NationStates Jolt Archive

I've just watched the Queen's Speech by the Liberal Democrats and knowing the Conservatives and Labour have already aired theirs... I was thinking about who I would vote for if I had the vote (only 16). I think the Lib Dems are appealing to young people. And yes, they did appeal to me.

But who would you vote for? Are there reasons for why you would vote for a particular party, or reasons for why you wouldn't vote for the others? Please, lets not turn this into a bitch-fest. Let's keep it civilised and if you have an opinion that may offend someone... try to keep it as tame as possible?

I would also like to know why you don't like particular parties, because I can't think of a way of obtaining non-bias information about them. It was all obvious propaganda and each party will have their downsides... What are they?

The official monster raving looney party.

Being 18 as of the 1st December 2004, I'll have the vote - I've already been registered to vote - and, as a member of the Conservative party, I'll be voting for them.

However, I don't think we stand much of a chance, unless we get the vote from the minorities due to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq...

I don't believe I'd vote Conservative again though. The gits haven't sent me any correspondence. I'm just waiting for the letter that asks for help in the election...

VOTE UKIP NEXT TIME ROUND!

Labour have taken every Conservative policy, given it a bit of window dressing & declared them a New Labour step forward. Which has led to the Conservatives stepping back decades & resorting to policy promises of building more prisons.

The Conservatives lack leadership & a guiding principal really which makes them incredibly weak & incapable of actually challenging the governments policy in a way that's more than just character attacking. Labour has historically been a party working towards benefits for the working class but with New Labour that's been largely erased by Labour turning to the middle classes, ignoring the unions & making terribly autocratic murmurs like banning the right of fire fighters to strike & so they're also in a bit of a grey area as to their motivations, goals & long term plans.

The Liberal Democrats would seem the only sane choice, in my mind they've taken a fairly consistent stance on quite a few issues but they're just not going to make it as an opposition in this election or the next, they'll be staying as the useful third party for some time. Why? People aren't willing to alter party allegiances that they've held for considerable time, not to say people won't change but that it'll be largely meaningless & unless there's some extra-ordinary event that manages to grip the nation, including the media, Labour are likely to remain in power.

The minor parties have no chance at anything beyond local elections & even then only a few seats, what concerns me most though is the rise of nationalist parties like the BNP & the supposedly harmless UKIP although I believe UKIP is only a hop & a skip from being just another BNP. Although BNP growth has been pretty minor they've won a few seats in a lot of the deprived areas of the country, especially areas that Labour could traditionally expect a good response from.

UKIP - United Kingdom Independence Party
BNP - British National Party

UKIP the next BNP? Get out of it! UKIP and the BNP have barely anything in common! God, I'd vote either of them anyway if they had a chance of winning Coventry North-East!

I'd vote English Democrats Party, but they don't have a chance, so I'm going for the party that appeals most and has some chance of winning something. The Conservatives now hold Coventry City Council, after it being under Labour hold for 23 years I think.

I reckon they could win the city, with the levels of immigrants we have, they won't vote Labour after Iraq and Afghanistan. That's if they vote at all. But whatever, I don't think the Conservatives have much chance, but the margin won't be as wide as it is.

I -would- vote Lib Dems if...

a.) I was old enough.
b.) The Conservatives hadn't been reported to be targeting our region as one of their target regions, making unity under Labour necessary to keep em out.

Anyway, many in Labour are pretty left-wing, it's just Blair and his 'revisionist leftist' policies. And Blunkett, who wouldn't be out of place in the BNP.

Mikorlias of Imardeavia

Lib Dems. As I always have done.

I feel another Labour victory is certain, while I dont consider myself a Labour supporter, there isnt really any alternative.

The Conservatives will struggle to hold on to second place, A lack of direction, an unpopular (especially here in Scotland) leader and the votes being lost to extremist parties such as UKIP and to a lesser extent the BNP.

I like alot of the Liberal Democrats policies and I think they may just take second place, should attract alot of anti war and disillusioned Labour votes. Not ready for government yet but after a few years in opposition they could step up to challenge in the future.

SNP should do well in Scotland, politically similar to Lib Dems plus wanting Scottish independence obviously, will pick up on Labour and Lib Dem votes (in the Scottish Paliament Labour and the Lib Dems are in coalition, could have a bad effect on Lib Dem voters?)

I will either vote SNP or Lib Dem, traditionally voted SNP but my views on Independence arent as black and white and I dont have much of a liking for the SNP leader.

UKIP the next BNP? Get out of it! UKIP and the BNP have barely anything in common! God, I'd vote either of them anyway if they had a chance of winning Coventry North-East!

I'd vote English Democrats Party, but they don't have a chance, so I'm going for the party that appeals most and has some chance of winning something. The Conservatives now hold Coventry City Council, after it being under Labour hold for 23 years I think.

I reckon they could win the city, with the levels of immigrants we have, they won't vote Labour after Iraq and Afghanistan. That's if they vote at all. But whatever, I don't think the Conservatives have much chance, but the margin won't be as wide as it is.

Theres a damn fine line, UKIP have made some pretty rascist and narrow minded comments and frankly the BNP should be banned. They have no place in our society. How can you seriously back a policy of booting out everyone of non British heritage? Not only is it impossible it would cripple the economy among other things.

