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[Chinner]

Second debate between Brown, Cameron and Clegg is starting today (22nd) on Sky News at 8pm. Can be watched online at www.skynews.com/leadersdebatelive

American pigs can watch it on C-SPAN.
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Important days are coming people, the election has been confirmed for the May 6th. Whoever wins this election will be placed into power at a very important time. Potentially they have the power to either fix this or mess shit up. So I present to you:

UK PoliGAF thread of the general election and whoever wins we lose.

Time Table:

April 6 Gordon Brown asks Queen to dissolve Parliament
April 7-9 Parliamentary "washup", passing remaining bills
April 12 Parliament dissolved, MPs lose their jobs
April 12/13/14 Parties launch their manifesto
April 12/13 Anti-nuclear summit in Washington - will Gordon go?
April 15 ITV Leaders debate in north west
April 20 Nominations close, last day to register to vote or request postal vote
April 22 Sky Leaders debate in the south west
April 23 Office of National Statistics release Q1 growth stats
April 29 BBC Leaders debate in the Midlands
May 6 General election polls open 7am-10pm

What are the issues?
What will at the top of the agenda will be the recovery to the recession. This is on the mind of politicians and public in general. Labour and Lib Dems want to cut later, as opposed to the Tories who want to cut now. Putting aside the time frame, they had all admitted that they're going to cut deeper than what Thatcher did. Next popular issue will probably be protecting the front line services and protecting jobs. Goes hand in hand with the recession really, and all three parties have expressed that they'll look after the services, however how they'll protect and create jobs will differ in approach. The last thing that will be fought over will be electoral reform. Both Labour (although they said this 13 years ago) and Lib Dems have stated that they'll reform the voting system and House of Lords, although the Tories have expressed no interest of doing so.

Who can I vote for?

New Labour: Currently in power, with Gordon Brown as the acting leader and Prime Minister. Stands for the people (apparently). Concentrating on protecting the front-line services now to help the recovery and with the aim of halving the deficit in four years.
Labour Manifesto

Conservative (also known as the Tories): Main opposing party to Labour and is led by David Cameron. Currently leading in the polls. Right wing. Wanting to cut the deficit now and push the UK forward by embracing business and banking.
Conservative Manifesto

Liberal Democrats:Led by Nick Clegg. Alternative choice and liberal in social policies. Protect front line services but have established plans for cuts. Want to reform the voting system and lords to make them fair, split up the banks and return British rights.
Lib Dem http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8619630.stmManifesto

Scottish National Party(SNP): Concentrating mostly on getting Scottish independence. They oppose Trident, the privatisation the Royal Mail, and saving jobs in the Bank of Scotland. Wanting to get 20 seats to be able to influence a hung parliament.

Plaid Cymru: Same kind of deal as the SNP. Is now working with the SNP in Westminister as they have similar goals.

Who can I vote for if I want to waste my vote?

United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP): Led by Nigel Farage. Wants to save Britain from the super-duper evil that is Europe!
British National Party (BNP): Led by Nick Griffin (before he's killed off). Wants to save Britain from the super-duper evil that is minorities.
The Christian Party: Led by some crazy guy: The queef of political parties.

I don't know who to vote for! Help!
Vote for Policies
Telegraph - Vote Match: General Election 2010

What is a hung parliament?
The BBC gives a good explanation. Basically no party has a significant majority in seats, and because of this neither group will be able to pass laws because there will be equal resistance. What this does is that it forces parties to work together making coalition governments, which means if there is a hung parliament the Lib Dems will be given allot of power.

Election news:
BBC Election 2010
Guardian - General election 2010
The Daily Telegraph - General Election 2010 latest: live
The Times - Election'10

Sources of news: BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Times, Daily Hail, The Sun, Daily Mirror, The Financial Times.
Blogs & Comment:Liberal Conspiracy, Guy Fawkes, Tabloid Watch, Enemies of Reason, Mail Watch, Charlie Brooker.
------

I know this thread is a lttile devoid of information and personaility but will edit that later on when I can actually think.

Remebering our roots

 

[Omikaru]

You forgot Plaid Cymru, who run Wales in a coalition with Labour. They're teaming up with the SNP in Westminster as they have common goals.

Also, Nigel Farage does't lead UKIP anymore (I think it's Lord Pearson); he left the post to concentrate on taking the Buckinghamshire (I think) seat from the Speaker, John Bercow.

Edit: Ah, maybe Nigel Farage is the right man to list there, as he'll be leading UKIP in Westminster if he ousts the Speaker (very unlikely).

 

[industrian]

Also the Northern Ireland parties - for what they're worth.

