are the Tatton Conservatives scared?

 

[Howardh]

HowardH - I have read your post on the previous page. It may be too late but I would suggest looking into some estate planning asap. It isnt nice and I know it is hard but it needs to be done. You need to protect yourself and your family.

Without divulging too many details - our original plans were I look after them = they will me half the property on first death and the full on second. We planned that should they need significant care there income from state and private pensions (luckily they planned for a long retirement) + their savings would match any care costs; leaving me to look after and pay for the house (running costs/council tax etc) without having to sell should there be any immideate need to send them to nursing homes.
I get a pension in 18 months + dad is gifting me his shares, and my savings can cover 18 months if there's a sudden need.
Naturally on second death IHT comes in to it, that's been planned (also been planned if and when Labour reverse the current rules).
So it was all in place....then.
But now...??
Under the proposals the chances are if they needed significantly more home help (likely as they get older) then on death the house would be taken off me to sell to cover the costs.
Glad to see that now might not be the case. there's enough uncertainty day-to-day without the sword of Mayaclese hanging over me.
Thanks!

 

[Butts]

That is quite a reversal!

Not suprising though , I think the other two must have been conducted in Monmouth or Pembroke

Interesting to note Labour and not LD or PC are main beneficiaries.

How Corbyn would love a poll like that in England !!!

 

[bramling]

That is quite a reversal!

I'd be cautious about reading too much into this.

Whilst the Conservatives have not had a good couple of weeks, when it comes to the privacy of the polling booth, I suspect many floating voters will end up choosing the familiar option of May and the Conservatives rather than taking a risk on voting Corbyn.

I have a suspicion the result may well not actually be massively different from today's disposition, but we'll see. I don't think May has presented herself and party very well in the last couple of weeks, but the question is will large numbers of people think Corbyn is a better option? A few more Diane Abbott interview fiascos may put the momentum back with the Conservatives of course.

 

[Howardh]

I'd be cautious about reading too much into this.

Whilst the Conservatives have not had a good couple of weeks, when it comes to the privacy of the polling booth, I suspect many floating voters will end up choosing the familiar option of May and the Conservatives rather than taking a risk on voting Corbyn.

I have a suspicion the result may well not actually be massively different from today's disposition, but we'll see. I don't think May has presented herself and party very well in the last couple of weeks, but the question is will large numbers of people think Corbyn is a better option? A few more Diane Abbott interview fiascos may put the momentum back with the Conservatives of course.

People - their core voters, will want to know if they won't be getting their winter fuel allowance and will want to know if granny's house is to be handed over to the council.
Saying the Conservatives have "not had a good couple of weeks" is a bit of an understatement..they had a lead where they could have forced Labour to bat again and still win by an innings, and it's vastly reduced and could have gone by then next poll.
They called the election because they were SO SURE of winning, without real policies (as evidence, m'lud, why keep rabbiting on about "weak and wobb...sorry, strong and whatever") and now they and she have been found out.
So the public - their voters - are now asking where the "cut" is. Who will miss the fuel allowance.
No answer = they all will think it's them that will suffer.
An answer = those worse off may not vote for them.
Corbyn must be in dreamland, leading a party that doesn't want him to at least a moral victory.

And there's me thinking this was a dull, pointless election that I couldn't be bothered with....

It's worth reading the comments on the Daily Mayl's website; sure some socialists may be in there and trolling, but by-and-large (and I've checked) there's a load of people that have spent years writing they hate foreigners, hate the EU, hate socialism, hate anything red, blah blah blah who have now turned against May. They don't trust her to buy a loaf of bread, let alone negotiate the EU. Go see!

 

[HSTEd]

I'm struggling to see the moral argument for having the state cover the costs of cancer but not dementia. It should be funded from general taxation

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if the bomb attack in the arena in the same area as Manchester Victoria station will see a temporary halt called for a period in the party election campaigns. Nineteen dead and many injured.

 

[chris11256]

Just read on Sky News that all election campaigning is suspended until further notice because of the bombing.

 

[KashmireHawker]

All Campaigning suspended by the major parties until further notice, including the SNP's Manifesto launch. I'm due to be filmed this morning for this weekend's Sunday Politics with Sheffield Hallam University and it feels utterly irrelevant that will occur, following last night. Stance taken by everybody is 100% spot on.

