The General Election

[Silver_Shiney]

I agree, John. Given CMD's statement the other day that he "now gets" the anti-Tory backlash in favour of UKIP and is going to do something about it, I may well give our sitting Tory MP my vote.

[oldbluefox]

Overheard in church, a lady praying:

"Dear Lord," she said, "This has been a tough two or three years.
You have taken my favourite actor Richard Attenborough.
My favourite pop singer Michael Jackson.
My favourite Blues Singer Amy Winehouse.
My favourite football manager Bobby Robson.
My favourite golfer Seve Ballesteros
My favourite singer Whitney Houston.
My favourite comedienne Joan Rivers

I just wanted you to know that my favourite politicians are:
Alec Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair, John Prescott, Ed Balls, Harriet Harman, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband (in no particular order).
Amen."

[Not so ancient mariner]

It seems to me - and correct me if I am wrong - but if Labour and SNP form the next government, they might as well rebrand themselves as the Communist party.

"National Socialist" would be a better name for the combo, given their individual aims...... Now where have I heard of them before?

[towny44]

One thing puzzles me about this so called too close to call election, if Labour are set to lose 40 Scottish seats and are already 46 seats behind the Conservatives, then they really need to win by a landslide in England & Wales to stand any chance of even being the major party and forming the next government. And yet the BBC are still trying to convince us its in the balance.

[Ray Scully]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

[towny44]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

Ray, even the BBC accept that the economy is now in better shape than under Labour, despite quantitive easing (which by the way the IMF say is the main reason the UK and US economies are faring so much better than Europe) Sterling is now higher in value against the Euro and not much changed against the Dollar than Labour left it, wealth gap is a meaningless statistic when even the lowest paid are better off than they were under Labour, TTIP is an EU led initiative so would certainly be supported by Labour, and I for one am definitely backing fracking.

[Silver_Shiney]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

At least the Conservatives didn't sell off this nation's gold reserves when the price of the metal was at an all-time low, leaving us diddly-squit with which to back our currency.

[david63]

At least the Conservatives didn't sell off this nation's gold reserves

They couldn't as they had all gone!

[Silver_Shiney]

At least the Conservatives didn't sell off this nation's gold reserves

They couldn't as they had all gone!

True, but I cannot imagine for one second that, had Brown not sold them, the Conservatives would have been so irresponsible.

[qbman1]

Another bit of silly fun:

"Who should I vote for in the general election? Take The Independent's interactive quiz to find out which party is the right choice for you..."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 24536.html

I must say, though, it got me 100% right - a dead heat between two parties. And I am still undecided !

[Silver_Shiney]

I can't get it to work... I did notice that they had a picture of the leaders of the three main parties, plus Boy Clegg

[qbman1]

OK, try this version

http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/

[Silver_Shiney]

Thanks, Cubie - I've seen that one before. It confirmed me as a UKIP voter!!

[qbman1]

I would love to vote "None of the Above" but I feel the need to exercise my mandate. How do I decide between blue and purple though ?

[Silver_Shiney]

I agree, Cubie.

For what it's worth, I feel the "professional" politicians have shown themselves to be inadequate for the task, let's allow the amateurs a say. They can't do any worse!

[qbman1]

They are mostly in it to look after themselves and their "own" but we are stuck with the system so will have to make the best of it. You are probably right but the worry is that the Krankies might sneak into power if the Conservatives don't get enough seats

[Ray Scully]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

Ray, even the BBC accept that the economy is now in better shape than under Labour, despite quantitive easing (which by the way the IMF say is the main reason the UK and US economies are faring so much better than Europe) Sterling is now higher in value against the Euro and not much changed against the Dollar than Labour left it, wealth gap is a meaningless statistic when even the lowest paid are better off than they were under Labour, TTIP is an EU led initiative so would certainly be supported by Labour, and I for one am definitely backing fracking.

John as a beneficiary of the last five years of Tory government I should be really appreciative. Instead I feel very uncomfortable with the disparity of wealth i see in our country. We (pensioners) have lived through a golden period of history. It is nothing I have done that has raised the value of my property by 10,000% I am extremely fortunate to be in receipt of a defined benefits pension for which I have in real terms, contributed a pittance over the years of my employment. Our advancing years means that our demands on the health system are increasing both in time and cost. The least we do do is purchase a few extra items in the Supermarket for the food banks, however this does little to assuage my conscience.

[towny44]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

Ray, even the BBC accept that the economy is now in better shape than under Labour, despite quantitive easing (which by the way the IMF say is the main reason the UK and US economies are faring so much better than Europe) Sterling is now higher in value against the Euro and not much changed against the Dollar than Labour left it, wealth gap is a meaningless statistic when even the lowest paid are better off than they were under Labour, TTIP is an EU led initiative so would certainly be supported by Labour, and I for one am definitely backing fracking.

