Who do we vote for in the May general election and who do we not vote for?

[Zero Liability]

Well they have no intention of booting EU citizens out. They've clarified that multiple times. They do intend to introduce a skills-based work permit system for future EU migrants, however. They're quite pragmatic about it. In practice, the FPP system will shield the incumbent parties, but they won't enjoy much power without making compromising (to them) deals. The Tories may pay lip service to deficit reduction, less red tape and lower taxes, but I'll believe it when I see it. If a party like UKIP pressures them into it, so much the better...

[centurian]

True but after the tories promised to repeal IR35 I can't stomach voting for them

Yes, but they promised to repeal it just before a general election, then got hammered at the polls a few months later (2001) and I don't believe they actually promised to repeal it ever since.

I don't think you can hold every party to a promise made 10+ years earlier, especially when there have been two electoral cycles in between. Tony Blair wasn't held to the promises that Neil Kinnock made in the late 80s

[Zero Liability]

The LDs, on the other hand, made very recent promises on the topic, which they failed to deliver upon.

[Paddy]

The conservatives promised to get rid of IR35, but that was in 2005… the lying Berks

[lilelvis2000]

There certainly are no clear winners in this election IMHO. the protest votes goes to UKIP and there will be a few marginal seats up for grabs..the rest will stay the same. Hung parliament is my prediction.

I don't trust the Cons...who kept the pensioners very very cosy at the cost of the young. Hard working indeed..working hard for a pensioner with lots of cash. Much rewarding of cronies.

Labour seem a sinking ship..Ed Balls is a huge mistake why they didn't sack him ages ago I've no idea. But people will still vote for them because they are not Conservative.

LibDems going down in flames. Will only keep their solid seats..lets see if Nick can keep his own.

Could the Greens grab a couple of extra seats?

[anonymouse]

Guess my MP can't make up his mind. Taken from theyworkforyou.com

Voted a mixture of for and against greater regulation of gambling
Voted a mixture of for and against measures to prevent climate change
Voted a mixture of for and against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords
Voted a mixture of for and against a transparent Parliament
Voted a mixture of for and against university tuition fees
Voted a mixture of for and against smoking bans
Voted a mixture of for and against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU
Voted a mixture of for and against more EU integration
Voted a mixture of for and against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles

Voted very strongly for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas. Who else is doing to do combat missions, MSF?
Voted very strongly for measures to reduce tax avoidance What about tax evasion?

I guess the last two voted on because of CMD's/whips say-so.

[EternalOptimist]

I took the missus into Bolton on Saturday, first time for 5 years.
The place is filthy, litter strewn, pot holes in the roads and hardly an English voice to be heard. It is chav central and I am guessing a lot of English towns are like this

Something has gone badly wrong with this country and it happened under Blair, Brown , Balls and Millipede

I don't care who gets in, so long as it's not any of those incompetents

[Platypus]

The best hope with Labour is that they'll be so focused on pleasing the unions and laws for employees they might forget about the likes of contractors.

HA! Only if you promise to pay your "fair share"

Contractors are the low-hanging fruit. The tax avoiders. We'll be screwed under Labour and TBH probs the Tories too who have to be seen to be "fair".

UKIP have shown themselves to be loons. I voted for them in the European elections to give the Tories a kick up the arse. That might have worked, but I couldn't vote UKIP again, they're bonkers. By bonkers, let's be specific: too many racists and misogynists for me to stomach.

Labour and the Dems will screw the country. I'm not saying the Tories are great, but they'll probs do the least damage, so they'll get my vote. I gave Bliar a 2nd vote to continue his "much done; much more to do". That was a mistake but only in hindsight. I'll give the Tories the benefit of the doubt too.

[barrydidit]

Interesting point raised in the Telegraph the other day re Corporation Tax.

Mr Balls has said he opposes the cut in corporation tax which is due to take effect in April – when it will fall from 21 per cent to 20 per cent.
He has said he wants to ensure the UK has the lowest corporation tax rates in the G7, which currently stands at 26.5 per cent. The CPS suggested this left Mr Balls scope to increase corporation tax dramatically after the election.

Linky

I know there are currently distinctions between small and large businesses but even so, 26.5%

[SueEllen]

Hi,

Just interested to hear thoughts on who will be the best political party to vote for with regards to being an IT contractor. I have always voted tory (yes I am ashamed to admit it) but as they have not only continued the witch hunt started by labour but made everything 10 times worse I won't be voting for neither of them.

I know that they are all a pack of liars who promise you the earth on the run up to the election but does anyone think this mob have a hope?

100 days till the election, 100 reasons to vote UKIP - UKIP

If not who is offering the 250,000 contractors in the UK the best deal?

It depends where you live.

Where I currently live there is no point voting Labour or UKIP as they don't stand a chance in hell of getting elected. There as I've lived in areas as long as the candidate wore the appropriate ribbon they would get elected to stand for Labour or the Tories.

If you live in a marginal then your vote does count more as it can change the shape of the country but most seats aren't multi-party margins like Brighton.