At a glance, the Conservative pledges...

[SilverDragonfly1]

... bear a more than passing resemblance to the UKIP manifesto.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32683869

Admittedly I've been up all night coughing, so not the best judge. But I am grateful to the poster who harangued us all about reading UKIP's manifesto before slagging them off last week. Wouldn't have realised otherwise.

[NickAngel]

I'm confused, do 18-21 year olds have to find a job or do an apprenticeship as they can't draw benefits if they are unemployed? Who is providing the apprenticeships? Is it a bit like YTS?

[thehumanjam]

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

[Isitmebut]

The Conservative or core values like government as big/expensive as it should be, encouraging businesses that pay all the bills, people should keep as much of the earnings as they can, as a country we need to live within our menan, education, law and order, give the poor a leg up rather than a financial put down, naturally sceptical of Europe (open warfare pre 1997),etc etc etc - has been around for decades, UKIP grew to prominence during the last 2000's, due to immigration.

Farage was a Conservative, he tried to become a Conservative MP I believe 6 times before last week, why wouldn't the manifestos be similar, the mans a blue clone for christ sake. lol

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I am surprised, that you are surprised, that two right wing parties won't have a fair amount of similar aims.

[NickAngel]

And reducing the number of MPs ? That's 46 constituencies to go, maybe they will lose Scottish ones?

[lordsandladies]

I've read the UKIP manifesto as well and while there are some similarities the policies which tip UKIP from sensible ideas to racist loons aren't there.

There are no conservative plans to introduce or talk about immigrants being forced to confirm to "British values" whatever they are.

There are no tory plans to ban any language other than English on documentation etc.

There are no tory plans to "increase special schools" unlike UKIP who wanted all SEN kids out of mainstream.

There are no Tory plans for communities for adults with disabilities.

The Torys haven't agreed to repeal the smoking ban etc.

In fact the only policies there I would question would be what the "British bill of rights" looks like and what the new anti terrorism laws would be.

They are absolutely not the same and it's ridiculous to say they are.

[bronya]

It says a lot about not increasing many taxes, yet promises to run a surplus. Where will the money come from?

[NickAngel]

Sorry- I missed point of the OP in comparing Ukip/Tory manifestos.
I have a cold.

[SilverDragonfly1]

Not the same, just similar enough to make me feel uncomfortable about what will be added to the list now Conservatives have full government. I'm not really trying to spearhead a debate, more remarking on something it would be sensible to keep tabs on.

[SilverDragonfly1]

I do too NickAngel, I'm willing to accept it's probably not the Tory's fault ;)

[lordsandladies]

It's all about slant though which is what makes UKIP scary.

I'm in a mixed race and religion marriage with 3 MR DCs currently receiving some benefits and yet I could read the UKIP manifesto and on the whole think "yep I can agree with that".

If it weren't for the points up ^^^ hidden in the detail. So people are lulled by the common sense veneer and miss that they are total fucking bigots.

The fact the Tory manifesto is similar but missed the loony bits shows to me how clever the evil twat farage is rather than reflecting on what the Torys may do iyswim.

Not to say every party shouldn't be watched to check that what they say and how they act aren't two different things.