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[Hixx]

Meanwhile the Sun chooses to lead with... a politics lecture by Simon Cowell. Oh dear.

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac175/varionpb/sun5may.jpg[ /IMG][/QUOTE]

Jesus wept.

 

[blazinglord]

I have only just noticed the top right hand corner - 'why your vote could save page 3'. :lol I am kind of tempted to read the said article to find out why.

 

[cultofweaver]

Personally, I think Clegg would be wise to demand a referendum on PR straight away rather than leave it for a year like Brown has suggested.

The sooner the better we get a worthwhile democratic system in place. I have been madly obsessed with Politics since I was about 15 and couldn't wait for my first chance to vote. I excitedly trotted down to the local Church Hall when I was 18 and stayed up all night to see the results.

However since I moved out of London to Chichester that excitement is gone. In a middle class provincial hellhole like this the tarmac in the roads might as well be painted blue. Your choice in elections here is Tory, or spoil your paper. Chichester has been Conservative since the fucking Whig Party were elected in 1830 for fuck sake, bar one year of Liberal representation in the '20s when politics was all fucked up.

I'll still stay up watching the results come in, hopefully to see fat Tory pricks crying into the hustings as they fail to take the seats they were so sure of, but I won't be bothering to wait around for my own constituency.

 

[Ashes]

Democracy works in funny ways. :/

 

[Gary Whitta]

LOL at Simon Cowell being the most important voice in the eyes of the country's biggest-selling newspaper the day before a national election.

Also, apparently Britain's only hope is a computer-generated (or at least heavily Photoshopped) man.

I wonder what Richard Desmond's interest is, other than obvious Tory benefits for the super rich.

 

[Dark Machine]

Saw this, and thought of you GAF.

 

[Wes]

LOL at Simon Cowell being the most important voice in the eyes of The Sun the day before a national election.

First Leader Debate 9.4m
Britain's Got Talent 10.6m

 

[Ashes]

@Gary: To get Labour out presumably.
@wes: One is a popular tv show, the other one is a political debate. Being popular doesn't mean being polilitically relevent. Although I'd guess being on the front page of a tabloid for that very reason means something.

 

[defel]

Imagine a world where every newspaper and media outlet was middle-of-the-road, timid, absent of passionate opinion or conviction and all stories attempted to be fair in their coverage. I love the BBC but often BBC News is so bland and boring I switch off. For what its worth, Im glad The Sun and The Mirror and every other paper can be as bias and polarized as they want.

 

[Wes]

Although I'd guess being on the front page of a tabloid for that very reason means something.

My point exactly. It's the Sun. Political relevancy is tailored to how they can sell papers rather than journalism.

 

[Gary Whitta]

Imagine a world where every newspaper and media outlet was middle-of-the-road, timid, absent of passionate opinion or conviction and all stories attempted to be fair in their coverage. I love the BBC but often BBC News is so bland and boring I switch off. For what its worth, Im glad The Sun and The Mirror and every other paper can be as bias and polarized as they want.

Okay sure, it's just a shame when that bias is dictated not by editorial integrity or genuine political conviction but by the self-serving owners of media conglomerates. The pro-Tory line you see in Murdoch's media outlets like The Sun, The Times and Sky News has nothing to do with what is best for Britain and everything to do with Murdoch's personal and corporate agendas.

 

[brain_stew]

Fuck it, I'm voting LD. Tactical voting undermines democracy, and even though this current system is stupid, I can't vote Plaid in my first ever general election.

The only way to bring about real democracy in this country and abolition this joke aof a system is to get the Tories as far away from number 10 as possible. Take one for the team, please.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Politics is beginning to tear my friends and various acquaintances apart. Not an hour ago I got mocked by people for being an "idealist" - because having ideals is both detrimental to society and the sign of a naive Lib Dem voter, I suppose - and that I was "just trying to be different".

In a separate incident, one of my friends got told she "basically didn't have an opinion" because she voted Lib Dem. Fuck living in a Conservative stronghold. Even the youth are brainwashed.

 

[killer_clank]

The Sun's headline today is just :lol .

 

[Mecha_Infantry]

Paper fronts have started coming out.

Yeeaaaah.

The thing about it, they cover it in another sheet, so essentially that's page two (I have it in my hands)

Does this mean Indy is pro-Libs? I haven't read the article just yet

 

[killer_clank]

The indy isn't really pro anyone per se, but it is centre left generally.

