The General Election - Who Are You Voting For?

[davieG]

Yes but 71% didn't want Labour in control and 77% didn't want the Liberals. Under a PR system the tories would still have been the largest party so it's still unfair.

I don't get your point.

They wont get Labour or Liberals in control, they parties will have to talk to each other and compromise, is that so hard? The ones that are capable of doing that will form an alliance and will then be the majority be that Con-Lib or Lab-Lib that's what people have voted for and it would be the same under PR.

[Peter File]

I admire Clegg for honouring his earlier commitment to let the biggest party have first chance at forming a government. After hearing the exit poll and a few interviews last night, I was surprised that the Lib/Lab coalition wasn't already formed by the time I'd woke up! Especially as Mandy and Clegg are quite close too.

You have to ask what the Lib Dem's end game is though? They were down 20 seats on what they expected. They were leading opinion polls last week but have lost seats from the last election. They are at the top of their game and are still one bad election from political abyss. They have the chance to get a referendum on PR now, if they don't get it, will they ever amount to anything?

I don't know what they can really gain from being in power with the Conservatives. They have a few areas of policy overlap but nothing that significant, nothing that will win votes at the next election.

I'm still fancying a Labour/Lib Dem/SDLP coalition.

[MC Prussian]

It'd be interesting to see what voter groups within the British population went for Labour, Lib Dems and Tory respectively.

With the average age increasing, I guess loads of elderly people probably went for David "Ideal Stepson" Cameron.

And them female first-voters with a knack for FILFS could not help but to turn left.

Understandably, there wasn't a lot else left to put the ballot in for.

Or maybe the Greek Tragedy came them Conservatives to the rescue.

Bunch of mindless, freaked-out chickens, these Labour and Tory voters?? Discuss.

Also - why have so many people still troubles filling out a simple piece of paper? Again, there was a fair amount of invalid or empty votes.

[Shrenchel]

I'm still fancying a Labour/Lib Dem/SDLP coalition.

Still wouldnt have 326 seats. Not sure any government which is 3 parties cobbled together and then can still get voted down in anything it proposes is going to survive very long.

[Peter File]

Still wouldnt have 326 seats. Not sure any government which is 3 parties cobbled together and then can still get voted down in anything it proposes is going to survive very long.

Well when you take the speaker and Sinn Fein out of the equation, then a majority would be 323. The parties would get 318, still short admittedly but it would be just about workable.

The main reason would be because I would question the ability for opposition to block legislation. The SNP and Plaid Cymru have more in common with Labour. Caroline Lucas isn't going to side with the Tories, and then I always think that the DUP will sell their votes to the highest bidder. I think the Lab/Lib pact would get through the important bits of policy.

Although if I were a Labour big wig, I would just sit back and let the Tories make the tough decisions for the next few years in a minority government. Cameron takes all the flack and won't be able to get much through, then you'd fancy a Labour bounce in 18 months time for the next election.

[Webbo]

I don't get your point.

They wont get Labour or Liberals in control, they parties will have to talk to each other and compromise, is that so hard? The ones that are capable of doing that will form an alliance and will then be the majority be that Con-Lib or Lab-Lib that's what people have voted for and it would be the same under PR.

When I said unfair I wasn't complaining just pointing out the PR could be just as unfair as any other system. When people vote they put 1 cross on a piece of paper for the party they want to win. Nobody votes for 40% tory and 20% liberal etc so we end up with the result that nobody asked for.

Also what if a policy the Libs demand as part of their co-operation is an absolute disaster? Who takes the blame? Why should a third party as part of an unpopular coalition be voted out of office and then become part of the next coalition with another party?

I know I'm rambling on a bit .

[davieG]

When I said unfair I wasn't complaining just pointing out the PR could be just as unfair as any other system. When people vote they put 1 cross on a piece of paper for the party they want to win. Nobody votes for 40% tory and 20% liberal etc so we end up with the result that nobody asked for.

Also what if a policy the Libs demand as part of their co-operation is an absolute disaster? Who takes the blame? Why should a third party as part of an unpopular coalition be voted out of office and then become part of the next coalition with another party?

I know I'm rambling on a bit .

None of that is as unfair as nearly 7 million voters having only 57 MPs representing their views whilst just over 8.5 million get 258 MPs and 10.75 get 306. It's all fundamentally undemocratic. So many millions of those people putting their cross on a piece of paper are then ignored even though they are actually the majority.

With some form of PR we end up with exactly what we ask for it's just not simple and requires some adult conversations to take place.

