Who do you expect to vote for in the next General Election?

[Alf Bentley]

I've had a couple of beers and I'm in the mood for a poll or two...

Plus, I'm curious about the political make-up of the Foxes Talk membership. My impression is that there are more right-wingers than left-wingers, but maybe the former just have more time to post because they're on the dole while the lefties are working hard and setting up businesses?

A red city in a blue county?

In the interests of transparency (isn't everyone in favour of that now?), I fully expect to vote Green next time. I intended to do so last time, but switched my vote to Labour 2 days before the election, because I (wrongly) thought that the Lib Dems had a chance in Leicester South and (correctly) thought that a vote for the Lib Dems would end up being a vote for the Tories.

I like the policies of the Greens: environment/climate change as no.1 priority; left-wing on economic/social issues; challenge the false assumption that ever more growth & consumption is the best option; generally libertarian....I disagree on nuclear power (seems essential to me). They wouldn't like me because I like a laugh and a drink; I wouldn't like them because I think they're over-serious and self-important, but....I like their policies best.

So how do you expect to vote in the next national general election?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

As a student who has the choice of voting in Rochford & Southend E or Louth & Horncastle, I can choose between two very safe Tory constituencies. I voted Lib Dem in 2010, and of course am very disappointed with their role in the coalition thus far, and think electoral oblivion looks assured, I feel the Greens are currently the party closest to my beliefs, even though it's a certain wasted vote. Since the government parties will be going their seperate ways ahead of the election, I'll give all parties a fair hearing as I always do, but I'll struggle to trust a Clegg-lead Lib Dem party again.

[kingfox]

I am gonna make my own box, Boris Johnson box and tick it.

[Guest MattP]

I am gonna make my own box, Boris Johnson box and tick it.

Like it.

If it was tomorrow I'd vote for UKIP though if I was in a marginal seat I'd vote Conservative.

In one of the safest Tory seats in the country so it doesn't really matter.

[Alf Bentley]

In one of the safest Tory seats in the country so it doesn't really matter.

Right, just this once ( ), I'm going to get on my electoral reform hobby horse....

- It's seriously wrong that your vote in a safe Tory seat doesn't matter, Matt

- It's also seriously wrong that my vote in a safe Labour seat doesn't matter

Here are some places where your vote DOES matter: Loughborough, Milton Keynes, Northampton, the suburbs of London and other cities, Bolton, Bury, Lincoln, North Kent, Thames Estuary, Peterborough

Here are some places where your vote does NOT matter: Leicester, most of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield & South Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derby, Newcastle, Sunderland, most of Birmingham, most of the Home Counties, most rural areas throughout the country, most industrial or heavily working-class areas.....

Politicians of all parties can afford to either completely ignore that 2nd group of areas, or pay token interest. Even in the "crucial swing seats" (i.e. small towns and suburbs) that hold power over our entire electoral system, the only votes that matter are the "swing votes" - those who are not sure how to vote - whereas convinced and thoughtful voters who have a decided opinion can be ignored.

This is a can of worms worthy of a whole different discussion (which has happened - and will happen again), but I say...

- General Election: Single Transferable Vote (1-2-3) in multi-member constituencies, with choice between candidates of the same party;

- Much more devolution of power/resources to local councils (I'd also prefer accountable regional assemblies, but accept there isn't going to be the support for that any time soon)

- A sustained effort to politicize society (i.e. encourage interest/knowledge of politics) - I applaud Milliband's interest in votes for 16-17-year-olds in this regard

- Sod "faith schools", let's introduce more politics into schools (in a thoughtful and balanced way, of course)

"Politics" and "Democracy" are concepts that go back to the Ancient Greeks - and they're important!

How can people have "no interest in politics" or not be bothered to vote (spoiling a ballot is quite different, I understand)?!?

Politicise the nation! STV in multi-member constituencies with no party control!

How can anyone not be bothered who controls their life? Who takes the decisions that can affect whether they live, work, survive, enjoy themselves, suffer pain, have a family, feel comfort....

Politics matters - and it should matter more to people. For now, it's a mess in this country and the democratic deficit is getting worse (a serious danger in itself)....and that's not even addressing the massive international aspects!

[scottthefox]

Blue is the colour, football and politics, in that priority

[Guest MattP]

The turnouts tonight sum up how apathetic the nation has become with politics, 25% in Rotherham, 18% in Middlesboro.

Despite being 'a toryboy' I actually think full PR is the most democratic form of an election, everyone who has some sort of significent vote share should be represented in the state's parliament and then every vote you have actually does matter.

"Politics" and "Democracy" are concepts that go back to the Ancient Greeks - and they're important!

Yep, it makes you weep doesn't it, more people vote in the X Factor/Strictly than a General Election.

[Rincewind]

How many years away is it? I do not have much faith with any of them but I have always been slightly left of centre

Whoever is in power they either scrap the previous governments policy or change it slightly and claim it for themselves unless it is a disaster then they say it wasn't their idea and the damage was already done and they will need time to put right the previous government mess.

I predict that at least one MP will say this from a newly elected party. I'd even put money on it.

As for where I am, I believe I am where Peter Soulsby used to be so it is a safe labour seat as far as I know Not sure how well the UKIP or BNP will do as I live in a constituency that has high multicultural populace.

Independent of some sort may be my choice but I'll see what my situation when the time comes.

[scottthefox]

Yep, it makes you weep doesn't it, more people vote in the X Factor/Strictly than a General Election.

