UK Politics Discussion

[Danqazmlp]

I may vote, but it depends if I register or not. At the moment I don't see either parties doing anything considerable that will effect me so I have not got much interest this time around, altough it may be different in 4 years time.

 

If I do register and vote, I will either go Lib Dem or Labour, definately not Conservative. I just don't like Cameron.

[magekillr]

I took that quiz on the Telegraph as well. My results were probably very skewed because I don't know the issues that are surrounding Parliamentary reform or anything, and they asked like 5-6 questions pertaining to stuff like that.

 

Lib Dems: 74%

Greens: 69%

Labour: 55%

Conservative: 39%

 

The rest..lol.

 

Anyway, for national elections I'd probably always vote Lib Dem, and for local elections I'd vote Green depending on the candidate. I like the Green party because the environment and climate change are my most important issues, and no one else is serious about actually doing something.

[1_man_army]

General opinion polls at the moment show; 35% for Conservatives, 30% for Labour and 23% for Lib Dems. Nick Clegg was good on the show, that's for sure. But my vote will most likely go to the Conservatives.

 

I think one of the polls (might have been the yougov poll, not sure) had Labour polling behind the Lib Dems and still getting the most seats in a hung parliament. The opinion polls are irrelevent really, it's more dependant on how the votes are concentrated throughout the country.

[Jernlov]

Anyway, for national elections I'd probably always vote Lib Dem, and for local elections I'd vote Green depending on the candidate. I like the Green party because the environment and climate change are my most important issues, and no one else is serious about actually doing something.

This pretty much sums up my view. In my area, the Greens have quite a bit of support (it's currently a Liberal Democrat seat) and if I were old enough to vote, I would definitely be voting for them locally. I also take quite a liking to their policies outside of the green stuff, too. I was also impressed by Clegg; I've never really been and probably never will be an avid supporter of any political party here, but if I were eligible to vote this time, it would definitely be for the Liberal Democrats after seeing that performance.

 

I do not want to see a manchild like David Cameron running this country; we've had enough of those. The Conservative campaign boards are a case in point - it's just plain insulting, and it certainly does not turn me towards voting for them at all. Honestly, I think a small handful of the Conservatives' polices are good, but seriously? Him in charge? Wake up.

 

I'm going to be controversial and say that in actual fact, there is not a huge fundamental difference between the three major parties here in the UK. All of them supported the Digital Economy Bill for a start - which in itself is a worry: the last thing we need is another oppressive government. I think we, as people, deserve to be free to do what we wish behind closed doors. I think the surveillance and "banning of things the 'general populace' finds disgusting" is going too far; personally, if people want to watch so-called "abhorrent" pornography or play so-called "violent and societally dangerous" video games, then let them do it. It takes a lot to disgust me, therefore, am I not a member of this "general populace?" Or is it just another backwards statistic made up just so they can scare us into letting them oppress us for evermore?

 

I apologise for going off on a tangent; I'm starting to believe that the glimmer of hope we need is in the Liberal Democrats - it will take a while for things to change, and I think people should realise that things are never going to be perfect despite whoever is in power.

[magekillr]

I'm going to be controversial and say that in actual fact, there is not a huge fundamental difference between the three major parties here in the UK.

 

Not that controversial. I support the Lib Dems in this race, but they're not my ideal party. They have two factions: the libertarians, and the liberals. The libertarians are the Nick Cleggs. While they support a lot of the social safety net, a lot of them are still free-market fundamentalists. Socialists and Social Democrats in Britain don't know who to vote for in this election. Labour is tainted by Brown-Blair factions and won't be a true left party again unless Old Labour is given the reins again. Lib Dems are fine on social issues, electoral reform, and taxation, but they aren't really a haven for Social Democrats.

 

Of the three, the Liberal Democrats are the best for a liberal, but I'm not convinced that they're a leftist party. Too much of their manifesto is given to the libertarians, and Clegg is of that faction. The Orange Bookers are kept in check by the liberal faction, but still...I'm wary as Clegg is one of them. The best reason for a liberal to support the Liberal Democrats is because of their views on the environment, the European Union, civil liberties and proportional voting.

