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 welshhoppo wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Also if the SNP fails to support genuinely left-wing policies put forward by a Labour govt they only damage themselves in the eyes of their own supporters.

Thus, the cycle of the minority party in a coalition getting the short end of the stick begins again.

The SNP won't make the mistakes the Lib Dems made. If there's one, and only one 'good' thing that Nick Clegg has done these 5 years, it's provide a blueprint of what not to do in a coalition if you're the junior partner.


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 Kilkrazy wrote:
More likely, if he purged all the nutters there would be a much smaller party at the end.

UKIP is essentially a party of pub bores, loudmouthed taxi drivers and generally speaking people with a vague discontent that has crystallized into suspicion of foreigners, etc.

Unfortunately, people like that make up a big chunk of society.

I don't mind loudmouth taxi drivers - it's the dodgy drivers that rig their meters that gets my goat!


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 angelofvengeance wrote:
Ugh can we just go and vote already? It feels like we're crawling slowly towards the 7th at this point lol.

I'm sick of it as well. Just let me vote!!!!


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England beware.

I went out to the shops earlier, and on my way back, I seen hordes of Tartan clad warriors marching towards the English border

It's a good thing England has Hadrians Wall then.


I just want tomorrow to hurry up, I know I'll be up all night watching the results, I have a dissertation to write anyway.

 obsidianaura wrote:

No one really wants the SNP in government, it was the right thing to do.

You mean aside from all the people who vote(d) SNP?

 welshhoppo wrote:

Thus, the cycle of the minority party in a coalition getting the short end of the stick begins again.

Which is why the SNP ruled out a coalition long before Labour did.

David Cameron was on the Today program this morning and all he could do was give non commital answers (to questions such as where the Torys plan to make £12b 'savings' from the welfare budget or exactly when does a minority Tory government become more legitimate than a Labour one) while repeat the same tired old sound bites that have been his staple for the last 5 years(my favourite was calling the global financial crash a 'Labour recession'). Virtually anyone would make a better prime minister than him, even red (lol) Ed.

To be honest I no longer care, which ever pack of liars finally manage to 'win' tommorow its unlikely to make the slightest difference given how centrist UK politics have become.

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

David Cameron was in government for the last five years and all he could do was give non commital answers while repeat the same tired old sound bites that have been his staple for the last 5 years. Virtually anyone would make a better prime minister than him, even red (lol) Ed.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

It's polling day at last, Get out there and vote.
The next 24 hours are going to be very interesting...

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:

No one really wants the SNP in government, it was the right thing to do.

You mean aside from all the people who vote(d) SNP?

No one of consequence

Why should 2-4% of the population get so much sway eh?

 obsidianaura wrote:

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:

No one really wants the SNP in government, it was the right thing to do.

You mean aside from all the people who vote(d) SNP?

No one of consequence

Why should 2-4% of the population get so much sway eh?

Because of our rubbish FPTP system - usually it's the small number of swing voters in a small number of 'key' seats that get the influence. Not quite sure why we accept that it's a good idea to put all the power in the hands of people that CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR FETHING MINDS, but there you go.

I'd like to see how the UK voted divided by person rather than region.

Is there such data around?


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Found one.

If the Conservatives don't like the SNP winning seats, maybe they should propose policies that would be more popular with the voters.

Back on topic I voted this morning for town council, district council and parliamentary seats. I voted a straight anti-Tory ticket, which meant I had to spread my votes around a bit. It probably won't do any good except for the town council election.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
If the Conservatives don't like the SNP winning seats, maybe they should propose policies that would be more popular with the voters.

Back on topic I voted this morning for town council, district council and parliamentary seats. I voted a straight anti-Tory ticket, which meant I had to spread my votes around a bit. It probably won't do any good except for the town council election.

Voted as well - SNP.