Also: Alex Salmond will not be the SNP leader in Westminster.

 

[killer_clank]

Yay, new home.

 

[iapetus]

Your link for the Daily Mail is wrong.

 

[Meadows]

Reppin

 

[Veidt]

Your link for the Daily Mail is wrong.

Oh wow, such a great great song. So many things give cancer!

 

[Xavien]

Weird that BBC is last on the debate timetable, that one should have the most influence of all and its only a week before the Election...

actually scratch that the BBC debate will be by far the most important, it'll be the one fresh in everyone's minds when they vote for whoever (it will be very interesting to watch).

Here's hoping to a Hung Parliament and some power to the Lib Dems for a change.

Yes, they do.

Damn, that is amazing. Sadly i know some staunch Tory friends who follow the daily fail like its gospel... sorta sad.

 

[iapetus]

Oh wow, such a great great song. So many things give cancer!

Yes, they do.

 

[Veidt]

Yes, they do.

:lol

I just can't believe this is actually real right now.

Speaking of Daily Mail...
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but:

I'm applying for a job as a caseworker assistant for immigration advisory services.

They basically want to know if I'm registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). I can write down a yes or no, but am a bit intimidated as to whether this will mean I'll be less eligible. Since I'm not registered.

Any thoughts?

 

[painey]

I'm not sure who's more crazy on sky news.. the Lib dems for thinking they could possibly get in, or these clueless anti war protestors.

 

[micster]

April 29 BBC Leaders debate in the Midlands

Is this going to be a studio debate, a la Question Time? If so has it come out yet how to apply to be in the audience

 

[goomba]

Is UK military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq much of an election issue?

 

[JonnyBrad]

As much as i feel dirty i hope for a Tory win. I don't want the almighty mess of a hung parliament (which i feel may just lead us to another election in 6-7 months time) and i definitely don't want Gordon Brown back.

 

[industrian]

I'm applying to vote by proxy. I trust my dad enough to vote LD on my behalf.

 

[Withnail]

I'm hyped. I love general election time, particularly when they are as closely fought as this one promises to be.

I've got to say that at this point, despite some recent polling results indicating a hung parliament, I expect we will see a clear Conservative majority (e.g. >50). But you just never know what will happen, and the TV debates could blow it wide open.

It's going to be a riveting few weeks for politics junkies like myself.

 

[killer_clank]

Is UK military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq much of an election issue?

We're already out of Iraq, and Afghanistan is a bit of an issue, but it's mostly to do with equipment and stuff. No party is going to support pulling out, put it that way.

 

[JonnyBrad]

Is UK military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq much of an election issue?

Iraq was played out 5 years ago at the last election.

In terms of Afghanistan not the involvement - all parties seem to broadly support the operation (tho the lib dems waver slightly more on that) http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23814997-clegg-calls-for-afghan-judgment.do

However there are areas the opposition can tackle Labour. Mainly the funding of troops on things such as Snatch Land Rovers etc http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/10/david-cameron-gordon-brown-defence

Coming our against the war would be political suicide because all other sides would suggest you were not supporting the troops so it won't happen imo.

 

[Wes]

Is this going to be a studio debate, a la Question Time? If so has it come out yet how to apply to be in the audience

The TV Debates will be different to what we are accustomed to here in terms of politicians on the box.

There'll be an audience but they can't applaud or jeer. I think I remember hearing that as well as the questions from the moderator there will be pre-selected questions coming from the audience but I may be wrong. I think it's all being run by independent pollsters.

There's about a zillion rules they have to adhere to because this is all new and no one wants to get screwed over by them. Although technically Labours and the Tories already have because Clegg is going to be seen as on equal footing as them.

THURSDAY, 15 APRIL - TV DEBATE

ITV hosts the first of three 90 minute debates, from 8.30pm to 10pm, with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The theme will be domestic affairs, although as with the other two debates it will broaden out into a general discussion with questions from viewers. Alistair Stewart is in the chair and the venue will be in the North West of England.

THURSDAY, 22 APRIL - TV DEBATE

Sky's turn to host the prime ministerial debate. Adam Boulton asks the questions between 8pm and 9.30pm on the Sky News channel and the main theme is foreign affairs. It will take place in the South-West of England.

THURSDAY, 29 APRIL - TV DEBATE

The BBC will host the final televised prime ministerial debate of the campaign. David Dimbleby will be in the chair, between 8.30pm and 10pm on BBC One, at a venue in the Midlands. The main theme will be the economy.

BBC really won the lottery on this one. Got the main issue, the economy, and the last slot.

 

[Withnail]

The TV Debates will be different to what we are accustomed to here in terms of politicians on the box.

