# Well the British General Election campaign has started - It's a long way to May! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 14, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013 "2005-02-14T15:50:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/101 "2005-02-15T16:27:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Damn, that’s the man you Brits need for Prime Minister! 🙂 I think it’s safe to say he won’t be. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/102 "2005-02-15T16:36:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 I know (vaguely) what Eton is, but does this statement have some cultural significance in British politics that I’m missing? Not really - it’s just that once upon a time Tory leaders were public school chaps, often Etonian and that for a while this actually became a hinderence (it was perceived as a handicap to Douglas Hurd’s ambitions). Letwin (and BORIS) are Etonians. Blair went to Fettes which is often referred to as “Scotland’s Eton” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/103 "2005-02-15T16:36:43Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Close: [Mebyon Kernow](http://www.mebyonkernow.org/). Hardly a great political force, though 😉 Well, if **Lisa Simpson** backs them…! 😃 Thanks for the information! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/104 "2005-02-15T16:39:08Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > But that job surplus is often in regions far away from one’s own home: those jobs _simply aren’t there_ in Wales and the North. 😕 In America, when you can’t find a job in your field where are at the moment, but there are openings in some other state, you **move.** And moving should be much easier in a country as small as the UK. Why don’t your unemployed Welsh and Northerners just go south where the jobs are? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/105 "2005-02-15T16:47:11Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Watch it mush! Don’t liken me to that mouthbreather. That’s another thing . . . what does “mouthbreather” connote in British discourse? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/106 "2005-02-15T16:49:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 In America, when you can’t find a job in your field where are at the moment, but there are openings in some other state, you **move.** And moving should be much easier in a country as small as the UK. Why don’t your unemployed Welsh and Northerners just go south where the jobs are? A good question. There are all sorts of reasons. For example property costs a LOT more in the South East than in these areas. Also these unemployed people often are pretty well unemployable. They have very few skills and have been out of work for so long that they have forgotten how to work. But in general you’re right - they should work when they can ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/107 "2005-02-15T16:50:45Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That’s another thing . . . what does “mouthbreather” connote in British discourse? A simpleton. One a few nectar points short of a toaster. A johnnie no-stars. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/108 "2005-02-15T16:51:49Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Sorry: "inflating the Lib Dems artificially _given the first pas the post system_. As **GM** says, they actually get far _fewer_ seats than their opinion polls deserve: we tolerate this ostensibly in order to avoid the perpetually hung parliaments which proportional respresentation produces, or so the argument goes. Holding a national referendum on electing the Commons by PR was one of Tony Blair’s campaign promises. In **1997.** When’s it going to happen?! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/109 "2005-02-15T16:52:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 In America, when you can’t find a job in your field where are at the moment, but there are openings in some other state, you **move.** And moving should be much easier in a country as small as the UK. Why don’t your unemployed Welsh and Northerners just go south where the jobs are? Because, for one thing, there is a giant disparity in housing costs between regions not reflected in wages. When I moved North from Oxford a decade ago I took a lower salary because I could buy my own 3 bedroom house for less than I was being asked to rent a room in a shared house. in Oxford. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/110 "2005-02-15T16:58:25Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > One a few nectar points short of a toaster. 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/111 "2005-02-15T17:02:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Holding a national referendum on electing the Commons by PR was one of Tony Blair’s campaign promises. In **1997.** When’s it going to happen?! :mad: When turkeys start voting for Christmas - both main parties want to keep the present system. Only the Libs (and a few extremist nutters) want PR. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/112 "2005-02-15T17:02:55Z")
**owl** and other Brits are wont to speak in colloquialisms to, dare I say it , _deliberately_ confuse our American cousins, **BG**. Don’t fret about understanding _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/113 "2005-02-15T17:10:09Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > **owl** and other Brits are wont to speak in colloquialisms to, dare I say it , _deliberately_ confuse our American cousins, **BG**. . Calumny! Traducement! Vile Libel! (fair cop) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/114 "2005-02-15T17:11:19Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > When turkeys start voting for Christmas - both main parties want to keep the present system. Only the Libs (and a few extremist nutters) want PR. Then why did Blair think, back in '97, that he could pick up any votes by promising it? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/115 "2005-02-15T17:12:51Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > **owl** and other Brits are wont to speak in colloquialisms to, dare I say it , _deliberately_ confuse our American cousins, **BG**. Don’t fret about understanding _everything_. That’s cool, man. Tres copacetic, fo’shizzle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/116 "2005-02-15T17:20:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Then why did Blair think, back in '97, that he could pick up any votes by promising it? Because there are plenty of voters who would quite like it. Especially lib dem voters. However both major parties have a vested interest in the status quo - for example the Tories would get more MPs under PR than they have now - but would probably be throwing away any chance of outright government in the forseeable future - and labour hardly need to change the system. (especially as much of their majority is made up of Scottish seats - which are over represented in Parliament (although I believe this getting sorted out after the election) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/117 "2005-02-15T17:20:57Z")
nectar points [http://www.nectar.com](http://www.nectar.com) is a system of getting discounts on participating goods and services by partaking in participating goods and services, similar to air miles, really. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/118 "2005-02-15T21:49:11Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Because there are plenty of voters who would quite like it. Especially lib dem voters. However both major parties have a vested interest in the status quo - for example the Tories would get more MPs under PR than they have now - but would probably be throwing away any chance of outright government in the forseeable future - and labour hardly need to change the system. (especially as much of their majority is made up of Scottish seats - which are over represented in Parliament (although I believe this getting sorted out after the election) So, IOW, Blair made false promises to get votes. That would not be surprising behavior in an American politician, but in the UK! Tsk, tsk! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Domokun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Domokun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domokun)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/119 "2005-02-15T22:06:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Then why did Blair think, back in '97, that he could pick up any votes by promising it? It was a belt-and-braces move to get Paddy Pantsdown on side in case of a hung (or very close) Parliament. Quietly dropped when Labour won and landslide and the sandal-wearers weren’t needed anymore. Tony’s tent is only so big. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013/120 "2005-02-16T08:47:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 In America, when you can’t find a job in your field where are at the moment, but there are openings in some other state, you **move.** And moving should be much easier in a country as small as the UK. Why don’t your unemployed Welsh and Northerners just go south where the jobs are? Unlike London, where hardly anyone who lives here is from here, Wales, the North, and the South West (which actually has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and pays the lowest wages) still tend to have communities, in which people have lived all their lives. They have family there, and life-long friends , and are reluctant to give up that support network. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-british-general-election-campaign-has-started-its-a-long-way-to-may/290013.md?page=7)