Politics.....

[iwantthatone]

Right...Can someone very simply explain (in an unbiased view..!!) what the main UK parties stand for? Im 18, so havn't voted before, and come the next general election, I really don't know what im voting for......

Also...since the war on Iraq started, I really havn't heard one member of the general public say anything nice about Tony Blair.  Everyone calls him a liar etc...but I can't see any other party winning net year.  Is it because the alternatives are no better at all?!

 

[derbyram]

Tory - low tax, every man for himself. Can't work - starve. Countryside good - cities bad. Labour - Tory with a nicer TV persona. Higher taxes in a way the public don't notice. Cities good - Tarmac countryside. Lib Dem - If it moves, tax it. If it still hasn;t moved, tax it again. Can say what they like 'cause they'll never get in power and have to put their ideas into practice. Greens - Cars are bad. All forms of generating electricity that involves burning are bad. Nuclear energy which doesn't involve burning stuff is still bad. Wind and wave are good but whole communities will have to gather round a 40watt light bulb for heat in the winter. Can't even buy a fur coat to keep warm as that's bad too. Sullen lot who haven't got the energy to vote due to a diet lacking in protein and iron. SNP - Scotland good, England bad. Ulster Unionists - Britain (though they mean England really) good, devolution and Catholics bad. Sein Fein - Unionists and English bad, Catholics, Irish and Americans good. UKIP - withdraw from Europe and immediately come up with an excuse to declare war on France. Independent - Can be relied upon to stand up and moan about the closing of local hospital/post office/pub but have no power and are generally ignored ni the westminster 'village' unless there is a particularly tight vote in the house when everyone suddenly promises to look again at that asylum centre that is planned for the bottom of the independent MP's garden - which is why he got himself elected in the first place.

[sft42]

In a VERY basic way the main parties roughly follow these idoms: Tories tend to be the party of business and enterprise...the tend to tax less and spend less on public sector (schools, hospitals, policing) and enviromental issues.....they also tend to be seen as being tougher on criminals and not as "caring"..they would be all for Britian remaining as seperate from the rest of europe as possible...Labour used to be as close to the diametric opposite of these views as was possible but in the past decade or so has moderated many "left-wing" views to become more electable....The Liberals have traditionally been the centre party and have a toe in both camps on different points but many people see their wish for closer integration with europe as a major sticking point in voting for them......Other Parties like the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and the Northern Irish lot (SDLP, Sinn Fein, UUP, DUP) can be discounted for now unless you live in one of those regions....if so then please indicate so.

 

There are many website devoted to politics but if you google you can find the main parties own pages and read their manefestos online which will give you much more info....failing that I am sure Bernardo will be along shortly and he will give you LOADS of info.

[ursula62]

Surely the main parties' websites have youth pages and/or info for first time voters?

If not, why the h*ll not?

I think everyone should be able to apply for a pack on their 18th birthday. The pack should contain a copy of each party's manifesto and some useful documentation about the parliamentary process, together with local contacts for each party so you can meet real people and find out about politics that way. It will never happen though!

 

 

[jimmer]

don't listen to any of that nonsense. there is categorically NO difference between the effective policies of the conservative and labour parties at the present time that would have any meaningful effect on your life. People call it the center ground, but in reality both the tories and labour are bank rolled by roughly the same people and it is that rather than ideolegy that determins their actions.

 

jim

[Fat Boy]

dont matter who you vote for - the government always gets in

[bernardo]

Labour Party

centre-left

mixed taxation, high stealth taxes, gradual further integration into the EU when the conditions are appropriate, mixed public and private provision of health, education, etc.

 

Conservative Party

centre-right

low taxation if possible; private involvement in provision of services, benefits, savings, education, health etc., skeptical about further integration into the EU, tough on immigration, tough on criminals, reduce benefits

 

Liberal Democrats

moderate centre

high tax, investment in education and public transport, environmental protection, further integration into the EU, adopt the Euro, for regional devolution, higher income tax

 

Green Party

environmentalist, taxation based on use of materials and land; re-use and re-cycle materials rather than use extracting new resources; renewable sources of energy, local control by local and regional government

 

UK Independence Party

For withdrawal of the UK from the European Union; pro-sovereignty, pro-democracy, capitalist, free-trade, pro-European, internationalist, skeptical about political correctness, against proportional representation, against regional devolution

[bernardo]