Has anyone here been thinking about possible Tory coalitions? It's pretty obvious why David Cameron was in Northern Ireland yesterday - he wants those unionist parties on his side and pronto.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Does this mean Indy is pro-Libs? I haven't read the article just yet

What it means is it's pro-democracy. Generally, they're somewhat sympathetic to the the Lib Dems. However, they're more supportive of causes than parties - meaning there's next to no political knob-fiddling like in other papers. If they take a side, I expect it'll be the Lib Dems.

 

[Xavien]

Politics is beginning to tear my friends and various acquaintances apart. Not an hour ago I got mocked by people for being an "idealist" - because having ideals is both detrimental to society and the sign of a naive Lib Dem voter, I suppose - and that I was "just trying to be different".

In a separate incident, one of my friends got told she "basically didn't have an opinion" because she voted Lib Dem. Fuck living in a Conservative stronghold. Even the youth are brainwashed.

Nothing like politics to cause an argument, a few of my older friends are very very strong tory supporters... me being a Lib Dem supporter is just unfathomable to them, i mean they just cannot understand who would support lib dems. It scares me that Politics can sorta bring out that type of ignorance even in close friends...

Jesus

 

[Walshicus]

Politics is beginning to tear my friends and various acquaintances apart. Not an hour ago I got mocked by people for being an "idealist" - because having ideals is both detrimental to society and the sign of a naive Lib Dem voter, I suppose - and that I was "just trying to be different".

In a separate incident, one of my friends got told she "basically didn't have an opinion" because she voted Lib Dem. Fuck living in a Conservative stronghold. Even the youth are brainwashed.

Just make sure you walk around town in a "Hunt Toffs not Foxes" T-Shirt.

 

[PumpkinPie]

It's getting exciting now, I finish work at 7am tomorrow morning so I'll be straight down the village hall to cast my vote

 

[killer_clank]

Tomorrow is gonna be crazy for me. Gotta wake up early, go and vote, get ready, then head to Glasgow to do some last preparation for an exam I have on Friday afternoon, then stay up all night to watch the results, probably studying at the same time.

I'm gonna need a fuck ton of energy drinks, but I have to stay up to watch the results, fuck exams (It's not all that important anyways).

Might be able to get some sleep on Friday morning, actually.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

Voting is absolutely pointless in the Conservative stronghold I live in (I actually saw a VOTE BNP flyer in someone's window). I'd vote for anyone that proposes an electoral reform.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Voting is absolutely pointless in the Conservative stronghold I live in (I actually saw a VOTE BNP flyer in someone's window). I'd vote for anyone that proposes an electoral reform.

Vote all you like, it won't count for a thing!

Muahahahahaha! Imma form a government on 35% of the vote, and there ain't shit you can do about it.

 

[Meadows]

The Tories lose 0.2% of their vote every time Cameron says the word Quango :lol . He sounds so Etonian when he says it.

 

[blazinglord]

Politics is beginning to tear my friends and various acquaintances apart. Not an hour ago I got mocked by people for being an "idealist" - because having ideals is both detrimental to society and the sign of a naive Lib Dem voter, I suppose - and that I was "just trying to be different".

In a separate incident, one of my friends got told she "basically didn't have an opinion" because she voted Lib Dem. Fuck living in a Conservative stronghold. Even the youth are brainwashed.

Personally I like to live by the old adage - never discuss politics, religion or money with friends. I do know quite a few Tories, including my girlfriend, but a lot of my friends are indeed LDem or Labour supporters. Although I am interested in politics, I do think that it's pointless to waste your energy getting all worked up about one or two votes going to a party you don't like. Your friends alone aren't going to swing the election, we are all part of a bigger picture so its ridiculous to have a little thing like politics tear friendships apart.

A lot of people don't seem to realise that there are loads of cross-party friendships, or at least mutual respect, at Westminster, a good example is dyed in wool socialist Diane Abbot and Conservative Michael Portillio. I think it's a shame that the art of civility is lost amongst the tribalist activists and supporters.

 

[Zenith]

Imagine a world where every newspaper and media outlet was middle-of-the-road, timid, absent of passionate opinion or conviction and all stories attempted to be fair in their coverage. I love the BBC but often BBC News is so bland and boring I switch off. For what its worth, Im glad The Sun and The Mirror and every other paper can be as bias and polarized as they want.

Yeah, who cares about papers peddling outright lies to millions of people when we run the risk of being bored! smh.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Ignorant, lazy, bad-at-math American here, can someone please tell me how many hours until polling opens? Thanks.

 

[Empty]

Ignorant, lazy, bad-at-math American here, can someone please tell me how many hours until polling opens? Thanks.

in just over 19 hours time.

