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Post by Moz on Apr 23, 2015 6:20:38 GMT
Yeah....
There is an election soon. This is the first year that i have no idea who to vote for. Ive always voted Lib Dem. And, whilst you COULD argue they had/have a role in curbing the excesses of tory rule, they are still part of the past/current government. And the tuition fee's fiasco makes me not wanna vote for them this time round.
SO......either i hold my nose & vote for LAbour (our local candidate is very good. And Mr Miliband is a geeky good guy), or vote for Green (ideologiclly more in tune with my way of thinking. And the local candidate bought me a Jagerbomb at our local a couple of years ago....)
SO.......yeah. Thats where i am....
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Post by geof on Apr 23, 2015 8:18:19 GMT
Going to stick with the lib dems personally......the one policy they were responsible for was increasing the tax allowance past £10K and that is frankly all that has kept my head above water the past 5 years!
Anyway were I live Labour and Greens are non-existant and not being a brain-dead moron I wouldn't feel right voting for UKIP.
Did overhear a cracker the other night......"you'd think with postal voting I could vote for the SNP".
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Post by Raffles on Apr 26, 2015 14:13:59 GMT
Really tough call this time.
I have always voted Labour, but the prospect of a lame duck Labour government with an SNP gun to their head fills me with utter dread. I am starting to wish the Scots had f***ed of after all if this is what they do to us.
Also, my local Labour candidate is a bit of an evangelical fundamentalist Christian, which worries me a lot.
So I will probably, for the first time in my life, vote Lib Dem. I don't really support them, but I actually think a total collapse in the Lib Dem vote will be bad for the political landscape in the UK for years to come given that all the alternative "third parties" (both left and right) are too extreme to be trusted in government, even as a minority coalition partner.
Pragmatism sucks, eh, but what can you do?
PS: If there are any "young" people still on this forum, PLEASE VOTE!!! The reason politicians don't "speak to you" is because they know the young don't vote but the pensioners do. So you know what to do if you want to get their attention. Start voting. Otherwise things will never change for you. (well, they will actually, cos you'll get older yourselves one day, but you know what I mean)
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Post by kerry1 on Apr 26, 2015 17:27:04 GMT
So I gather the bookies know all the odds, so check them out to find out what your local vote is likely to yield.
And don't forget vote swap - trade your potentially useless vote with someone elsewhere so both your votes have a better effect.
Our local tories are giving lifts to the old folks to the polling booths, so stand up and vote or you might get the old people's choice.
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Post by born in the fifties on Apr 26, 2015 17:58:55 GMT
2 things to vote for here : General Election and Local Council. Definitely a wasted vote in the GE as I'm in Theresa May's constituency and she has a ridiculous majority. Local Council is also Tory, but was Lib Dem within my memory, and needs to be again given the anti-democratic, secretive way the Tory cabal runs it. Probably won't happen, but I can but vote and hope!
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Post by fluff164 on Apr 26, 2015 18:57:15 GMT
I just couldn't vote for either of the coalition parties! Debt has doubled, disabled have been hit and 1% have got richer. They both quote that the NHS is a priority, but the best way to gauge whether any good has happened within the service is to see that more than 70% of hospital staff will vote for anyone but Lib or Con!
As for Labour backed by the SNP, it won't happen. My issue with the Lab-SNP tie up though is that the current language being used is only driving a wedge between England and Scotland. Are the SNP as bad as the DUP or UKIP which will back Dave? Certainly not. Working in Ireland I've seen first hand how the power sharing has broken down barriers to which the North-Republic divide is a lot less than 10 years back.
There are 650 seats in parliament of which 500 are for English! Not really democratic, so I say let's see a mass coalition and once and for all make the two bigger parties look outside of London's needs.
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Post by Moz on Apr 28, 2015 21:44:09 GMT
A few things....
Firstly, i am suprised at how some people are gonna be voting for Lib Dem's. I figured, them being part of the current government (and i understand the reasons why they had to go into coalition....), they were partly responsible for cuts/not enough cuts (depending whether you are left or right of centre...), and no one would consider them.
Secondly, i dont understand the tories attacks with reference of the 'vote labour, get snp' thing. Surely the scotch's voted to be part of the UK? SO.....if the majority of the scots vote SNP for parliment, then they SHOULD have some sort of representation in the UK's government?!? Either you WANT the will of the scotish people to be represented in the british government.....or you dont, and you should let them leave the uk. Its bizarre. Course, i do think, as much as i do not like the tories, i do think that, if they have more seats won than labour, then maybe the SNP should try to work with them, rather than rule it out......I guess, being an (ex) lib dem voter, i would have prefered if they could of worked with LAbour in the 2010 election. But it was not to be, due to the way the election turned out.....
