2015 Election

[LosOjos]

So in other words, you would let bigger evil win by not voting the lesser evil? I am sorry your argument is weak. There are numerous parties with various manifestos that you can say they are closer to your political beliefs.

 

Not every party is represented in every area. There may well be a party you align closely enough too to vote for, but they may not necessarily be represented in your constituency.

 

And no, I wouldn't vote for the "lesser evil" just to try to stop the "bigger evil" winning - I will not give my support to any "evil"!

[localzuk]

The Monster Raving Looney Party's official Twitter account retweeted me this morning. Made my day.

[BigBri]

My heart says Green as I'm getting older and the planet may die before my grandchildren

 

My soul says Labour in a vain attempt at getting more industry and jobs

 

My wobble is that I think we would be better out of the EEC

[sparkeh]

So in other words, you would let bigger evil win by not voting the lesser evil? I am sorry your argument is weak. There are numerous parties with various manifestos that you can say they are closer to your political beliefs.

You have your argument about face.

No I am not prepared to vote for anything I don't believe in as it gives that party my consent to do things in my name. Then I really can't complain if I don't like what they do.

 

However, we live in a democracy where people are entitled to vote for whatever they believe in. The best way to counter parties and policies you oppose is to campaign against them, not vote for something that is a little less bad than the worst thing.

[ghafoor]

Not every party is represented in every area. There may well be a party you align closely enough too to vote for, but they may not necessarily be represented in your constituency.

 

And no, I wouldn't vote for the "lesser evil" just to try to stop the "bigger evil" winning - I will not give my support to any "evil"!

 

If, there is no other parties that you align to vote for, then why can't you be brave enough and stand for the election. .

[LosOjos]

If, there is no other parties that you align to vote for, then why can't you be brave enough and stand for the election. .

 

OK, now you're clearly just trolling, conversation over.

[ghafoor]

OK, now you're clearly just trolling, conversation over.

 

I am being serious...

[pcstru]

So in other words, you would let bigger evil win by not voting the lesser evil? I am sorry your argument is weak. There are numerous parties with various manifestos that you can say they are closer to your political beliefs.

My right is that I am accorded the freedom to vote. Freedoms involve choice - I can choose to vote or I am free to choose not to. I don't lose any other freedoms should I exercise my freedom not to vote.

 

I'm a big fan of people voting but I'm totally against forcing people to vote. When we have low turnouts it prompts introspection and discussion on why politicians are failing to engage people. It does motivate them to try harder because low turnouts are seen as unacceptable. Countries which compel people to vote simply sweep that issue under the carpet - not to the benefit of the electorate, but to the benefit of lazy politicians who no longer have to worry that their disengagement with the electorate will be so easily measured.

 

In your world, did women had no right to complain before they had a right to vote?

[LosOjos]

I am being serious...

 

So, you think that I should either vote for a party I don't believe in or completely change my entire life's plan and run for PM?

 

That's so ridiculous I don't know where to start...

[Garacesh]

If, there is no other parties that you align to vote for, then why can't you be brave enough and stand for the election. .

I am being serious...

It takes a substantial amount of capital, risk and following to even try to form a political party worth noticing. Sure, Monster Raving Loonies probably don't spend anywhere near as much as UKIP (who are relatively new) but then their credibility is significantly lower (even against UKIP...)

 

I'm a big fan of people voting but I'm totally against forcing people to vote. When we have low turnouts it prompts introspection and discussion on why politicians are failing to engage people. It does motivate them to try harder because low turnouts are seen as unacceptable. Countries which compel people to vote simply sweep that issue under the carpet - not to the benefit of the electorate, but to the benefit of lazy politicians who no longer have to worry that their disengagement with the electorate will be so easily measured.

I'm actually of the opinion that if you enforce the requirement to vote, a vote of no confidence must be a valid vote. You really think the 1/3rd of the country that don't vote 'motivates [politicians] to try harder'? Pfft. As if. They're fine with the disillusioned, resent-filled Average-Joe-Bloggs who no longer believes in the political system or the current parties staying at home because they probably weren't going to vote for them anyway, as they see politics for the BS that it is.

[Grey-gear]

So, you think that I should either vote for a party I don't believe in or completely change my entire life's plan and run for PM?

 

That's so ridiculous I don't know where to start...

 

Though it does sound like not a good option but I know people who have gone on a election as an independent. Anyway if I know this is not an option may people would go for.

[pcstru]

You really think the 1/3rd of the country that don't vote 'motivates [politicians] to try harder'? Pfft. As if.

The very fact that politicians talk of introducing compulsory voting as a response to low turnouts, tells me that they are concerned at low turnouts. I would agree with your cynicism about them (not) wanting to try harder, which is exactly why they steer the debate towards compulsory voting!

[sted]

The very fact that politicians talk of introducing compulsory voting as a response to low turnouts, tells me that they are concerned at low turnouts. I would agree with your cynicism about them (not) wanting to try harder, which is exactly why they steer the debate towards compulsory voting!

 

personally it tells me they want to be seen as being worried about it rather than actually doing anything. Like weve seen them complain about amazon, starbucks etc legally paying naff all tax has anyone done anything about closing those loopholes not as far as i can see but they all made a big issue out of it net result nothing too many vested interests have more access to politicians than the general public

[localzuk]

So, as we're so close to election day. What predictions do people have?

 

My predictions:

 

1. Labour will not get more seats than the Tories. They'll be 5-10 below the Tories.

2. The Tories will attempt to form a coalition to rule with the Lib Dems and DUP.

3. Parliament won't have confidence in that coalition and Labour will form an informal (on a vote by vote basis) coalition between themselves, SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru.

4. We'll end up in another election before the 5 year term is up.

[clockend25]

I'd love to see the seethe from the right-wing press is we end up with a Labour-led minority government.

