I'd love it if someone could give us a rundown of the major parties and where and what they stand for (except for Ukip, which I think we all kind of know...)
I would trade reps for that.
I would trade reps for that.
UK Election
- Thread starter mccardey
- Start date
mirandashell
Banned
Hmmm..... ok, I'll give it a shot.
Basically, the Tories (Conservatives) arose out of the landowning classes and believe in things like a free market, and as little Government regulation as possible, and basically a sink or swim society. Most of the Tory Government we have now come from a long line of swimmers.
Labour - Started by working class activists, now drifting further and further to the right. Want a fairer society, want to be inclusive and fair, don't really know how to go about it because they know if they make the hard decisions to really make a fairer society, they will be out of power in no time at all. Everyone wants a welfare state but no-one wants to pay tax.
Liberals - sort of a wishy-washy middle ground trying to be all things to all men. Don't really know what they stand for.
UKIP - yes well....
Green Party - Want a natural Utopia where we all recycle and no-one uses fossil fuel and everything in the garden is lovely. Haven't yet worked out how to pay for it.
TUSC - a political party formed by the Unions to be the only left-wing party still remaining in this country. Inspired by the death of Bob Crow, the late RMT leader. Still very small but making a lot of noise.
Basically, the Tories (Conservatives) arose out of the landowning classes and believe in things like a free market, and as little Government regulation as possible, and basically a sink or swim society. Most of the Tory Government we have now come from a long line of swimmers.
Labour - Started by working class activists, now drifting further and further to the right. Want a fairer society, want to be inclusive and fair, don't really know how to go about it because they know if they make the hard decisions to really make a fairer society, they will be out of power in no time at all. Everyone wants a welfare state but no-one wants to pay tax.
Liberals - sort of a wishy-washy middle ground trying to be all things to all men. Don't really know what they stand for.
UKIP - yes well....
Green Party - Want a natural Utopia where we all recycle and no-one uses fossil fuel and everything in the garden is lovely. Haven't yet worked out how to pay for it.
TUSC - a political party formed by the Unions to be the only left-wing party still remaining in this country. Inspired by the death of Bob Crow, the late RMT leader. Still very small but making a lot of noise.
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Thank you! I kept wiki-ing "Tory Party" and getting all sorts of definitions. Your tories are close to our Liberals, which are the opposite of the US liberals.
This is much clearer.
reps for you!
This is much clearer.
reps for you!
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Love the summary. Also makes it quite clear that we're kind of screwed, right?
Tories - no good in reality, not too bad on paper
Labour - meh, same, but maybe a bit better?
UKIP - go away
Green - Well, utopia, hello, but, how?
Liberals - here, have flip-flops
I hear from so many people that they're clueless as to who to vote for. And then there's the "strategic" vote to Labour just so the Tories don't get in again. And the voting Green, because who else, but that means Labour are losing votes, which means that the Tories will get in again.
I am actually glad, I'm not allowed to vote, because I'm one of those sodding immigrants
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mirandashell
Banned
I think it will be low turnout this year and it will be another coalition. But between who, I don't know.
I will be voting Labour as my local MP is a good bloke. Unless there is a TUSC candidate and then I will protest vote.
I will be voting Labour as my local MP is a good bloke. Unless there is a TUSC candidate and then I will protest vote.
My children have summed them up for a home ed project (we've been using Minecraft to recreate the leadership debate and the House of Commons). They are 11, 8 and 6 so it has rather coloured their questions and views. Cameron, Milliband and Farage are dogs - whereas Nicola Sturgeon and Natalie Bennett are represented by cats.
David Cowman of the Conservatives: His own children don't like him very much, he had a child who died which was very sad and he doesn't seem to like Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP very much but can't give a very good reason as to why.
Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats: We're not sure but he seems to like everyone and wants to work with them.
Natalie Bennett of the Green Party: They do environmental things and are working on an home education policy. They want to spend more money on health and welfare and are going to achieve it by charging a £1 tax on plastic carrier bags.
Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP: Want to scrap Trident and use the money for health care and education which is good. But she presided over the policy of GIRFEC and Named Person which we know Mum really doesn't like and asks intrusive questions of children.
Ed Milliband of Labour: He seems quite nice. Also doesn't like Nicola Sturgeon. But not even a former deputy Prime Minister of the Labour Party wants to read their manifesto. They are also not very pro home education.
Nigel Farage - UKIP. Strangely because of their laissez faire attitude to families they are the most pro home education party. However he's not very nice to foreign people and we are half American so we get the impression he might not like us very much. His wife is German and he uses a vaguely French pronunciation of his name (daughter picked that up from Mark Thomas).
David Cowman of the Conservatives: His own children don't like him very much, he had a child who died which was very sad and he doesn't seem to like Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP very much but can't give a very good reason as to why.
Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats: We're not sure but he seems to like everyone and wants to work with them.
Natalie Bennett of the Green Party: They do environmental things and are working on an home education policy. They want to spend more money on health and welfare and are going to achieve it by charging a £1 tax on plastic carrier bags.
Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP: Want to scrap Trident and use the money for health care and education which is good. But she presided over the policy of GIRFEC and Named Person which we know Mum really doesn't like and asks intrusive questions of children.
Ed Milliband of Labour: He seems quite nice. Also doesn't like Nicola Sturgeon. But not even a former deputy Prime Minister of the Labour Party wants to read their manifesto. They are also not very pro home education.
Nigel Farage - UKIP. Strangely because of their laissez faire attitude to families they are the most pro home education party. However he's not very nice to foreign people and we are half American so we get the impression he might not like us very much. His wife is German and he uses a vaguely French pronunciation of his name (daughter picked that up from Mark Thomas).
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mirandashell
Banned
I'm thinking of using a dart board to decide or going in and writing on my ballot paper exactly why I'm not voting.
If I was going by candidate then it would be Conservative as he is a fantastic bloke, and I'd consider voting him in council or Scottish parliament elections. But I'm not supporting David Cameron with a vote. In 1997 I helped vote the Conservative candidate out in Winchester as I was one of the last people to vote Lib-Dem (they won by two votes).
I'd never vote Lib-Dem again since they stiffed students in the Scottish Parliament where the majority of candidates had been voted in on a no degree fee ticket. (they then repeated the same thing in Westminster this time round)
SNP are out because of their legislation (technically not theirs but they did nothing to stop it) relating to education and social work. But to be honest think it will roll out across the UK with or without them.
No Scottish Socialist is standing here.
The man standing for the Greens is a local candidate who comes from a farming family. Seems to have spent his life gainfully employed helping others so he may get a vote. It really is a vote for the least objectionable rather than where I want to put that cross.
Strangely as a girl from Liverpool, Labour aren't even on my radar. Although I quite like Ed Milliband or what I've seen of him. Not to mention I live only a few miles from the grave of the first Labour PM. After Tony Blair the rest of the party are suspicious. Did you see Ian Hislop go for John Prescott on Friday? I swear Ian Hislop should take over from Jeremy Paxman he's far better and makes far more uncomfortable viewing in a good way.
We don't have any women standing. However for most of the last fifty years our constituency has been represented by a woman so I guess it balances out.
If I was going by candidate then it would be Conservative as he is a fantastic bloke, and I'd consider voting him in council or Scottish parliament elections. But I'm not supporting David Cameron with a vote. In 1997 I helped vote the Conservative candidate out in Winchester as I was one of the last people to vote Lib-Dem (they won by two votes).
I'd never vote Lib-Dem again since they stiffed students in the Scottish Parliament where the majority of candidates had been voted in on a no degree fee ticket. (they then repeated the same thing in Westminster this time round)
SNP are out because of their legislation (technically not theirs but they did nothing to stop it) relating to education and social work. But to be honest think it will roll out across the UK with or without them.
No Scottish Socialist is standing here.
The man standing for the Greens is a local candidate who comes from a farming family. Seems to have spent his life gainfully employed helping others so he may get a vote. It really is a vote for the least objectionable rather than where I want to put that cross.
