Who are you voting for in the next election?

[lavrentis]

Hmmm I live near Loughborough now, i never realised it was a marginal seat. I will definately vote Tory in that instance, if my area is that seat.

The only reason i don't like the conservatives is because i don't trust Cameron and his bullshit on the EU

Ukip?

[Guest]

And why?

 

Trying to work out who to vote for next time round, but I can't make up my mind for the life of me.

 

I voted Conservative last time, but I'm not sure I could vote for them again, unless they get rid of Gove. Similarly, I don't want to vote Lib Dem, because Nick Clegg. On the other hand, I don't want to vote for Labour, since I don't agree with their benefits policies (which seems to be 'give them to everyone'). 

 

Someone give me some good reasons for voting for one of them. 'Cus I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to politics (except Gove-related politics).

 

You shouldn't be basing your political vote on personalities. It should be on what you want from the next 5/10 years/future and what they are promising.

 

I've voted Lab, Lib, SDP and green at various times in my life.

 

I'm not in England so don't vote now but the major parties certainly don't inspire me at the moment.

[Harry - LCFC]

Labour are currently absolutely unvotable (if that's a word).

 

Unelectable is the term you're looking for I think 

[ollielcfc]

FIrst time voter so i'm just gonna cover the names and tick a box. I'm as clueless as those running for power

[Alexikokopops]

My constituency has been Labour since 1987 (Diane Abbot). 55% of the vote last time, with Lib Dems coming in second with 24% and Tories in third with 15%. I don't think my vote's really going to make a difference.

[The Doctor]

Conservative.

 

Overall I think they have done a good job, low unemployment rates again, so many new jobs created. Country is financially going in the right direction and we are now the fastest growing economy in Western Europe.

 

The coalition has done a lot for working people from taking everyone under 10k completely out of the tax bracket to middle earners having more take home pay.

 

Stability is good (see Nigel Pearson and his regime) and if they have another term I think we'll continue to grow as a country and start to get back on our feet.

 

 

Ed Miliband and Ed Balls in charge of the country and economy fills me with as much fear as anything I can think of.

 

Unemployment figures have only gone down because they've been fiddling the figures to make it look better than it is: shifting people off of JSA/benefits and onto zero-hour contracts or slave labour workfare schemes

 

 

I'll be voting MRLP I reckon, the big three are all pretty crap, I'd sooner attempt to be the first person to reach the north pole nude and painted in blood than vote UKIP and the greens are just a bit too anti-science for me (in particular GMO's).

[Strokes]

Ukip?

It would have been yes, but I need to see what constitutional line my area is in, if its a marginal Tory\labour I will vote Tory.

[Guest MattP]

Unemployment figures have only gone down because they've been fiddling the figures to make it look better than it is: shifting people off of JSA/benefits and onto zero-hour contracts or slave labour workfare schemes

 

 

I'll be voting MRLP I reckon, the big three are all pretty crap, I'd sooner attempt to be the first person to reach the north pole nude and painted in blood than vote UKIP and the greens are just a bit too anti-science for me (in particular GMO's).

 

You've just completely contradicted yourself in one sentence. The unemployment figures are fiddled as the government has taken people off job seekers and put them into work?

 

Dont believe the bull about "zero hour contracts" - No one on them is actually doing zero hours, 90% of those on them do a full week and it gives a lot of options, dont forget you can still claim a full JSA payment if your zero hour contract gives you less than 16 a month. (and then you'll be back in the JSA figures)

 

I know you like to bash the Tories but you're going to have a job on your hands at the minute, probably best to do what most of the other anti-Conservative lot over the last few years have done on this forum and go into hibernation for a bit.

 

And I'll say it again, do some travelling before you accuse anyone in this country of genuinely being in "slave labour". You dont know the meaning of the term.

[Guest MattP]

I've voted Lab, Lib, SDP and green at various times in my life.

 

I'm not in England so don't vote now but the major parties certainly don't inspire me at the moment.

 

The 'Harry Redknapp' of the electorate.

[lavrentis]

I Notice Liz Kendall has her office down Narborough Road. Not surprised

[The Doctor]

You've just completely contradicted yourself in one sentence. The unemployment figures are fiddled as the government has taken people off job seekers and put them into work?