[FoxyPV]

PR is far more representative as it allows your vote to transfer to your next preferred candidate (if you have one) so if you have a required percentage needed to gain the seat, the votes transfer as required through each count. You can vote for everyone you want in the knowledge that your vote will count.

I vote UKIP 1 BNP 2 Tory 3

neither the UKIP nor the BNP will achieve the required amount so after the third count (UKIP and BNP have been eliminated after counts 1 + 2) the tory vote will register towards the amount require to get the candidate elected.

You generally need more MPs for PR to work fully.

I think they want to implement Alternative Vote(not 100% on that one) but i think it's PR but once someone reaches say 55% of the vote through all the counts in their constituency they are declared the winner.

[l444ry]

Personally, I think Clegg is a natural Tory, and cuddling up to Cameron will eventually ensure his party returns to the days of single figure MPs.

[davieG]

Personally, I think Clegg is a natural Tory, and cuddling up to Cameron will eventually ensure his party returns to the days of single figure MPs.

Unlike Blair then

[l444ry]

Unlike Blair then

Nick Clegg’s failure in his dream to replace Labour will come full circle and find it’s ultimate ironical expression in fuelling Labour’s revival. If Clegg gets into bed with Cameron the LibDems will implode and it will end the Liberal Democrat’s status as the party of electoral reform. It will bury the chance of the STV option even being on a referendum ballot paper and ensure that when reform comes now it will be on Labour’s terms.

[davieG]

Nick Clegg's failure in his dream to replace Labour will come full circle and find it's ultimate ironical expression in fuelling Labour's revival. If Clegg gets into bed with Cameron the LibDems will implode and it will end the Liberal Democrat's status as the party of electoral reform. It will bury the chance of the STV option even being on a referendum ballot paper and ensure that when reform comes now it will be on Labour's terms.

You seem to contradict yourself surely if he doesn't get what he wants he'll not get in the bed.

You entrenched party politicos are blinded by your bias.

[Bert]

I can't wait for all the euphoria over this to die down, fair enough it's important but some people have been going way over the top with it all.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Well when you take the speaker and Sinn Fein out of the equation, then a majority would be 323. The parties would get 318, still short admittedly but it would be just about workable.

The main reason would be because I would question the ability for opposition to block legislation. The SNP and Plaid Cymru have more in common with Labour. Caroline Lucas isn't going to side with the Tories, and then I always think that the DUP will sell their votes to the highest bidder. I think the Lab/Lib pact would get through the important bits of policy.

Although if I were a Labour big wig, I would just sit back and let the Tories make the tough decisions for the next few years in a minority government. Cameron takes all the flack and won't be able to get much through, then you'd fancy a Labour bounce in 18 months time for the next election.

Spot on - I think this was the best result for Labour - hamstring the Tory's with an impossible situation. I expect want to be Labour leaders realised that winning a 4th term, especially following the negative war publicity was going to be a tough job and were happy to let Gordon try and fail respectfully.

David Milliband must be delighted!

However, what chance would there be for the Lib Dems to agree to colation with Labour, with the price being Nick Clegg as PM?

[l444ry]

You seem to contradict yourself surely if he doesn't get what he wants he'll not get in the bed.

You entrenched party politicos are blinded by your bias.

No contradiction at all!! Clegg is a Tory at heart but his party remain all things to all men. He was angling to join forces with the Tories six months ago. There lies his problem.

You also confuse bias with principles, DavieG. For instance, I think Jon the Hat is a raving loony (sorry Jon) but he believes passionately in what he says - unlike many of the non voting fence sitters and LibDem opportunists that have contributed to this topic.

[davieG]

No contradiction at all!! Clegg is a Tory at heart but his party remain all things to all men. He was angling to join forces with the Tories six months ago. There lies his problem.

You also confuse bias with principles, DavieG. For instance, I think Jon the Hat is a raving loony (sorry Jon) but he believes passionately in what he says - unlike many of the non voting fence sitters and LibDem opportunists that have contributed to this topic.

But your principle is all things Labour and to the left of them, whilst us fence sitters are more open minded, I see much good and not so good in all 3 major parties, I don't agree with any of them 100% in fact because of that I don't believe in massive political parties.This makes voting harder for the likes of me where as people like you and Jon the Hat will vote for your respective party no matter what they offer or how badly they are led.

That doesn't strike me as principled.

[breadandcheese]

I really do hope we don't get a Tory-Lib Dem coalition. I want to see the back of the current government as much as anyone but Dave would be making a huge mistake and once again showing why he isn't the man to lead the Conservatives.

I can see Michael Gove's education policy being shelved (or heavily neutered to the point of being still-born) in the need to form a coalition and as this was one of the best reasons to vote Conservatives, would be a huge mistake.