UKIP the next BNP? Get out of it! UKIP and the BNP have barely anything in common! God, I'd vote either of them anyway if they had a chance of winning Coventry North-East!

I'd vote English Democrats Party, but they don't have a chance, so I'm going for the party that appeals most and has some chance of winning something. The Conservatives now hold Coventry City Council, after it being under Labour hold for 23 years I think.

I reckon they could win the city, with the levels of immigrants we have, they won't vote Labour after Iraq and Afghanistan. That's if they vote at all. But whatever, I don't think the Conservatives have much chance, but the margin won't be as wide as it is.

So you want to boot out all those of non-british heritage do you? so what about the asians who run our cornor shops? what about the aussies who run our bars, the indians who run the curry houses, and the turks who run our kebab houses? you can't say these people are useless.

MRL all the way they may all be loonies but at least they admit it which is a good step up from mr no i wont appologise blair and a load of tories who frankly have all the social skills of a plate of mashed potatos

i would vote lib dems but they seem to have absoloutly no leadership at hte moment they are realy to disorganised to be in command and as for the bnp and such well i cant realy say i look forward to hosting the fourth reich any time soon

MRL all the way they may all be loonies but at least they admit it which is a good step up from mr no i wont appologise blair and a load of tories who frankly have all the social skills of a plate of mashed potatos

i would vote lib dems but they seem to have absoloutly no leadership at hte moment they are realy to disorganised to be in command and as for the bnp and such well i cant realy say i look forward to hosting the fourth reich any time soon

That's the most sensible thing I've heard all day. You do have a point about Kennedy, but He's better then Blair or Howard.

So you want to boot out all those of non-british heritage do you? so what about the asians who run our cornor shops? what about the aussies who run our bars, the indians who run the curry houses, and the turks who run our kebab houses? you can't say these people are useless.

Of course what about the ones who own businesses, teach, own factories, pay taxes, own Chelsea :D speaking of football you gonna boot out all the footballers too?

Bring back Maggie!!

Conservatives, definately :-)

Bring back Maggie!!

Conservatives, definately :-)

Please be joking!

Lib Dem. Despite being a life-long Labour supporter. The war in Iraq and their "security" proposals announced yesterday were a step too far. Also I think the LDs are the only party that try to explain what the European Union is in a way that matches my experience of what people in other EU countries think it is about.

So you want to boot out all those of non-british heritage do you? so what about the asians who run our cornor shops? what about the aussies who run our bars, the indians who run the curry houses, and the turks who run our kebab houses? you can't say these people are useless.

Did I say they're useless? A few of my friends aren't of 'British Heritage'. Can I say Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Africa (don't know specific nations).

I believe the people we should kick out are the people who A) Have come to England either illegally or legally and B) Haven't bothered getting a job and are living off the state.

It's not fair that working people have to pay for some immigrant who's walked through the channel tunnel/come in the back of a lorry, who can't be bothered to learn English or get a job. We need immigrants yes, but we need ones that work to support our economy.

I would vote labour but they are very weak in my area. Therefore im going to vote liberal next time as the support is about equal for liberal and conservative in my area and i would hate to have a conservative mp. Plus, my current liberal mp has done a lot for me personally by supporting my application for disability living allowance and fighting to help me get a new expensive drug that has really changed my life.

Tories. I hate everything about Labour bar Blair's foreign policy. Hate Blair though.

My advice to everyone; Please don't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER vote for UKIP. Ever. They are the worst choice of party. I don't like the Lib Dems, Labour, etc, but I would vote for any of them before I did UKIP. They can and will F*** up the country. I'm all for keeping the pound, and I may have a strong dislike for the French, and I may be all for stopping immigrants getting in, but we need to become part of Europe. I agree with their suspicion Europe will become a superpower and we'll become nothing more than a state of Europe. But that's exactly why we need to become part of it. There may come a point when the "United States of Europe" comes into conflict with the USA, and much as I like America I must say that if we take sides against Europe when we're within range of a modern artillery gun in France, we'll be fecked. That is, assuming it doesn't escalate to nuclear. In which case, everyone's fecked and it really doesn't matter.
And the BNP are worse, but at least they have a worse public opinion than UKIP who may actually be able to gain some power easily.

Did I say they're useless? A few of my friends aren't of 'British Heritage'. Can I say Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Africa (don't know specific nations).

I believe the people we should kick out are the people who A) Have come to England either illegally or legally and B) Haven't bothered getting a job and are living off the state.

It's not fair that working people have to pay for some immigrant who's walked through the channel tunnel/come in the back of a lorry, who can't be bothered to learn English or get a job. We need immigrants yes, but we need ones that work to support our economy.

Well the BNP would kick all your friends out. Yes we should be tough on illegal immigration but thats not what the BNP are about, they try and appear that way but they are a fascist party, rascist to the core.

Labour.

Even though I am 16, I would vote for them.

Being younger, most of us have no idea what it was like to live under the Tory government, life is definitely taken for granted now. Crime IS down, the economy IS up.

Bitch all you like at Blair, but no matter what the right-wing broadsheets say,
under his government, life has definitely improved. Besides that, who the heck could we replace him with ? I really can't see either of the 2 opposition party leaders being a prime minister. They just don't appear to be natural leaders. Which is strange considering Howard is a QC.

