about the election

[mollykins]

will people be voting for their local candidate, then whichever party gains enough seats, becomes the government?


I think thats roughly how it works, anyway my family are in a sticky situation, we currently have labour in charge of our local area, and my family think he is a good person and a cgood councillor. But non of them like Gordon Brown, but by voting for the person they like, they are voting for GB ! Plus ours is a margin seat.

[waterboatman]

Vote UKIP.

[mollykins]

they could do, they're in the delima with labour, the think cameron is stuck up, and know nothing about who nick clegg is, immigration isn't a problem round here really, in my year group i could name the people born in a different country, or to immigrants on less than two hands.

[mollykins]

And my dad wouldnt vote for the greens, he's a petrol head who has a gas guzzling car, wants a power boat and never uses public transport.

[mollykins]

But what about my family, and there are probably others from my area. They like our councillor, but by voting him in, they vote gb in.

Can you tick the box for labour but write a note saying 'only if Brown isn't in charge'

[jackthehat]

That's the way it works in this country, mollykins.............

The country is led by the leader of whichever party gets the most seats, not the most votes..........

[jake-the-peg]

Welcome to British style democracy.

Not only do we not actually get to vote for the Prime-minister or Monarch but unless you actually live in a marginal constituancy your vote doesn't really matter at all anyway!

I happen to live in Jon Bercow's constuency so I don't even get a Labour or Liberal candidate.

So I find myself voting Tory just to make sure Nigel-"I claimed £2million expenses"-Farage gets as little as possible for UKIP.

I would always recommend people vote - if you don't like the candidates spoil your paper.

Low turnout=apathy
High number of spoiled paers=dissatisfaction

Plus the returning officer has to see each spoiled paper so you get the chance to send him a special message - why not brighten his evening by writing a joke on the slip?

[factor-fiction]

Mollykins- you said "we currently have labour in charge of our local area, and my family think he is a good person and a good councillor."

Councillors are elected at local elections. In the general election you are voting for an MP rather than a councillor. Or is your councillor now standing for election as an MP?

Anyway you have to decide which is better- a good local MP but a government/PM you dislike, or a less effective local MP but who represents a party who would give a better govenment/PM.

Anyway, does it really matter whether you like Gordon Brown (or David Cameron)- aren't the party and their policies more important?

[naomi24]

We have an unelected Peter - Lord - Mandelson making decisions for us, so, yes, welcome to British style democracy indeed.

[mollykins]

something like that factor, i don't understand it all.

[Kathyan]

Councillors are elected to sit on the local council. By voting for your councillor you aren't voting for GB but for the Labour party. Even by voting Labour at the General Election, you are voting for the MP and their party, and the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister. In this country we don't actually get to vote for the PM.

[Coldicote]

Kathyan has made a good point that we don't vote for a prime minister. Theoretically the Queen sends for the leader of the party gaining the most seats and asks him/her to form a government.

[mollykins]

Yeah but by voting their party in, you are voting them in.

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure that's the case Colicote

From what I've heard the rules will be that if no one has an overall majority the encumbant PM gets first shot at putting together a Government.

Not sure that it matters too much anyway - despite what Clegg is saying right now it's clear that any Tory-Liberal alliance would last as long as it takes someone to say the word "Europe"

Cameron needs an outright majority

[Coldicote]

You could be right Jake, but bearing in mind that parliament has been dissolved would he still be the 'incumbent PM' with authority to do so. As you say 'not sure that it matters too much anyway ....'

[mike11111]

Parliament has been dissolved but ministers remain in office, although they are no longer MPs

[Kathyan]

Voting for a local councillor does not 'vote in' the government. The government is voted for in a general election.

[aims1202]

thought i understood all this but after reading these answers i'm totally confused! I thought you just vote for the party you want because of their policies and if they get most votes in your area they get a seat and who gets most seat wins, the mp's arent really important are they, i mean i will never know if i actually like any of them, just what i see on tv.
btw i have read the greens policies and they are not what they seem, i'm not particularly 'green' but they make a lot of sense, but is it a wasted vote as they have no chance in my area?