 

[curls]

Yeah, who cares about papers peddling outright lies to millions of people when we run the risk of being bored! smh.

Which raises the question why are millions of people so easily spoon fed mis-information.

 

[SmokyDave]

in just over 19 hours time.

6pm tomorrow?

Do we know approximately when the result will be broadcast?

Which raises the question why are millions of people so easily spoon fed mis-information.

Because they're as thick as pig shit. Or because they seek out sources that validate pre-existing opinions. Or because they're thick as pig shit and seek out sources that validate their pre-existing opinions.

 

[Empty]

6pm tomorrow?

Do we know approximately when the result will be broadcast?

Polling opens at 7am, and closes at 10pm tomorrow. I think i have my maths right and that's in 19 hours.

Given how close this election is i imagine we won't see a result until mid-friday, though the first seats start calling just after midnight i think.

 

[JonathanEx]

I'm still torn of who to vote for... for as much as I like our Lib Dem, it's a Lab/Con seat that always matches the national government: I think I might go tactically, as much as I don't want to vote for Merron :/

 

[SmokyDave]

Polling opens at 7am, and closes at 10pm tomorrow. I think i have my maths right and that's in 19 hours.

Given how close this election is i imagine we won't see a result until mid-friday, though the first seats start calling just after midnight i think.

You do have your maths right, I have no idea where I pulled 6pm from.

 

[painey]

I'm going to vote Labour even though its fruitless in this Tory stronghold, but I still haven't made up my mind about my local election. The Independents actually have the best policies for a change and are local people who actually care but stand no chance of getting in, and Lib Dems 2nd.. but they want to stop our free local newspaper which I really enjoy.. hmmm..

 

[Cindres]

I'm still undecided. Will be making my mind up before i go to sleep tonight. May even leave the house early to vote as it's on my walking route to college.

It's Labour or Libs, i'm swinging to Labour but i really need to compare manifestos, i want to be able to give reasons when people ask why i voted for them.

Though i know i'm re-electing my current local, i believe he's done a good job.
And also, the local Independent Rep used "There" instead of "Their" on the leaflet they posted through my door, so she can fuck right off.

 

[sohois]

Going to vote conservative, as i think i declared on the first page of the original uk poligaf thread a few months ago. If you take even a passing interest in politics, i guess the whole electioneering season is rather pointless, since i highly doubt your mind would be changed if you already know all the information.

 

[Acheteedo]

Saw this, and thought of you GAF.

:lol

Quality.

 

[OMG Aero]

So what do I need to take when I go vote tomorrow? Just the polling card I got through the post?
Also if I got that card does that mean I am already registered to vote? I know I registered to vote a few years ago and I'm not sure if that still counts or not.

 

[NekoFever]

On the Simon Cowell thing, is this the same Simon Cowell who lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills?

Polling opens at 7am, and closes at 10pm tomorrow. I think i have my maths right and that's in 19 hours.

Given how close this election is i imagine we won't see a result until mid-friday, though the first seats start calling just after midnight i think.

First results are expected to be called at 11pm: http://election.pressassociation.com/Declaration_times/general_by_time.php

So what do I need to take when I go vote tomorrow? Just the polling card I got through the post?
Also if I got that card does that mean I am already registered to vote? I know I registered to vote a few years ago and I'm not sure if that still counts or not.

You don't even need the polling card. Just go to your designated polling station and give them either the card or your name and address.

And yes, if you got that you're definitely registered.

 

[painey]

You don't need to take anything, just turn up at your designated polling station and tell them your name and where you live. You can take the polling card, but they already have your info so it's not required.. hell, you could even vote for your neighbour instead if you wanted :lol

 

[killer_clank]

You don't need to take anything, just turn up at your designated polling station and tell them your name and where you live. You can take the polling card, but they already have your info so it's not required.. hell, you could even vote for your neighbour instead if you wanted :lol

It blows my mind that you could theoretically take someone elses vote.

 

[Wes]

Anyone else get the feeling these latest polls are just showing anything could happen?

Only thing I'm taking for granted at the moment is the the Conservatives will make large gains but will they end up with more seats than Labour? Will they end up with a majority? Anything could happen. The poll in the Metro today, when pumped into the seat calaculator, has Labour and the Tories on the exact same number of MPs.

 

[Lucius86]

Anyone else get the feeling these latest polls are just showing anything could happen?

Only thing I'm taking for granted at the moment is the the Conservatives will make large gains but will they end up with more seats than Labour? Will they end up with a majority? Anything could happen. The poll in the Metro today, when pumped into the seat calaculator, has Labour and the Tories on the exact same number of MPs.