[dusqi]

I'm going to be controversial and say that in actual fact, there is not a huge fundamental difference between the three major parties here in the UK. All of them supported the Digital Economy Bill for a start - which in itself is a worry

 

Nope - Liberal Democrats did not support it.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/16/digital-economy-bill-nick-clegg

 

From the article:

[Nick Clegg]"We did our best to prevent the Digital Economy Bill being rushed through at the last moment. It badly needed more debate and amendment, and we are extremely worried that it will now lead to completely innocent people having their internet connections cut off.

 

"It was far too heavily weighted in favour of the big corporations and those who are worried about too much information becoming available. It badly needs to be repealed, and the issues revisited."

 

"As Clegg points out, the Lib Dems always opposed the controversial bill, which was rushed through parliament in the "wash-up" period just after the election was called."

 

 

 

It demonstrates that the Lib Dems are a different and refreshing party compared to the old politics of the Labservatives. Labour rammed it through without proper scrutiny and the Conservatives didn't even bother to vote. This was the same as the reforms to clean up the House of Commons that were proposed by the Lib Dems and discussed in the debate on Thursday. Labour voted against them and the Conservatives didn't even bother to vote. Now Labour suddenly agrees with Nick. The other parties talk about change, but when it comes to the actual votes and policies they're still doing nothing.

[The Dark Lord]

It looks like Labour's going to lose. Not that I particularly care, of course.

[SirHartlar]

I'm not able to vote this time around but I watched the debate nonetheless, it was really interesting to see how well Nick Clegg did compared to the other two. David Cameron is actually my local MP, but I don't think he is going to win the landslide he was predicted a few months ago, he seems too inconsistent.

[Jaziek]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

[Sy_Accursed]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

 

Erm you do realise over recent years they have progressively closed the gap between them and labour/conservatives and that this year as it stands they are topping or close to topping a lot of opinion polls, so for once they actually do stand a chance of getting in.

[Jaziek]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

 

Erm you do realise over recent years they have progressively closed the gap between them and labour/conservatives and that this year as it stands they are topping or close to topping a lot of opinion polls, so for once they actually do stand a chance of getting in.

 

No, they really don't.

 

It isn't a "whoever gets the most votes wins" system.

 

There are way WAY too many safe seats for both the tories and labour for the lib dems to stand a realistic chance.

[Sy_Accursed]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

 

Erm you do realise over recent years they have progressively closed the gap between them and labour/conservatives and that this year as it stands they are topping or close to topping a lot of opinion polls, so for once they actually do stand a chance of getting in.

 

No, they really don't.

 

It isn't a "whoever gets the most votes wins" system.

 

There are way WAY too many safe seats for both the tories and labour for the lib dems to stand a realistic chance.

 

Its a first past the post system I know that.

However what you fail to see is that most of the safe seats are no longer considered safe.

 

Safe seats are the ones obtained from voting areas where location specific opinion polls and voting trends have always favour one party by a huge margin.

Many of the labour safe seats are no longer considered safe as a lot of people have become disillusioned with it.

Equally many of the conservative safe seats are considered in threat as the lib dems are making significant encroachment on their margin.

 

Over the past years Lib Dems have actually taken some of the conservative and labour safe seats. And by all counts they do stand a real chance this year.

[dusqi]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

 

Erm you do realise over recent years they have progressively closed the gap between them and labour/conservatives and that this year as it stands they are topping or close to topping a lot of opinion polls, so for once they actually do stand a chance of getting in.

 

No, they really don't.

 

It isn't a "whoever gets the most votes wins" system.

 

There are way WAY too many safe seats for both the tories and labour for the lib dems to stand a realistic chance.

 

Its a first past the post system I know that.

However what you fail to see is that most of the safe seats are no longer considered safe.

