UK General Election 2015 "p.g. 12 DOOM!"

[Willsy]

I don't think you should trust online quizzes as a source for your vote. Opinions on various topics are subjective and can very well vary between each person. I don't expect an automated system to be able to understand the full context behind an opinion. For example, you might feel a certain way about something that on the surface shares similarities with another party's doctrine, but is actually a bit more complex than that (if you get what I am talking about).

[Blue Blood]

Are these things really that useful to follow? I dunno if I should follow this completely and vote Labour or not.

Will just put it very well. Superficially it would seem that I agree with a lot of what UKIP says. I just took the quiz and they came out second with 68% (after first eliminating them from the results altogether). In reality though, I despise them. Their motives are totally different to mine and they have far more policies and ethics not touched upon by that quiz. Its misleading if you're not particularly informed.

[Salamander]

Well, on balance, the left-wing parties are generally higher in your results, but then you have the Conservatives up near the top as well so it's not all that clear-cut.  Those quiz results actually look suspiciously evenly-matched, so I'm not sure how good a quiz it can really have been - the Conservatives and the Greens probably shouldn't be only 1% apart in how much you agree with them...  Quizzes aren't very good at reflecting subtleties, and what I get from those results is that you probably agree selectively with bits of most parties' policies, but that doesn't necessarily reflect the bigger picture of what that particular party's real focus is and how earnest their election promises are.  A lot of them claim to have very similar interests anyway, but the reality of how they'd go about dealing with those interests and which they'd prioritise will be very individual.

 

You're probably going to have to do the boring hard work and read through some party manifestos, look at party leaders' statements - but perhaps the most important thing is to find the last general election's results for your constituency, see if you can find any projected results for your constituency, and plan from there.  For instance, if Labour were a distant third or fourth in your constituency and it looks likely to be a close battle between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats instead, there wouldn't be a great deal of point in voting for Labour unless you had some evidence that they were surging in popularity and had a real possibility of winning, or unless you really loathed everyone ahead of them.  The reality of our electoral system is that a great deal of votes quite simply don't matter and have no effect, so you can either cast a vote that you think will matter even if it's not for the party that you agree with most, or vote with your conscience and resign yourself to the fact that it probably won't affect anything.  Or boycott the whole system, but that tends to be taken the wrong way.

[Badnik Mechanic]

So comedian Russel Brand interviewed Ed Milliband...

 

David Cameron called this interview a complete waste of time.

 

I for one think it's a really good interview, especially his comments about how change from politics works. Regardless as to who you're voting for, you should really give it a watch.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZm9_uKtyo

[Badnik Mechanic]

UKIP has asked police to investigate the satirical news show 'Have I got News For You' 

 

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-04-29/ukip-asks-police-to-investigate-the-bbc-over-have-i-got-news-for-you/?

 

They believe they have ruined Farage chances in the election, when really Farage needs no help in doing that.

[Biafra Republic]

So comedian Russel Brand interviewed Ed Milliband...

 

David Cameron called this interview a complete waste of time.

 

I for one think it's a really good interview, especially his comments about how change from politics works. Regardless as to who you're voting for, you should really give it a watch.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZm9_uKtyo

Apparently Brand has now reversed his don't vote stance and is giving an endorsement to Labour in England* and Wales, and telling Scottish voters that they do not need another Englishman telling them how to vote.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/04/russell-brand-changes-mind-about-voting-and-urges-support-for-labour

* Except in Brighton Pavilion, there vote Green and keep Caroline Lucas.

[Tani Coyote]

UKIP has asked police to investigate the satirical news show 'Have I got News For You' 

 

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-04-29/ukip-asks-police-to-investigate-the-bbc-over-have-i-got-news-for-you/?

 

They believe they have ruined Farage chances in the election, when really Farage needs no help in doing that.

A remark that could POSSIBLY be insulting is made on a satire show that satirizes all politicians.

These guys need to learn that part of being a liberal democracy is you're going to take criticism. A lot of it, not always founded.

...they can call when their candidate for PM is being accused of being born outside the country or something.

[Mogtaki]

Saw Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP candidate for my area on Saturday. Loads of people had gathered in a massive crowd and were all happy and smiling with even the police acting really pleasant towards the people with their flags and stuff. People were happily moving to give others room all while a springer spaniel wandered through the crowd with its owner carrying an SNP bag in its mouth while bearing flags on its back. It was rather adorable.