How could we ever think of replacing Blair with Count Dracula ( Michael howard :sniper: ) He has no idea what to do nor say to gain votes. The man's simply useless.

As for the Lib Dems, wake up, Of COURSE, everyone would vote for them if there was actually any way of them fufilling their promises. The fact is they can't...They take bits from Labour and the Conservatives, and they promise to amend all the bad things about both. I would just love to know how they could do that if they came into power. They wouldn't have a clue what to do to run a country with troops still in Iraq etc.

Also, if you ask me, it would be a waste of a vote...although I do expect that they will gain in nortority in the next GE.

where I live, everyone wants to vote Lib Dem but they all think it's a wasted vote. if everyone just went "screw it, I don't care" and voted for them, they'd kick ass!
don't even get me started on UKIP... BNP in blazers!
okay, this is one of the 3 taboo subjects, so don't yell at me if you disagree. I'll go and hide under my rock with the earwigs and make chutney all day long. chutney, chutney, chutney...

I like this post, and wish I could show it... somewhere else.

Anyway, it is reasonable thinking. The UK is part of Europe, and it should do well to stop pretending it has any claim to independent powert. Britain has no future outside Europe, and can simply learn to love it, or emigrate. Europe exists to be obeyed, not to be argued against.

I wouldnt say its there to be obeyed.

I think the EU is a good thing and over the years it will become more centralised and definately much larger. We should adopt the Euro eventually also.

I only hope the constitution debate isnt hijacked by the xenophobes and narrow minded idiots.

I'm hoping the elections are delayed a month, 18th birthday's in May. I would like to vote MRL but that's just dumb so i'm going to vote Lib Dem.

Being 18 as of the 1st December 2004, I'll have the vote - I've already been registered to vote - and, as a member of the Conservative party, I'll be voting for them.

However, I don't think we stand much of a chance, unless we get the vote from the minorities due to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq...

I don't believe I'd vote Conservative again though. The gits haven't sent me any correspondence. I'm just waiting for the letter that asks for help in the election...

VOTE UKIP NEXT TIME ROUND!

my birthday will be in time for the next election too. but that is where the similarities between us end. it really doesnt make sense to me why any young person would want to vote conservative. the stand for rich old landed gentry, and noone else. arent young people meant to rebel? not vote for the bloody tories!
im glad you wont vote for them next time, but please live a little and dont vote for them this time... but hang on, theres more!

vote UKIP eh? UK 'we moan about asylum seekers and immigrants despite the looming pensions crisis' IP? UK 'oh and we dont like people in fake tan either' IP?
the daily mail readers of the world have to realise that in 100 years or less the UK will have too many old people compared to young, working people. the only way to avert this problem is to attract in immigrants to make up the numbers.

labour isnt labour any more, tories are just the same as labour, so the only way forward is the lib dems! or, if any of the leaders of all the very and/or vaguely left wing parties are per chance reading this, would it not be a good idea to have an alliance? i.e. the liberal green socialist party?

Yes, the UK is part of Europe. Yes, the UK is allied with Europe. No, the UK doesn't need to be part of a European Superstate.

The EU (EEC) was set up to stop the French and Germans going to war. It worked. And now, they're imposing their little laws on us, and attempting to rob us of our defense policies. Of course, they won't get a chance, because even if Labour gets in, they sure as hell won't win the referendum on the EU Constitution.

We don't necessarily need the EU either. People say that if we left the EU we would lose trade. England, and the UK after it, has managed to trade with European nations for well over 1000 years now, so why do we need a little bloc to do it?

Also, kinda hijacking this post, but how many of you would be for the UK dissolving completely and letting England, Scotland and Wales become independent again, with N.Eire becoming independent?

And how many would be for an English Parliament?

I'm for both, obviously enough...

Lib Dem. (If I could. The next election is gonna be 5 months before I'm 18. Laour Bastards) Why? Lets see:
1. I'm a student. I will be the first year to get the triple tuition fees. Lib Dems will scrap these fees.
2. Only one of the major parties who opposed the war in Iraq
3. They have a decent plan on pensions
4. They're the only party willing to admit they'd raise taxes. We all know all the parties are gonna raise taxes, so why lie about it?
4. We need an alcholic PM. CK rules!

I wouldnt say its there to be obeyed.

I think the EU is a good thing and over the years it will become more centralised and definately much larger. We should adopt the Euro eventually also.

I only hope the constitution debate isnt hijacked by the xenophobes and narrow minded idiots.

Hmmm, it will be hijacked, wether we like it or not.

Yes, the EU is a good thing, but I don't expect it to stay as lily-pure as it is now. In the end, an enlarged Europe will be just as corrupt as the USA.
*shrug* I don't see what can be done about it. Everyone has to fall in line, or become some kind of Liechtenstein.

Silverturtle, I agree with what you said.

most likely green or a socialist party (except for RESPECT, those cunts)

Labour.

Even though I am 16, I would vote for them.

Being younger, most of us have no idea what it was like to live under the Tory government, life is definitely taken for granted now. Crime IS down, the economy IS up.

