Wouldn't it be great to have a positive election campaign ?

[throckenholt]

Every election I get sick of the constant scaremongering and smearing of opponents. I turn off mentally as soon as I hear any side saying how bad the others were, are or will be given half a chance.

Do you reckon we could lobby for a positive election campaign? If you can't say something positive about your own plans, then STFU !

Surely I'm not the only one who thinks this ?

You are not alone In your thinking, a positive election campaign would be very welcome & refreshing...

Actually, I think Labour has been relatively positive so far - lots of substance to their announcements, whether you agree with them or not. I haven't seen much substance from the Tories, just Miliband bashing.

The Tories' campaign has sunk to new lows.
Calling Ed Miliband a "backstabber" and going on about him "stabbing his brother in the back" is truly pathetic.

But Ed actually called Fallon "a decent man". For God's sake Ed, stand up and call them out for what they are.

Fallon was the same "decent man" who said that some towns were being "swamped" by immigrants and felt "under siege" during the EU elections as UKIP were putting the heat on the nasty Tories.

If Ed thinks Fallon is "decent", who does he think isn't?

I suspect that Ed was trying not to stoop to their level, but I agree, there is very little that is decent about a git like Fallon.

Yes, you are right, Ed was taking the moral high ground. But Fallon doesn't deserve that.

I was beginning to think it was just me :)

Not quite sure what Fallon's issue was - Ed stood for election for leader of his party (and one of his opponents happened to be his brother). Cameron also stood for election for leader of his party against opponents. That is how it works - more than a bit contrived to make an issue of it so many years later.

I have a fantasy that they would start to treat us like adults and tell us the truth. Eg - it costs money to run the health service, or education or whatever. We have a growing population - and by definition that increases the economy - can we have the real figures for growth (output and spending) normalised against that growing population - I have a feeling spending has to increase on health and education just to maintain current pro rata rates. That we genuinely get some benefit from being part of the EU - can we have some honesty about what those are, so that we can fairly judge if it is worth the costs (which there are as well).

An educated debate rather than mud slinging and scare mongering. Less of saying it will be better with us (whoever we are) because we say it will.

Throck, it would be nice to have a positive election campaign. But because it is all about winning, it wont happen.

Many Prem footballers cheat in the name of winning. So do politicians

Nicky Campbell gave Jeremy Hunt a good grilling on 5-Live this morning.