The upcoming General Election (UK Politics)

[Trivun]

Who is planning to vote? And if so, who for and why?

I am going to vote for the labour party, because despite all their faults (of which there is many) I sincerely believe they have the best interests of the country at heart unlike say the Conservatives who seek only to line their already full pockets.

Where are you getting that from? I'm planning to vote Tory, simply because they're the lesser of two evils. Lib Dems never have a chance anyway, the BNP are racist scumbags, and no other party stands a realistic chance of being elected. The Labour government have been completely crap, a complete shambles, for the past four years (they were good for the first eight, then everything went downhill). The Conservatives have a reasonable chance of being able to make things right again.

That said, the Tories are unlikely to stay any good. They'll be elected, then in four years time they'll be relected, then everything will go to pot, we'll vote in a Labour government again, and then the cycle will continue. I am completely disillusioned with UK politics, but it's the only system we've got, sadly.

All things considered though, I have a pretty good viewpoint of the current political situation. One of my housemates is a journalist for our student newspaper, so he has a pretty good idea of current politics. Another of my housemates is pretty much second in command of our university Labour society, and will be interning for some politician in Washington DC. So I'm exposed to politics every day, and I've looked at both sides of the coin and been through all the Labour talk from my housemate, and I genuinely believe that Conservative are the best thing for this country right now. That'll probably change again within five years, but right now Tory is the way to go.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

I can't say i want to vote labour but it's either them or the lib dem's because i'd rather stab myself in the face than vote tory or bnp.

 

[Wadders]

I think its neck and neck between Lib Dems and Tories where I live.

My local Lib Dem MP is pretty cool she used to be a teacher at my school, so I know her pretty well. Conservative MP I dont really know, but he comes across as a bit of a douche.

As far as policies go I've only skim read, but in all likelihood I'll vote Lib Dem.

 

[Scout-V]

Probably stick with Lib Dems, but if pushed to keep the Tories out i will soil myself and vote Labour, I can not stand David Cameron there is almost no man alive that looks more likely to to be a bipod lizard wearing a man suit...

I do wonder though, if everyone who does not vote Lib Dem because it is a "wasted vote", voted Lib Dem maybe they'd actually win... just a thought.

 

[murphy7801]

It's starting to look like a little cross in the Monster Raving Looney Party's column is the best use of my vote. Whilst I prefer Brown's Labour to Cameron's Tories, it's like picking Chlamydia over Malaria. And the Lib Dems got rid of Charles Kennedy (old news, I know), so they're obviously committed to not wanting me to vote for them. And as for UKIP, the Greens and the BNP, even though they claim to have policies and the like, I can't help but think of them as one-trick ponies.

So whilst I'm planning to vote, it may come down to jabbing a finger down on the ballot with my eyes closed, and voting for who ever is nearest (and isn't the BNP).

malkavian's are cool

 

[murphy7801]

lib dem but might vote labour just to make sure conservatives don't get in.

 

[Wadders]

I do wonder though, if everyone who does not vote Lib Dem because it is a "wasted vote", voted Lib Dem maybe they'd actually win... just a thought.

I've wondered that too. It kinda defeats the point of voting if you dont vote for a party based on the assumption that "oh well no-one else will vote for them so there is no point"

 

[orangebandguy]

Most of the economy troubles for us were back when the tories under Margaret Thatcher sold all of our assets away. Leaving Labour to balls it up even further. In fact Cameron is so much of a left wing socialist he might as well be Labour.

Honestly I'd vote Conservative even though it won't make much difference. The country is damaged beyond any immediate repair.

 

[murphy7801]

As long as no one votes BNP it will make me happy but I like not to slim bag cameron running the country

 

[Wadders]

edit: oops double post

 

[Cheshire Cat]

None of the labour or Conservative leaders or policies have assured me in anyway that they deserve power.
If I had my proper choice to carried out I'd just get every single politician, line them up against a wall and shoot the lot of them. Then get some new blood in and make sure that they fully understand that they are supposed to look after the people of this country not themselves and business' and if thats too hard to grasp, we can always give them a lead injection too.

And when I say "people of this country" I mean the actual British citizens, not benefit and health service abusing foreigners.

 

[Roos1993]

Probably Lib Dem if I wasn't just off the voting age.
They are quite determined on changing the voting system from FPT, but there's not much point because its been Labour in my constituency for the past 20 years and they'll never get in unless there's a coalition (fat chance)

 

[hardlymotivated]

Well, assuming the election will take place on 06/05/2010, I'm going to miss out on voting by 9 days. Most unfortunate.