Bitch all you like at Blair, but no matter what the right-wing broadsheets say,
under his government, life has definitely improved. Besides that, who the heck could we replace him with ? I really can't see either of the 2 opposition party leaders being a prime minister. They just don't appear to be natural leaders. Which is strange considering Howard is a QC.

How could we ever think of replacing Blair with Count Dracula ( Michael howard :sniper: ) He has no idea what to do nor say to gain votes. The man's simply useless.

As for the Lib Dems, wake up, Of COURSE, everyone would vote for them if there was actually any way of them fufilling their promises. The fact is they can't...They take bits from Labour and the Conservatives, and they promise to amend all the bad things about both. I would just love to know how they could do that if they came into power. They wouldn't have a clue what to do to run a country with troops still in Iraq etc.

Also, if you ask me, it would be a waste of a vote...although I do expect that they will gain in nortority in the next GE.

According to the speech, they'll introduce higher taxes on people earning more than £100,000 annually. It'll pay for the changes on tuition fees and on pensions. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to make promises even 16 year olds doubt they could keep. :D

Yes, the UK is part of Europe. Yes, the UK is allied with Europe. No, the UK doesn't need to be part of a European Superstate.

The EU (EEC) was set up to stop the French and Germans going to war. It worked. And now, they're imposing their little laws on us, and attempting to rob us of our defense policies. Of course, they won't get a chance, because even if Labour gets in, they sure as hell won't win the referendum on the EU Constitution.

We don't necessarily need the EU either. People say that if we left the EU we would lose trade. England, and the UK after it, has managed to trade with European nations for well over 1000 years now, so why do we need a little bloc to do it?

Also, kinda hijacking this post, but how many of you would be for the UK dissolving completely and letting England, Scotland and Wales become independent again, with N.Eire becoming independent?

And how many would be for an English Parliament?

I'm for both, obviously enough...

Yep, Scotland should be independant and in the EU.

Too long have we paid out more to London than we get back and let English MEP's screw our fishing industry.

And an independant Scotland would remove the tiny threat that I will ever have to live under a Conservative government ever again. Theyve barely won a seat here in years.

Yes, the UK is part of Europe. Yes, the UK is allied with Europe. No, the UK doesn't need to be part of a European Superstate.

The EU (EEC) was set up to stop the French and Germans going to war. It worked. And now, they're imposing their little laws on us, and attempting to rob us of our defense policies. Of course, they won't get a chance, because even if Labour gets in, they sure as hell won't win the referendum on the EU Constitution.

We don't necessarily need the EU either. People say that if we left the EU we would lose trade. England, and the UK after it, has managed to trade with European nations for well over 1000 years now, so why do we need a little bloc to do it?

Also, kinda hijacking this post, but how many of you would be for the UK dissolving completely and letting England, Scotland and Wales become independent again, with N.Eire becoming independent?

And how many would be for an English Parliament?

I'm for both, obviously enough...


Umm... in history A level we learnt that the EEC was to promote economic recovery after everyone got screwed by war. And France originally came to Britain with the idea, before they went to Germany, but the Brits were like, "no, go away, I'm cooking eggs." So France continued without them, and Britain sulked. And Britain went to the conferences and tried to mess it up by going "psst... it's gonna be rubbish... let's just go have a fag." to the Germans. but it didn't work, so then when EEC was actually good, Britain went, "hey, sorry about that teensy little incident with the Germans. can we control it, please?" and the French went "um, no, you wouldn't listen to us, and tried to ruin it, and it was our idea anyway." so Britain set up EFTA with countries with rubbish economies (no offence to them), and it was good, but was rubbish compared to the EEC. so Britain crawled to the EEC with its tail between its legs...
yes, I am pro-Europe, lol. so shoot me.
how about that chutney, huh?

btw has anyone noticed that the poll colours match the main three's colours? Isn't that pretty...

Ive seen many interesting papers on why Europe will be the economic superpower of tomorrow, an ever strenghting Euro and closer ties with Russia and China than the US has. Not forgetting the failing US economy.

To be honest id identify with being a European citizen as much as I do as being a British one so it makes little difference to me in those terms.

btw has anyone noticed that the poll colours match the main three's colours? Isn't that pretty...

Then who is purpley pink?

Ive seen many interesting papers on why Europe will be the economic superpower of tomorrow, an ever strenghting Euro and closer ties with Russia and China than the US has. Not forgetting the failing US economy.

To be honest id identify with being a European citizen as much as I do as being a British one so it makes little difference to me in those terms.
Wrong. If you look at statistics the American economy is surging while Europe's is stagnating.

Wrong. If you look at statistics the American economy is surging while Europe's is stagnating.

Surging? Dollar fell to its third record low against the Euro in 3 days today. And as ive said many times on these boards there is no single European economy, some countries have up to 10% growth for instance.

The Liberal Democrats would seem the only sane choice, in my mind they've taken a fairly consistent stance on quite a few issues but they're just not going to make it as an opposition in this election or the next, they'll be staying as the useful third party for some time. Why? People aren't willing to alter party allegiances that they've held for considerable time, not to say people won't change but that it'll be largely meaningless & unless there's some extra-ordinary event that manages to grip the nation, including the media, Labour are likely to remain in power.

Look at the vote at the top!! (they were winning when I wrote this even if they're not now). If people stopped believeing noone else would vote for them and actually voted how they thought they would be able to win seats from labour (anti-war, stick to what they say, not too far away on the better issues, not Tony Blair, etc.) and tories (for not being labour).