 

Stood with a neighbour who had brought her long-haired chihuahua puppy who had a little SNP bandana on. Everybody wanted to take photos of the puppy or pet her. When Nicola arrived at the top of the stairs leading down to the square she was with the SNP candidate. She spent an hour going around everyone and taking selfies while answering questions people had, but it was a shame when she got moved on down away from the chihuahua as she tried to reach out to pet her; however, she did tell us quickly to walk down with her to the end before the road. She finally got to give the puppy a pet and the SNP candidate even held the dog. It was rather pleasant and both were very nice. Nicola is really pretty close up too, if I might add. They wouldn't let her hold the puppy because she was going to Fortrose and had been told otherwise (although the candidate didn't care, he loved dogs too much he said).

 

It was a really good day and both were super-pleasant, but the funniest part of the day was the Tory recruiters standing squashed at the edge of the crowd and Danny Alexander at the far end of the street thinking it was a good idea to come on a scheduled event. Nobody went near his booth because he was on the other end of the street with all his yellow shirt people.

 

I don't know what the Westminster guys are doing but I don't see any of them coming anywhere near my city in this tour of theirs bar maybe Nick Clegg who is apparently doing a 1000 mile journey. I haven't seen any of the other candidates in the area or heard about them other than the Christian Party. I don't know what they're thinking, but maybe it's doubt that's driving them away.

[Badnik Mechanic]

Labour did actually go to Glasgow the other day... then some angry people turned up.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/04/scottish-independence-activists-ambush-labour-rally-glasgow

 

As for the other parties, Cameron isn't gonna go, simply due to what he and all his party have been saying about people from Scotland and frankly it's disgusting, I'm not entirely sure if people are falling for the conservatives bullshit right now, but if they are they're idiots.

 

Clegg may go up but frankly nobody is taking anything he says seriously.

[Mogtaki]

The Scottish Labour is a joke. I don't count them as Labour themselves and I don't think many Scots do anymore.

 

You know what's worse about those things Cameron has been saying? The Sun have been supporting them and laughing with him but are too cowardly to print them in Scotland, changing headlines and articles for their Scottish Sun.

 

It's just vile and I don't know how so many people can support him. And they wonder why Scotland is pissed off.

 

Nobody takes Clegg seriously since he went back on his tuition fee policy. Utter scum that he was with that, only the old folk can trust him.

 

Just a side thing but something people have noticed, there is no 'no' option on the Labour website for their online poll:

[Salamander]

Clegg may go up but frankly nobody is taking anything he says seriously.

 

Fingers crossed that Clegg gets the boot tomorrow, but I'm hearing that he might survive through Tory tactical voting.

[Willsy]

If I feel have the option to vote this year, I think I would probably go with Labour. Out of all parties, I think they would be the ones ones to fuck up the least. The Conservatives' idea of austerity has become an issue rather than a solution (cutting down our defences even further when we barely have anything would be suicide given the tensions between NATO and Russia), and it doesn't really feel like they are doing much in terms of progression. I'm not terribly sure about the Lib Dems and the Greens either, Scottish National Party want to ditch Trident (same issue as the Tories) and they are really just focused on Scotland (it is called the SNP for a reason), and UKIP.....well, as a gay person, voting UKIP would be equivalent to shooting myself in the foot repeatedly until I bleed out.

All I can say is, just don't fuck it up Labour and you will get my vote next general electio. The UK needs a solid party and I can see the makings of one in Labour, but I need a better idea of how they will manage things.

[Mogtaki]

Yeah there's a reason why the SNP are focused on Scotland. Good thing there's no option to vote SNP in England and Wales, I suppose.

 

Your choices in England and Wales are just really kind of...pants, but at least they can't be worse than Scottish Labour which is basically a bank branch at this point.

[Willsy]

It's a shame that right now it's more or less a matter of picking your poison. I am not 100% agreed with Labour at all, but they seem like my best bet out of all of them.

[Mogtaki]

Can I just ask what the bloody hell is wrong with The Sun in England?

 

 

I mean really, they're treating England like utter morons.

 

Although that little shoulder-Nicola.