There'll be an audience but they can't applaud or jeer. I think I remember hearing that as well as the questions from the moderator there will be pre-selected questions coming from the audience but I may be wrong. I think it's all being run by independent pollsters.

There's about a zillion rules they have to adhere to because this is all new and no one wants to get screwed over by them. Although technically Labours and the Tories already have because Clegg is going to be seen as on equal footing as them.

Yeah I believe the audience members are being hand picked by polling companies as an attempt at making the studio audience representative of the whole UK population.

 

[JonnyBrad]

There's about a zillion rules they have to adhere to because this is all new and no one wants to get screwed over by them. Although technically Labours and the Tories already have because Clegg is going to be seen as on equal footing as them.

IMO Cameron has the most to lose from them. He's a more natural public speaker and is expected to do well. Whereas Brown might be expected to do worse due to his less natural public speaking and cold personna so he has more to gain by doing well.

Its a massive + for Clegg as well as he as you say gets on an equal footing as the other two.

 

[Wes]

Oh yeah Labour are really trying to lower Brown's expectations in the debates to the point where even competing with Cameron would be seen as a victory even though, as you say, Brown is a quite competent debater.

If Brown and Cameron go at each other Clegg can just go "See? These two never change."
Or Clegg could join in on one of them attacking another guy.

Clegg really is the wildcard here. Lib Dems are going to be fun no matter what this year.

 

[J Tourettes]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/flash_map/html/map05.stm

Handy link to see how your ward voted last time out. Here's mine:

10.8% swing to Lib Dems last time but this is a Labour stronghold.

 

[Instigator]

You Brits are screwed with these candidates.

 

[goomba]

Coming our against the war would be political suicide because all other sides would suggest you were not supporting the troops so it won't happen imo.

:lol I wonder if Germans who questioned German occupation during WW2 were accused of "not supporting the troops! "

Someone told me the BNP were against international military intervention ?

 

[NekoFever]

Coming our against the war would be political suicide because all other sides would suggest you were not supporting the troops so it won't happen imo.

I don't think so, because politicians and people here seem able to separate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the military itself. This isn't America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/flash_map/html/map05.stm

Handy link to see how your ward voted last time out.

A Tory win here is as good as a sure thing because it's Tory central - I used to work in Smiths and the Mail outsold every other paper by at least 3:1, so it's not even the reasonably literate Telegraph-reading ones - but I'm going to hope for Lib Dem gains. 45/31/19 Con/Lib/Lab here last time.

 

[Wes]

1350: Lord Mandelson says David Cameron "stands for very little". The Tory leader has "too much PR about him and too little PM", he adds.


Credit where it's due... that's pretty good.

 

[Meadows]

:lol I wonder if Germans who questioned German occupation during WW2 were accused of "not supporting the troops! "

Someone told me the BNP were against international military intervention ?

They're against international everything. They just want a nice, white Britain that puts it's hands over it's ears and goes LALALALA EVERYTHING IS JUST LIKE THE 50s LALALA

 

[Xavien]

1350: Lord Mandelson says David Cameron "stands for very little". The Tory leader has "too much PR about him and too little PM", he adds.


Credit where it's due... that's pretty good.

Yeah... but Mandelson represents everything that is wrong with UK Politics.

 

[iapetus]

1350: Lord Mandelson says David Cameron "stands for very little". The Tory leader has "too much PR about him and too little PM", he adds.


Credit where it's due... that's pretty good.

Wait.

1350: Lord Mandelson says David Cameron "stands for very little". The Tory leader has "too much PR about him and too little PM", he adds.

Irony sensors... overloading...

 

[sohois]

You left the Green Party out of the 'waste your vote' category. They're still leading on Voteforpolicies (which might also merit a link), so they seem as good as any party to waste a vote on.

Also, do we have any UKGaffers currently undecided on their voting preferences, or has everyone already made up their minds? It would be interesting to see if anyone has their opinion changed or decides who to vote for based on the forthcoming campaigns & debates.

 

[SmokyDave]

You Brits are screwed with these candidates.

:lol

...

 

[J Tourettes]

So...has anyone contacted their MP's re: the digital economy bill? If the tories tank it today I'd be pretty impressed.

 

[Meadows]

Me and my family were in the car the other day (me and my brother are LD, my parents are CON) and we decided to listen to PMQ on the radio. My parents really fell in love with LD policies and were impressed by Clegg's speech. They are considering changing from voting CON to LD - so that's a bit of positive anecdotal evidence...two more possible LD votes for Warrington North! :lol

 

[iapetus]

You left the Green Party out of the 'waste your vote' category. They're still leading on Voteforpolicies (which might also merit a link), so they seem as good as any party to waste a vote on.