I have been 18 since September and will be voting for them in the next election.

PS. UKIP should have less power now Kilroys vanishing for not being made leader + the BNP should NEVER win ANYTHING.

Surging? Dollar fell to its third record low against the Euro in 3 days today. And as Ive said many times on these boards there is no single European economy, some countries have up to 10% growth for instance.
Have you studied economics? Currency strength is not, by any means, the best indicator of economic strength. In fact in this case its just plain wrong.

You're right that there is no one single European economy. It is possible to use weighted averages, though, to find the average growth statistics, so that the small countries that are expanding very vast, like Ireland, are balanced out by larger, stagnating countries like Germany.

I'm not gonna shoot someone because they're pro-europe, you're entitled to your opinion.

And anyway, from what I know, DeGaulle blocked our entry to the EEC anyway, at least twice.

Well whatever. If Britain joined some EU Superstate I'd just emigrate and run for Governor of some American state. If Arnold can, then why can't I?

Also without tax rises the US economy will collapse under its budget deficet, all it will take is say China to transfer its cash reserves from Dollars to Euros (a likely scenario, possibly as punishment for a US strike on Iran in the future) and its bye bye US economy. Simple economics, you cannot spend more than you take in.

i would vote for united kingdom inderpendce party.

Yep, Scotland should be independant and in the EU.

Too long have we paid out more to London than we get back and let English MEP's screw our fishing industry.

And an independant Scotland would remove the tiny threat that I will ever have to live under a Conservative government ever again. Theyve barely won a seat here in years.

And too long have Scottish politicians had a say in English affairs but English politicians can't have a say in your affairs, or theirs even...no to regional governments though.

I'm not gonna shoot someone because they're pro-europe, you're entitled to your opinion.

And anyway, from what I know, DeGaulle blocked our entry to the EEC anyway, at least twice.

Well whatever. If Britain joined some EU Superstate I'd just emigrate and run for Governor of some American state. If Arnold can, then why can't I?

yay, someone didn't ignore me! *gives you jelly beans* and it didn't involve shooting!
yeah, he did block entry, but it was because Britain was being quite rubbish about it. i have to simplify it because otherwise i find this unit so incredibly dull.

Have you studied economics? Currency strength is not, by any means, the best indicator of economic strength. In fact in this case its just plain wrong.

You're right that there is no one single European economy. It is possible to use weighted averages, though, to find the average growth statistics, so that the small countries that are expanding very vast, like Ireland, are balanced out by larger, stagnating countries like Germany.

Yes I know currency is not the best indicator, but there a great deal of things wrong with the US economy.

Yes Germanies economy is not good, but it will recover. If the US doesnt take action now it will be felt for a generation.

Anyway this is not strictly on topic anymore.

To be honest, the only issue that would be really important for me is if a party singled out in its manifesto: Proportonal Representation in Gov't. That way, peoples votes would count for more, everyone who had a vote would be represented, and it should make politics in this country a hell of a lot more interesting to the avg person.

It would also effectively rule out the concept of elective dictatorship in this country too, which we're currently living under.....damn the party political system

Im not going to be old enough unless the election is suddenly called off for a year, but Conservatives= no, irregardless of whether they misrepresent conservatism, they agreed with Blair over Iraq, and are now trying to play catch up with them, and UKIP.

UKIP = no, theyre a single issue party. I wouldnt vote for them in a general election, although i probably would in a European one.

Labour = no, Theyre being defensive in their approach to bringing in new policies, and it looks like the gov't is hopefully going to come crashing down on top of the Blairite wing some time... look at the amount of rebellions and 'openly secret' infighting that has taken place recently. Besides this, £3billion on a identity card scheme when they could be employing more police, etc, and almost weekely revamps of policy and spin make me pretty unsure where they stand, ideological-wise, besides wanting more power.

Lib Dems.... no idea if they would have proportional voting, the problem with this party is that theyre nowhere near vocal enough. I would like to hear some loud opposition against the gov't, esp when its from a party which is now the true challenger to the Labour party, and to be frank, unless you watched their party conference, or newsnight, you wont hear much of it. (their foreign policy minsiter, Meizes(sp?) Campbell gave a very impressive speech at the Conference... too bad not many people heard it)

Personally?

Well...if they still existed in any actual form, I would say Labour. By Labour I of course mean Old Labour, not the Right-Wing loving crazies they have become.

Nowadays...I'd have to say Green. They have good policies, and not just on the environment, contrary to popular theory.

Still, they're a small party and they don't really have a hope in hell of winning. But I just couldn't bring myself to vote for a party that I don't think has our best intrests at heart.

Hopefully this whole mess will get sorted out by the time I'm old enought to vote, and there'll be an element of choice injected back into our political system.

And too long have Scottish politicians had a say in English affairs but English politicians can't have a say in your affairs, or theirs even...no to regional governments though.