I don't think anyone can predict what will happen, it's far too close to call now. These polls are becoming increasingly meaningless.

 

[Dark Machine]

Great article from the Indy today. Stephen Fry pointed me to it on Twitter.


Johann Hari: Welcome to Cameron land

And in this boarded-up youth club, in Debbie's panic, in the image of Jane and her bump on the floor of the park, I realise I am peering into the reality of David Cameron's "Big Society". The council here told people that if they took away services like this, there would be volunteers; if the state withered away, people would start to provide the services for each other. But nobody opened their home to Jane, or volunteered to feed Debbie, or started a new youth club on their own time and with their own money. The state retreated and the service collapsed. It's a rebranding trick. The Conservatives know that shutting down public services sounds cruel, while calling for volunteerism sounds kind – but the effect is exactly the same. It's as if Marie Antoinette called in Max Clifford, and he told her to stop saying "Let them eat cake" and start saying: "Let them form a workers' co-operative to distribute cake on a voluntary basis."

Remember when they told you the wealth would 'trickle down'...

 

[J Tourettes]

Great article from the Indy today. Stephen Fry pointed me to it on Twitter.


Johann Hari: Welcome to Cameron land



Remember when they told you the wealth would 'trickle down'...

Woohoo, free cake! Sign me up.

 

[SmokyDave]

Great article from the Indy today. Stephen Fry pointed me to it on Twitter.

Johann Hari: Welcome to Cameron land

Remember when they told you the wealth would 'trickle down'...

Why didn't I hear about Camerons Cake before I placed my vote?

Will I still get cake if they win and I didn't vote for them?

Spoiler

Good article, thanks for posting.

 

[jas0nuk]

Evening Standard declares for the Conservatives

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...n-the-prime-minister-that-london-now-needs.do

"We need a party and a leader with the steel to take the unpopular decisions that undoubtedly lie ahead — yet with the compassion to address the inequalities exposed recently in this paper's Dispossessed series on London's poor. The choice has become much clearer over the past four weeks: that is the value of election campaigns, democracy at its most frenetic. Party leaders have been tested to the limit, both in the TV debates and on the campaign trail."

"Even for loyal Labour voters, another five years of Mr Brown can hardly seem an appealing prospect. It is not simply that Mr Brown looks tired and careworn, the face of the past. The inevitable riposte to any of his promises is: why didn't you do it years ago? Labour has had 13 years to reform the economy: instead, as Chancellor, Mr Brown let the banks rip. He had years to repair the public finances. Instead, we now have the biggest peacetime deficit ever. On issues from immigration to schools to soldiers' kit to welfare reform, Mr Brown could have acted for real change years ago — but did not."

"Mr Cameron has grown in this campaign. If the point of British elections nowadays is largely to test the characters of the would-be premiers, Mr Cameron is the clear winner. Despite the challenge of Mr Clegg, he stuck with it and learned from his mistakes. Few could now doubt that he has the strength and clarity of vision to lead the country."

"Today, we believe that only the Conservatives can offer Britain — and London — the possibility of real change and firm leadership... The Conservatives are ready for power: they look like a government in waiting. They have a charismatic leader in David Cameron. He has proved himself under fire in this campaign. And he now emphatically deserves a chance to succeed where Labour has failed."

 

[Withnail]

I live in a Tory stronghold and will be voting Labour tomorrow. In general I agree with Labour policies and have voted for them in the past (though that's not to say that some of their decisions while in office haven't disappointed me), the local Labour candidate is the only one that has been to my house, and while I think Cameron is an intelligent and skilful politician I do not trust him and I do not trust his party, especially on the economy.

I think the result is too close to call, particularly since I have a feeling the Labour vote is strengthening in the final days of the campaign. My expectation is that we will have Conservatives as the largest party but short of an overall majority. But ideally I would like there to be a Lib-Lab coalition and reform of the voting system.

 

[Empty]

Great article from the Indy today. Stephen Fry pointed me to it on Twitter.


Johann Hari: Welcome to Cameron land



Remember when they told you the wealth would 'trickle down'...

Yeah, pretty harrowing stuff, especially given that i know most of the places he describes from living in near that area. One of my best friends' dad is actually a tory councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham, i'm debating whether to send him this article, might be a bit too douchey though, despite how angry that article makes me feel.

 

[Chinner]

Great article from the Indy today. Stephen Fry pointed me to it on Twitter.


Johann Hari: Welcome to Cameron land



Remember when they told you the wealth would 'trickle down'...

great article, but a depressing read for what's to come.