 

I have a feeling the Tories might just end up as the largest party though. Enough UKIPers might have a last minute wobble.

[Gatt]

So, as we're so close to election day. What predictions do people have?

 

My predictions:

 

1. Labour will not get more seats than the Tories. They'll be 5-10 below the Tories.

2. The Tories will attempt to form a coalition to rule with the Lib Dems and DUP.

3. Parliament won't have confidence in that coalition and Labour will form an informal (on a vote by vote basis) coalition between themselves, SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru.

4. We'll end up in another election before the 5 year term is up.

 

 

Unfortunately, I can see something like this happening

It all depends on how many seats the SNP get, and if the Tory's and Lib-Dem can come to agreements over their "Red Lines"

 

Number 4. should be interesting due to the FTPA so wont be as easy as it was before

 

I also predict another Low Turnout - which is one of my major issues regarding tomorrow - regardless of who gets in - all these "not gonna vote" voters are the ones who could make a damned difference if they went and cast a vote!

[Gatt]

Enough UKIPers might have a last minute wobble.

 

I reckon a lot of people who have been vocal about voting for UKIP and co may only be mouthing off and come tomorrow, I reckon a lot will vote either Tory or Labour.

[sted]

I also predict another Low Turnout - which is one of my major issues regarding tomorrow - regardless of who gets in - all these "not gonna vote" voters are the ones who could make a damned difference if they went and cast a vote!

 

but in most constituencies you can they have been lab/con for so long they wont ever change hte winning party could put up a tube of pringles as the candidate and it would still win

[TechMonkey]

4. We'll end up in another election before the 5 year term is up.

 

I think the same on this point but I heard a comment that I wish had been followed up that due to the new law about fixed election terms they aren't sure about how a no confidence vote would work.

[Garacesh]

I also predict another Low Turnout - which is one of my major issues regarding tomorrow - regardless of who gets in - all these "not gonna vote" voters are the ones who could make a damned difference if they went and cast a vote!

In the sake of objectivity, if that 35% of votes didn't vote because 'effort' (I'll explain this distinction further down) did actually haul themselves down to a polling station, it's no stretch of the imagination to think that the votes would be spread fairly proportionally anyway. It's not like all 35% of them are gonna vote for the same candidate, is it?

 

The reason I make the distinction of effort is because most people who refuse to vote do so because they have no faith in the system or the people representing it. I suspect the majority of that 35% would go and vote if they had any faith in any of the parties. Therefore the only reasonable reason I can think of that someone who didn't vote would vote is because they weren't voting because they couldn't be bothered, rather than the more common "Every party sucks." or "The system is corrupt." attitude.

[Gatt]

I think the same on this point but I heard a comment that I wish had been followed up that due to the new law about fixed election terms they aren't sure about how a no confidence vote would work.

 

Yeah - normally a NC vote needs 3/4 of the House's support - and ALL MPs must vote from what I read - this might not be able to happen given the current 33/34 ish % for Labour and Conservatives..

[localzuk]

Unfortunately, I can see something like this happening

It all depends on how many seats the SNP get, and if the Tory's and Lib-Dem can come to agreements over their "Red Lines"

 

Number 4. should be interesting due to the FTPA so wont be as easy as it was before

 

I also predict another Low Turnout - which is one of my major issues regarding tomorrow - regardless of who gets in - all these "not gonna vote" voters are the ones who could make a damned difference if they went and cast a vote!

 

I don't know if the Tory/Lib Dem thing will be enough though - Lib Dems are predicted to lose a heck of a lot of their seats. So, even with them and the Tories together, they wouldn't be able to form a majority - they'd need other parties too to make up the numbers. So, I'm not sure how well such negotiations would go anyway!

 

The FTPA doesn't make a new election difficult at all to be honest. All that has to happen is a vote in parliament that the house has no confidence in the government, or they vote with a 2/3rd majority that there will be a new election. Pretty easy if parliament is a mess to be honest!

[tmcd35]

So, as we're so close to election day. What predictions do people have?

 

My predictions:

 

1. Labour will not get more seats than the Tories. They'll be 5-10 below the Tories.

2. The Tories will attempt to form a coalition to rule with the Lib Dems and DUP.

3. Parliament won't have confidence in that coalition and Labour will form an informal (on a vote by vote basis) coalition between themselves, SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru.

4. We'll end up in another election before the 5 year term is up.

 

I think I put a similar prediction above. It's going to come down to SNP vs LD. Current Polls suggest the LD's seats will half and SNP will clean up Scotland. If that's the case then Tories+LD won't have enough seats to form a majority coalition and SNP + Labour will be big enough to block option 2 from ever happening.

 

If you look at the progressive alliance (LD, Plaid Cymru, SNP, Respect, SDLP) then Labour could potentially survive 5 years on a vote-by-vote minority basis.

 

However, I think we'll be back at the polls before the years out. The question is would another general election result in anything other than another hung parliament?

[Gatt]

The SNP card is a worrying one - They seem more interested in "taking over" Westminster than in being of any real benefit to it - and the only reason they want to prop up Labour is to keep the Tories out.

How much are Labour willing to sacrifice to do a deal with them?

 

It could turn a lot of voters away from Labour if they start throwing a load of things away (Trident / etc) to the SNP to keep them quiet

[TechMonkey]

Yeah - normally a NC vote needs 3/4 of the House's support - and ALL MPs must vote from what I read - this might not be able to happen given the current 33/34 ish % for Labour and Conservatives..

 

That is all fine and well established, but with the new law they aren't sure of how it works after that. I really wish the interviewer hadn't ignored it/missed it/let it lie as it sounded very interesting but couldn't make for some fun if it does happen.