Labour vs Conservatives

baileysbattlebus

I haven't voted in the poll.

My leanings would be towards Labour rather than the Tories - I suppose I remember "slash and burn" from the last Tory administration.

I have concerns about the Tories - mainly would the Tory front bench become full time politicians - David Cameron tried and failed to get them to give up outside interests - I don't mean barristers or dentists or doctors here.
If they aren't able to commit their time to governing the country - just how committed to the country will they be?

I was somewhat concerned recently to hear the following story about a member of the shadow cabinet: he had apparently already told David Cameron that he didn't want a higher profile post than that which he currently holds in advance of the general election, because he didn't want to give up other interests on account of time commitments or potential conflicts of interest involved in a different post.

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/12/shadow-cabinet.html

Secondly - what will they do? They haven't put forward any ways in which they would help get us out of the mess we are in.
Will they do so before the next election - or hope they will become elected purely because Labour are pretty dire?

I am sick of hearing "they didn't fix the roof when the sun was shining" etc - Well, come on Dave, tell us how you will fix the roof.

The same for Labour - everyone knows there will have to big changes in public spending - where are they? When will they start - what will they do?

Are both parties going to wait for over a year before we know what either of them are planning? Until after an election?

If all they are concerned about is an election in a years time, neither party deserve to be in government.

[Deleted User]

amcluesent wrote: »

FYI, the senior civil service is already preparing for a Tory administration, by giving briefings to the shadow cabinet and openly discussing how to implement Tory policies.

This is nothing new and always happens in the year before a GE,enables the opposition to hit the ground running should they win.
My guess is that neither labour or the tories will be able to form a majority govt after the election and there will be a balance of power held by the liberals the snp and the irish mps,the price to pay will be PR and a few seats round the cabinet table,and for what its worth my bet is that labour will form the minority govt,to many people dislike cameron and exposure during a 4 week campaign will expose his weakness and lack of vision.Remember oppositions dont win elections govts have to lose them.

Alan_M_2

I've always voted conservative, I am after all, a capitalist pig. Therefore it would be dissapointing if I voted any other way;)

However, I really don't know who to vote for this time, It certainly won't be labour, but I really like the sense that Vince Cable talks.

I really don't understand our voting system, the table above were quite an eye opener, the Lib Dems get way more votes than I ever thought they would.

What is the part of the system that in reality would exclude them from taking power?

I will add I do understand the basic principals of the the first past the post system but wonder how specifically this works against the Lib Dems.

Generali

Alan_M wrote: »

I've always voted conservative, I am after all, a capitalist pig. Therefore it would be dissapointing if I voted any other way;)

However, I really don't know who to vote for this time, It certainly won't be labour, but I really like the sense that Vince Cable talks.

I really don't understand our voting system, the table above were quite an eye opener, the Lib Dems get way more votes than I ever thought they would.

What is the part of the system that in reality would exclude them from taking power?

I will add I do understand the basic principals of the the first past the post system but wonder how specifically this works against the Lib Dems.

The trouble is, if you introduce PR then the Lib Dems will almost always be needed to form a Government. In effect you are giving huge amounts of power to (and guaranteeing a place in Government and Cabinet for) a party that receives a fifth of the vote.

Obviously the current system is far from perfect. PR seems even worse to me as it hands large amounts of power to unpopular parties without really being much more representative as almost always either the largest or second largest party is out of power.

*MF*

Alan_M wrote: »

I've always voted conservative, I am after all, a capitalist pig. Therefore it would be dissapointing if I voted any other way;)

However, I really don't know who to vote for this time, It certainly won't be labour, but I really like the sense that Vince Cable talks.

I really don't understand our voting system, the table above were quite an eye opener, the Lib Dems get way more votes than I ever thought they would.

What is the part of the system that in reality would exclude them from taking power?

I will add I do understand the basic principals of the the first past the post system but wonder how specifically this works against the Lib Dems.

The principal reason has to do with the fact that there are some constituencies where the votes will always tend to one party, and others - so called marginal constituencies - where it may take only a very few votes (perhaps as little as 10) to change the party elected.

If you want to read more here is a reasonable link:

http://www.justsolutions.eu/Marginals/startmarginals.html

I have already conceded that PR is not perfect, in fact there is no system which is, but I prefer it more than the present system, and the anomalies it contains - eg., Scottish MPs voting on purely English affairs - to me is a bit like giving your next door neighbour your wallet every week and letting him decide how to spend your money - it's nonsensical imho.

For me what that table shows is the anomalies - yes, there is a winner, but does that serve the "majority" who did not vote that way, or just the minority who did? The subject of ID cards is (maybe?) an example, Labour are intent on spending a large sum of money on the system - but is that a majority view or a minority one - would it get through the Commons if a majority view (say one against ID cards) prevailed? Under the current system, it most certainly can - as did the Poll tax under Thatcher.

If it is always possible for a minority to subjudicate the majority - is that sensible?. Not for me, it ain't.

My main thought remains - given the state of the UK's finances, and the clear limitations it places on what options are available - it would be best if no party had a clear majority, and they all found the best way forward. The current system largely precludes that option.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Pobby wrote: »

What a choice! Nu labour or Tory. Think I`ll take a rain cheque!

me too....