General Election 2015

[Westdene Seagull]

I really hope not. Coalition rule hasn't done much for Brighton and Hove council. Thankfully I live out of the area, so I am not experiencing the mess first hand, but it's very clear that divergent policies and a lack of single vision from one party does not work.

But BHCC hasn't been a coalition - the opposition parties stood aside and allowed the Greens to run the council as a minority administration.

At government level the same could have happened - i.e. the Tories could have run a minority government - but the Lib Dems decided they would help form a majority coalition government.

For what it's worth, true coalition would always by my preference as it helps keep both parties in power in check to an extent.

 

[drew]

Tories-will rip you off
Labour-will pretend they like "the working man" make themselves a lot of money , have a depression (which will be blamed on the tories past administration) and then rip you off

I dont vote but the way I see it is at least with the tories you have time to "lube up" as you know their intent where as labour will wine and dine you,, kiss you slowly then agressively gang rape you with no lubrication and the next morning they will say they are sorry and "thats not the real them" and promise you it wont happen again.....until next time

Have to ask what planet are you living on. Firstly, there are probably very few voters who believe that a political party fully represents their views. It tends to mean there has to be some compromise. Labour had to compromise on their left wing ideals in order to get into power and start implementing some of their ideals. The tories are probably partly the same, hence we have very little difference between the two. Mainly, the Tories will seek to reduce spending and taxes which tends to hit the poor and Labour tend to spend more and raise taxes which hits the rich. Labour pander to the unions because that is where their traditional support comes from and the Tories pander to the wealthy.

As for your analogy, you seem to forget that there are depressions during Tory administrations. Exactly what policies did Labour introduce after election that came as a complete surprise or were diametrically opposite to anything in their manifesto? If anything, the changes to the NHS would suggest that your analogy, albeit in very poor taste, should apply to the Tories (and Libdems if you consider Uni fees).

Finally, always disappointing to see someone almost boast about not voting.

 

[Surrey_Albion]

Have to ask what planet are you living on. Firstly, there are probably very few voters who believe that a political party fully represents their views. It tends to mean there has to be some compromise. Labour had to compromise on their left wing ideals in order to get into power and start implementing some of their ideals. The tories are probably partly the same, hence we have very little difference between the two. Mainly, the Tories will seek to reduce spending and taxes which tends to hit the poor and Labour tend to spend more and raise taxes which hits the rich. Labour pander to the unions because that is where their traditional support comes from and the Tories pander to the wealthy.

As for your analogy, you seem to forget that there are depressions during Tory administrations. Exactly what policies did Labour introduce after election that came as a complete surprise or were diametrically opposite to anything in their manifesto? If anything, the changes to the NHS would suggest that your analogy, albeit in very poor taste, should apply to the Tories (and Libdems if you consider Uni fees).

Finally, always disappointing to see someone almost boast about not voting.

The point I was trying to make is that all parties are the same and all equally untrustworthy in MY opinion, as for boasting about not voting I wasnt boasting I was simply saying I dont vote (for the aforementioned reasons)

 

[SingitLoud]

UKIP my old cocker!

 

[Ernest]

Labour back to 7 point lead in the polls tonight

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Labour back to 7 point lead in the polls tonight

It didn't take long for the nation to see through Cameron's unfunded conference bribes. Here's to a fairer UK!

 

[Titanic]

YouGov/Sunday Times poll LAB 34% CON 32% UKIP 16% LDEM 9%

 

[Titanic]

Survation/ Mail on Sunday poll CON 31% LAB 31% UKIP 25% LDEM 8%

 

[drew]

The point I was trying to make is that all parties are the same and all equally untrustworthy in MY opinion, as for boasting about not voting I wasnt boasting I was simply saying I dont vote (for the aforementioned reasons)

Whilst I agree and wouldn't trust any politician, they are far from the same.

 

[Bozza]

Decent piece in The Independent from socialist Mark Steel - http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...-to-keep-all-the-tories-policies-9785505.html

But Labour’s strategy for retrieving these voters is like a man trying to win back his ex-wife by saying, “Come back love. I’m still an ********, but I’m not as bad as the ******** you left me for.”

Maybe that should be their slogan for the election. At least Miliband would be likely to remember it.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Survation/ Mail on Sunday poll CON 31% LAB 31% UKIP 25% LDEM 8%

I would guess the polling was done after the by election results This could be a rogue poll unless people are coming round to the idea that voting for UKIP wont be a wasted vote.

 

[Pavilionaire]

The guy forgets half of his keynote speech and still finds himself in front in the polls, what has British politics come to?

 

[Titanic]

Latest Populus Westminster VI Poll: Lab 36 (+1), Con 35 (+1), LD 9 (=), UKIP 13 (=), Oth 8 (-1). Tables here: popu.lu/s_vi20141013

 

[Soulman]

It didn't take long for the nation to see through Cameron's unfunded conference bribes. Here's to a fairer UK!

What with Labour. Good article here.
he news in the Mail on Sunday that UKIP has reached 25 percent in the opinion polls, after getting its first MP into Parliament, will send shock waves through the Westminster elite.

But in truth, UKIP’s day of reckoning was notable not for the widely anticipated Carswell Clacton victory but for the party’s remarkable performance in the Labour seat of Heywood and Middleton.

The purple avengers managed to tear apart a six thousand majority, leaving Labour’s candidate with an embarrassingly slim victory of 617 votes. Such a staggering achievement underlines the threat Nigel Farage’s army of defectors poses to the lacklustre Ed Miliband and his blurred and unconvincing vision for the British people.

