Today in the uk we've got two (or even three in some places) elections going on - the general election, council elections and mayoral elections. The bbc have a nice overview of the current goings on. Polls have consistantly the result as too close to call at the moment, with the current estimates being either a slim Tory majority or a hung parliment where no one party has a majority, which could potentially get very interesting (or messy, depending on how things go). I'd be particularly interested in what coverage non-UK people have seen - I was very surprised when one of the debates was the front story on The Daily Show a week or so ago, but I suspect that other than some token coverage most US news outlets will have barely touched it. So now all the political campaigning, arguing and showboating has finished, we can finally sit back with tea and crumpets and watch the numbers and analysis slowly unfolds over the next 24 hours or so. What say you, chaps?

Quote: Original post by OrangyTang
What say you, chaps?

Tea and crumpets look gross.

On a related note, you're right. The US media doesn't cover UK politics much at all. It sound absolutely riveting though. A real nail biter.

I'm hoping to see a slim Conservative majority, myself. Better than a hung Parliament and people voting for Lib Dem simply because of "Cleggmania" and people who still have irrational hangups about Thatcher; perfect recipe to weasel Gordon Brown back in for five more years of bankruptcy, Big Brother, zero civil liberties, expenses fiddling etc. usw.

People spread this muck about the Tories but most of it is related to the early Thatcher years when the country was totally broke after yet another Labour recession. 30 years ago, for fuck's sake - things weren't even half as bad as they are now.

It's so shallow and narrow minded. The Tories have moved on, give them a chance.

Apparently one of the C-SPAN channels in the US is having dedicated coverage of the election later on tonight.

Skip the tea but yes to the crumpets.

Personally I would like the Liberal Democrats to get into power, mainly because no the Tories have not changed, they may have a flashy expensive advertising campaign to sell this but where did they get this money? From big corporations who know that if the Tories get into power they will be given tax breaks, etc.

While Labour hasn't been fantastic as someone said on First Time Voters question time, Gordon Brown was elected captain of a sinking ship, there are some major things Labour has done successfully since the last time the conservatives were in power such as the minimum wage, reducing the wait time of patients. While no I don't support labour personally I have nothing but contempt for the "For the Rich" attitude the conservatives seem to have.

The downside to the election is due to the way it works chances are even if Liberal Democrats were to have the majority Labour would still somehow be in power I believe.

Which is absolutely ludicrous.

"Tea and crumpets look gross."


You have to imagine that the crumpets are sort of cakey, served hot and the point of the holes is that the butter soaks into the cakeiness.

This election is pretty uninspiring. Looks more like a triplet of whining clones rather than a clash of ideas and ideals. All of them peddle 'change' (how original), but really, it will be pretty much 'steady as she goes' whoever you choose, recession and all. Same old same old... Lukewarm politics, soft as jelly those three. The tabloid press is a fun read though. Rupert Murdoch's drone army in full alert!

Would be funny seeing the Lib Dems getting to n.10, and starting to wonder about how to actually run a country.

Quote: Original post by Sirisian
Tea and crumpets look gross.

You sir, have no taste, and I thumb my nose at you.

Meanwhile we've got pre-analysis analysis in the form of this poll of polls. Which generally suggests that polls are fairly accurate but by no means able to conclusively state the outcome ahead of time. So not particularly surprising there then. :)

Quote: Original post by OrangyTang

Quote: Original post by Sirisian
Tea and crumpets look gross.

You sir, have no taste, and I thumb my nose at you.

Meanwhile we've got pre-analysis analysis in the form of this poll of polls. Which generally suggests that polls are fairly accurate but by no means able to conclusively state the outcome ahead of time. So not particularly surprising there then. :)

I tend to look at the polls, but taking them as gospel is the wrong thing to do.

There were something like 35% undecided before today and most of them will likely have voted by now, or perhaps will do so on the way home from work etc. It's anyone's guess what these people eventually decided, or if they even decided at all - some people literally turn up at the polling station, get their ballot paper and spent 30s in the booth swithering before putting their X down as opposed to researching in advance.

That said, the Tories have been ahead in the polls for quite some time now, with a ten point lead at one stage (which they seem to have pissed away, regrettably).

Cameron's the man for No. 10, if you ask me. Brown has had it; he's lost the plot, has no regard for the electorate and has tarnished the Labour Party's reputation forever. I would actually have considered voting Labour if he had quit and a new and totally different leader attempted to take the party in a new direction, despite all their previous problems. A new leader and a genuine pledge to backpedal and improve might just have reeled me in.

Lib Dems have an overinflated view of how they're doing, and people are voting for them to keep the Tories out (stupid, stupid, stupid - this leads to a hung Parliament and more Labour while the bond markets crash because the speculators have shat themselves, and all this talk of "tactical voting" is highly irresponsible if you ask me) and then you have the joke novelty parties like BNP who may even be on the brink of collapse because this new scandal of scuffling with the Asian kids, and all these issues with their webmaster, have sent the party shuddering to its very core by the sounds of it.

Quote: Original post by ukdeveloper
The Tories have moved on, give them a chance.

I'll believe it when I see it; I remember the feeling for the 80s and early 90s, and for 'the average working man' having them in power is not, and will not, be a good thing.

As a leader Cameron is another Blair; lots of flash but I'm not seeing any substance.

The Independent had an intresting article about a council area which Cameron has held up as a model for how they should do things.

That model has included closing down homeless shelters, closing down youth centres (including one gifted to the area to trying and sell it) and leveling charges at the old and the sick.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Labour are prefect but if anyone thinks the Conservatives will sweap into power and make life better for the working man.. well, they are sorely mistaken.

Personally, I don't think ANY of the parties deserve my support, and as there is no way to express this which counts I won't be voting. I believe the whole system needs to be scrapped and we need to rethink everything based on the age we live in now and the realities of it.

???