I quite agree, Scottish MP's have no place in voting in bills that dont concern Scotland, and most abstain from doing so. They only time I can remember it being a factor was Labour pushing through the Foundation Hospitals Bill by using Labour MP's from Scotland.

erm probably the monster raving looney party or UKIP tho i wudnt mind Maggie or Winston Churchil tho, cos he cud get us out of this stupid "war"

we need another Conservative Goverment in this country, they did good the first time and they will do it again.

lib dems,
only because out of the 3 parties that have any chance of getting to power, they are the least corrupt and furthest to the left.

never would have considered conservatives,
and labour have just become a joke, party for the working class, like hell they are.

I do think that you should always be able to spell the name of the party you vote for. If you can't, abbreviate or smudge.

Yes I know currency is not the best indicator, but there a great deal of things wrong with the US economy.

Yes Germanies economy is not good, but it will recover. If the US doesnt take action now it will be felt for a generation.

Anyway this is not strictly on topic anymore.
Feel free to make a new thread on the topic :rolleyes:

Feel free to make a new thread on the topic :rolleyes:

Ha ha thats got 'flame baiting' written all over it on here! How long before it turns into 'ah but we have more nukes that you Euros!' hahaha

And too long have Scottish politicians had a say in English affairs but English politicians can't have a say in your affairs, or theirs even...no to regional governments though.


Ahh... the West Lothian Question

raised by the minister of..... West Lothian :D

*dinging* pointless trivia fact of the day #1

You want to get rid of people who have come to country both legally & illegally? I have to say on all levels that is a very stupid thing, birth rates are falling & where else do you expect to find a crop of people of working age to fill the gaps in the jobs that will suddendly be left vacant when everyone who wasn't born in the UK is deported?

Migrant workers contributed £500,000 a week last in national insurance & other taxes, it was concluded by a multi-party commons investigation that the gains to the economy of Britain vastly outweighed any rediculous notion that all immigrants are living in luxury & doing nothing. This story was reported in the Daily Mail, a newspaper which is horribly biased in its opinion towards asylum seekers & migrant workers.

Now, I happen to work with asylum seekers & I can tell you that they are forbidden from working. YES! That's right, none of them are allowed to work until they've fulfilled a whole ream of criteria. Which explains the doing nothing all day thing, now as for the benefits these are standard benefits which keep these people from starving & dying because no one gave a damn.
Also suprisingly when they are allowed to work they go to work in the lowest paid jobs around, why? No one else will take them, the superior British born are far to high & mighty to work in the likes of a chicken factory.

Also they're fleeing oppression & brutality, then again you've never had to look at someone knowing they've been raped dozens of times & aren't even sixteen years old. You cannot blame the problems of the country on a single group, immigrants regardless of their intentions are what keep countries all over the world working. If people with the right skills did not go to other countries or simply people in that 18-65 bracket didn't then you'd be looking at even greater problems.
In general though I find it hard to understand how people can knowingly support the BNP & parties like it, where's your compassion & basic humanity?

The official monster raving looney party.

Don't exist anymore.....their party leader died.

I wouldn't, it seems pointless choosing between the lesser of so many evils.

You want to get rid of people who have come to country both legally & illegally? I have to say on all levels that is a very stupid thing, birth rates are falling & where else do you expect to find a crop of people of working age to fill the gaps in the jobs that will suddendly be left vacant when everyone who wasn't born in the UK is deported?

Migrant workers contributed £500,000 a week last in national insurance & other taxes, it was concluded by a multi-party commons investigation that the gains to the economy of Britain vastly outweighed any rediculous notion that all immigrants are living in luxury & doing nothing. This story was reported in the Daily Mail, a newspaper which is horribly biased in its opinion towards asylum seekers & migrant workers.

Now, I happen to work with asylum seekers & I can tell you that they are forbidden from working. YES! That's right, none of them are allowed to work until they've fulfilled a whole ream of criteria. Which explains the doing nothing all day thing, now as for the benefits these are standard benefits which keep these people from starving & dying because no one gave a damn.
Also suprisingly when they are allowed to work they go to work in the lowest paid jobs around, why? No one else will take them, the superior British born are far to high & mighty to work in the likes of a chicken factory.

Also they're fleeing oppression & brutality, then again you've never had to look at someone knowing they've been raped dozens of times & aren't even sixteen years old. You cannot blame the problems of the country on a single group, immigrants regardless of their intentions are what keep countries all over the world working. If people with the right skills did not go to other countries or simply people in that 18-65 bracket didn't then you'd be looking at even greater problems.
In general though I find it hard to understand how people can knowingly support the BNP & parties like it, where's your compassion & basic humanity?

Extremists have always used minorities to blame problems on. As long as theres enough idiots, racsists etc to believe it it will continue.

I agree with your work point, ive seen clips on the news of doctors who have fled here who arent allowed to work etc. waste of skills. But again the xenophobes amongst us wouldnt be happy with that would they?

I if i could vote (17) would vote for the left wing candidate that was supported by the RESPECT coalition in my area.

RESPECT are a coalition of real socialist and other left wing parties (i.e. not Labour!), that forward one candidate in an area that represtents a few of these parties.


To be honest the real left wing parties in the UK need to come together in one big party to put up a real challenge in a general election. The parties that could come together include:

Communist Party of Britain
Green Party of England and Wales
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
Liberal Party
Revolutionary Communist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Equality Party
Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Party
Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Workers Party

Although all these parties have differences. They could if put aside form a real 'Socialist Party'

(Things I don't agree on are things like the following: The Liberals No to the Euro policy, and some of the sciencetific related policies (no to stem cells, or cloning organs) I am for both the Euro and bio medical research.