Strangely as a girl from Liverpool, Labour aren't even on my radar. Although I quite like Ed Milliband or what I've seen of him. Not to mention I live only a few miles from the grave of the first Labour PM. After Tony Blair the rest of the party are suspicious. Did you see Ian Hislop go for John Prescott on Friday? I swear Ian Hislop should take over from Jeremy Paxman he's far better and makes far more uncomfortable viewing in a good way.
We don't have any women standing. However for most of the last fifty years our constituency has been represented by a woman so I guess it balances out.
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How about a Tea Party? You'd think that there would be a Tea Party in England, 'cause they drink so much tea. Also, because their p.m. meal is called "tea time" -- you know, when everyone sits down to eat those miniature sandwiches. And those little cakes, and that bottle of brown sauce...
I've been VERY wrong before when it comes to Scottish politics, but the feeling up here in Highlands and Morayshire is that the SNP are a shoe-in for this years election.
A few of the older blokes in the office, who were anti-Independence during the last vote, were grumbling today about how they're not going to vote at all this year because SNP have already got it.
On that note, last day to register to vote in the UK! Be sure to do it, the new voting system means a ton of voters have dropped off.
I agree. I'm also in Californy, and I think a couple of screwballs like us should emigrate to England and setup this Tea Party. You bring the honey, I'll bring the lemon.
I like England. They know this across The Pond and therefore let me vote by absentee ballot. I voted:
1. Queen Latifah
2. Larry King
3. Prince
4. Marmaduke
5. The Duchess
6. The Dirtwater Fox
mirandashell
Banned
I've heard from quite a few sources that there will be practically no Labour or Tory MPs in Scotland after the election. Is that looking likely?
I've been VERY wrong before when it comes to Scottish politics, but the feeling up here in Highlands and Morayshire is that the SNP are a shoe-in for this years election.
A few of the older blokes in the office, who were anti-Independence during the last vote, were grumbling today about how they're not going to vote at all this year because SNP have already got it.
Moray is a safe seat for the SNP and has been since 1987. Part of that isn't to do with independence and has a lot to do with the works of Margaret and Winnie Ewing. There aren't many working MSPs/MPs/MEPs who take the time with constituents they did.
Conservatives are usually the second party in Moray. I like Douglas Ross despite not always agreeing with him I think he comes from a place of doing what he believes to be right.
Highlands used to be more Lib-Dem.
And to be honest if it wasn't for GIRFEC and Named Person etc I would probably vote SNP. Angus Robertson isn't as good as those who have gone before but he's OK.
I was hoping the new system meant I wasn't registered however I have a polling card. I'll have to go along and do something.
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Our polls tend not to be as accurate as in the US ... people are quite happy to lie about their answer.
mirandashell
Banned
mirandashell
Banned
Just like the rest of us then!
I think even the pollsters have no idea what will happen this time.
My thoughts entirely.
thepicpic's overly blunt, borderline dismissive summary of UK politics:
Crap, crap, crap, UKIP and a few other groups that have cropped up.
I'm registered to vote, but I'm not going to. They're all as bad as each other*.
*Except UKIP, who are worse.
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I do understand peoples'ses's feeling of disenfranchisement with UK politics at the moment. That said, if you don't vote, how can you ever hope to change anything? This election isn't going to solve all our problems, not by a long shot, but it could be a small step in the right direction. And it's when fewer and fewer intelligent, informed people vote that mouth-foaming lunatics like UKIP begin to get a foothold in things.
I do agree with you, and I've tried my best to be an intelligent, informed voter this time around. Last time I was all for not voting, all as bad as each other, what's the bloody point, kind of thing.
I still think the act of voting is more important than who you vote for (use it or lose it kind of thing), but I tried to be informed this time, and I still have no bloody idea how to choose.
I agree. It worries me when sensible people are not voting because they're disillusioned and then we suddenly have UKIP laughing at us.
I get the being disillusioned. But, I do think the 'lesser evil' vote is better than giving actual evil a chance to get in (and yes I do think UKIP is actual evil.)