The United Kingdom Elections 2010

[Banquo's Ghost]

There will be a general election in the United Kingdom this year - perhaps as early as March, but by law it must be held before June 3rd.

It's a remarkably interesting contest this time (for those scholars of politics) because of the electoral map, the thorough disillusion with Parliament, the devastated economy and consequent unpopular decisions, the visceral personal loathing for Gordon Brown yet the apparent lack of enthusiasm for the Conservative alternatives. add in a lot of expressed support for minor extremist parties, a deeply unpopular war and the increasing likelihood of a hung parliament (both in terms of seats held and the fervent wish of most of the voters) and we have the ingredients of a fascinating time.

All these strands mean we may well end up with myriad threads starting. To keep some sort of order, please add all political commentary pertinent to the elections herein.

Now, over to CountArach (Poll King) and Lemur (Blog Tzar).

(My own question is: Given that everyone I talk to has despaired of Labour and has no enthusiasm for the Tories at all, why is no-one even considering a vote for the Liberal Democrats? I know the electoral mathematics mean it's almost impossible for them to gain even on a huge swing, but it does seem odd no-one wants to give them a go).

(Oh, and what chance a regicide of Brown in the next couple of weeks?)

[InsaneApache]

Liberal Democrats! Talk about making it up as you go along.

I've voted tory twice and SDP once. This time none of the main parties will get my vote, the thieving bastards. I've not made up my mind yet, although the UK Libertarians look interesting. Needless to say I wont be voting for the corrupt Labour party who can't even get their own financial house in order, never mind the countries. Imbeciles.

[CountArach]

*Quickly catches up on months of polling data*

[rory_20_uk]

Yes, it's a case of the best of the worst.

Labour: discredited (did they ever have any credit?)
Conservatives: too keen to get into power to have any thoughts what to do when there, probably too "fair weather"
Lib Dems: Leftie, pro Europe. Too concerned with giving power elsewhere to have policy; too fringe to need policy.
BNP: statutory IQ being less than 75 obligitory since race admission no longer required.
UKIP: One policy party. What would they do with any real power? Might be useful as a force if no party has a majority to force the one issue.

Brown will hang on as the next leader wants to lead the party forward, with the baseline set on an utter failure - rising like a phoenix from the ashes, not starting with a prat-fall.

As it happens I'm helping with strategy for one of the Tories, but just to reassure people it's almost certain he'll loose Of course, he states he's independent and thinks for himself, but don't they all say that?

[Subotan]

I don't have a personal dislike of Brown. I think he's way more integral than Cameron, who tries to present himself as middle class, normal, Daily Fail reading guy who sends his kids to the local comprehensive, despite being filthy rich/posh. That said, most of the Labour cabinet are made up of middle class people; iirc there's only one senior working class minister.

Unfortunately I can't vote; I'll miss out on my birthday by just over a month.

[caravel]

I haven't voted since '97 and probably won't vote again. Democracy in this country is an illusion, whoever you vote for you still get the same corrupt self serving scum that look after the interests of the rich elites.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'm voting for Geoffrey, because he's our local man, he's done weel over the last four years, and he was recomended by a friend. He's also a Conservative, but that's because when John retired the Lib Dems replaced him with Charles Kennedy's Spin-doctor.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'm despairing. After the past decade, surely it is time to move away from New Labour. But Cameron looks like an impending disaster.


Go Liberal Democrats indeed!

My question: will we see the unthinkable, a Labour/Conservative coalition?

[Furunculus]

Given that everyone I talk to has despaired of Labour and has no enthusiasm for the Tories at all, why is no-one even considering a vote for the Liberal Democrats? I know the electoral mathematics mean it's almost impossible for them to gain even on a huge swing, but it does seem odd no-one wants to give them a go).

because the lib-dems stand for nothing, they are an act of positioning whereby they straddle the fence between the competing ideologies of the left and the right in the hope of attracting disaffected voters from the two polar opposites. this leads them to be inconsistent and opportunistic, neither likely to attract voters.

if you view the dividing line in british politics as the question of where your social assistance becomes my individual interference then following characteristics arise:

Conservatives - right-wing / libertarian
Labour - left-wing / authoritarian
LibDem - left-wing / libertarian

LibDems are trying to straddle the divide, which is difficult to do because people are fairly polarised to one blend of politics or the other, not a mix of the two.

[KukriKhan]

What kind of campaign will most likely resonate with most UK voters this year, do you think? "Transperancy in Government", "Bring our Lads home", "Good jobs for all", or something else?

[caravel]

Conservatives - right-wing / libertarian
Labour - left-wing / authoritarian
LibDem - left-wing / libertarian

Labour are more of a "just right of centre" party these days rather than simply "left wing".

[tibilicus]

No idea who I will vote for if I do vote at all. It's kind of irrelevant anyway seeming my constituency is the fourth safest Tory seat in the country and as such Boy George is guaranteed to be elected.

Hurrah for voter apathy! Hurrah!

[Beskar]

This is the opinion of the average poster -
"You vote between the lesser of the two evils of Labour and Conservatives, Lib Dems are a waste of a vote."

It's the media-myth.

Also, New Labour being left-wing? They are Right-wing, argubly more so than the Tories, in some areas.

[InsaneApache]

What kind of campaign will most likely resonate with most UK voters this year, do you think? "Transperancy in Government", "Bring our Lads home", "Good jobs for all", or something else?

I'd have to direct you to my siggy. If you vote for anyone, make sure they are NOT an MP. Of any flavour.

[Furunculus]

@ AN and Beskar.

Labour are left-wing in the context of british politics because wing'iness is defined by the relative difference between Conservatives and Labour.