 

Safe seats are the ones obtained from voting areas where location specific opinion polls and voting trends have always favour one party by a huge margin.

Many of the labour safe seats are no longer considered safe as a lot of people have become disillusioned with it.

Equally many of the conservative safe seats are considered in threat as the lib dems are making significant encroachment on their margin.

 

Over the past years Lib Dems have actually taken some of the conservative and labour safe seats. And by all counts they do stand a real chance this year.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8627292.stm

 

"The ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Independent on Sunday puts the Conservatives on 31, the Lib Dems on 29 and Labour on 27. The poll of 1,006 people was conducted on on 16 and 17 April.

 

Meanwhile, an ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph puts the Conservatives on 34, Labour on 29 and the Lib Dems on 27. It says this is the Conservatives' lowest rating in an ICM poll since September 2007. "

 

And as more people poll for the Lib Dems, more people who have always liked the Lib Dem policies but don't think they could win will see that that is not the case and so will add their support. And there are still 19 days to the election.

[Jaziek]

Lib Dems stand a real chance of getting in this time round. They've pretty much wrapped up the young peoples vote with 2 promises

1) Scrap Tuition Fees for all students on their first degree (like scotland)

2) Raise limit before you have to pay NI (or was it income tax? one of them anyway) to £10,000 a year

 

Labour has prob alienated a lot of voters in the young lot with their "compulsory school til 18" policy and Conservatives "if you don't like it run it yourself" schemes doesnt seem to be doing to well

 

The lib dems stand no chance whatsoever of actually getting in. The voting system in this country is completely [bleep]ed up. If we had PR, then maybe, but as it is, not a chance.

 

That said, I'll still be voting for them.

 

also dusqi, yes, the lib dems did oppose the bill, but don't forget that it was a lib dem lord that added the most controvertial clause in the bill, before it was passed to the commons.

 

Erm you do realise over recent years they have progressively closed the gap between them and labour/conservatives and that this year as it stands they are topping or close to topping a lot of opinion polls, so for once they actually do stand a chance of getting in.

 

No, they really don't.

 

It isn't a "whoever gets the most votes wins" system.

 

There are way WAY too many safe seats for both the tories and labour for the lib dems to stand a realistic chance.

 

Its a first past the post system I know that.

However what you fail to see is that most of the safe seats are no longer considered safe.

 

Safe seats are the ones obtained from voting areas where location specific opinion polls and voting trends have always favour one party by a huge margin.

Many of the labour safe seats are no longer considered safe as a lot of people have become disillusioned with it.

Equally many of the conservative safe seats are considered in threat as the lib dems are making significant encroachment on their margin.

 

Over the past years Lib Dems have actually taken some of the conservative and labour safe seats. And by all counts they do stand a real chance this year.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8627292.stm

 

"The ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Independent on Sunday puts the Conservatives on 31, the Lib Dems on 29 and Labour on 27. The poll of 1,006 people was conducted on on 16 and 17 April.

 

Meanwhile, an ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph puts the Conservatives on 34, Labour on 29 and the Lib Dems on 27. It says this is the Conservatives' lowest rating in an ICM poll since September 2007. "

 

And as more people poll for the Lib Dems, more people who have always liked the Lib Dem policies but don't think they could win will see that that is not the case and so will add their support. And there are still 19 days to the election.

 

There are more people who vote along their traditional party line, and more people who vote based on traditional party stereotypes, than there will ever be people whose mind can be changed by actual party policy.

[magekillr]

There are more people who vote along their traditional party line, and more people who vote based on traditional party stereotypes, than there will ever be people whose mind can be changed by actual party policy.

