The UK election thread

[Rum]

The BBC say that Brown is going to announce a much predicted election date - 6th May.

Here's where we discuss it..the ins and outs and if you like the politics too!

I say - hung parliament! Any takers?

Edit: Can we sticky this for a bit please? Going to create (I hope) quite a lot of posts!)

[The Red Fox]

I'd go with a hung parliament also. I've heard very little support for the Tories anywhere, and they'd need quite a substantial amount of votes to defeat Labour and get a comfortable majority. I don't think Cameron has the PR or the general level of support Thatcher did in '79. The best Cameron can hope for is barely scraping a victory. Also, the recent case of foot-in-mouth disease by the Shadow Home Secretary and the mockery of the Tory ad campaigns doesn't bode well for them. That says a lot considering their opposition consists of a failed PM who is about as popular as James Brown playing at a KKK rally and a party no one wants to vote for because they think no one wants will vote for them.

I'll be voting Lib Dem. I can't vote for Labour due to their betrayal of the left and the working class and the only other small parties standing in my constituency are the Greens, Monster Raving Loony, UKIP and the bloody BNP. I might as well vote for a party which at least has a chance of electing an MP (the Greens whilst I think are quite a good party, would never get voted in York. Though I hear the Green candidate in Brighton has a good chance. We shall see) and I can't be part of the problem of voter apathy now that I'm eligible to vote. If I don't vote and the Tories win, I'll feel partially responsible for allowing that to happen and I don't want David bloody Cameron and his smug Etonian Autocracy on my conscience.

[Feck]

Yes hang parliament .

[RuleBritannia]

[RuleBritannia]

Two thirds of the seats in parliament are safe so two thirds of the election is already over.

*Bump*

[Rum]

Two thirds of the seats in parliament are safe so two thirds of the election is already over.

*Bump*

Ah - but its the other third were all the dramaz is!

They are getting a right old head of steam up atm!

[RuleBritannia]

Two thirds of the seats in parliament are safe so two thirds of the election is already over.

*Bump*

Ah - but its the other third were all the dramaz is!

They are getting a right old head of steam up atm!

My constituency has been Labour since 1935 so what's the point? People around here vote Labour like drones because that's the way their parents vote. Idiots.

[Ian]

Would any of the Brits here mind summarizing who are the Liberal Democrats and what they stand for? I get the idea from reading Wikipedia, but I'd like a native POV.

Us Merikins tend to equate the Conservatives with the Republicans and Labour with the Democrats (both UK parties being further left than their US counterparts), but where do the Lib Dems fit in?

(We often have 3rd party candidates throw a monkey wrench into national elections (Ralph Nader costing Gore a loss to G.W. Bush in 2000, Ross Perot harming Bush Sr. in 1992 to Clinton's benefit), but we haven't had a genuinely 3-way election since 1912. And even that one was really just a case of two Republicans splitting the vote to the Democrat's advantage.)

ps - Any predictions? I think Cameron's going to win.

[AshtonBlack]

Would any of the Brits here mind summarizing who are the Liberal Democrats and what they stand for? I get the idea from reading Wikipedia, but I'd like a native POV.

Us Merikins tend to equate the Conservatives with the Republicans and Labour with the Democrats (both UK parties being further left than their US counterparts), but where do the Lib Dems fit in?

(We often have 3rd party candidates throw a monkey wrench into national elections (Ralph Nader costing Gore a loss to G.W. Bush in 2000, Ross Perot harming Bush Sr. in 1992 to Clinton's benefit), but we haven't had a genuinely 3-way election since 1912. And even that one was really just a case of two Republicans splitting the vote to the Democrat's advantage.)

ps - Any predictions? I think Cameron's going to win.

Historically you are right. But since about 1995 Labour became Nu-Labour and moved from staunch left to centre-left to now centre-right! They did this to get elected.
The conservatives are indeed quite right wing, pro-multinationals, family values, privatisation etc etc and a complete "old boy" network. New Labour are exactly the fucking same. (Despite what they claim! Actions speak louder than manifestos, as the saying doesn't go.)

The Lib-dems are closer to the democratic party than Nu Labour. But I would describe them as center-left.

[The Red Fox]

Would any of the Brits here mind summarizing who are the Liberal Democrats and what they stand for? I get the idea from reading Wikipedia, but I'd like a native POV.

They centre their policies around the ideas of tolerance, fairness, social liberalism, non-exclusion. They're pro EU, would decriminalise cannabis, were against the Iraq war, for proportional representation. What Fox "News" would label hardcore Commie fascist hippies. On the US spectrum, think Mike Gravel or Ralph Nader.

Us Merikins tend to equate the Conservatives with the Republicans and Labour with the Democrats (both UK parties being further left than their US counterparts), but where do the Lib Dems fit in?

Sounds about right. The Lib Dems are the third largest party in the country, I don't know who which party in the US has the most support after the Republicans and Democrats.

(We often have 3rd party candidates throw a monkey wrench into national elections (Ralph Nader costing Gore a loss to G.W. Bush in 2000, Ross Perot harming Bush Sr. in 1992 to Clinton's benefit), but we haven't had a genuinely 3-way election since 1912. And even that one was really just a case of two Republicans splitting the vote to the Democrat's advantage.)

The third party here does influence decisions. If we end up with a hung Parliament, the Lib Dems may well influence legislation to a much larger degree, they'll certainly have the opportunity to do so. Hung parliaments force the ruling party to bargain with the smaller parties for support on getting legislation passed in the house, all in all it's much better for democracy in my opinion.

ps - Any predictions? I think Cameron's going to win.

Hung Parliament. I don't think the Tories have enough support to gain a significant majority.

[Bruce Burleson]

What happens if there is a hung Parliament? What are the options for various coalitions?

[colubridae]

What happens if there is a well-hung parliament.

(Sorry )

[Jack Rawlinson]

Vote Lib Dem. That is all.

[Feck]

Vote Lib Dem. That is all.

If I thought It would help them I would but .. my vote makes a tiny Difference in the numbers between the SNP and labour

[RuleBritannia]

What happens if there is a hung Parliament? What are the options for various coalitions?

Either Lib Dem/Labour or Lib Dem/Tory.

I'd like to say that the Lib Dems would get along with Labour more then the Conservatives, but Labour's not the same party it was before 1997.