General Election Party Policy and Voting

For those unsure of how to vote on May 6th, though there are far too many policies for me to summarise them on this blog, the BBC have put together a handy guide to party policies. You can also answer questions about different policies and find a closest vote match at - Vote for policies - which include all the parties rather than just the three main.

If you want to tactically vote - look up the constituently you live in and the likelihood of which party wining it at this election at Election Calculus. Unsure what your constituency is? Look it up at election maps.

Whatever way you choose to place your vote, there are always people to vote for, independents, none of the above parties and of course the three main ones. So use your vote and have your say.

Happy voting!


Update: All the finial polls can be seen over on Political Betting, if anyone would rather tactically vote according what's happening nationally.

Also you can look up your constituency on Wikipedia to see who's standing in advance.

Election Week Three - Chicken and Egg

I've posted this slightly later than intended, as the weather has been so nice and I live in fear of this being the only sunshine we see all year. But last week was dominated by a vindictive backlash against the Lib Dems in the papers, the 2nd debate that was meant to be about international affairs, but ended up very similar to the first debate, scaremongering about hung parliaments and Brown going off the media/public radar. Outside of that.

* David Cameron not only ripped the head off a man in a chicken suit, but he was egged in the street. Campaigning certainly can be a bit of a freak show at times.

* Wonder why Blair has been quiet? Every giant ash cloud of death has a sliver lining, he's stranded in Israel.

* Brown responded to criticism of his election campaign being slow, sluggish and pretty non existent by - inviting an Elvis impersonator to sing "The Wonder of You". Yes, Suspicious Minds will be pushed aside by that stunt. I can't help but think though - Elvis has left the planet, Brown was never on it.

* In light of my lateness of posting a bonus point. What happens in the event of a hung parliament? Anthony Wells over on UK polling has a very interesting post which answers that question.

Polls are mixed at the end of the week. Enforcing the notion that this is going to be a very unpredictable election and a polling roller-coaster right up until votes are cast. Largely because you can't account for people's anger, apathy and distaste with political parties at the moment.

Labours Censorship Of Comments

I was watching Labours animated manifesto on Youtube and was struck by the statement, "we like people with opinions" within their "active democracy" section. So I thought I would test this, I posted a comment:

So you plan to do in 5 years what you promised to do in the last 13, with no money, only debt you've created. That sounds so achievable.

It may surprise you to know it was rejected. I tried another tac:

It's nice to see a policeman on the beat . . . . . . for once.

Nope, another:

Boom and bust, where art thou?

Then another:

Please amend the dialogue to say "we like people with our opinions".

Interestingly other political parties don't censor their comments, seeming to understand that not everyone will agree with you. Yet to take away the voice and criticisms of those that don't, while I hasten to add, inviting comment, is far worse in the long run for democracy, tempers and debate.

Political Posters and Slogans So Far - Part 1

What delightful campaign posters from the Tories and Labour to date. In fact so much so I thought I'd take a look them.

• Labour's two face Cameron poster

So off camera Cameron has an even bigger forehead than a Ferengi. Worse still the man is plotting to scrap our right to see a cancer specialist within two weeks. Not something he's put into his manifesto, given the slogan does translate to - the Tories want to kill you - perhaps I'm looking at the wrong section, maybe it's the under reducing the population chapter?

Verdict - Bit rich from Labour, I don't know anyone that hasn't been on waiting lists longer than 2 weeks to see an actual Doctor. A "right" is not a word I would use, "luck" would be more accurate. Hypocritical at best.

• Labours election campaign slogan

"A Future Fair for All"

This slogan was announced along with a speech about knowing that they are inept, but the Tories won't let everyone ride on the roller-coaster at the forthcoming fair. Though given inequality has increased under a Labour government, perhaps they mean- some futures are fairer than others?

Verdict - Gimmicky and joins the ever growing list of slogans generated by the Labour spin machine. The only use it has is allowing Brown to keep repeating his new slogan at every opportunity and like a scratch on a CD, he will. An exhausted and exhausting election technique. Give us a break.

• Conservative "I've Never Voted Tory"

Like a dirty secret you wouldn't want anyone to know, these posters act as declaration, you're not alone if you are thinking of voting scum sucking pigs Tory. Like an alcoholic Julie states it openly for the first time, while her son comforts her and daughter looks like she might vomit.

Verdict - Too manufactured, vanilla and generic. What are they for really? Tell us your plans for families Dave, she may look happy, but does she really know? Does anyone know? Do you know? What a waste of paper.

• Tories - Gordon will even tax you when you die
  

Jumped the gun with this one, as it isn't Labour policy and apparently it wasn't under consideration. But don't let facts stand in the way of scaring people with death. Gordon will steal your money when you die and then bury you in an unmarked grave.

Verdict -"Brown taxing everything" narrative could strike a cord with people, as it is an expression about him so often used. Yet this just fell flat on it's face, badly judged. Another waste of paper.

• What do we learn?

Tories can't communicate their message, they're walking in the dark while hitting their shins on chairs and kicking out at Labour. They really need to be clear and a lot more finely tuned in their campaign. Stop trying to be everything and just be about something.

Labour don't have a lot of money and are it playing safe. Same battle lines as they always draw, evil Tories, cuts etc. Their attack on Cameron is similar to John Major's on Blair, asking voters to question what's behind the public face. This is a good attack, though with Blair being so associated with New Labour, there is only so far they can take this without it backfiring.

The Political Party - How It Works

In light of the last few posts on the party conferences, I realised that I might be presumptuous in thinking everyone understands the significance of the conference. So a quick run down of the nature of political party conference.

A political party isn't just MPs who sit in parliament, but anyone who is a signed up member. Policy gets put forward at conferences and the party members vote on it. Perhaps the best way of putting it is, that the party as a whole agree the mandate, they also are tasked with electing or nominating the party's leaders and leadership bodies within the party. In essence the conference is general meeting of the political party in order to make decisions, for non party members, it's a good indication of what we will be hearing when election season starts.