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?

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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".

[Furunculus]

questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Given that the Bank for International Settlements anticipates a UK public debt that will ramp up to 40% of GDP by 2040, and require 27% of GDP to service in debt interest at the same point, what proportion of deficit reduction should come from spending cuts and what proportion from tax increases?

2. Given that the Governor of the Bank of England has said that the necessary spending cuts will be so huge that the government to enact them will be out of power for a generation, and that the economy has been shown to grow faster under low-tax and pro-business regimes, how do you defend the tax increase portion of your deficit reduction plans?

3. Given that the Euro is about to go into melt-down, how do you defend you parties stance over the Britain’s entry into the Eurozone?

4. Given that British business and the Economist have supported the Tory’s economic policies as more conducive to economic recovery, how do you defend an electoral result that will end up with a hung-parliament and a coalition government?

5. Did the top 1% of taxpayers pay more tax in Britain in the eighties under high tax regime or under a low tax regime?

[LittleGrizzly]

questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Given that the Bank for International Settlements anticipates a UK public debt that will ramp up to 40% of GDP by 2040, and require 27% of GDP to service in debt interest at the same point, what proportion of deficit reduction should come from spending cuts and what proportion from tax increases?

I would want it mostly in cuts. Ideally I would like it if (rather than rising taxes) we could just shut down various loopholes and make those who cleverly avoid thier taxes pay thier share, but that seems a bit optimistic so almost all in cuts, 80% at least....

2. Given that the Governor of the Bank of England has said that the necessary spending cuts will be so huge that the government to enact them will be out of power for a generation, and that the economy has been shown to grow faster under low-tax and pro-business regimes, how do you defend the tax increase portion of your deficit reduction plans?

Well they would be aimed at closing loopholes top end (where I imagined thier used more and cost more) which is what we have previously decided is a fair share. I would possibly consider cutting taxes on the lowest paid though...

3. Given that the Euro is about to go into melt-down, how do you defend you parties stance over the Britain’s entry into the Eurozone?

Don't think im informed enough to make a decision... isn't the pound also not in a great place ?

4. Given that British business and the Economist have supported the Tory’s economic policies as more conducive to economic recovery, how do you defend an electoral result that will end up with a hung-parliament and a coalition government?

The question seems somewhat confusing, my answer would be freedom of choice, but i don't think thats quite the question your asking. I agree with the tory's that cuts are needed I just disagree where, I defend an electoral result where the tory's don't outright win by saying they won't get to decide where the cuts are, which is a good thing (if they could set the amount to be cut from the budget then the libs could pick what to cut, that would be perfect okay.)

5. Did the top 1% of taxpayers pay more tax in Britain in the eighties under high tax regime or under a low tax regime?

I feel like you are not asking anything, just making a point with a question... low tax regime I guess though....

[Myrddraal]

Perhaps a moderator could split these last few posts and move them over to the UK election thread? It would be a shame to loose them just because they're in the wrong place.

questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Given that the Bank for International Settlements anticipates a UK public debt that will ramp up to 40% of GDP by 2040, and require 27% of GDP to service in debt interest at the same point, what proportion of deficit reduction should come from spending cuts and what proportion from tax increases?

2. Given that the Governor of the Bank of England has said that the necessary spending cuts will be so huge that the government to enact them will be out of power for a generation, and that the economy has been shown to grow faster under low-tax and pro-business regimes, how do you defend the tax increase portion of your deficit reduction plans?

How can you use an argument which emphasises the magnitude of the discrepancy between government income and expenditure to argue in favour of tax cut? This bit "cuts will be so huge that the government to enact them will be out of power for a generation", and this bit "that the economy has been shown to grow faster under low-tax and pro-business regimes" are opposing points.

Considering that the IFS have critisised all parties on the grounds that their proposed cuts will not be enough to dent the deficit, I think it's selfish to pretend that tax hikes can be avoided. If there's once election promise which will be broken by the conservative party should they win, I think it will be (and indeed I hope it will be) the promises to reduce tax income.

3. Given that the Euro is about to go into melt-down, how do you defend you parties stance over the Britain’s entry into the Eurozone?

I also think that it is arrogant to point to Greece and somehow claim that the pound sterling is the best way to go forward. Forget what might happen, let's take a look at what has happened. The pound has collapsed against the euro, and the dollar. I personally think that from purely economic reasons, we should have joined the euro three or four years ago, when our currency was at its prime.

I don't think that the conditions are right now for us to join the euro, but to argue that the euro in itself leads to instability isn't right. I also think it's wrong to point at Greece and say - that could happen to us if we join the euro. Greece's issues aren't due to their currency, and yet the euro has kept their currency relatively stable throughout the recession. The currency markets are in part driven by speculation. People have been speculating about the effect of Greece for months now, if this element was going to have an effect, it already would have. The currency markets are driven more by imports and exports and foreign investment. Investors are not going to hesitate to invest in France or Britain on the basis that Greece is suffering from a huge deficit, indeed they might vainly hope that Greece will make their worthwhile investments cheaper. The economics behind the euro are sound in that a common currency brings stability. Stability which the pound hasn't enjoyed (and indeed, suffered from a lack of) over the last few years. For purely economic reasons, I would be in favour of joining the euro when the pound has (hopefully) recovered. Unfortunately I don't think this will happen for purely un-economic reasons.

4. Given that British business and the Economist have supported the Tory’s economic policies as more conducive to economic recovery, how do you defend an electoral result that will end up with a hung-parliament and a coalition government?

Some business leaders have supported the Tory party but frankly they are looking at their own short term self interest, not the state of the economy or 'the greater good'. I'm inclined to believe they've been bribed with relatively small bribes.

The Tories say: Make bit cuts - everybody says Great!
The Tories say: Don't increase taxes, indeed, reduce them - everybody says Great!

If they've got sense they scratch beneath the surface and notice that the numbers don't add up.

The Tories say: Ah but we have the magic waste fairy which is going to generate pounds, but only for a Tory government, because the fairy doesn't like Gordon Brown - everybody says Great!

5. Did the top 1% of taxpayers pay more tax in Britain in the eighties under high tax regime or under a low tax regime?

The discrepency between what high earners should pay and what they do pay is due to some fairly blantant inconsistencies in the current tax system, namely the capital gains tax. To argue that reducing taxes increases tax revenue is nonsense. Reform of the tax system is what this country needs (A lib dem policy I support wholeheartedly).

Anyway, all this should be in the UK election thread, this thread is supposed to be about voting in any part of the world.