 

Dont believe the bull about "zero hour contracts" - No one on them is actually doing zero hours, 90% of those on them do a full week and it gives a lot of options, dont forget you can still claim a full JSA payment if your zero hour contract gives you less than 16 a month. (and then you'll be back in the JSA figures)

 

I know you like to bash the Tories but you're going to have a job on your hands at the minute, probably best to do what most of the other anti-Conservative lot over the last few years have done on this forum and go into hibernation for a bit.

 

And I'll say it again, do some travelling before you accuse anyone in this country of genuinely being in "slave labour". You dont know the meaning of the term.

 

They haven't put people into work though - they've made them technically employed but not working (zero-hours) or put them into a situation where companies can just exploit people for free labour (workfare).

 

 

Workfare is essentially slave labour - to get anything you have to be ruthlessly exploited by companies and treated like shit, with absolutely no power over the situation.

 

If you'd like other reasons not to vote tory though, Michael Gove is a big one: he's completely destroying the education system, creating one based on victorian ideals, where students are uninspired and teachers have their hands bound and are unable to engage the students due to a lack of support. Where you can only really get an education if your parents can afford it - it's a disgrace.

 

Then of course there's Lansleycare - getting rid of primary care and trying to privatise the NHS via the backdoor - adopting the old US system of "let the poor die".

 

 

There's plenty to knock the tories for, and as always it's been them screwing over the lower classes.

[Strokes]

They haven't put people into work though - they've made them technically employed but not working (zero-hours) or put them into a situation where companies can just exploit people for free labour (workfare).

Workfare is essentially slave labour - to get anything you have to be ruthlessly exploited by companies and treated like shit, with absolutely no power over the situation.

If you'd like other reasons not to vote tory though, Michael Gove is a big one: he's completely destroying the education system, creating one based on victorian ideals, where students are uninspired and teachers have their hands bound and are unable to engage the students due to a lack of support. Where you can only really get an education if your parents can afford it - it's a disgrace.

Then of course there's Lansleycare - getting rid of primary care and trying to privatise the NHS via the backdoor - adopting the old US system of "let the poor die".

There's plenty to knock the tories for, and as always it's been them screwing over the lower classes.

How many people have got jobs through workfare schemes?

[Guest MattP]

They haven't put people into work though - they've made them technically employed but not working (zero-hours) or put them into a situation where companies can just exploit people for free labour (workfare).

 

 

Workfare is essentially slave labour - to get anything you have to be ruthlessly exploited by companies and treated like shit, with absolutely no power over the situation.

 

If you'd like other reasons not to vote tory though, Michael Gove is a big one: he's completely destroying the education system, creating one based on victorian ideals, where students are uninspired and teachers have their hands bound and are unable to engage the students due to a lack of support. Where you can only really get an education if your parents can afford it - it's a disgrace.

 

Then of course there's Lansleycare - getting rid of primary care and trying to privatise the NHS via the backdoor - adopting the old US system of "let the poor die".

 

 

There's plenty to knock the tories for, and as always it's been them screwing over the lower classes.

 

As I've said, if you do less than your 16 hours on your "zero hour contract" you still claim your JSA, so these people clearly are working. Dont take the term "zero hour contract" literally, I know a few people on them and all pretty much work a full week if they want to, in fact it often comes in handy if you cant be arsed to go in on a certain day or need a day off at short notice.

 

No it's not Al, slave labour is being forced to work against your will. That isn't happening.

 

Yep go at Gove or the NHS if you want, personally I think Gove is trying to raise standards, more discipline, more variety, finally coming out of the stone age by getting us learning new languages at earlier ages etc, but that's for another debate.

 

"Let the Poor Die" I won't go into NHS Staffs etc under Labour shall I?

 

Taking everyone who earns 10k or less out of tax completely, free childcare for 2/3 year olds, proposal in place to raise the minimum wage by its highest amount ever - You are living in a cliche of a 1970's Leftie's version of a Tory fantasy World if you really think this lot are screwing over the poor.

 

Time to come join us in the 21st century now Al, Maggie's dead, Scargill is on his way, move on. It's about time you grew out of this ridiculous militant student lefty phase, it's gone on for long enough.