Labour may not be as left-wing as you might desire, but they still define what left-wing IS in the context of british politics.

[Beskar]

@ AN and Beskar.

Labour are left-wing in the context of british politics because wing'iness is defined by the relative difference between Conservatives and Labour.

Labour may not be as left-wing as you might desire, but they still define what left-wing IS in the context of british politics.

No, it was a case that Old Labour was actually left-wing, untill New Labour came and did a top-bottom change. So instead of obviously noting this, some individuals just stick to the historical alignment, but since the party has been re-branded, etc, it is inaccurate.

The left of British- politics is the Liberal Democrats and the Green party.

[Furunculus]

but as we already know with our wonderful FPTP system neither of those parties actually count for squat.

[Fragony]

This election will probably have an historically low participation. I am going to watch it closely. Next election is going to be a circus here as well, even more so than with Fortuyn. Not going to vote at all methinks.

[Subotan]

Conservatives - right-wing / libertarian

I assume you're reading the secret Tory manifesto where it details their plans for a progressive drugs policy, the scrapping of DRM and their friendliness to non-married parents.

I'd have to direct you to my siggy. If you vote for anyone, make sure they are NOT an MP. Of any flavour.

Huh? What do you consider "work" for an MP? The vast majority of MP's work incredibly hard, and are paid buttons for their work. Hence, they abuse the expenses system. Now, the Lords on the other hand...

[InsaneApache]

Huh? What do you consider "work" for an MP? The vast majority of MP's work incredibly hard, and are paid buttons for their work. Hence, they abuse the expenses system. Now, the Lords on the other hand...

£65k a year is hardly buttons.

The best thing about the bastards is that they no longer decide their own pay and expenses. Now stop me if I'm ranting but if they can't be trusted to take care of themselves, why do they think that they can be trusted to pass laws that effect us, the sheeple. Ropes and lamposts are too good for the lying thieving scumbags. Bastards the lot of them.

and breathe.....

[Beskar]

I assume you're reading the secret Tory manifesto where it details their plans for a progressive drugs policy, the scrapping of DRM and their friendliness to non-married parents.

Are the Tories pushing "family values" which are boo to single people/divorced people, etc? (Yes)

Are the Tories the biggest opponents to drug decriminilisation? (Yes)

Tories failed basic liberal-check.

[tibilicus]

I assume you're reading the secret Tory manifesto where it details their plans for a progressive drugs policy, the scrapping of DRM and their friendliness to non-married parents.

May be referring to "classic liberalism" whilst your thinking of modern liberalism.

[Furunculus]

I assume you're reading the secret Tory manifesto where it details their plans for a progressive drugs policy, the scrapping of DRM and their friendliness to non-married parents.


Huh? What do you consider "work" for an MP? The vast majority of MP's work incredibly hard, and are paid buttons for their work. Hence, they abuse the expenses system. Now, the Lords on the other hand...

i'm quite happy with my original statement where the definition of tory = right wing / libertarian derives from the following statement: "if you view the dividing line in british politics as the question of where your social assistance becomes my individual interference then following characteristics arise"

The Lords do an excellent job, and they did an excellent job before they were reformed too.

[Subotan]

£65k a year is hardly buttons.

It is compared to legislators in many other countries.

The best thing about the bastards is that they no longer decide their own pay and expenses. Now stop me if I'm ranting but if they can't be trusted to take care of themselves, why do they think that they can be trusted to pass laws that effect us, the sheeple. Ropes and lamposts are too good for the lying thieving scumbags. Bastards the lot of them.

Time to end this disastrous democratic experiment.

i'm quite happy with my original statement where the definition of tory = right wing / libertarian derives from the following statement: "if you view the dividing line in british politics as the question of where your social assistance becomes my individual interference then following characteristics arise"

I would say that the Tories very much enjoy interfering in my personal life.

The Lords do an excellent job,

Somewhat true. The majority of them are good lawmakers.

and they did an excellent job before they were reformed too.

Yes, at keeping those democratically elected socialists in their place

[Kralizec]

Go Liberal Democrats!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Are the Tories pushing "family values" which are boo to single people/divorced people, etc? (Yes)

Are the Tories the biggest opponents to drug decriminilisation? (Yes)

Tories failed basic liberal-check.

Two fairly irrevevant issues in the grand scheme of things, as drugs will always be regulated and intellectual copyright aren't going anywhere. They're also very ego-centric issues; and secondary to the much larger concerns that embrace them.

Anyway, Libertarianism is not Liberalism. The Right to Free association, Free Speech, the right to Bare Arms, the right to Privacy.

They are Libertarian causes, and Labour goes against them all.

[Beskar]

A right to Bear Arms might get the RSPCA angry.

[naut]

First/last one I can vote in, unless I come back and dwell within the UK again. So... I want to, but none of the parties appeal...

[Furunculus]

Two fairly irrevevant issues in the grand scheme of things, as drugs will always be regulated and intellectual copyright aren't going anywhere. They're also very ego-centric issues; and secondary to the much larger concerns that embrace them.

Anyway, Libertarianism is not Liberalism. The Right to Free association, Free Speech, the right to Bare Arms, the right to Privacy.

They are Libertarian causes, and Labour goes against them all.

correct.

[Subotan]

Two fairly irrevevant issues in the grand scheme of things, as drugs will always be regulated and intellectual copyright aren't going anywhere. They're also very ego-centric issues; and secondary to the much larger concerns that embrace them.

So what constitutes an important issue? You're incredibly naive if you think that drugs policy is "irrelevant".

Although I agree that they may be a liberal party, they are not Libertarian.