Who will you vote for at the next general election?

[Baldseagull]

No, sorry, don't buy any of that. If the LibDems had stuck with their principles (yes, it's politics, I know) we could only have had a minority Tory govt at worst and THAT would have made a difference. And yes, I know that it's the nature of democracy that sometimes your lot lose, and yes I accept that it happens too often for my liking. My vote last time went in a tactical way to a party which was opposed to the Tories, until the whiff of a bit of power came in, then it was "principles ? What principles ?" "Manifesto ? Wossat ?" and five tedious years of Conservative government with the weak kneed CMD and his bean counting oppo whose greatest claim was to halve the bill we had to pay to the EU. Only we didn't, and he hadn't.

Oh, and the Tories won't pick up all the LibDem seats, though I hope the latter are back to needing a four-seater taxi to take them all to Parliament.

I think the Libs had to form a coalition with someone, we needed a government that could get on and do stuff, a minority government would have seen us deeper in the shit than we were. I think they also knew it would be damaging for their party but in the best interests of the country, so I respect the decision.
We had a chance to bring in the Alternative Vote system because the Libs were in coalition, the referendum returned a No, but if it had gone through you would not have had to waste your vote to vote Labour, you could still have had your Labour vote 1st and put other parties candidates 2nd, 3rd etc. to ensure your vote would count in some way even if the Labour guy was well out of the race.
Compromises have been made by both parties to form what was a much needed majority Government. Power sharing and consensus politics has always been a liberal principle, so I don't see forming a coalition with the Cons as dropping their principles for the sake of power, it was what the country needed and they got some of their manifesto put through.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Great to see BNP on zero votes.


And anyone who says all their votes have gone to UKIP. Read 'Revolt on the right' it emperically proves that not to be the case with over 15 years worth of voting trends and facts.

 

[Triggaaar]

Votes so far - Tory 49, Labour 30 - WTF, I thought this was a left wing forum (posters, not owner)?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Votes so far - Tory 49, Labour 30 - WTF, I thought this was a left wing forum (posters, not owner)?

I thought this was a UKIP forum, given the amount of loud support they seem to have on here.

 

[fat old seagull]

as a true socialist I will be voting for UKIP simply because the Labour or greens stand no chance here in Eastbourne, and my vote will be taking one off the tories

I understand your sentiments... But would imagine your (our) purposes would be better served opting for the present incumbent. Seems a vote against the Tories wasted really, voting for parties that haven't a cat in Hells chance in Eastbourne. Besides to be fair Stephen Lloyd does work hard for the Town. Well at least a lot more than the last useless bugger, that didn't even live in the county.

 

[Triggaaar]

I thought this was a UKIP forum, given the amount of loud support they seem to have on here.

Well we definitely have a few UKIP voters, but I've always though the majority of posters were right on and anti Tory.

 

[glasfryn]

Labour cant run a bath let alone this country.

but what other alternative do we have
neither can the tories
in fact david could not find his backside with both hands

 

[glasfryn]

I understand your sentiments... But would imagine your (our) purposes would be better served opting for the present incumbent. Seems a vote against the Tories wasted really, voting for parties that haven't a cat in Hells chance in Eastbourne. Besides to be fair Stephen Lloyd does work hard for the Town. Well at least a lot more than the last useless bugger, that didn't even live in the county.

I have met him several times and can only agree with you, but the tories are working very hard to get the seat back, and as I have said before most I know will be voting UKIP and I think either way Lloyd will be hard pressed to keep his seat ...................but I won't cry if he keeps it

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Ed Miliband will never be the PM of the United Kingdom.

The Conservatives will win the Election, and properly this time - not like the farce at the last general election. I'm a Labour supporter, and will vote that way but all the time Miliband is the PM, the party can't possibly win a General Election. David Cameron is a PM, Ed Miliband doesn't have the character or the presence.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Interesting idea from Salmond today that in order for the UK to withdraw from the EU it would need separate referendums in England, Scotland and Wales, and the 'tripple lock' of consensus in all 3.

That one will keep the constitutional lawyers busy and rich.

I can see his point.

 

[beorhthelm]

Interesting idea from Salmond today that in order for the UK to withdraw from the EU it would need separate referendums in England, Scotland and Wales, and the 'tripple lock' of consensus in all 3.

That one will keep the constitutional lawyers busy and rich.