In truth, ever since the Labour party sent the talented David Miliband packing, and elected his inferior brother Ed as their leader, they have been heading for certain defeat.
The party has morphed into a party of anger and of envy, with malicious policies designed to divide society instead of bringing it together. When working people were looking for a party to support their dreams and aspirations, Labour ignored their pleas. Under Ed Miliband, the party’s priorities have been directed towards winning votes from those who refuse to work.
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/5289/hopeless_labour_vulnerable_to_both_ukip_and_tories

 

[Creaky]

What with Labour. Good article here.
he news in the Mail on Sunday that UKIP has reached 25 percent in the opinion polls, after getting its first MP into Parliament, will send shock waves through the Westminster elite.

But in truth, UKIP’s day of reckoning was notable not for the widely anticipated Carswell Clacton victory but for the party’s remarkable performance in the Labour seat of Heywood and Middleton.

The purple avengers managed to tear apart a six thousand majority, leaving Labour’s candidate with an embarrassingly slim victory of 617 votes. Such a staggering achievement underlines the threat Nigel Farage’s army of defectors poses to the lacklustre Ed Miliband and his blurred and unconvincing vision for the British people.

In truth, ever since the Labour party sent the talented David Miliband packing, and elected his inferior brother Ed as their leader, they have been heading for certain defeat.
The party has morphed into a party of anger and of envy, with malicious policies designed to divide society instead of bringing it together. When working people were looking for a party to support their dreams and aspirations, Labour ignored their pleas. Under Ed Miliband, the party’s priorities have been directed towards winning votes from those who refuse to work.
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/5289/hopeless_labour_vulnerable_to_both_ukip_and_tories

Much of the analysis of the Heywood and Middleton by-election has been somewhat misleading.

The turnout in the constituency was down from 46,125 to 28,472. There is no evidence from the figures that voters who previosly voted for Labour changed to support for UKIP - quite the contrary, Labour's share of the vote actually increased from 40.1% to 40.9%. What the figures do show though is that the Conservative and Liberal voter base collapsed - combined their share of the vote shrank from 49.9% to just 32.5%.

 

[halbpro]

Much of the analysis of the Heywood and Middleton by-election has been somewhat misleading.

The turnout in the constituency was down from 46,125 to 28,472. There is no evidence from the figures that voters who previosly voted for Labour changed to support for UKIP - quite the contrary, Labour's share of the vote actually increased from 40.1% to 40.9%. What the figures do show though is that the Conservative and Liberal voter base collapsed - combined their share of the vote shrank from 49.9% to just 32.5%.

No one seems to be looking at the figures that way, even though it's blindingly obvious. Looking at raw voter numbers is daft, turnout is always lower in by elections (cue someone showing me an example where turnout was higher than the previous general election). Voter share is clearly more important, and as you say it doesn't look like Labour shrank (although pre-election polling data does seem to show they lost maybe 7% to UKIP while picking up a big gain from Lib Dems, assuming you believe those polls).

 

[glasfryn]

I have always voted
from the age I could
only ever voted tory once and that was for the man not the party St John Stevas, super guy and almost to prove me right thatcher sacked him because he stood up to her.
I have lately come to the conclusion all MP's are in it for what they can get out of it, with a few that are not such as Alan Johnson.
most others are in it to further their own wealth,or power, they are not interested in you especially if you ask awkward questions, some even move parties to further their quest for power, even more objectionable little pieces of **** so much for their loyalty.
although having said that Mark Reckless is my one exception and I hope he gets in, one less tory , and believe me there will be lots more deserting the sinking ship before the next election.
I did hope the last time the tories ****ed up it would be the last we saw of them, but labour stupid labour let them off the hook again, I always said that tw@t Brown should have nationalized the greedy banks when he had the chance.
now I have always been a socialist, but recently become a bit of a floating voter and next time like lots of others may vote tactically just to mix it up a bit, wipe the stupid smirk off gideons and all the others who think its clever to give themselves a 10% rise for doing **** all and tell others they will have to manage on nothing.
there are
tories
liberal democrats = tories
labour = watered down tories
greens nice but will never make a difference ........................not yet anyway
UKIP rip into them, mix things up and get things changed, and tell all those thieving sods with outside contracts in the NHS to do one

 

[Soulman]

Much of the analysis of the Heywood and Middleton by-election has been somewhat misleading.

The turnout in the constituency was down from 46,125 to 28,472. There is no evidence from the figures that voters who previosly voted for Labour changed to support for UKIP - quite the contrary, Labour's share of the vote actually increased from 40.1% to 40.9%. What the figures do show though is that the Conservative and Liberal voter base collapsed - combined their share of the vote shrank from 49.9% to just 32.5%.

So Labour did not lose a near 6,000 majority then, which ever way you dress it up. What it does prove is that Labour only just sneaked the seat after having a very healthy majority. Just goes to show that even though it looks like the Tory and Libs votes slipped, Labour could not be trusted to take their votes, Ok fair enough

 

[glasfryn]

So Labour did not lose a near 6,000 majority then, which ever way you dress it up. What it does prove is that Labour only just sneaked the seat after having a very healthy majority. Just goes to show that even though it looks like the Tory and Libs votes slipped, Labour could not be trusted to take their votes, Ok fair enough

you cannot trust any of them

 

[Titanic]

Latest Populus VI: Lab 35 (-1), Con 33 (-2), LD 10 (+1), UKIP 14 (+1), Oth 8 (=). Tables here: popu.lu/s_vi141017