But other parties in that list support these.

So how about a real left in Britain (a la Old Labour!)

Al

if that group of soft lefties ever take control of this country the Great in Great Britian will very rapidly diminish.

I think it pointless to try & "defend the pound" or whatever the hell that phrase was back when Hague was Conservative leader. Why save a currency that was created when the country went metric? The real British money system was the shillings, florins, guineas but they're long gone & so I see no special attachment to the Pound, not like we wouldn't be able to keep something stuck on the reverse face of each coin to show it's British.

Joining the Euro is a good step forward, I'm not up to date on the full ramifications admittedly but it seems a weak position is holding us out simply because it would be a loss of identity.
I'm sure someone will bring up the point about Europe having the right to make laws which overrule national ones, the Daily Mail revealed this 'shock' piece of news to the British public under much fanfaire nearly thirty years after we'd joined the EU & agreed to that little restriction which can be ignored by simply issuing a veto. Of course a veto relys on a government acting in the interest of its nation & at the rule of the voting public.

The Lib Dems always seem immensely popular in surveys such as this, but never seem to win the election.

Better them than Labour, but I'll be voting Tory when I can.

Lib Dems.... no idea if they would have proportional voting...

i can tell you that. they do, i am a politics student and have done some research in the different partys the are the only one of the 3 that support PR

Labour did but got 100+ majorty and...

i will be 17 but if i could vote i would vote Lib Dems because...

torys: Michael Portillo's left and William Hague is no longer leader

labour: Blires

UKIP: Understanding Kilroys Identity Problem

BNP: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Lim Dem.
I support Ken Livingstone and many of the Labour back-benchers who are unhappy with the way Blair and his cabinet are leading the party. The problem is, they're too afraid of losing the party whip that they just let themselves be bullied around by a cabinet that is really no better than John Major's government. :rolleyes:

We have proportional representation for the Scottish paliament which works pretty well. Though it does result in far wing parties getting seats.

Lib dems cos they're gonna legalise, or decriminalise, or something, weed (im confused). Something good anyway, and at least its not the tories.
And labour? Well they kinda lost their way havent they?

Why the hell do you right wing idoits refer to the parties I mentioned as 'soft'.

Were soft because we don't want to bash Gay's or persicute minorites?

(No thats called tolerance! Fuckwit!)

Were soft because we believe that people have more rights than big buisiness?

(No retard, thats called a sense of morality!)

Were soft because we don't invade countries that pose no real threat to us or are allies!

(No arsehole, that my twisted friend is called, pacifism, which means that violence is wrong, some pacifist believe violence should never be used, others that it should only be used in extreme situations!)

Explain whats soft about that, what so weak about us. Are we week because we don't find scapegoats.

Why would this take the Great out of Great Britian? Infact the rest of the world (i.e. not America!) might think more of us!

proportional representation would not work unless it was combined 50/50 with the current system. It would lead to a new government every year on a vote of no confidence.
having it 50/50 would be good though.

Labour 11.94%
Conservative 19.40%
Liberal Democrats 53.73%
Other (Please state) 14.93%

if these results are a full showing of all the people of the uk. which i alass dout. then the lib dems will be the first party to win over 50% of the vote. labour will go from a govenment to 3rd and the torys will have got less % of the vote then ever before. The small partys will also be able to gain a few MP in the house of commons. I dont however know if this means UKIP will get in, the Greens will gain a few or the BNP will be one step closer to conduction their police state on the soon to be not so free world.


PS this is only an examination of the poll so far. i AM NOT prodiction the election

Personally I vote tactically, where I am it's virtually neck and neck between the Conservatives and the LibDems, though LibDems are currently in power, but only just. I think I'd vote LibDem anyway in any area that they had a chance. I'd have to be pretty desperate to vote Conservative. A mate of mine was recently trying to persuade me to vote Tory, saying that if the LibDems got in they'd replace the council tax with a local income tax and that all of us in our team would be around £500 a year worse off. Well... I doubt the LibDems would get in anyway, and £500 isn't enough to make me abandon my principles ;-)

Lib dems no way. Like labour they want to be in backstabbing europe, labour i would if gordon brown was in charge because he can see our economy drop if we enter the euro. Which is true. But that doesnt seem to be happening so its conversatives.

I think it pointless to try & "defend the pound" or whatever the hell that phrase was back when Hague was Conservative leader. Why save a currency that was created when the country went metric? The real British money system was the shillings, florins, guineas but they're long gone & so I see no special attachment to the Pound, not like we wouldn't be able to keep something stuck on the reverse face of each coin to show it's British.

Joining the Euro is a good step forward, I'm not up to date on the full ramifications admittedly but it seems a weak position is holding us out simply because it would be a loss of identity.
I'm sure someone will bring up the point about Europe having the right to make laws which overrule national ones, the Daily Mail revealed this 'shock' piece of news to the British public under much fanfaire nearly thirty years after we'd joined the EU & agreed to that little restriction which can be ignored by simply issuing a veto. Of course a veto relys on a government acting in the interest of its nation & at the rule of the voting public.

