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Post by leonardo on May 1, 2005 10:20:19 GMT
Bit of fun but which Party (if any will you be voting for in the up coming British General election? You don't have to state your preference publicly if you chose not to but at least tick one of the options. As I am not in a position to vote anyway - people in the South (of Ireland) can't vote in British elections - I will refrain from voting here
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Post by taylorsman on May 1, 2005 10:48:53 GMT
I have already voted by Postal Vote ( a legitimate one which I applied for years ago and which I ensured was posted back to the Returning Officer and NOT handed to any Party Hack so it's not part of the Postal Vote Fraud that people are worried about).
Now who did I vote for? I have no problem with disclosing this, I am open in my Politics as I am in my Freemasonry, but will not say so just yet as I would be curious to know which Party other posters here think I have voted for this time from the postings and opinions I have previously stated.
BTW I did make a valid vote and didn't indulge in silly gimmicks such as sending in a blank paper or spoiling my paper etc, so this is not a trick question. I cast one vote for a genuine candidate standing in my Constituency.
So go ahead, have a guess at "Who did Taylorsman vote for"? and let's see who gets it right. I will give the answer between now and Polling Day depending on how much interest this thread attracts.
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Post by a on May 1, 2005 11:22:02 GMT
Taylorsman
Knowing your consitituency I could narrow it down but that would be cheating, so I will opt for the official monster raving loony party ;D
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Post by taylorsman on May 1, 2005 11:47:25 GMT
Nice try Stewart, but no cigar!
I don't see that it is cheating to know that I live in Reading West, it's not a secret.
Tell you what I'll make it easier for everyone, here is a list for all of the "Runners and Riders" in this Constituency.
Dave Boyle Veritas Ewan Cameron Conservative Denise Gaines Liberal Democrat Martin Salter Labour Peter Williams UK Independence Party Adrian Windisch Green
Currently it is held by Labour and is reckoned to be a safe seat neading a swing of 10.5% to change and with a majority of 8849 in 2001.
So don't be shy, have a stab, I won't be upset if you get it wrong. Now let me guess about you Stewart, somehow I see you as a Green or perhaps a Lib Dem if Greens aren't standing in your area?
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Post by a on May 1, 2005 12:01:21 GMT
Is it that obvious Taylorsman.
Ah well, I will confess.
I used to vote Conservative. But now yes it is most likely to be Green. Actually I have not checked if they have a candidate standing, hope that they do. If not I don't know who I would vote for.
Taylorsman
I guess (from some of your recent postings) Veritas.
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Post by taylorsman on May 1, 2005 12:06:56 GMT
It figures! You are in luck Stewart you live in Wantage and a Green is standing. Just about the second to last Party I'd vote for, the policies they stand for would cost me my job for a start. Each to his own, it's a Democracy after all and this is the only chance you get every 4 or 5 years then you are simply ignored till the next Election.
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Post by a on May 1, 2005 12:18:00 GMT
I am used to people ignoring me, so it is no problem ;D
Actually would you believe that I did once vote labour at a local election, but that was only because I really could not decide who to vote for, and the labour chap was the only one to knock on my door, and he did answer my questions.
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Post by taylorsman on May 1, 2005 14:20:25 GMT
I also voted Labour in 1997, NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by leonardo on May 1, 2005 15:12:36 GMT
If you think it's bad in the UK you should check out some of the poor excuses we have over here for politicians. They are nothing but a bunch of self-serving, self-centred hypocrites who would do just about anything to try and hoodwink you into voting for them and their policies. I'm sure there is the odd exception but my experience tells me these are very few and far between. When there is a General Election looming in our part of the world the politicians come out of the woodwork in their droves, pressing flesh wherever possible. (Read into that last comment as you wish) We've had them lining up outside our doorstep with the usual promises about one thing or another but then it's another for five years before they are ever seen or heard from again. I imagine that in this respect we are fortunate. It must be wonderful to be in such a prestigious position; seeing members of your constituency occasionally throughout the years between elections, but doing virtually nothing for them in the meantime. But in fairness they do keep us amused (should that be "bemused") with their Fr Ted approach to politics.
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Post by taylorsman on May 1, 2005 16:21:57 GMT
Unfortunately over here we elect MPs as REPRESENTATIVES and not as MANDATED DELEGATES.
Thus in theory someone could be elected say as a Tory this Thursday and resign from that Party and join UKIP or Veritas or whatever and not a thing could be done about it. We elect the MAN not the Party. This hasn't happened as yet but in the last Parliament there were 3 defections, a Labour MP who changed to Lib Dem, a Tory who became an Ulster Democratic Unionist although he represented a seat in the South East of England, and Stewart's MP who was elected as a Tory but changed over to Labour a few weeks ago, (he and the other two are not seeking re-election this time).
