General Chat

Successful Governments/rulers are 'successful' when the progress of invention strengthens the strong by putting into their hands the methods/tools for suppressing the weak.

But ignore me because I do feel a bit pessimistic this morning!

Yes UKIP cannot form a government even if they win all the seats they contest, but they can influence policies of other parties who see votes drifting away.

If UKIP do well consistently in elections, over time they could overtake the Liberal party, then if they don't make the same mistake the Liberals did by selling their souls to get a look at the inside of Number Ten. By sticking to their promises they could have a real influence on politics in the UK.

But it will not happen overnight.

The problem for Ukip and Carswell is that there are nowhere near enough MPs to support an in/out referendum and that is v unlikely to change in 2015. Cameron is trying to hold his party together and avoid a spanking by Brussels. Ukip are pi ssing in the wind and they will get their trousers wet when the main effect of their efforts will be to gift Labour at least ten seats.

Susan wiv........you took the very words I was going to write

The internal squabbles over Europe has divided the Tory Party since Ted Heath took the UK into the European Economic Community in 1973. They contributed to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher in 1990 and also John Major in 1997, and since the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht these divisions have widened.

If any other Tory MP's defect to UKIP, I wonder if that will be the, beginning of the end, for David Cameron.

Putting aside the prospect of more of his MP's defecting to UKIP, if David Cameron is still the Prime Minister after the next election and if Scotland votes for independence, he could earn a place in history - as the man responsible for the break up of the United Kingdom and the man who took what was left of the United Kingdom out of Europe.

Interesting he chose today to make his comments about wanting to - shake-up the cosy Westminster clique - on the same day as a report was published saying that the UK is "deeply elitist" coincidence or am I just being a cynic thinking he knew that report was being published today ;-)

It will be interesting to see If he wins the by-election - and even more interesting as to what the future holds for David Cameron if he does ;-)

'A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party.

(From the Net).

Should UKIP have welcomed the Tory defector, Douglas Carswell? Does his move add to or subtract from the UKIP fragile cause?

populism is not democracy tho' the likes of Cars well think it is. Idiot. :-P

Hmmmph!

I wonder if it is because he needs the job and thinks that if UKIP win he will still have one.....seen that happen many a time, but sometimes the other side doesn't get in and leaves them with egg on their face but none for breakfast.

Good on him for standing down. There's nothing worse for a constituancy to be lumbered with an MP who now supports a different party.

It will be interesting to see if his personal popularity outweighs the party preference.

Tory MP Douglas Carswell has defected to the UK Independence Party (UKIP) saying he wants to "shake-up" the cosy Westminster "clique" and he will stand down as MP for Clacton to seek re-election in a by-election.

The maverick Eurosceptic backbencher unveiled his surprise announcement at a press conference in central London.

If he wins the by-election he will be the first UKIP MP to take a seat in Westminster.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967904