[MTVN]

Makes no sense for the Tories to be intentionally ruining the economy, it would lose half the cabinet their jobs. There's already enough talk about Cameron being replaced as leader, there's no way he'd still be leader of the opposition come 2020 if the economy is in a terrible state in 2015 (same goes for Osborne probably)

[Z]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Makes no sense for the Tories to be intentionally ruining the economy, it would lose half the cabinet their jobs. There's already enough talk about Cameron being replaced as leader, there's no way he'd still be leader of the opposition come 2020 if the economy is in a terrible state in 2015 (same goes for Osborne probably)

Makes perfect sense if they've agreed upon a strategy to undermine Labour's return to government. They know that they are highly unpopular regardless of what they've actually done with their time in power, because things were already bad before they stepped in and made them worse. If they can get things to be so bad for the next government then they can hope that they'll get into power 4 years later and take it from there. Might sound ludicrous but it's a perfectly logical strategy in my opinion. Cameron probably isn't expecting to still be in charge, he knows that when his time is up, that'll be him finished.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Zee

Makes perfect sense if they've agreed upon a strategy to undermine Labour's return to government. They know that they are highly unpopular regardless of what they've actually done with their time in power, because things were already bad before they stepped in and made them worse. If they can get things to be so bad for the next government then they can hope that they'll get into power 4 years later and take it from there. Might sound ludicrous but it's a perfectly logical strategy in my opinion. Cameron probably isn't expecting to still be in charge, he knows that when his time is up, that'll be him finished.

Interesting read that Zee and I think a lot of fact in it too.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Zee

Makes perfect sense if they've agreed upon a strategy to undermine Labour's return to government. They know that they are highly unpopular regardless of what they've actually done with their time in power, because things were already bad before they stepped in and made them worse. If they can get things to be so bad for the next government then they can hope that they'll get into power 4 years later and take it from there. Might sound ludicrous but it's a perfectly logical strategy in my opinion. Cameron probably isn't expecting to still be in charge, he knows that when his time is up, that'll be him finished.

Ehh I don't think so, I'd actually say the Tories have every chance of being re-elected (though I doubt with a majority); the economy has picked up considerably the last few months and it's only going to get better, and they are currently up against one of the weakest opposition leaders in recent times. Even when things were really bad Miliband couldn't gain a big lead in the polls and most of them showed that a lot of people still don't consider him to be Prime Minister material. And as unpopular as Osborne is lots of people also find it very hard to trust Balls. Like people say, just a week is a long time in politics, in 2 years everything could have changed.

I just can't imagine they have this grand plan where they are purely planning for the 2020 election now, what's the point of Cameron, Osborne etc. doing that when it would cost them their jobs? I can't see why they would accept this strategy when there is no personal benefit to them

[Z]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Ehh I don't think so, I'd actually say the Tories have every chance of being re-elected (though I doubt with a majority); the economy has picked up considerably the last few months and it's only going to get better, and they are currently up against one of the weakest opposition leaders in recent times. Even when things were really bad Miliband couldn't gain a big lead in the polls and most of them showed that a lot of people still don't consider him to be Prime Minister material. And as unpopular as Osborne is lots of people also find it very hard to trust Balls. Like people say, just a week is a long time in politics, in 2 years everything could have changed.

I just can't imagine they have this grand plan where they are purely planning for the 2020 election now, what's the point of Cameron, Osborne etc. doing that when it would cost them their jobs? I can't see why they would accept this strategy when there is no personal benefit to them

They're not planning for 2020, you mistake my point. They know they're highly unpopular so they're continuing to make far right policy decisions so that if they are voted out; the left wing government that takes over will find it hard to recuperate and will be voted out in the next election due to being ineffective and the Tories can take over again.

[Shaun]

it's a devious plan but I'm sure not their actual intention, per se. Just... the explanation for why they keep coming back

[Z]

Originally Posted by Shaun

it's a devious plan but I'm sure not their actual intention, per se. Just... the explanation for why they keep coming back

If they can make the other parties look ineffective then they'll draw in more votes because people like to see strong leadership if the other parties are weak; and people want normality if the other parties are radical. It's just a theory but I think that's why the Conservatives have really ramped up their policies in the last year or so.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Zee

They're not planning for 2020, you mistake my point. They know they're highly unpopular so they're continuing to make far right policy decisions so that if they are voted out; the left wing government that takes over will find it hard to recuperate and will be voted out in the next election due to being ineffective and the Tories can take over again.

I still don't think there's any incentive there for them to consciously make themselves more popular, not when the key artefacts of the plan would be the first to lose their jobs if they are voted out as an incredibly unpopular government. I think they're probably still holding out hope that things will have turned round enough that they are re-elected 2015

[Z]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I still don't think there's any incentive there for them to consciously make themselves more popular, not when the key artefacts of the plan would be the first to lose their jobs if they are voted out as an incredibly unpopular government. I think they're probably still holding out hope that things will have turned round enough that they are re-elected 2015

Well, if they kept fielding policies that kept their popularity at the uncertain level that saw them barely voted in with, they'd probably be voted out. They're going far right because if they're kept in, hooray, and if it fails, they've given the next party in power an uphill struggle to deal with.

[Kizzy]

The tories are used to the long game... they effectively picked up in 2010 where maggie left off. Due to another massive media campaign by their pals in the press they managed to influence enough voters mainly due to this media assassination.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

The tories are used to the long game... they effectively picked up in 2010 where maggie left off. Due to another massive media campaign by their pals in the press they managed to influence enough voters mainly due to this media assassination.

I still say I cannot see them getting more than 36-37% in an election and I can no way see them getting to the near 6% they have to be ahead of Labour just to get the barest overall majority.

I furthermore cannot see them ever winning outtright an election with David Cameron as leader, he failed badly to win outright the easiest of elections to win in 2010 and after his misleading the voters as to the NHS reforms, like Clegg, his word is near worthless.
The Conservatives won't make a definite move to get rid of Cameron this side of an election but when he fails to win an outright majority again and is beaten in 2015,he will I am sure anyway be gone very soon after the election.

I even think if things really do appear to have got better economically by the time of the 2015 election that in fact that is likely to have the voters get more behind voting Labour believing the problems are less severe.

As someone said above they are voting Labour to get this Govt out, not necessarily because they have a great love for Labour.
I am finding people who have never voted Labour before who intend to do so just to get this lot out.