Sorry to double post. But its not just about losing idenity, the euro compared to the pound is rubbish. We would be stupid to get rid of such a strong currency. Just look at the CAC and the DAX stock markets (french and german respectively) all in the 3500 mark (both euro-countries) UK FTSE 100, 4600 about non-euro country. The french and germans only want a constitution and a single currency to a) boss us around and b) rival America as a superpower. We are hated by the french and germans. If we join the constitution this could happen:- say britain wanted to go to war (like with Iraq whether you agree or not) under a constitution, the rest of europe could veto it and we couldnt even if our national security was at stake. Do we really want this?

The official monster raving looney party.

I don't know.. the death of Screaming Lord Such may have left them without a strong leader. This would obviously slightly limit their chances of getting into power.

I would say the unification of the EU is enevitable, in time, though I don't currently agree with it now. The Euro was introduced too early. It comes down to many issues, but one important one is, language. Seriously, think about the language barrier, this has been a defination of what makes a nation for 10's of thousands of years. I think the EU should and will expand and become much more like the USA, but in a much much slower processs. Anyone predicting a EU vs USA war in a few hundred years? ;-)

Screaming Lord Such is dead? :-(

this has been a defination of what makes a nation for 10's of thousands of years.
The idea of the nation state is a relatively recent one, only really becoming developed in the nineteenth century as part of the ideas used to unify the collection of small states spread across mainland europe into Germany, Italy and the then Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nationalism as an idea only really came into being at that time. Before that regional identity was far stronger than national identity and national borders were fluid things based on power rather than language.

proportional representation would not work unless it was combined 50/50 with the current system. It would lead to a new government every year on a vote of no confidence.
having it 50/50 would be good though.

Full proportional representation is in use in Scotland and Wales for their regional governments and it works.

Sorry to double post. But its not just about losing idenity, the euro compared to the pound is rubbish. We would be stupid to get rid of such a strong currency. Just look at the CAC and the DAX stock markets (french and german respectively) all in the 3500 mark (both euro-countries) UK FTSE 100, 4600 about non-euro country. The french and germans only want a constitution and a single currency to a) boss us around and b) rival America as a superpower. We are hated by the french and germans. If we join the constitution this could happen:- say britain wanted to go to war (like with Iraq whether you agree or not) under a constitution, the rest of europe could veto it and we couldnt even if our national security was at stake. Do we really want this?

Just because the pound is stronger doesnt make it any better, in fact it can and does hurt our exports and imports etc. Gordon Brown's position has always been whens its economically viable to switch ie it will be good for the economy then we will, I agree with this policy. Instead of the Tories outright 'we will never join' so no matter what mess we get into in the future they wont join.
I think its a shame the right wing cant argue against European Union membership without resorting to closed minded arguments about the wars and mildly rascist statements.

UKIP the next BNP? Get out of it! UKIP and the BNP have barely anything in common!
Really? Then I would suggest reading
this link (http://www.britainineurope.org.uk/inyourarea/eastmidlands/news/UK%20Independence%20Party%20Links%20with%20the%20BNP%20should%20worry%20residents%20in%20the%20East% 20Midlands) and this pdf. (http://www.corbett-euro.demon.co.uk/assets/docs/briefing/ukip.pdf) Illuminating stuff.

God, I'd vote either of them anyway if they had a chance of winning Coventry North-East!
So you'd vote for the BNP even, as you claim, they have nothing in common with your party of choice?

Sorry to double post. But its not just about losing idenity, the euro compared to the pound is rubbish. We would be stupid to get rid of such a strong currency. Just look at the CAC and the DAX stock markets (french and german respectively) all in the 3500 mark (both euro-countries) UK FTSE 100, 4600 about non-euro country. The french and germans only want a constitution and a single currency to a) boss us around and b) rival America as a superpower. We are hated by the french and germans. If we join the constitution this could happen:- say britain wanted to go to war (like with Iraq whether you agree or not) under a constitution, the rest of europe could veto it and we couldnt even if our national security was at stake. Do we really want this?

1. Stock markets have arbitary values. The Dow Jones, for example, is not actually 10,000 points 'stronger' or 'better off' than the FTSE or whatever, it simply started at a different value (though, granted, it has increased in value, relativeley, far more than FTSE)
2. The Common Defense Policy of the EU Constitution is an opt-out policy - member states may choose not to follow the common policy and pursue their own agenda, as long as this is not in direct conflict with the EU's policy. Ie Britain could opt-out of the EU's common policy and go to war in Iraq as long as the EU's policy is not to defend Sadam and thus end up fighting against Britain.

Also I'd like to point out, while while I'm on the subject, the EU's Constitution is little more than a consolidation of all existing EU intergovenmental treaties - there is little new material in there, and what there is is often just re-phrasing of current clauses to allow/ease the (future) joining of Turkey and other non-christian states.

I'm probably going to vote Lib Dem. I'm not against Europe as long as it stops going down the road of legislating every little damn thing. Hopefully, if it does become more centralised, it will get more democratic, as it's quite uncomfortably facist-like at the moment.

And while I'm not really for socialism, it's a fact of life in this country, so the best thing I can hope for at the moment is a socially liberal party. ID cards and such scare me something fierce.

I'm for proportional representation too.

The official monster raving looney party.
ditto