Working on hypotheticals, it's far better to play a slightly longer waiting game of 6-18 months, letting the Lib Dems fall into the arms of Labour and letting that coalition break down as Labour thinks it can go on as before, spending and paying later without the markets taking fright. The Tories would then probably have a majority in a few months time off the back of this when hardship sets in and it is clear that Labour's policies on the public debt are a mistake and Vince Cable is not the economic superman. Instead, it seems power is a drug and whether it's Gordon, Dave or Nick, they are all seduced by it, making whatever shady deals they need and forming a government that does not have a mandate for the cuts and tax rises that are necessary.

I'm not sure I like PR if this is what happens. I can't see Conservative or Lib Dem voters being particularly happy with this coalition as policies they voted for are shelved all in the name of forming a coalition. Effectively, it means your vote is wasted as you cannot be sure which policies are sacrosanct when you cast your vote.

[FoxyPV]

I really do hope we don't get a Tory-Lib Dem coalition. I want to see the back of the current government as much as anyone but Dave would be making a huge mistake and once again showing why he isn't the man to lead the Conservatives.

I can see Michael Gove's education policy being shelved (or heavily neutered to the point of being still-born) in the need to form a coalition and as this was one of the best reasons to vote Conservatives, would be a huge mistake.

Working on hypotheticals, it's far better to play a slightly longer waiting game of 6-18 months, letting the Lib Dems fall into the arms of Labour and letting that coalition break down as Labour thinks it can go on as before, spending and paying later without the markets taking fright. The Tories would then probably have a majority in a few months time off the back of this when hardship sets in and it is clear that Labour's policies on the public debt are a mistake and Vince Cable is not the economic superman. Instead, it seems power is a drug and whether it's Gordon, Dave or Nick, they are all seduced by it, making whatever shady deals they need and forming a government that does not have a mandate for the cuts and tax rises that are necessary.

I'm not sure I like PR if this is what happens. I can't see Conservative or Lib Dem voters being particularly happy with this coalition as policies they voted for are shelved all in the name of forming a coalition. Effectively, it means your vote is wasted as you cannot be sure which policies are sacrosanct when you cast your vote.

The fact that he didn't win a majority is the reaosn he shouldn't lead the tories. Had everything in his favour and still didn't do it.

I can't see the Liberal MPs going for this for the reasons stated above bar the chance of getting some cabinet posts.

I think the electoral reform they are talking about is mix between FPTP and STV My Alternative vote so It will give the same number of MPs (and a single party govt)

[coale39]

I really do hope we don't get a Tory-Lib Dem coalition. I want to see the back of the current government as much as anyone but Dave would be making a huge mistake and once again showing why he isn't the man to lead the Conservatives.

**Struggles to think of any good Tory leaders in the last 13 years****

[Webbo]

The fact that he didn't win a majority is the reaosn he shouldn't lead the tories. Had everything in his favour and still didn't do it.

He gained nearly a hundred seats and he had a higher % of the vote than Tony Blair in 2005.

[breadandcheese]

**Struggles to think of any good Tory leaders in the last 13 years****

I would like to see David Davis lead the party. it's a shame he put in a woeful performance at the party conference those years ago. That was what lost him the leadership after Howard retired. He is one of the few principled politicians in politics who is prepared to forgo their career advancement for what they believe in.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

He gained nearly a hundred seats and he had a higher % of the vote than Tony Blair in 2005.

Yes but this was following the very contentious war and voter turn out was pretty poor due to people believing the contest was a forgone conclusion what with the Tory's offering no real alternative in that election.

Part of me is happy that my new found obession with politics and all things election might obtain another fix in the not too distant future - had it been a majority I would have had to quit cold turkey and god knows what would have happened then.

[Daggers]

**Struggles to think of any good Tory leaders in the last 13 years****

**Struggles to think of any Tory leader who doesn't make my skin crawl!**

[Shrenchel]

He gained nearly a hundred seats and he had a higher % of the vote than Tony Blair in 2005.

Alternatively, he only increased the Tory percentage of the vote from 2005 by 3% despite the addition of one of the worst recessions ever, one of the most unpopular incumbent Prime Ministers ever and the feverent support of 9 out of the 10 biggest newspapers in the country.

Labour and the Tories love FPTP because it covers up when they've essentially fvcked it up.

[l444ry]

He gained nearly a hundred seats and he had a higher % of the vote than Tony Blair in 2005.

What a cobblers comparison! 36% against 35.2% and after Labour being in power for 8 years and the Iraq factor. Why not compare Cameron's 36% after 13 years of Labour against Blair's 43% after 18 years of the Tories?