If there was a General Election tomorrow

[andrew1707]

If there was a General Election tomorrow........

1) Which party would you vote for?

2) Which party did you vote for in the last election?

Andrew

[MarkRae]

> That means you'll never vote again.

And it also means forfeiting the right to complain about the government. Our particular brand of democracy by elected representative may not be perfect, but I don't know of a better one. Virtually every adult citizen is afforded a say in that process, and to throw it away is simply fatuous. In some countries voting is compulsory - it ought to be so here too, IMO.

[jno]

I voted for an MP, not a party. I'd still vote for her.

[brenda]

1.Labour
2.Labour

[Davethedog]

Jno why shouldn't you if you feel that she is the best person to represent you.
Thats what democracy is all about.

I would vote for such a person irrespective of party.

I am basicaly a Labour voter however, I cannot vote for Livingstone in London, I feel that Boris, is about as honest as a politician can be, and he really will do whats best for London.

[anneasquith]

i am not throwing away my vote................... i am abstaining , so that the politicians will begin to take notice the ongoing low turnout at elections, they make the excuse its " voter apathy " where in many cases its the continuing mistrust of our politicians.

[Davethedog]

Mark I agree with your sentiments entirely.

[TheNovice]

lets put it this way, Labour have no policies at present,just shooting down everything everyone else does. Which is normal at mid parliament. Agree with comments about Ed Milliband, and, Ed Balls was part (a major part) of the cause of the mess we are now in.

The lib dems are in dire straits over the coalition, although they are getting through their commitment to the basic £10k tax allowance threshold but have no policies other than that.

The Conservatives are trying to get us out of a massive mess, not of their making, but seem to be going about it in ham fisted way. Think most people agree we have to get the wasters, scroungers and layabouts off of benefits and quick. I also (personally) think that people whose desire it is to have large families should not expect the rest to sponsor them. The changes to child benefit are welcome but possibly being pitched too low, I'm sure others will agree/disagree.

I don't think we have a choice at present but to go with the flow, see where we are in two years and make an educated choice then. Personally don't think Milliband/Balls are up to creating a set of policies that will encourage supporters back to the fold, as the mess that was created under Brown's stewardship (and Blair in his latter years) will be relatively fresh in peoples memories.

[MarkRae]

> I voted for an MP, not a party. I'd still vote for her.

Nothing wrong with that! My old Mum has voted for Alan Beith since the early 70s (he's a family friend), but would utterly horrified if she thought that anyone considered her a Liberal Democrat!

[d9f1c7]

Can you see the irony of compulsory voting.... You're dam well going to have democracy whether you like it or not!

[Slapshot]

Miss Whiplash and the Rubber Fetish Girls porno Party#
Miss Whiplash and the Rubber Fetish Girls porno Party#

# - It is suggested that this might be a funny but we'd be as well voting for them because we're all F***** anyway!!

[ummmm]

What is the point of voting for people who know nothing about politics?

[ludwig]

// I voted for an MP, not a party. I'd still vote for her. //

If the MP changed parties would you still vote for her? If the answer is no, then you voted for the party.

[TheNovice]

Good point MarkRae. If you've got a good MP from a local point of view you're lucky regardless of their affiliations. Many MP's seem to forget this once they get to Westminster. In my area we had the late Peter Shore (labour) for many years who served local people well. Since then we've had 'mercenaries' like George Galloway (playing the race card) and some women whose name totally escapes me who knew as much about the area as I do about downtown Cairo!!!!! I do not know the name of our current MP. Says it all!!!!

[Old_Geezer]

Opting not to vote when you believe there is no candidate from the list you wish to endorse is no betrayal of anything. It is a practical way of indicating there was no one worth voting for without the useless act of pretending to vote.

Tomorrow ? Unsure, probably one of the smaller parties. Maybe UKIP for sovereignty reasons if they stood.

Last time ? Unsure, can't recall. Smaller party again, didn't get anywhere.

A plague on all their houses.

[MarkRae]

> I do not know the name of our current MP. Says it all!

It most certainly does! Your MP is your duly elected representative in parliament. He/she will hold meetings (some still call them "surgeries") where you may ask him/her anything, air any grievance you may have etc. It is not your MP's job to knock on your door and ask you if you need anything doing...

[mrs_overall]

ronni, I would say she wasn't so much winding you up as being professional

[TheNovice]

don't want anyone to knock on my door although they seem to when there's an election in the air. My point is after the election the current incumbent appears to have vaporised and has left the local surgery to the care of his minions. Rare is the MP these days who is committed more to local issues than to following the edicts from higher echelons

[AB Editor]

"Very interesting Ed, a mid-term move to the Tories. The budget must have been good for you!"

Not really, I've just got what I want from the Liberals (increase in lower end tax threshold) and would like there to be less of this "taxing wealth" nonsense; I feel this is a lib-dem policy.

"anneasquith Even if you spoil your paper, you MUST vote not to do so is a betrayal of democracy and all it entails. To me if you don't vote you shouldn't enter political debate."

Anne may think she cannot answer the question put in front of her ("Which of these would you like represent you"). If you think no question cannot be answered the answer this question:

"Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

This may be the same kind of question in the eyes of the ballot-spoilers/abstainers. I think it is a valid political position.

[Baldric]

Well said OG.
To vote or not to vote, my choice. I didn't because no-one convinced me they deservered my vote.
I don't need some sanctimonious person telling me what they imagine I will forfeit, MY choice, vote, critisise or complain,up to me.