I can see his point.

i cant. there is no relationship between EU and either Wales or Scotland (NI overlooked?) only with the UK. an exit would be for the signaturory of the treaties, ie the UK government, to have to negotiate. but then Salmond was delusional all through the indepedence vote that Scotland would get an automatic admission to EU, despite what EU officials said on the matter.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

A

Well I live in her constituency & personally I think her & her parties policies are barking. Will vote for anyone to budge her out. Probably vote Conservative. Whether you love or hate the Tories they have surprisingly done a good job to get us out the mess that Labour got us into. With low inflation, falling unemployment, stock market at record highs, the country is on the up - the feel good factor is returning. Let's give them another mandate I say.

That HAS to be a joke, right?

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Ed Miliband will never be the PM of the United Kingdom.

The Conservatives will win the Election, and properly this time - not like the farce at the last general election. I'm a Labour supporter, and will vote that way but all the time Miliband is the PM, the party can't possibly win a General Election. David Cameron is a PM, Ed Miliband doesn't have the character or the presence.

Cameron only gives the illusion of being "a PM" because he has had the title for the past five years. He's a completely hollow man who has no beliefs or principles whatever beyond saying what he thinks may get him another term. I was going to say "will get him re-elected" but as the Tories couldn't win an outright majority last time that wouldn't be quite accurate.

 

[East Preston Gull]

I will be voting Ukip this time.
I have had enough of public school boys who turn out to be complete idiots, so now I will vote for complete idiots who can't fail to disappoint

 

[Tyreman123]

OMG ! the thought of Millimong and Ballsup being in charge of anything more importantt than a sweetshop, is just freaking terrifying!

 

[Steve Foster]

Well I live in her constituency & personally I think her & her parties policies are barking. Will vote for anyone to budge her out. Probably vote Conservative. Whether you love or hate the Tories they have surprisingly done a good job to get us out the mess that Labour got us into. With low inflation, falling unemployment, stock market at record highs, the country is on the up - the feel good factor is returning. Let's give them another mandate I say.

That HAS to be a joke, right?

Far from it. Whichever political party one is affiliated to, or not, the fact is that the Conservative long-term economic plan is working. The budget last week impressed me. Rather than a political party making the usual pre-election giveways, the coalition announced a long term, responsible budget, unlike when Gordon Brown was at the despatch box, promising jam today, jam tomorrow, yet, ignoring the fact that the UK was living beyond its means. The budget did not contain any irresponsible extra borrowing & the government have set clear plans to get the country back into surplus by 2018.

It is only with a Conservative government that the country can get back on track. I say give them a mandate to govern. If they don't produce the goods or one has a stanch beyond the economy, then once in surplus, perhaps the Greens or UKIP could appeal, if their primary issues are more pressing - however, without a sound economy, no government can meet its obligations.

I genuinely, can't see anything other than a Conservative mandate as best for this country at this time. And yes - I have voted for all 3 main political parties in my time.

 

[Triggaaar]

Interesting idea from Salmond today that in order for the UK to withdraw from the EU it would need separate referendums in England, Scotland and Wales, and the 'tripple lock' of consensus in all 3.

That one will keep the constitutional lawyers busy and rich.

I can see his point.

I can't. Scotland, England and Wales didn't vote separately to join the EU, so why would they need to vote to leave? It's not a local issue, it's an issue for the UK as a whole. Salmond is just a tw@

 

[Pavilionaire]

No, sorry, don't buy any of that. If the LibDems had stuck with their principles (yes, it's politics, I know) we could only have had a minority Tory govt at worst and THAT would have made a difference. And yes, I know that it's the nature of democracy that sometimes your lot lose, and yes I accept that it happens too often for my liking. My vote last time went in a tactical way to a party which was opposed to the Tories, until the whiff of a bit of power came in, then it was "principles ? What principles ?" "Manifesto ? Wossat ?" and five tedious years of Conservative government with the weak kneed CMD and his bean counting oppo whose greatest claim was to halve the bill we had to pay to the EU. Only we didn't, and he hadn't.

Oh, and the Tories won't pick up all the LibDem seats, though I hope the latter are back to needing a four-seater taxi to take them all to Parliament.

A big reason why there was a coalition is because a minority government is a weak government, and given we were in economic turmoil we couldn't afford to take that risk. People who condemn both parties for compromising their principles need to consider how damaging the alternative to coalition could have been for this country.

We've not had peacetime coalition in living memory. Time to cut the coalition parties some slack?

 

[Mowgli37]

If you live in Horsham and are left of centre it has to be Duggan surely??

I'm tempted but I don't want my very first vote to be a genuine waste!

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

I'm tempted but I don't want my very first vote to be a genuine waste!

Vote for who you believe in. If that's Duggan - then it isn't a wasted vote.