[Guest MattP]

I'll be voting MRLP I reckon, the big three are all pretty crap, I'd sooner attempt to be the first person to reach the north pole nude and painted in blood than vote UKIP and the greens are just a bit too anti-science for me (in particular GMO's).

 

And you are supposed to represent the smartest of our young society?

[RobHawk]

As I've said, if you do less than your 16 hours on your "zero hour contract" you still claim your JSA, so these people clearly are working. Dont take the term "zero hour contract" literally, I know a few people on them and all pretty much work a full week if they want to, in fact it often comes in handy if you cant be arsed to go in on a certain day or need a day off at short notice.

 

No it's not Al, slave labour is being forced to work against your will. That isn't happening.

 

Yep go at Gove or the NHS if you want, personally I think Gove is trying to raise standards, more discipline, more variety, finally coming out of the stone age by getting us learning new languages at earlier ages etc, but that's for another debate.

 

"Let the Poor Die" I won't go into NHS Staffs etc under Labour shall I?

 

Taking everyone who earns 10k or less out of tax completely, free childcare for 2/3 year olds, proposal in place to raise the minimum wage by its highest amount ever - You are living in a cliche of a 1970's Leftie's version of a Tory fantasy World if you really think this lot are screwing over the poor.

 

Time to come join us in the 21st century now Al, Maggie's dead, Scargill is on his way, move on. It's about time you grew out of this ridiculous militant student lefty phase, it's gone on for long enough.

You were making an interesting valid point but ruined it by defending the education moron that is Gove! But like you say thats another debate all together!

[The Doctor]

As I've said, if you do less than your 16 hours on your "zero hour contract" you still claim your JSA, so these people clearly are working. Dont take the term "zero hour contract" literally, I know a few people on them and all pretty much work a full week if they want to, in fact it often comes in handy if you cant be arsed to go in on a certain day or need a day off at short notice.

 

No it's not Al, slave labour is being forced to work against your will. That isn't happening.

 

Yep go at Gove or the NHS if you want, personally I think Gove is trying to raise standards, more discipline, more variety, finally coming out of the stone age by getting us learning new languages at earlier ages etc, but that's for another debate.

 

"Let the Poor Die" I won't go into NHS Staffs etc under Labour shall I?

 

Taking everyone who earns 10k or less out of tax completely, free childcare for 2/3 year olds, proposal in place to raise the minimum wage by its highest amount ever - You are living in a cliche of a 1970's Leftie's version of a Tory fantasy World if you really think this lot are screwing over the poor.

 

Time to come join us in the 21st century now Al, Maggie's dead, Scargill is on his way, move on. It's about time you grew out of this ridiculous militant student lefty phase.

 

Except they are forced to work against their will - it's work or you won't get any aid. They have no actual choice - the choice they are given is work or starve, the same choice that slaves have.

 

Oh, and lets not forget that they've actually damaged economic growth quite considerably with austerity measures. http://www.voxeu.org/article/when-time-austerity

 

Come on, even south park understood basic economics (margaritaville - to grow the economy you need money circulating, fast economic recovery requires actions to encourage people to spend more.) - do the tories not? or are they more bothered by ideology than facts?

[The Doctor]

And you are supposed to represent the smartest of our young society?

 

The MRLP may be a joke party, but they're the only real national protest vote - in fact that was the entire point of them. My voting preference would be Sensible independent > MRLP > Spoilt Ballot > Not voting.

[Rincewind]

Not as many as people are led to believe. The advisers are paid by success so anyone who is not able to find work by themselves are 'parked' The disabled, the over 50's, the mentally ill, and yes the workshy. I was with Intraing and my adviser called me up once a month, asked if there was any change and when I said no he said, OK I'll call you in a month. I did better without him. I found volunteering roles, I did an IT course and applied for numorous and a variety of jobs. The training they give would not have helped as it is basically learning how to write a CV and hoping it is better than the other 50 plus applicants for jobs or literacy courses. While doing them you are taken off the jobless list if sent for one or two days work.

The ones they may have more success with are younger people who have more working life ahead of them and those with a particular trade who are able to adapt to something new. Advisers will concentrate on these because of the  awards to them.

[Strokes]

You were making an interesting valid point but ruined it by defending the education moron that is Gove! But like you say thats another debate all together!