[Stacy]

Sadly people will buy it Wil348.

 

*Looks at Sun Headline puts "They Live" Shades sees "VOTE CONSERVATIVE!".*

 

*Takes off shades.*

 

*Sighs.*   

[JezMM]

Might've been mentioned already, but if you were planning to vote Labour or Green, consider checking out this site:

 

http://voteswap.org

 

 

The goal is labour and green supporters joining forces to make sure there's less chance of conservatives getting seats.  If you plan to vote labour, and live in an area where labour are more likely to be ensured a seat, you can pledge to vote green instead to double the effort against the conservatives.  Since the two parties have many similar policies and are likely to ally themselves if they get power.  It does rely on an honour system though, of course.

 

 

I dunno how Vote Match works but I used this site to check where I alligned: https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/

 

It literally lists the party's actual policies on each subject and lets you narrow down which ones appeal to you most.  Unsurprisingly, I got 60% Green, 20% Labour, and interestingly, 10% Lib Dems and 10% UKIP.  UKIP managed to sneak in there on the "Democracy" topic, since their want for alternative vote rather than first past the post is something I agree with - being a small party like the greens, I know why, lol.

 

 

I'm gonna trust in the logic behind voteswap though and vote labour since they have a chance of winning in my area and Green don't.

 

 

Thanks to Mollfie for introducing me to both these sites though, I am slightly dumb with politics stuff lol.

[Gabz Girl]

Me and my boyfriend can't take part in General Elections due to our nationalities, but if we could vote we'd go for Labour I guess. Tories suck, UKIP SUCKS, Lib Dems are traitors and Green etc. are just minor parties who probably wouldn't make a big impact anyway. So yeah, Labour it is.

 

Although I'm still not sure about Ed Miliband being PM. Just seems odd. =P

[ProfessorZolo]

I've always voted Labour in the past, but I must confess it was not really an informed decision.

I've been trying to take an interest, but everyone just seems to be the same person with a different tie. Regardless, I tried that second link that Jez posted and got a three way split between Conservatives, Green and UKIP.

I'm now concerned I may be a closet racist. I guess I could try going Green, but...? No way in hell do I want UKIP to get in.

[Doctor MK]

Well my fellow Brits, the day has finally arrived.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdhoDrSv7Q8

 

Good luck to everyone voting today, and may the best least offensive party win!

[Badnik Mechanic]

Some photos of the day...

 

Larry the Downing Street Cat meets a floating Voter.

 

They don't agree with policies. 

 

 

 

Potential influential artwork covered up.

 

 

Smallest voting station?

 

 

Disgusting voting station. (it's a portable toilet).

 

 

Epic voting station.

[Gabz Girl]

Just came back from the polling station. Was surprised to find out I could vote for General Elections too, so guess this means half bloods like me can vote for both! 8D

[JezMM]

Went earlier this morning and a UKIP guy outside complimented Mollfie's purple hair which made us laugh like... we're not even UKIP supporters let alone that passionate about it.

 

 

Went with my plan to vote against the Conservatives via Labour as oppose to being true to my belief and throwing my vote away with Green.  Hopefully the Labour supporter I was paired with on voteswap honoured their end of the bargain for their region by voting Green.  =C

[Covskin]

5 minutes before I left the house to vote I decided to check how big Labour's majority was not just in 2010, but last year's European Elections too. I knew we had a safe Labour seat, but UKIP coming second in the Europeans here had spooked me. Thankfully, the lead was roughly 10,000. That was safe.

 

Then I noticed a familiar name listed as part of the No2EU party last year - Dave Nellist. Bugger. I was going to vote for him as the Trade Union & Socialist Coalition candidate. But to me, EU membership is vitally important.

 

I don't believe Green policies stand up to enough scrutiny, and I can't endorse the Lib Dems after the Tuition Fees u-turn. Shame really, excluding that and the mess they made of the Royal Mail sell-off I believe the Lib Dems have done as well as they could have in coalition.

 

So even though I dislike the MP himself, I voted Labour. No other options.

 

I did vote for Lib Dem in the local elections though, I don't think the grass roots should be punished for the leadership's mistakes.

[Brad]

Went out and voted for Green today without any guilt. Fuck yeah.

 

Guess the results will determine how drunk I'll need to be tonight