What we need is a greater use of Referenda here in the UK. We have had them for Devolution of Scots and Welsh Assemblies and in 1975 whether we ought to stay in the EU or not and are promised one for the European Constitution and if we go into the Euro ( now highly unlikely to happen). However we will never be given one on key issues such as Capital Punishment where our intellectually arrogant know it all MPs think they are so much better than the people who elect them and are out of touch, at least as far as the Three Main Parties are concerned. I understand that referenda are used in the Irish Republic, and by France and the Swiss, which puts the lie to many MPs who dismiss Referenda as the tools of the dictators simply because Hitler used them on a couple of occasions to obtain the re-unification of the Saarland with Germany and to ratify the Anchluss with Austria.
It's a cr@p system to say the least but I suppose it is better than the alternatives. I honestly can't blame anyone who can't be bothered to vote this Thursday, and I think the "Stay at Home" party will have a good result!
My prediction? Blair will win but with a reduced majority of between 60 to 70.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on May 1, 2005 17:43:50 GMT
Stay at home party myself .
Coming from a working class family My dad would cast me aside if he thought i had turned blue .He would add to the colour by strangling me showing off his RED face as he did so.
My 16 year old son believes he should be able to vote at his age and believes he has enough knowledge to cast the vote.
Now there is a separate discussion all on its own.
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Post by taylorsman on May 2, 2005 7:54:54 GMT
Lee, my Father and I have different politics, his control and power over me ended when I moved to England in Feb 1972. I have made my choice and as Stewart correctly guessed I voted for Veritas using my Postal Vote . If he votes at all on Thursday my Father will vote Labour as he has done since he was 21 and will do until he dies, even although he recognises that Blair's party bears little resemblence to that of Attlee, or Wilson, or the late John Smith and is a Socialism Free Zone. Unlike myself he is tied into his background and history whereas I have changed my political affiliation over the years.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on May 2, 2005 10:11:24 GMT
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Post by Siontific on May 2, 2005 11:12:36 GMT
I definitely think we should have the 99p coin !!
;D
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Post by taylorsman on May 2, 2005 11:15:38 GMT
It is always a laugh to read of the Fringe Party Candidates. Sometimes they actually bite the big parties on the bum and win, Martin Bell in 1997 , the Doctor who won in Worcestershire in 2001, Dick Taverne in Lincoln in 1974 etc, but this is unusual. With our system it is unlikely that an Independent or a small party candidate will get in. Bell lost in 2001 and I doubt if the Doctor will hold on in Kidderminster, Taverne lost in Oct 1974 and was never heard of again. Although I voted for Veritas I do not seriouisly expect them to win any seats, not even Kilroy Silk in Erewash, nor for that matter do I see UKIP doing under First past the Post what they achieved in the Euro Elections under PR. Likewise the Greens , although they have Councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council. We even had an Independent Tory who stood a few times in Hove, getting a couple of thousand votes at one election, but I see he is not standing this time.
There have been some funnies in Elections. There was Auberon Waugh in 1979 standing as the Dog Lovers Candidate against Jeremy Thorpe, then we have had an "Indepedendent for Jesus and his Cross", "Miss Whiplash", "Come to my coming out Party", "Bring a Bottle and a Bird Party", the "Natural Law Party" who bounced up and down on their ar5es, and the unforgetable Commander Bill Boakes RN who stood as "White Resident Monarchist Road Safety " Candidate in many by elections. Of course the late Lord Sutch was the ultimate pi55 taker and although he has now gone to that great Parliament in the sky, there are still some of his Party standing this time. I remember at one Election a Monster Raving Loony Candidate tried to put his cat called "Mandu" , (think about it), up for the seat but the Returning Officer ruled this invalid and he had to stand himself with the cat's picture on his Election Address.
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Post by Siontific on May 2, 2005 16:55:29 GMT
And for those of you who think you know who you should be voting for ... try this...... www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/I see the topic and poll haven't attracted that much interest. A portent for the 5th? Beware the (very early) ides of May !!
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staffs
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Post by staffs on May 2, 2005 17:01:04 GMT
Well this is me after that poll :
it tell me that i should vote: Green The Green Party, which is of course strong on environmental issues, takes a strong position on welfare issues, but was firmly against the war in Iraq. Other key concerns are cannabis, where the party takes a liberal line, and foxhunting, which unsurprisingly the Greens are firmly against. The Greens are also anti-Europe.
Shoot the damn foxes i say and skin up a spliff if thats your choice
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Post by taylorsman on May 2, 2005 17:34:37 GMT
Not my choice, Lee. They are anti Aviation and would put a tax on aircraft fuel. Now any drop off in the now recovering Passenger miles for air travel could cost me my job and this Turkey does NOT vote for Xmas! Also as one who is very into technology their "simple life" philosophy does not appeal to me one little bit.
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Post by staffs on May 2, 2005 18:05:24 GMT
i am omly going by what the poll said .I doubt if i will even cast a vote.
I suppose i could sell my vote on e bay like my son found for auction.
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Post by taylorsman on May 2, 2005 18:39:04 GMT
I understand that has now been blocked as it is illegal here in the UK and e-bay will not permit auctioning of illegal articles or services.
Still think it will be a Majority for Blair of about 70 to 80. Personally I would like to see him get back but with his majority slashed to about 25 to 30 like John Major in 1992, still PM but his wings heavily clipped and in effect impotent.
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