Single-issue parties tend to do well on voteforpolicies type sites, as outside their issue they tend to go for populist policies that they couldn't actually deliver on or that make no real sense.

 

[Cindres]

You Brits are screwed with these candidates.

We know man, we know

 

[goomba]

They're against international everything. They just want a nice, white Britain that puts it's hands over it's ears and goes LALALALA EVERYTHING IS JUST LIKE THE 50s LALALA

Well the British were still an international empire then....

 

[gerg]

In the other PoliGAF thread I said that I would probably vote Lib Dem, but as I heard that this would be a wasted vote in Finchley that's likely to change to Labour.

 

[Enosh]

:lol

...

pff BNP voter :lol

 

[iapetus]

In the other PoliGAF thread I said that I would probably vote Lib Dem, but as I heard that this would be a wasted vote in Finchley that's likely to change to Labour.

Horrible attitude. By making that decision you're perpetuating the idea that a Lib Dem vote is wasted, and supporting the two-party system, because you're helping to hide any swing towards Lib Dem support, which will make others make the same decision as you in the next elections. Only voting for the Lib Dems will increase perceived support for them, making them more of a viable party for others to vote for in the future.

 

[J Tourettes]

In the other PoliGAF thread I said that I would probably vote Lib Dem, but as I heard that this would be a wasted vote in Finchley that's likely to change to Labour.

In the last election, Labour managed to hold the seat with a majority of 741 votes. I can see the Conservatives winning that this time.

 

[gerg]

Horrible attitude. By making that decision you're perpetuating the idea that a Lib Dem vote is wasted, and supporting the two-party system, because you're helping to hide any swing towards Lib Dem support, which will make others make the same decision as you in the next elections. Only voting for the Lib Dems will increase perceived support for them, making them more of a viable party for others to vote for in the future.

Perhaps.

But I'd rather not have the Conservatives in power than have the Liberal Democrats in power.

 

[Kowak]

I need to get a proxy to vote for me as I am moving to Korea end of April.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

Single-issue parties tend to do well on voteforpolicies type sites, as outside their issue they tend to go for populist policies that they couldn't actually deliver on or that make no real sense.

The SNP's leadership of the Scottish Parliament can attest to this.

They really deserve to be in the 'waste a vote' category. Hell, if this was just a Scottish Parliamentary Election they should still be in the 'waste a vote'.

 

[killer_clank]

This is an example of how crap Scottish Labour is - they're basically saying 'vote for us or the Tories get in. If you vote Lib Dem or SNP you're not voting for Labour and helping the Tories get into power'.

Labour's Leader in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Gray MSP said:

"The Tories will do massive damage to Scotland’s future generations.

"I don’t want to see a Tory age of austerity forced on the people of Scotland.

"Labour is offering an alternative choice - one that gives people the support they need at the time they need it most.

"This election is a two horse race between Labour and Tory.

"A vote for the SNP or Lib Dems will only help the Tories get in.

"Only a vote for Labour will stop the Tories dragging Scotland backwards."

http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/general-election-in-scotland-kicks-off

I literally cannot believe I'm reading that. What a joke of a party.

 

[Meadows]

Well the British were still an international empire then....

What I mean is they want the UK to be like the TV show Born and Bred.

Also, you seem a little... off aren't you the super anti-authority guy that likes the BNP or something. Don't mean to insult you, I can't look at your post history to check.

 

[Wes]

Perhaps.

But I'd rather not have the Conservatives in power than have the Liberal Democrats in power.

So your vote is always towards whoever has the best chance of ousting the person/party you dislike the most?

Not trying to be sarcastic, just hadn't really considered a vote being used in such a way. I'm too idealistic

 

[industrian]

I need to get a proxy to vote for me as I am moving to Korea end of April.

To anyone else who's interested:

https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad/voting_by_proxy.aspx

 

[gerg]

So your vote is always towards whoever has the best chance of ousting the person/party you dislike the most?

Not trying to be sarcastic, just hadn't really considered a vote being used in such a way. I'm too idealistic

This will be my first year voting, so there isn't much of an "always" in the matter. : P

TBH, as I said in the other thread, my knowledge of UK politics is very little, and afaic all the (main) parties seem the same anyway. I read the Lib Dem manifesto, agreed with it, but when I found out that Finchley was a very marginal constituency I decided to use my vote more tactically.

 

[Dark Machine]

Remember UKGAF! You MUST vote LABSERVATIVE! For more of the same! Because there is NO OTHER CHOICE!