Gove is a shining light in the Tory party, doesn't seek any approval when he knows he is right.

[Guest MattP]

Except they are forced to work against their will - it's work or you won't get any aid. They have no actual choice - the choice they are given is work or starve, the same choice that slaves have.

 

Oh, and lets not forget that they've actually damaged economic growth quite considerably with austerity measures. http://www.voxeu.org/article/when-time-austerity

 

Come on, even south park understood basic economics (margaritaville - to grow the economy you need money circulating, fast economic recovery requires actions to encourage people to spend more.) - do the tories not? or are they more bothered by ideology than facts?

 

So it's do some work or don't get some free government money? Again, not my definition of slave labour.

 

So one economist says it's damaged it, we could each link 100 articles to different economists saying opposites, doesn't mean anything, the only thing we can really rely on at the minute is the IMF and they are saying we are doing pretty good. You were one of those saying "austerity can't create growth" and "we are heading for a triple dip recession" a year or two back, I haven't forgotton, you have been proven wrong.

 

If Matt Stone and Trey Parker (as brillaint as they are at making points through a cartoon) are your example of fiscal excellence then maybe we've got to the bottom of why you keep getting your economic predictions incorrect.

[Voll Blau]

I Notice Liz Kendall has her office down Narborough Road. Not surprised

 

I agree, it's a much less surprising location than say, the South Pole. Be a bit daft if it wasn't in her constituency wouldn't it?

[leicsmac]

Gove is a shining light in the Tory party, doesn't seek any approval when he knows he is right.

Yes, modeling the education system on the far east by increasing importance of exams and rote learning is a fantastic idea.

We'll just forget about the rather high teen suicide rate and lack of opportunity for those not very good at being judged in a three hour pressure filled window, shall we?

But this is a little bit off topic, as others have said. The man just makes my blood boil in a way no other Tory does.

[Guest MattP]

I agree, it's a much less surprising location than say, the South Pole. Be a bit daft if it wasn't in her constituency wouldn't it?

 

I imagine she spends 90% of her time in her £1.4million house in the home counties anyway whilst the Rincewinds of the World champion her as a carer of the working man.

[Guest MattP]

Gove is a shining light in the Tory party, doesn't seek any approval when he knows he is right.

 

One of the reasons Gove was selected for the role, adopted into a Labour supporting family and thrown into a state school. Ended up rising to levels completely unexpected through hard work and dedication.

 

He should be still on a council estate in Aberdeen dependant on the state, they'll hate him for what he's achieved.

 

Like a Scottish version of an Uncle Tom to a Black man.

[The Doctor]

So it's do some work or don't get some free government money? Again, not my definition of slave labour.

 

So one economist says it's damaged it, we could each link 100 articles to different economists saying opposites, doesn't mean anything, the only thing we can really rely on at the minute is the IMF and they are saying we are doing pretty good. You were one of those saying "austerity can't create growth" and "we are heading for a triple dip recession" a year or two back, I haven't forgotton, you have been proven wrong.

 

If Matt Stone and Trey Parker (as brillaint as they are at making points through a cartoon) are your example of fiscal excellence then maybe we've got to the bottom of why you keep getting your economic predictions incorrect.

 

Not at all - it's work or get no support while trying to find an actual job. It's essentially work or starve - that is slave labour.

 

Austerity doesn't aid growth - it's simple economics: growth requires spending: if we sit on our money and keep it stagnant it won't be distributed amongst the country and be in the economy: Think of it this way: what is going to get more money circulating:

 

a) The government stops spending and leaves people competing to survive economically.

b) The government pays a grant to, say, bakers. These bakers can then use that to produce more and hire some help - this produce is then brought by people and the wages go to the new employee. The new employee then goes down the road and buys from the butcher, giving that money to him. The butcher takes that as a wage and goes to the farmer and buys some fruit and veg, giving the money to the farmer, the farmer takes that money and invests in some new equipment to improve productivity (say some gardening stuff), then the garden centre employees gain that money and spend it on something else and so on, and so on.

 

In the case of a - there is no money circulating, the economy sees no aid, in b the economy gets a good boost because the money is spreading around and being circulated.

 

I'm not citing Stone and Parker as fiscal geniuses, I'm pointing out that even they could recognise good fiscal practice better than the tories.