General Election...

[Slave to the rhythm]

You obviously missed the bit where I said this then:

As for which party to vote for, it is an absolute minefield. I appreciate that Labour, in my view, have done an all-round good job since they have been in power. No government is ever going to be able to satisfy the needs of all of its citizens. I disagree with the reasons behind going to war but share Blairs stance on Europe.

However, I voted Lib Dem in the local elections and will probably do so again in the general...

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I'm somebody who really misses the good old days of old (ie, socialist) Labour. New Labour are simply less offensive Tories.

The Lib Dems are probably going to get my vote as well.

[bucksred]

You obviously missed the bit where I said this then:

As for which party to vote for, it is an absolute minefield. I appreciate that Labour, in my view, have done an all-round good job since they have been in power. No government is ever going to be able to satisfy the needs of all of its citizens. I disagree with the reasons behind going to war but share Blairs stance on Europe.

However, I voted Lib Dem in the local elections and will probably do so again in the general...

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The Guardians reporting of Southern African affairs have been tainted to a huge extent by its writers political leanings, and thus I suggest makes it unfit to be classified in the same breath as those other titles mentioned. Hence my comment.

As to the election, how people have faired, or preceive themselves to have faired, will decide their vote. different age groups have significant differences in their view of the parties. I expect Labour to be caned by anti war, anti globalization, and immigrants groups. The Tories will score significant victories amongst the older generation, to who immigration, and the Britishness issue is much more important.

For meself, I'll not be voting Lib Dem, but other than that, I aint made my mind up, not that voting for another party but Tory round these parts would make a difference-our MP has, I beleive the third highest majority of his party in the country.

[Guest east_dundry_red]

I do study polotics but its all poo and to be honest i may vote BNP the way things are going. No I'm not racist (i have black friends so don't start that one) But least they will get rid of the immagrants. I cant stand them they should be thrown back into the sea when they reach our shores.

Conservative like to privatise things labour are usless (cant keep a hospital clean) Lib dem who?

Don't know who i'll vote for.

[slartibartfast]

put it this way, city are only thing RED getting my vote

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So, a crap year for you looms on BOTH fronts!

[Slave to the rhythm]

I do study polotics but its all poo and to be honest i may vote BNP the way things are going. No I'm not racist (i have black friends so don't start that one) But least they will get rid of the immagrants. I cant stand them they should be thrown back into the sea when they reach our shores.

Conservative like to privatise things labour are usless (cant keep a hospital clean) Lib dem who?

Don't know who i'll vote for.

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Dear God, there is no hope for this country when idiots like this are studying polotics. I always thought that the correct spelling was "politics" but I guess I am mistaken. "I'm not racist but immagrants (shouldn't that be immigrants) should be thrown back into the sea". That's in the running for stupidest quote of 2005 so far.

[CiderEagle]

I will be voting tactically - I would like to vote the way I think, which is Labour, but here in North Devon a vote for Labour would be wasted so I will be voting Lib Dem to keep the admittedly wonderfully named Orlando Fraser from taking the seat on behalf of the Conservative "Don't call us Tory" party.

LukeJones2, I totally reject your arguments for not voting. People died so the likes of you and I (and admittedly Willsbridge Red, but stay with me on this ) could have the vote. If you don't like any of the options then pick the least worst one and vote for them - its true that one vote never lost an election but apathy is a disease that is worryingly catching. The more you express the opinion that you aren't going to vote, the more other people are likely to say "hey, he ain't voting so why should I?" and so on...

I have more respect for BNP voters than people who don't use their vote. I urge you to reconsider your stance - for one thing, if you're in the same constituency as East Dundry Red with his inarticulate and mis-spelt prejudices, then you'd be cancelling him / her out at least.

[Guest DrFaustus]

I will be voting tactically - I would like to vote the way I think, which is Labour, but here in North Devon a vote for Labour would be wasted so I will be voting Lib Dem to keep the admittedly wonderfully named Orlando Fraser from taking the seat on behalf of the Conservative "Don't call us Tory" party.

LukeJones2, I totally reject your arguments for not voting. People died so the likes of you and I (and admittedly Willsbridge Red, but stay with me on this  ) could have the vote. If you don't like any of the options then pick the least worst one and vote for them - its true that one vote never lost an election but apathy is a disease that is worryingly catching. The more you express the opinion that you aren't going to vote, the more other people are likely to say "hey, he ain't voting so why should I?" and so on...

I have more respect for BNP voters than people who don't use their vote. I urge you to reconsider your stance - for one thing, if you're in the same constituency as East Dundry Red with his inarticulate and mis-spelt prejudices, then you'd be cancelling him / her out at least.