 

The more I watch and discuss politics, the more I find this to be true. For example, a 60 year old who still votes Republican today even though that person voted Republican in the 1970's is obviously more committed to party than policy. The Democrats of today are what the Republicans were like before the Reagan revolution around 1965-1975. Hell, Dwight Eisenhower is probably more liberal than a lot of Democrats. So you'd think that someone who agreed with the Republican policy of the 1970's would vote Democratic today. Nope...voting trends are established when people are young, and they stay that way until the person dies. A person can be convinced to change parties only when they're younger and more open minded, but evidence shows that as they age they're unlikely to sway in the way they vote. I often hear about as people get older they get more conservative, but it's mostly bullocks. People establish who they vote for when they're young, and stick with that for the rest of their lives.

 

However, I don't think that's what dusqi is talking about. While people might be more loyal to a party, they're only loyal because of the partisan atmosphere that America and Britain have. When there's really only two choices, yes, people are more loyal to party because that party is (or was) closest to their views when they were younger. With the emergence of another choice that actually has a chance, people might change who they vote for. It throws what I said above somewhat out of whack. If there was run-off voting here in America, I would vote Green party 99.9% of the time in every election. However, I'm forced to vote Democratic in order to prevent the religious far-right nutjobs of the Republican party from getting into power. I wouldn't be forced to do that with a viable alternative, and that's what dusqi's point is.

[Bouwzie]

"BNP scream and shout, get the [bleep]ing Paki's out." That's the only thing I know about the elections in the UK :) So, go BNP I guess.

[magekillr]

"BNP scream and shout, get the [bleep]ing Paki's out." That's the only thing I know about the elections in the UK :) So, go BNP I guess.

 

Aww, how cute. At least you're open about your xenophobic bigotry.

[Bouwzie]

Yo. I'm not English and I have no idea what you mean.

[Skully]

"BNP scream and shout, get the [bleep]ing Paki's out." That's the only thing I know about the elections in the UK :) So, go BNP I guess.

 

Aww, how cute. At least you're open about your xenophobic bigotry.

Do you feel pretty cool or smart using words like that through the internet or something? He's not even English?

[magekillr]

"BNP scream and shout, get the [bleep]ing Paki's out." That's the only thing I know about the elections in the UK :) So, go BNP I guess.

 

Aww, how cute. At least you're open about your xenophobic bigotry.

Do you feel pretty cool or smart using words like that through the internet or something? He's not even English?

 

Just because he's not English doesn't mean he might not know what those words mean. This is how I talk in everyday language. I'm sorry if xenophobic is a "big" word for you, or if it's not in your vocabulary, but being in the politics business I use it on a semi-daily basis.

 

And of all things, rather than attacking me for using a "big word," one would think you'd translate for him because of his disgusting attitudes towards Pakistanis.

[Bouwzie]

Actually, I don't give a [cabbage] about Pakistanis. They are not in my country. You got them all.

[Skully]

"BNP scream and shout, get the [bleep]ing Paki's out." That's the only thing I know about the elections in the UK :) So, go BNP I guess.

 

Aww, how cute. At least you're open about your xenophobic bigotry.

Do you feel pretty cool or smart using words like that through the internet or something? He's not even English?

 

Just because he's not English doesn't mean he might not know what those words mean. This is how I talk in everyday language. I'm sorry if xenophobic is a "big" word for you, or if it's not in your vocabulary, but being in the politics business I use it on a semi-daily basis.

 

And of all things, rather than attacking me for using a "big word," one would think you'd translate for him because of his disgusting attitudes towards Pakistanis.

I don't mind about his opinions, they are his own.

[OldJoe]

Well, xenophobia translates as "fear of difference" (if that needed to be said). Personally i feel the word is over-used in media and politics, labelling BNP as xenophobic is one thing, but you also get this word thrown at you (and sometimes racist as well) just because you are not bowing down for immigration politics being run in country-x.

[dusqi]

"A surge in the past couple of weeks, however, saw 250,000 people register online, of whom 40% were under 25. At the 2005 election, only 37% of young people voted."

 

2 days left :) http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

[The Dark Lord]

Actually, I don't give a [cabbage] about Pakistanis. They are not in my country. You got them all.

 

He's American.

 

Besides, there are two things I dislike about you:

 

1) You hate other cultures.

 

2) You're Dutch.