Thank God it's all over. Another week of this and I'd be reaching for a revolver

Thing is, nothing happens until 3am, so now we've got to play the waiting game

Please God, let Clegg receive a swift boot to the rear

If there's one thing I really want, it's Nick Clegg being removed from power. Cannot fathom another five years with him 'keeping the Tories in check'

(and the Green Party to get an overwhelming majority, but FPTP will never give it to them so I'm sorta stuck with voting Labour)

Ahh, the joys of the election

Vote Blue, Vote Roboute Guilliman

Shall vote after work, going Lib Dem.

We will see soon enough if the polls were accurate or its been like Kinnock's election.

I assuming most people reading this already have or intend to, but just in case:

GO AND VOTE

Even if you abstain, spoil the ballot or wish a pox on all their houses, go and take part and be heard if you are able! We are lucky to live in a nation where everyone can make their choice freely, and have a say in who runs our country, so name sure you do! There's no such thing as a worthless vote!

 obsidianaura wrote:
I'd like to see how the UK voted divided by person rather than region.

Is there such data around?


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Found one.

To me, more than anything that shows how the Lib Dems get shafted by First Past The Post.

Compared to Labour's numbers, they get 79% of the votes but only 22% of the seats.

I heard recently that something like 83% of the votes for the Lib Dems in the last election effectively didn't count. Regardless of whether you support them or not, that hardly seems fair.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Ed, being Ed, has shoot himself in the foot (again) by refusing to work with the SNP. The one party could help him evict Cameron...

Surely that's just an extension of the "vote SNP, get Tory" rhetoric? He wants Labour votes, so he has to put people off voting SNP by scaring them with the tories.

If he'd said he'd work with the SNP, he'd lose a lot of Labour voters to SNP.


I suspect after the votes are in, he'll about turn on that one so quickly you'll hear a sonic boom.

Crispy78 wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
I'd like to see how the UK voted divided by person rather than region.

Is there such data around?


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Found one.

To me, more than anything that shows how the Lib Dems get shafted by First Past The Post.

Compared to Labour's numbers, they get 79% of the votes but only 22% of the seats.

I heard recently that something like 83% of the votes for the Lib Dems in the last election effectively didn't count. Regardless of whether you support them or not, that hardly seems fair.

Yep I agree, proportional representation is the way forward.

But then SNP would get no seats. I think they need their own separate government.

 Frozocrone wrote:
If there's one thing I really want, it's Nick Clegg being removed from power. Cannot fathom another five years with him 'keeping the Tories in check'

(and the Green Party to get an overwhelming majority, but FPTP will never give it to them so I'm sorta stuck with voting Labour)

Ahh, the joys of the election

I really hate this tactical voting nonsense you get with FPTP. I really wish they'd implement a vote for and a vote against, then you're being more honest (i.e. for: Green, against: Tory), instead of wanting to vote green but voting labour because you really don't want the tories.

I usually vote but having just gotten round to looking at my voting card I find that my Village was grouped in with a town about 40 minutes away (a fair distance in the UK).

That constituency has 68k people and the sitting MP has a 19k majority and has done for 20 years. I have no idea about this chap nor have any inclination to travel to the town in question which is out in the sticks. I have however meet the MP for the nearest big Town (2 minutes away) on a number of occasions who actually has an effect on my life.

I'm five years late, but FFS who made this wonky boundary up? They want a good kick up the arse!

I like to use my vote but I find the above makes it a bit of a dead rubber for me.

I'll trot along tonight and see where my (lack of) conscience takes me.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
[...I went out to the shops earlier, and on my way back, I seen hordes of Tartan clad warriors marching towards the English border

Seems pointless, you have better benefits North of the Border. Bazinga!

 notprop wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
[...I went out to the shops earlier, and on my way back, I seen hordes of Tartan clad warriors marching towards the English border

Seems pointless, you have better benefits North of the Border. Bazinga!

Yeah plus if they get spotted marching they'll lose the incapacity benefit they're on

Crispy78 wrote:

 obsidianaura wrote:
I'd like to see how the UK voted divided by person rather than region.

Is there such data around?


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Found one.

To me, more than anything that shows how the Lib Dems get shafted by First Past The Post.

Compared to Labour's numbers, they get 79% of the votes but only 22% of the seats.