Respect Coalition

(Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, the Environment, Community, Trade Unionism)

a broad alliance of various parties and groups, especially the Socialist Workers' Party, Alliance of Workers' Liberty, Communist Party of Britain; successor to the Socialist Alliance

for state provision of all basic services - education, health, housing, benefits; high direct taxation, restrictions on private investment, against the Iraq War

 

Socialist Labour Party

far-left, Stalinist, democratic centralist, republican, for a single party socialist society, withdrawal from EU

 

Christian People's Alliance

for Christian and moral values in public life; anti-abortion, anti-foetal research, for moral values in education

 

British National Party

Nationalist, racist, for gradual repatriation of all non-white people; against anti-discrimination laws, against the EU, against devolution, protectionist, anti-free trade

 

Liberal Party

Against the EU, libertarian, animal rights, environmentalist, for civil liberties and social cohesion

 

Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Diversity, Protest, Fun, monarchist, against the cliques of major party control, democratic involvement of people in government at all levels, against the EU

[iwantthatone]

Thanks! Appreciate the time and effort! I honestly didn't really have a clue about any difference between them.  I think perhaps thats one reason why young people don't vote all that much..unless we have a particular passion for politics, we don't know this stuff.  I watch Question Time, thats about it......

[tartanwiz]

Dear iwantthatone. It's quite simple. Do you think that wealth should be redistributed so that there is less of a gap between rich and poor? If so, look towards the left wing and socialism. Do you look at people with big houses and big cars and wish you were one of them and to hell with everyone else? Look towards the Conservatives. Do you feel somewhere in between? Try Labour or Lib Dem. Do you care about the environment? Vote green. Do you live in Scotland? Vote SNP for independence or SSP for independence and socialism. Do you live in Wales? Vote Plaid Cymru for independence or Cymru Goch for independence and socialism. Do you feel 'British' and want out of Europe? Try UK Independence Party. Hope I've helped a bit.

[NapoleonSolo]

Vote with your conscience, if you haven't got a conscience -VOTE TORY!

[Shatnerfan]

May I suggest IWTA that if you feel unsure of your political feelings you click this link (if it's worked) http://www.politicalcompass.org/ and do the quiz. It's about 50 multiple choice questions (takes less than 5 mins) and at the end will tell you right or left wing, authoritarian or libertarian. It also provides examples of figures such as Hitler and Stalin.

[iwantthatone]

According to that, I'm quite in the middle, but leanining slightly towards the left, and more towards a libertarian than an authoritarian...

[iwantthatone]

leaning*

[CHOPS'R'US]

Yea according to that i'm sitting next to Gandhi bit bizarre but hey ho, don't think i will vote as there is no party near my dot.....

[tartanwiz]

I did the 'Political Compass' suggested by Shatnerfan too - very interesting. It turns out I am pretty far left, but just in the middle when it comes to libertarianism / authority. I'm most surprised at my results. But very interesting.

[bernardo]

I forgot to include the non-England parties (if you live outside England):

 

Scottish National Party

For Independence of Scotland outside the UK but within the EU.  Centre-left (Left of Labour) with social and environmental protection policies.

 

Scottish Socialist Party

For independednce of a Socialist Scotland outside the UK and outside the EU.  Trotskyite with far-left policies on housing, education, health, welfare, environment

 

Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales

For independence of Wales within the EU.  Has parliamentary alliance with the SNP.  Socialist and environmental policies; devolution to local areas.

 

Ulster Unionist Party

Wants Northern Ireland to stay in the UK.  Supports power-sharing and co-operation with nationalist parties.

 

Democratic Unionist Party

Wants Northern Ireland to stay in the UK.  Opposes power-sharing; supports majority rule.  Authoritarian and populist.

 

Sinn Fein

Irish Republican.  Wants Ireland's status (as a unit) to be decided by the whole of Ireland (as a unit).  Does not recognise the pratition of Northern Ireland from the rest of Ireland.  Left-wing social policies.

 

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Centre-left Irish nationalist.  Seeks re-unification of Ireland with the consent of the people of Northern Ireland.

[bernardo]

I forgot a few others:

 

Communist Party of Canada

Communist.

 

Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)

Communist, hardline Stalinist, regards the CPC as bourgeois reactionary revisionists.

 

Revolutionary Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)

Communist, hardline Maoist, regards the CPC(ML) as revisionist bourgeois state-capitalist.