 

[Howardh]

I'm struggling to see the moral argument for having the state cover the costs of cancer but not dementia. It should be funded from general taxation

If mum broke a leg, she'd be whisked off to hospital and treated for free the whole time she's there...maybe even get a respite place for recovery free too.

But it's her mind that's broken and she's been abandoned by the state.

 

[AM9]

If mum broke a leg, she'd be whisked off to hospital and treated for free the whole time she's there...maybe even get a respite place for recovery free too.

But it's her mind that's broken and she's been abandoned by the state.

There is a great deal of difference in the two examples that you have stated:

A broken leg is generally treated under medical supervision, usually in a hospital with support from GPs. A small proportion of fractures involve overnight stays and very few result in anything more. Even elderly folks can be discharged relatively quickly to release precious resources without jeopardising the recovery. Post medical recovery support like transport and fitness training is rarely given.
Long term illnesses requiring medication and/or hospital treatment are similarly picked-up by the NHS, usually requiring visits to clinics, occasionally involving home treatment. Personal care of a non-medical nature, even though it may be as a result of a medical condition and fully funded, is not part of the NHS's primary role as it does not require activities done by medically qualified personnel. In the future it may become administratively part of the NHS, but it would using resources more appropriate to the actual needs of the individual.​

This of course is nothing to do with the flip-flopping of the PM on the long-term care matter. I suspect that the Manchester incident will give her the breathing space to bury discussion on this matter, as well as start a new attack on the opposition's anti-terrorist policies.

 

[bramling]

Just read on Sky News that all election campaigning is suspended until further notice because of the bombing.

Perfectly reasonable as a mark of respect, and to allow institutions to be able to fully focus on the response to the incident.

*However*, this situation mustn't last too long. Given the timing of the attack, it's possible part of the objective was to disrupt the political process, this mustn't be allowed to succeed.

 

[ExRes]

This of course is nothing to do with the flip-flopping of the PM on the long-term care matter. I suspect that the Manchester incident will give her the breathing space to bury discussion on this matter, as well as start a new attack on the opposition's anti-terrorist policies.

If politicians can show some respect then why can't you?, stop trying to score childish points

 

[AM9]

If politicians can show some respect then why can't you?, stop trying to score childish points

Which part of my post do you think shows a lack of respect. I believe that what I said is factual, and doesn't score any points for or against any political party.

 

[ExRes]

If politicians can show some respect then why can't you?, stop trying to score childish points

Which part of my post do you think shows a lack of respect. I believe that what I said is factual, and doesn't score any points for or against any political party.

I would think that's rather obvious, it's the piece that I quoted, the piece that contains no facts whatsoever but is simply anti-May, if you think that is factual and doesn't attempt to score points then I give up

 

[HSTEd]

You are being rather naive in my opinion if you actually believe that no party apparatus is currently determining how to use his to the relevant party's advantage

 

[Darandio]

You are being rather naive in my opinion if you actually believe that no party apparatus is currently determining how to use his to the relevant party's advantage

Indeed. Surely nobody would be surprised when one of them trots out a line such as if you vote for the other, attacks like this will be more likely.

 

[backontrack]

If mum broke a leg, she'd be whisked off to hospital and treated for free the whole time she's there...maybe even get a respite place for recovery free too.

But it's her mind that's broken and she's been abandoned by the state.

Brilliant post. And people wonder why they're called the 'nasty party'...

 

[chris11256]

Campaigning is going to be suspended tomorrow as well according to BBC News.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Perhaps contributors to this thread should show solidarity with that matter.

 

[backontrack]

Perhaps contributors to this thread should show solidarity with that matter.

Free speech?

I think that the attack was barbaric and agree with a previous poster who said that we should suspend campaigning, but I do also believe that this shouldn't be allowed to damage our democracy.

 

[AlterEgo]

Perhaps contributors to this thread should show solidarity with that matter.

Er, why?

 

[bb21]

Perhaps contributors to this thread should show solidarity with that matter.

Solidarity with whom? The victims? I think we all do.