Voting Advice (NLC)

[kenny]

Kenny, isn't the issue less that people have no clue about the parties' policies, and more that there really isn't any difference between them.

Sure, one party will cut spending by a few million here, and throw money at a new initiative there, whereas the other party will do it the other way about, but overall I don't think the majority of the working population will notice one jot of a difference whoever gets in.

Now if you've had a recent experience of crime/health service/education/benefits system, then you're likely to tend toward the party whose manifesto says they'll right the wrong you experienced, but whoever gets in, things are going to be tight over the coming years for many - no party can avoid that.

To paraphrase Mr Galloway: Labour or Conservative? Two cheeks of the same arse.

VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE.

IIRC in 1997 when Cons were a sleazy shambles Labour had shifted their political philosophy very much to the centre, centre right even, sometimes appearing more right wing than the Tories, goodbye old school left wingers and hello New Labour. This proved to be a very good way of creating a swing in their favour. Since then the shift has been very back back to the left of favour of old school socialism.

Now the Tories are copying the same trick and moved themselves very much centre to pull in the disenchanted Labour vote. I think in 97 we really needed change (of government), even it was just for the sake of change, it's a similar situation now. We are in a period of economic stagnation (that's an optimistic outlook btw) if Gordon Clown were to regain power things would get bad. Bad? they would get even worse.
I agree there isn't a great deal between them, hence best of a bad lot.

Older dyed-in-the-wool Labourite guy in work today was trying to convince me of the none of the above arguement. It's never going to happen, as long as 1% of the population vote then the politicians will decree "the people have spoken" and maybe pledge to do something about voter apathy.

If you lost your right to vote you would soon complain about it.

[tut]

Been voting since 1958, so nowadays I am selfish and try to vote for whoever will be better for myself and my family.
However no idea who that would be. Used to get the candidates calling around to the house to spell out their policies and why I should vote for them, but no more.

tut

[tut]

Youse swallowed a dictionary and thesaurus Kenny?

tut

[kenny]

What words you having trouble with Tut? Maybe I can help you a little

[Gareth]

Youse swallowed a dictionary and thesaurus Kenny?

tut

That has to be the most boring post ever Kenny!!
:D

[cla5h]

Undeniably, Labour became less left leaning in order to appeal to a wider spectrum (I'd hardly say they've gone back to their socialist roots now though, although Brown is more old labour than Blair was.)
The new green-tree-logo Conservatives have done the same, and this may be part of the problem; our two main parties are very 'centre' so there's nothing to choose between them.

But that's what the majority want; we're a middle of the road nation, rather than being made up of loonie lefties at one election who lurch into full-on capitalism four years later.

As to the financial situation; I'm not a Labour supporter, but don't blame Brown, nor have I seen any evidence Cameron would get us out of it quicker.
It's a worldwide crisis. Every sitting government has to accept blame for allowing the financial shenanigans to go on unchecked, but I don't believe any mainstream opposition would have done anything differently.
The conservatives presided over the last financial catastrophe - remember Black Wednesday when we had to come out of the ERM and interest rates were being raised by multiple points more than once on the same day.
At least when Labour got into power they had the good sense to give control of rates to the BoE.

And you're right about losing the vote - I'd be out on the streets protesting. But for me, part of the right-to-vote is having the right to choose not to. Which is what I did tonight when I walked my wife to the polling station.

Anyway, most everyone will have done what they're going to do by now so all that's left is to settle down to C4's alternative election coverage. And here's to what tomorrow brings.

[kenny]

As to the financial situation; I'm not a Labour supporter, but don't blame Brown, nor have I seen any evidence Cameron would get us out of it quicker

Most of your post I would agree with. The above, I cannot. Brown led us into it, he may not have been fully responsible but he squandered trillions while the going was good, where is our get out plan? We are close to going the same way as PIGS, our economy is apparently out of recession according to 'the figures' but in my line of work we are still very much in decline and have been for nearly two years now. Two years of this and still getting worse...

He knew well before, he was warned and he did nothing, along the way he has added to this with his own fair share of financial catastrophes in the UK.

[graeme]

[robin]

IMHO the difference between Cameron's approach to the banking crisis and Brown's is that Cameron would have had the good sense to make sure his cronies' pockets were well lined during the collapse ...

[tut]

Oh ye of little faith.

tut

[neil]

I'm sure Mandelsons pockets have been perfectly well lined...

[kenny]

And that Tony BLiar chap isnt short of a bob or two either.