The Leaders' Debates

[Killer Meteor]

Doesn't matter what the job is they want experience. Never mind that you can't get experience unless someone takes a chance on you in the first place. Vicious circle.

Maybe the upcoming Tory government will be crap. If so I'll be the first one to bitch and complain. I'm really no Tory fanboy. I just see a glimmer of hope is all. Only a glimmer mind.

Why vote for Tories? Aren't the Lib Dems a good candidate?

I just don't trust the Tories, and I've lost a lot of confidence in Labour. let's give Lib Dems a chance, they've never had one!

[saltysam]

The tories will look after the privileged and screw everyone else.they will get in and i'll be proven right.The thinking that they've changed and are suddenly the party for all is bullshit (imo.)

[Killer Meteor]

The tories will look after the privileged and screw everyone else.they will get in and i'll be proven right.The thinking that they've changed and are suddenly the party for all is bullshit (imo.)

I feel the same way.

[Markgway]

Why vote for Tories? Aren't the Lib Dems a good candidate?

The Lib Dems are too far left for me. Even though I conceed they would bring a fresh perspective I also think the last thing Britain needs is to go deeper into Europe. My politics at this point in time are most closely alligned with the Tories. It's not that I trust them or agree with every point but that I feel they are the best option for this country's future.

The tories will look after the privileged and screw everyone else.they will get in and i'll be proven right.The thinking that they've changed and are suddenly the party for all is bullshit (imo.)

I hope you're wrong, but we'll see. Probably, unless there's a hung parliment.

[saltysam]

The only hope Labour has of clinging to power will be a hung parliament. Clegg's price to fall in with Labour would be the resignation of Brown so he's certainly finished after May 6th. I think the Tories will win though with a 50-60 seat majority.

[Markgway]

The voting is going all over the place. Impossible to predict right now - as much as the pundits are trying. My seat was a Labour hold. Big fucking surprise. If the candidate had been dead for 20 years he'd still get voted in.

[grim_tales]

Natiinally its a hung parliament...

[saltysam]

I Imagine Cameron will form a minority government,introduce some popular measures and go back to the country within a year.

[bradavon]

Cameron + Clegg is way better than Brown + Clegg IMO. I don't want Tories at all but I sure as hell don't want Labour. But yes, we basically need another election.

[saltysam]

Can't believe the Tories couldn't get themselves a majority,shocking really.Labour needs a rest and a new leader,they'll be back though,stronger and better than ever

[bradavon]

True and (maybe) True.

Best way to jazz up the general election ever! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfiqegMuvuw

[Markgway]

Cameron + Clegg is way better than Brown + Clegg IMO.

If they can get past the electoral reform issue.

The Libdems only got 3% less votes than Labour but only managed roughly a fifth of the number of seats. It's a good argument for proportional representation.

The Conservatives got the same number of popular votes as Tony Blair did in 2005 but because of Labour's seat reformation it's not enough for a majority.

[bradavon]

I didn't know any of that. It certainly stinks the Lib Dems can do so well in number of votes, yet so badly in number of seats. It makes no sense the two can be so off.

[saltysam]

Once Clegg has done his deal with the tories he should be next after Brown to resign and allow a new leader to take his place..A Pathetic showing from the Liberals really.i'd recall Jeremy Thorpe if i was in their shoes.

[saltysam]

The Conservatives got the same number of popular votes as Tony Blair did in 2005 but because of Labour's seat reformation it's not enough for a majority.

So the tories after 13 years out of government,up against a deeply unpopular government only managed the same share of the vote as Blair's worst election result that's awful,no wonder they couldn't get near a majority.

[Markgway]

I can't figure out how the Lib Dems did so badly.

For some inexplicible reason the Labour vote went UP in Scotland.

[saltysam]

Labour did well in the local elections apparently.they retook Liverpool from the Liberals after years out of power.

[Markgway]

So the tories after 13 years out of government,up against a deeply unpopular government only managed the same share of the vote as Blair's worst election result that's awful,no wonder they couldn't get near a majority.

The Tory vote has risen massively - but only to Labour 2005 standards. That's how far they'd fallen in 1997. The reason the Tories couldn't get a majority was because Labour redrafted the political landscape so that they could gain more seats with less votes. Mainly applicable in urban, working class areas. Since 2001 (I think) our constituency has changed from Dundee East to Dundee West - presumably in a bid to keep the SNP from taking both halves of the city. Cameron in 2010 is as popular as Blair in 2005 but only one of them could get a majority. The public don't yet trust the Tories - but I think if Cameron and Clegg could make a co-operative government work the results might be more favourable next time. No matter what happens Brown's position is untenable.

[saltysam]

A Cameron and Clegg coalition won't last-like i said earlier Labour need to ditch Brown,get a new,dynamic Leader and sit back and wait.

[Markgway]

A Cameron and Clegg coalition won't last-like i said earlier Labour need to ditch Brown,get a new,dynamic Leader and sit back and wait.

They don't need a coalition to last for any longer than six months which is likely when the next election will be. If a Con-Lib pact can stabalise the country and show that Cameron can handle the job that would possibly galvanise the electorate into a Tory majority coem October. Labour have to hope that the Tories fail. Either way they need a new leader. Problem is: There's no natural, charismatic choice. I suspect it'll be David Milliband, but he's not overwhelmingly popular, is he? I suppose as the Lab voter Sam is best placed to answer that.

Any truth to the rumour that Grim voted Monster Raving Looney?

[saltysam]

what was that Cameron quote a week or so ago..."A Vote for the lib dems is a vote for labour"....

[saltysam]

interesting article from the Sunday version of Mark's newspaper of choice

http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/

[bradavon]

It's shocking how close The Tories came to winning!

As Salty says, they MUST now get rid of Brown. He is doing nothing but hurting the party. We then need another election.

A Tories+Lib Dem coalition is my most favourite outcome for now. The Tories frankly have won, so give them a chance but I'd like to see Lib Dems finally being given a shot at some form of power. We can finally see how good/bad they'd power with some actual control. We already know how Labour run things, so give the other two a shot and then in 6 months, we'd all have a much better idea how well they all do.

People say Lib Dems are too wishy washy and too left but we don't really know. They've not been in power for 100 years!

In my constituency we had someone called A.NO.N, who turned up on polling day dressed as a Cow!

interesting article from the Sunday version of Mark's newspaper of choice

Isn't Mark the ghost editor?

[grim_tales]

How is it fair the Lib Dems got 23% of the popular vote but only 57 seats?

[saltysam]

How is it fair the Lib Dems got 23% of the popular vote but only 57 seats?

Because they failed,and failed dismally.As stated earlier Clegg should follow Brown out of the door.Cameron won't last either,the tory grandees are most displeased at his failure to get a majority.