John as a beneficiary of the last five years of Tory government I should be really appreciative. Instead I feel very uncomfortable with the disparity of wealth i see in our country. We (pensioners) have lived through a golden period of history. It is nothing I have done that has raised the value of my property by 10,000% I am extremely fortunate to be in receipt of a defined benefits pension for which I have in real terms, contributed a pittance over the years of my employment. Our advancing years means that our demands on the health system are increasing both in time and cost. The least we do do is purchase a few extra items in the Supermarket for the food banks, however this does little to assuage my conscience.

Ray, that sounds too self depracating but I am sure you worked very hard and used your abilities to achieve all of those benefits, house price inflation apart, and wealth disparity is not necessarily the major evil you seem to believe.
A robust growing economy is only achieved when people can reap the benefits of their inate ability, and once that is achieved the progressive tax system that we and most western economies seek to have will secure the income for the govt. to spend wisely on everything including a fair welfare system to protect those at the bottom of the earnings league.
I am sure that both major parties believe they have the correct strategy to secure the above, but history tells us that while a Tory govt. generally helps to sustain economic growth, Labour's tax and spend philosophy acts as a brake on growth and leads high achievers to seek tax avoidance schemes or to domicile themselves in a lower tax country.

[Jonty S1]

I would love to vote "None of the Above" but I feel the need to exercise my mandate. How do I decide between blue and purple though ?

Vote UKIP and cry in your beer when Labour take power.

[screwy]

I agree, Cubie.

For what it's worth, I feel the "professional" politicians have shown themselves to be inadequate for the task, let's allow the amateurs a say. They can't do any worse!

No way would I vote for Millibund.!!!

[Silver_Shiney]

I agree, Cubie.

For what it's worth, I feel the "professional" politicians have shown themselves to be inadequate for the task, let's allow the amateurs a say. They can't do any worse!

No way would I vote for Millibund.!!!

He doesn't even qualify as an amateur

[Not so ancient mariner]

John as a beneficiary of the last five years of Tory government I should be really appreciative. Instead I feel very uncomfortable with the disparity of wealth i see in our country. We (pensioners) have lived through a golden period of history. It is nothing I have done that has raised the value of my property by 10,000% I am extremely fortunate to be in receipt of a defined benefits pension for which I have in real terms, contributed a pittance over the years of my employment. Our advancing years means that our demands on the health system are increasing both in time and cost. The least we do do is purchase a few extra items in the Supermarket for the food banks, however this does little to assuage my conscience.

10,000% - over what time period? My house was built in 1969 and then cost £5482. If I was to sell now, I would be very lucky to get much over £200,000

[Ranchi]

Sorry NSAM but it's the postcode lottery. We live in a similarly depressed (house price wise) area. Was playing tennis last night with a chap who had a house in SW19 which he sold in the '90s. He reckons a two week let there in June/July would keep him in cornflakes for a whole year.

[Quizzical Bob]

The borrowing under the Tories is far higher now than it was under Labour......the £ devalued with 'quantitative easing' ....a massive wealth gap (the largest ever including the Victorian age and the 1930's) ...adoption of TTIP ....Fracking approved...yep the tories sure are working.....

Ray, even the BBC accept that the economy is now in better shape than under Labour, despite quantitive easing (which by the way the IMF say is the main reason the UK and US economies are faring so much better than Europe) Sterling is now higher in value against the Euro and not much changed against the Dollar than Labour left it, wealth gap is a meaningless statistic when even the lowest paid are better off than they were under Labour, TTIP is an EU led initiative so would certainly be supported by Labour, and I for one am definitely backing fracking.

John as a beneficiary of the last five years of Tory government I should be really appreciative. Instead I feel very uncomfortable with the disparity of wealth i see in our country. We (pensioners) have lived through a golden period of history. It is nothing I have done that has raised the value of my property by 10,000% I am extremely fortunate to be in receipt of a defined benefits pension for which I have in real terms, contributed a pittance over the years of my employment. Our advancing years means that our demands on the health system are increasing both in time and cost. The least we do do is purchase a few extra items in the Supermarket for the food banks, however this does little to assuage my conscience.

An increase of 10,000 % would be a factor of 101 times the original price. It's true that house prices have risen above inflation but nowhere near that amount.

[Meg 50]

Great - my OH has just been to vote - before he goes to work - I'm going in a minute...

He has proxy votes for 2 friends...

the chap in the polling station had no idea what to do!

Luckily their names had 'P' by them, which OH pointed out. He's voted on their behalf, just hope all was ok.

After all the Tower Hamlets kerfuffle, one would gave thought that the Polling Station staff would be properly prepared!