I heard recently that something like 83% of the votes for the Lib Dems in the last election effectively didn't count. Regardless of whether you support them or not, that hardly seems fair.

Actually this time round FPTP will help lib dems. It will not be good for the greens.

Personally I would much rather FPTP than a proportional representation system where by you end up with no representation. I normally vote Lib Dem or independent and live in a very save tory seat, but I would much rather have someone represent my area, who was chosen by the people in the area, than an amorphous blob of MPs chosen by the party dependent on how many seats they get that time. If we got prop rep you would have little or no say in who actually represents you. But then I think we should stop this presidential nonsense that is taking over and get rid of political parties, or at least the party whip. Let MP's stand on their own and vote for the will of their constituents on every vote rather than the way their party tells them, even if that is against what the people they represent want.

Well. I'll stick my neck out and say that my vote is going blue.

Labour have had numerous chances with me but their rhetoric is pure garbage. Milliband has literally got himself a millstone round his neck what with his recently unveiled obelisk of meaningless promises.

There are too many posts for me to individually reply to, so I'll try and cover the main issues.

1) I don't want the Lib-Dems getting help, I want them out! Out! I would ask everybody to channel their negative energy towards Sheffield and one Mr Clegg.

2) I've been to the shops for some supplies for the long night - Red Bull and Doritos. I'd advise everybody to do the same

3) Paradigm is right. Go out and Vote. If you live in England or Wales, vote for anybody bar Lib Dems. Sorry Lib Dems, Clegg has seriously annoyed me these past 5 years

4) Was going to say something else, but this campaign has killed off a lot of brain cells. I'm starting to drool now

If anything, if you don't vote then you can't make any complaints about how the country is run so UK citizens, go and obtain your right to complain!


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Herzlos wrote:

 Frozocrone wrote:
If there's one thing I really want, it's Nick Clegg being removed from power. Cannot fathom another five years with him 'keeping the Tories in check'

(and the Green Party to get an overwhelming majority, but FPTP will never give it to them so I'm sorta stuck with voting Labour)

Ahh, the joys of the election

I really hate this tactical voting nonsense you get with FPTP. I really wish they'd implement a vote for and a vote against, then you're being more honest (i.e. for: Green, against: Tory), instead of wanting to vote green but voting labour because you really don't want the tories.

Yeah, I feel forced to do it. I was too young to vote in the last election but as a student with housing prospects the tories just don't have the policies I agree with. I was in support of the referendum regarding changing how the voting system works (I believe it was called alternative voting, where you have 1 for the most ideal candidate, 2 for the second most ideal candidate and so on. Although it would have benefitted LibDems the most from what I gathered), despite being unable to have a say in it.

In Japan they have a system in which every constituency elects a member by FPTP and there are also a significant number of seats that are allocated by PR. This satisfies both sides of the question.

Japan has various other issues with democratic representation so a mixed system is not the universal panacea.

Fairness aside, if as seems likely this election again results in a hung parliament, it will show that neither major party's manifesto answers the demands of the electorate. A voting alliance or formal coalition is effectively PR by another name, and perhaps we ought to formalise the situation with constitutional reform.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
In Japan they have a system in which every constituency elects a member by FPTP and there are also a significant number of seats that are allocated by PR. This satisfies both sides of the question.

Japan has various other issues with democratic representation so a mixed system is not the universal panacea.

Fairness aside, if as seems likely this election again results in a hung parliament, it will show that neither major party's manifesto answers the demands of the electorate. A voting alliance or formal coalition is effectively PR by another name, and perhaps we ought to formalise the situation with constitutional reform.

Good luck waiting for constitutional reform - Labour and the Lib Dems have been promising to scrap the Lords for decades.

One of Tony Bliar's early failed promises, of course.

I don't think it's fair to blame the Liberals. They got a referendum on PR and the people voted against it.

Tony Bliar...I like that xD

I prefer Tony Bleugh.


I voted blue, I regret nothing you hear!

Every time I put on the news, it's one man and his dog standing outside a polling station.

Roll on 3am.