That gives me an idea for the next general election, all the party leaders perform a turd version of a party associated song (Labour-Lady in Red, Tory-Blue Moon, Lib Dems-Yellow Submarine, and more ideas feel free to suggest them) and the British public votes by phone from the comfort of their front rooms at £1.50 a minute with the profits going towards paying off the national debt.

[Guest MattP]

That gives me an idea for the next general election, all the party leaders perform a turd version of a party associated song (Labour-Lady in Red, Tory-Blue Moon, Lib Dems-Yellow Submarine, and more ideas feel free to suggest them) and the British public votes by phone from the comfort of their front rooms at £1.50 a minute with the profits going towards paying off the national debt.

Turd Version

As for where I am, I believe I am where Peter Soulsby used to be so it is a safe labour seat as far as I know Not sure how well the UKIP or BNP will do as I live in a constituency that has high multicultural populace.

Independent of some sort may be my choice but I'll see what my situation when the time comes.

Leicester's politicians are absolutely vile, you only have to look at this photo from the Mayor race to see the state of them.

[Rincewind]

BNP could be Ebony and Ivory.UKIP=Melting Pot

[scottthefox]

BNP could be Ebony and Ivory.UKIP=Melting Pot

Ebony and Ivory, live together in perfect harmony, BNP? I think not.....

[Rincewind]

Might be seeing the Mayor next week. He's giving a talk at Braunstone somewhere. We are going try and get him to come to Apex to the Community newsroom and do a vid-interview on the council's proposed housing policy.

Any questions for him?

[Alf Bentley]

Might be seeing the Mayor next week. He's giving a talk at Braunstone somewhere. We are going try and get him to come to Apex to the Community newsroom and do a vid-interview on the council's proposed housing policy.

Any questions for him?

- How much is central government funding for the council going to fall as a %?

- Do you have any plans for the city that involve work or community, rather than more chain stores?

- Do market traders pay the proper amount of tax?

(I may be naive, but I think yon Soulsby is a better than average politician)

[davieG]

If I was fortunate enough to have a like minded Independent candidate I'd vote for them, I certainly wont be voting for any political party representative.

[The Doctor]

If I feel I can trust their candidate, then greens - otherwise it'll be another spoilt ballot.

[Charl91]

Conservative for me

[Jimothy]

Labour for me.

[Alexikokopops]

I voted Green in the London mayor ballots so that's where I'm edging at the moment

[BunkMoreland]

Thought people would have learned about fringe parties from the lib dem debacle.

It's between labour and conservatives as ever.

I'll vote for whichever party has the most robust and credible plan to deal with the economy.

I have my own ideas on what needs to be done, so i'll vote for whichever party aligns best.

I have a feeling it might be labour, actually, but the worry witg those pricks as ever is their inability to axtually DO anything

[act smiley]

I'd want to vote Labour in terms of left/right, but they're still a bag of unelectable morons so I wouldn't on that front. Last time around I voted for the Lib Dems, and we've seen how that turned out. So the Greens I guess, unless a decent independent comes along, even though I substantially disagree with large swathes their stuff (scrapping roadbuilding is moronic. Better roads = smoother traffic flow = better mpg for everyone = more green, for crying out loud)

[Guest MattP]

You have to question someone's IQ if they would actually seriously consider voting for the Greens in this current financial climate.

Not really ready living in a mud hut eating my own turd just quite yet.

[Guest MattP]

I'd want to vote Labour in terms of left/right, but they're still a bag of unelectable morons so I wouldn't on that front. Last time around I voted for the Lib Dems, and we've seen how that turned out. So the Greens I guess, unless a decent independent comes along, even though I substantially disagree with large swathes their stuff (scrapping roadbuilding is moronic. Better roads = smoother traffic flow = better mpg for everyone = more green, for crying out loud)

I think the stopping of building absolutely everything would be the least of the concerns if they actually got in.

Just having a glance through their policies it's an interesting read though. £170 minimum a week for pensioners, 44billion invested into public transport, building of 250,000 new homes, free schooling for everyone until whenever they want, abolish prescription charges, re-introduce free eye tests and ensure NHS chiropody is widely available, also build a new generation of quality council homes, would spend £1.5bn subsidising existing public transport to make fares up to 10% cheaper and £30bn over the Parliament on investing in a better system. Every young person under the age of 18, and in full time education would also be entitled to free bus fares

Just one thing they haven't mentioned about all of that, any guesses?

[act smiley]

To be honest, I wouldn't want them to actually run the country, essentially I'd hope that we'd end up with some sort of Labour/Green thing & they'd do a better job of "lets stop Labour from doing stupid shit" than the LibDems have done with the tories. Lets be honest, its not like we've got any decent options to pick from.

[davieG]

I think the stopping of building absolutely everything would be the least of the concerns if they actually got in.

Just having a glance through their policies it's an interesting read though. £170 minimum a week for pensioners, 44billion invested into public transport, building of 250,000 new homes, free schooling for everyone until whenever they want, abolish prescription charges, re-introduce free eye tests and ensure NHS chiropody is widely available, also build a new generation of quality council homes, would spend £1.5bn subsidising existing public transport to make fares up to 10% cheaper and £30bn over the Parliament on investing in a better system. Every young person under the age of 18, and in full time education would also be entitled to free bus fares

Just one thing they haven't mentioned about all of that, any guesses?

Cheaper footy tickets!