Thirdly, i don't really like just voting for the 'lesser of 2 evils'. I think you should vote for the candidate which represents your views in your constituancy. Course, ive been a Lib Dem voter for years in Milton Keynes, who have never had a hope in hell of winning here. So.......course, if the result is REALLY close between, say, tory & labour, here, and tories win by just a few voes, i will kick myself.....
and finally, has anyone stayed up all night to watch the results? Im thinking of getting up early to watch it....what time do most of the results get declared? Im thinking about getting up around 3am ish. Will that be too late? For all the 'fun'?
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Post by Raffles on Apr 29, 2015 21:29:24 GMT
I have stayed up late and watched it most years for the last 30 yeas. Other than the year Kinnock blew it, the exit polls are normally close to spot on these days, and even if they are not spot on, then they get more accurate as the earlier votes come in and they recalibrate.
If you are interested (and I really don't have much truck for the "I can't bothered to vote; they're all the same; we live in a dictatorship anyway" brigade) then I find it quite fun to watch. Although it is a bit like watching Sky Sports on a Saturday afternoon.
The best time to be watching is actually around midnight to 2 am. If you get up at 3am it could be all over bar he shouting (except in Northern Ireland where they don't open boxes til the next day)
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Post by Moz on May 5, 2015 12:22:07 GMT
really? That early? blimey. so....either stay up or not bother.......im torn. On one hand, this election is SO interesting, for all manor of reasons.
On the other hand......i do like to sleep. And very rarely stay up beyond 10.30pm (apart from gigs, parties (i.e. a wedding this saturday), festivals, etc)
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Post by Raffles on May 5, 2015 12:41:47 GMT
I might be wrong given how weird the result is going to be this year, but normally by 2am you will pretty much know the likely composition in terms of seat numbers based on exit polls and early results.
But I think the real story this year will be going on behind the scenes in various cabinet offices Westminster over the weekend when all the horse trading begins as they try to form a government. Scary to think that decisions which will affect our lives for the next five years will be taken buy a bunch of jaded, disappointed individuals who will probably have had no sleep for four days.
Either way, I don't think getting up at 3am will be worth it.
Me, I'm going to a gig that night so will be home about midnight so will, probs stay up watching for an hour or two to see how it goes.
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Post by Eddytheviper on May 5, 2015 13:04:26 GMT
Because of postal voting, I have already done the dirty deed. Weird huh?
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Post by jamesf on May 6, 2015 12:48:47 GMT
So it's tomorrow and still not decided. I know I won't be voting Tory or BNP In Suits. Never have voted Tory and can never see myself doing so.
Over the years I have voted Liberal, Labour, Green and independent (local elections). At the moment it's between the Libs and Greens, annoyed with the Libs about tuition fees and what has happened generally with the coalition but also think they have stopped the cuts being as drastic as the Eton boys wanted.
My main concern is the voting system as my Parliamentary vote has never counted having been brought up and first voted in High Wycombe (Tory majority of 10,000 with 51% of votes, then my parents moved to the next village along which took us into Beaconsfield (Tory majority of 20,000) and then moving down to Sussex and being in Worthing West (Tory majority of 10,000 51% of vote. I do feel disenfranchised in this respect with my views never being counted, but the only time I have not voted was for a local election where I had to leave for work early so couldn't vote before work and then unexpectedly didn't finish until after 10.00pm. I think we all have a duty to take part in the process and people generally have forgotten how much people have fought to vote over the years here and still abroad. At least my vote counts in the Euro elections with a system of proportional representation and also in the local elections as there is surprisingly a regular swing between tory and Liberal in the area.
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Post by Raffles on May 6, 2015 20:29:19 GMT
Everybody, please, just vote.
I won't even suggest you who to vote for. Use your own conscience.
But don't let the choice of leadership of our country for the next five years be the sole preserve of extremists, pensioners and angry Scots.
PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Moz on May 7, 2015 6:06:10 GMT
My main concern is the voting system as my Parliamentary vote has never counted having been brought up and first voted in High Wycombe (Tory majority of 10,000 with 51% of votes, then my parents moved to the next village along which took us into Beaconsfield (Tory majority of 20,000) and then moving down to Sussex and being in Worthing West (Tory majority of 10,000 51% of vote. I do feel disenfranchised in this respect with my views never being counted, but the only time I have not voted was for a local election where I had to leave for work early so couldn't vote before work and then unexpectedly didn't finish until after 10.00pm. I think we all have a duty to take part in the process and people generally have forgotten how much people have fought to vote over the years here and still abroad. At least my vote counts in the Euro elections with a system of proportional representation and also in the local elections as there is surprisingly a regular swing between tory and Liberal in the area. I completely agree (as i would, being a Lib Dem voter all my live....untill today). BUT......2 things come to mind. Firstly, we had a referendum on this only 4 years ago, which was defeated. I cannot imagine there being another one for a while....2035 maybe? And Secondly, there would be a chance that, with Proportional Representation, there would be more coalitions. And, whilst i do think that is a good thing, Whenever you see surveys on such things, it is not. For example, this election looks to be a 'draw', with no one getting a majority. And, the few polls ive seen (its too early to actually find links to these polls. So, you will have to trust me), the result is mostly 65 - 80% of peeps would rather a second election. Which is mad to me.... Last election, the lib dems (remember that? Cleggmania? I agree with Nick? heady times indeed). Increased their share of the vote nominaly by 1%. But, due to this antiquated voting system, they lost 8 seats (a loss of around 8%). That is crazy to me. Course, PR would mean the racist UKIP would have some sort of representation. But the voting system isnt responsible for the bile that parties spout, or the misguided people who vote for vileness..... Anyway.....go vote! Its sexy!
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Post by riverlodge on May 7, 2015 12:02:07 GMT
I think Moz is right. every vote is relevant, and even if (like me) you have voted Labour in a constituency that had a last election Tory vote share at >50%, it isn't wasted.
the national share of vote will be very relevant in the coalition horsetrading assessments that take place, as it will affect the confidence & judgement (particularly of the Tories) about trying to form a government with the sole aim of then going for a follow up snap election.
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Post by Moz on May 7, 2015 12:07:17 GMT
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Post by jamesf on May 7, 2015 15:33:31 GMT
Voted at 7.45am in both the General Election and Borough Council Elections. As stated above I will always try and vote. Fully aware of the national position and voting percentages regarding coalitions. Voted for different parties in each of the elections.
ANYBODY WHO HASN'T DONE SO, VOTE NOW. USE IT OR LOSE IT
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Post by Moz on May 7, 2015 15:49:15 GMT
I might be wrong given how weird the result is going to be this year, but normally by 2am you will pretty much know the likely composition in terms of seat numbers based on exit polls and early results. But I think the real story this year will be going on behind the scenes in various cabinet offices Westminster over the weekend when all the horse trading begins as they try to form a government. Scary to think that decisions which will affect our lives for the next five years will be taken buy a bunch of jaded, disappointed individuals who will probably have had no sleep for four days. Either way, I don't think getting up at 3am will be worth it. Me, I'm going to a gig that night so will be home about midnight so will, probs stay up watching for an hour or two to see how it goes. DUDE..... This guardian thing says things about results being announced from 1 through till 7.... www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/07/election-2015-a-guide-to-results-nightShould i ignore it?!?
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Post by geof on May 7, 2015 16:16:34 GMT
I'd say the exciting time is between 2am and 4am.
As for what will happen......I'm expecting a lot of little surprises that add up to pretty much the expected overall result. I hope Labour sneak past the Tories in terms of numbers of seats. I hope the Lib Dems manage to keep a few more seats than expected, say 35. And I desperately hope farage fails to win.
Unfortunately I expect all of my hopes to be in vain!
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Post by kerry1 on May 7, 2015 20:43:07 GMT
3/4 of us have voted. Our newest, keenest voter has come home (3 counties) after rejection by local (uni) polling station, and found neither will accept - both have cocked up and taken her off their list. She does not exist, and neither will admit fault, much finger-pointing at the other borough. in any event, no vote. Well done the British voting system, you suck.
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Politics
May 8, 2015 1:42:13 GMT
via mobile
Post by Moz on May 8, 2015 1:42:13 GMT
I could possibly concur with this. ESPECIALLY looking at the exit polls.....
Well done SNP though. There's was a positive, progressive campaign. If I could have voted for ANY party, I would have liked to have voted for them.
I just wished they liked the rest of us in the UK.....
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Post by riverlodge on May 8, 2015 7:10:24 GMT
#welcometoadividedsociety
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Post by Eddytheviper on May 8, 2015 9:54:26 GMT
Jesus. What a massacre today. What the hell happened?
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Post by born in the fifties on May 8, 2015 10:06:23 GMT
Jesus. What a massacre today. What the hell happened? A whole load of turkeys voted for Christmas.
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Post by Eddytheviper on May 8, 2015 10:42:58 GMT
I've actually felt sick watching the coverage, truly awful prospect of another 5 years.
At least, UKIP failed to make waves which is a big relief. I await the North Sea's waves to engulf Clacton However.
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