General election quandary

[MicrosoftBob]

So by voting Ukip you'll be voting Tory seeing as around 65% of voters in 2010 who voted tory will now possibly vote Ukip. Ukip is more Tory than the Conservative party, look at the defectors and their backers...

Isn't that the point the Tory party isn't a Tory party at the moment

[darmstadt]

Isn't that the point the Tory party isn't a Tory party at the moment

Not really, they're only offering the electorate lies that they will never be able to deliver upon which is like every other political party but the element of the electorate that they're targeting are too stupid to know that

[d000hg]

You live in County Durham yet can't see how utterly hopeless the local councils have been. They keep their mates in senior jobs will destroying all other services and other employees to ensure enough money is left for the management to stay..

We are talking about national elections, not local councils. Greedy councillors says little about party politics, only individual greed which is possible due to Labour being guaranteed many/most seats.
Plus, I live in Durham City which is very atypical of County Durham (though I did live in one of the villages previously).

That explains it, the typical Co Durham pit village mentality. "My forefathers used to work hard in the mines so I deserve handouts for all eternity from the people who never got their hands dirty"

Muppet. I'm a private-schooled IT contractor who came to Durham for my degree. It is possible to empathise with people from a different demographic, if you ever look outside your ivory tower.

I thought you were the one who claimed to come from a poor-ish Newcastle family?

And that isn't even the pit village mentality. A generation ago, sure... these days they're just deprived, decaying places with more people than jobs.

But clearly to you, everyone on benefits is a scrounger. Lots are, but it's not a fair generalisation.

[TheFaQQer]

Yes, I just read that too. Tempting! I was going to join, but I think my loony name needs a little consideration.

Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel?

[TheFaQQer]

I do rather like this policy

Points make prizes

Tax payers to receive Nectar Points from HMRC

If you look at their track record, they have campaigned on a few issues that became law.

They were the first party to call for all day pub opening. They were the first party to call for 24 hour licencing.

Now if they can get through their policy on the compulsory eating of asparagus before breakfast. No, that's the Standing At The Back Dressed Stupidly And Looking Stupid Party.

[ZARDOZ]

With talk of tactical voting and wasted votes, this thread is an example of why we need PR in this country. Any system where Lib Dems can get a small percentage share of the vote yet end up with more seats than UKIP who more than likely will get twice(or more) their number of votes....is corrupt and certainly not democratic.

[d000hg]

Do none of the major parties support PR or similar? Surely it would benefit Labour OR Tories - and they can calculate that - so whoever it benefits would campaign for it?

[ZARDOZ]

Do none of the major parties support PR or similar? Surely it would benefit Labour OR Tories - and they can calculate that - so whoever it benefits would campaign for it?

The argument has always been that you end up with coalition and weak government. Hmm haven't we just had coalition and look to be getting another?
From a democratic perspective it makes it almost impossible for any party to break the stranglehold of Con/Lab. For example people could see UKIP get within 15% of the top two yet get hardly any seats, those voting for them will probably sooner or later think what is the point. This leads to more undemocratic decision making as the big two know it doesn't really matter that much what the people want (66% have not voted for them anyway). The top 2 can carry on having their policies shaped by powerful lobby groups as they do now.

[d000hg]

Why would you necessarily end up with coalitions? Although for that matter if we went to PR, would a majority government need to be how it works?

[NickyBoy]

FPTP works fine when people take the long view and understand the pressure their votes apply, even when their party doesn't win.

Just look how the successes UKIP have had has resulted in a swing towards their policies by the Tories. Many people who voted for UKIP are now starting to get what they want without UKIP having any stake in the government. If UKIP do well in the upcoming election then you can be damn sure the bigger parties are going to try to absorb even more of their policies.

Your party doesn't need to win for you personally to win an election. There is no such thing as a wasted vote.

Vote for who you support. 'Tactical voting' is a cancer in the system that hides the opinions of the short-sighted fools that engage in it.