Still, if I were to be allowed to vote this year, I'm fairly certain my vote would go to the Liberal Democrats. Ideologically, I agree more with their agenda than I do with New Labour or the Tories, so I feel that my choice would be justified. I'm really getting quite sick of the erosion of civil liberties under Labour, and I don't see much in the way of change from the Conservatives.

Hopefully, in five years time, my vote's going to cancel out some prick who voted BNP, so it should all work out for the best.

 

[Harrowdown]

Lib Dem all the way. For those of you who want change (and everyone always does, no matter what), voting for them might actually provide you with such. Although you should never take biased sources as gospel, their site actually puts foward some intelligent, sensible policies and ideas. I imagine many of you would be apprehensive about 'wasting your vote', but Labour and the Tories are reprehensible enough that they might even have a chance this year, providing voters keep optimistic.

 

[Chipperz]

Lib Dem. If enough of us "waste our vote", then none of us will have wasted our vote. Plus Tories and Labour both prove habitually that they're imcompetent morons, whereas Lib Dem should have a chance to prove it.

EDIT!

Also, in case you haven't seen the Bubble...


It originally aired without the martial arts movie soundtrack, and is hilarious.

 

[aww yea]

why pick from a rotten basket?

i dont know of any party i particularly like so i wont vote. simple as.

however if i were forced to choose, easily labour. the conservatives are too... i dont know.. cold? i cant put my finger on it they just dont seem right.

yes i choose via intention and competence rather than policies.

 

[Bladestrom]

I'm voting for the first time this year and to be honest I'd rather be registered in Scotland. For me, at least, there's more of a difference between the main parties and the SNP look set to win again. Voting Lib Dem looks about the best bet since they at least have a coherent higher education policy, while I'd never vote Conservative (I know what they did last time) and Labour abandoned most of the things I found appealing about them.

 

[nifedj]

I'm too young, but I'd vote Labour. While the Lib Dems can come across as being decent people sometimes, I don't feel they've done anything to show they could run the country competently and I have a terrible vision of them getting elected and not a having a clue what to do next XD

The Tories' (and in particular Cameron's) failure to do anything except criticise every word that leaves Gordon Brown's mouth leaves me with no respect for them. The last Tory government was a disaster, the current Tory party seems to think that to avoid going that way they should just not have any policies except being anti-Labour.

The running of the country under Labour recently hasn't exactly been exemplary... but then we don't really know how much of it was the government's fault (global recession in mind). Brown did a good job as Chancellor. I don't think he'll ever do as well as PM but while he can be awkward and bumbling he doesn't come across as an arse like Cameron does. As I said, he ran the economy pretty well for years - I'd rather have someone who isn't a brilliant 'leader' in the sense of charisma but knows a bit about how the country works than vice versa.

The other parties don't really appeal to me at all.

 

[Cuacuani]

The Tories' (and in particular Cameron's) failure to do anything except criticise every word that leaves Gordon Brown's mouth leaves me with no respect for them. The last Tory government was a disaster, the current Tory party seems to think that to avoid going that way they should just not have any policies except being anti-Labour.

Surely this is the point of being in opposition? To oppose? If anything, the Tories need to oppose more and more vehemently. They don't oppose strongly enough and they don't suggest better ideas other than vague statements of 'we wouldn't do it like that.' There needs to be a strong opposition, otherwise policy change is just the Prime Minister announcing 'what I say goes'.

 

[Soundish]

I'm voting for Labour. Lib-Dems, Greens, SNP etc. will never make an impact in Westminster and with the current system, its almost a wasted vote. Particularly when the Clegg has said the Lib Dems won't join a coalition. And the day I vote for the Tories is the day I fall on my sword.

[sub][sub][sub]And I rather like Gordon Brown. So sue me[/sub][/sub][/sub]

I also like Gordon, I believe he really got shafted when Blair stood down. Also Cameron and his torys are so populist and have no real policies. The only person worse than Cameron is that pompous arse , George Osborne. The Election should be interesting as my Constituency has been Conservative for quite a few years (thanks to the old people who retire to Devon) but our MP was the guy who said that we were "all jealous of his very large house" during the expenses scandal and so he has stepped down. I think that we may be headed toward a Liberal Democrat MP as they seem to have a lot of support here. I personally would vote Labour if only I wasn't under voting age until October. Sadly though I doubt my area would ever get a Labour MP so I'll happpily make do with a Lib Dem, if only to deny the torys a seat.