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Good shout sir.

[BCFCNW]

I do study polotics but its all poo and to be honest i may vote BNP the way things are going. No I'm not racist (i have black friends so don't start that one) But least they will get rid of the immagrants. I cant stand them they should be thrown back into the sea when they reach our shores.

Conservative like to privatise things labour are usless (cant keep a hospital clean) Lib dem who?

Don't know who i'll vote for.

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You shouldnt worry too much since, as far as I'm aware, the mentally ill and/or under 8's don't get the vote just yet.

Interesting that you're studying 'polotics' though; you make a good case for the abolishment of education for all.

[lukejones2]

LukeJones2, I totally reject your arguments for not voting. People died so the likes of you and I (and admittedly Willsbridge Red, but stay with me on this  ) could have the vote. If you don't like any of the options then pick the least worst one and vote for them - its true that one vote never lost an election but apathy is a disease that is worryingly catching. The more you express the opinion that you aren't going to vote, the more other people are likely to say "hey, he ain't voting so why should I?" and so on...

I have more respect for BNP voters than people who don't use their vote. I urge you to reconsider your stance - for one thing, if you're in the same constituency as East Dundry Red with his inarticulate and mis-spelt prejudices, then you'd be cancelling him / her out at least.

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Interesting.. but please just call me Lukejones.

This is probably the best argument I have heard for using my vote, and it is possible that what you say is true. It's not that I don't like any of the options... in fact, as I think I said above, I would vote red.

I am not sure that I will vote still, although I appreciate your reasoning, but I will just say that those who wouldn't vote because somebody else hasn't probably shouldn't vote anyway. A vote should be your decision so to not vote based on someone else's decision suggests that, should they vote, they are unlikely to do so from their own opinions anyway.

[The Batman]

Dear God, there is no hope for this country when idiots like this are studying polotics. I always thought that the correct spelling was "politics" but I guess I am mistaken. "I'm not racist but immagrants (shouldn't that be immigrants) should be thrown back into the sea". That's in the running for stupidest quote of 2005 so far.

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Have you seen the conservative posters around??

A policy on immigration isn't racist = true

How clean do you expect a hospital to be = speaks for itself.

dunno about the others, i live in Wolves so they've probably all been torn down. I don't wanna start an illegal immigration debate because the race card {see quote above by Andyjones2004} will always be played due to the country that we live in. What with my uni banning st george's day, yet having a st patricks day one last month.

But the idea behind them is true, however i can't see the Tories getting in, and if they did get in, they'd try but to no avail.

I too study politics, been doing it since year 12 which was 4 years ago at A Level, now i'm at uni. The idea of electoral reform sprang to mind, but i honestly don't think anyone cares, nobody votes anyway.

As for the BNP, they are certainly patriotic, {which now is a bad thing apparently}, and they'd certainly crack down on crime what with them wanting a corporate police state. BUT, it's just too extreme for my liking. Although radical left groups have killed far more people as recent history shows and still had nothing to show for it, the far right have always been seen as worse.

[City Rocker]

Well Coin-op, it should be a no-brainer, a simple choice to vote for the present government. Since Britain is now better off than at any time in living memory.

Except it's not. Personally I find it difficult to vote for a party that has Blair as it's leader. Lying get! Trouble is, what's the alternative?

Conservative: Hope we never again have to suffer a Tory government. Don't think I've ever met a Conservative voter under the age of about 45 (well none that would admit to it anyway). But I'm concerned many new young voters just can't remember how the country was decimated by the Thatcher years. Things were bad. Don't go there.

Labour: I'm fairly satisfied with the government in general, but foreign policy's the problem. Blair instigated an illegal war and is responsible for thousands of unnecessary deaths, British included. He's also made us a target for terrorists and extremists. Not sure I can vote for that.

LibDem. Traditional middle ground alternative, but probably now to the left of Labour. What do they stand for? Not sure, except higher taxes. I might vote for them anyway as a protest. Ha! That'll show em.

Greens: Tree-hugging, lentil-eating, dreadlocked hippies. Have a wash!

UK Independence: W#####s. But gained a shred of credibility when Kilroy Silk quit.

BNP: Odious, hateful, hate-filled, neanderthals. Not very nice at all.

...........So that's my in-depth analysis. Like EDR said, it's all poo innit.

[bobby]

Greens: Tree-hugging, lentil-eating, dreadlocked hippies. Have a wash!

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20 years ago maybe, but they now have councillors and MEPs, but no MPs in this country - time for that to change. The Green vote is rising as is their respectibility and credibility.

As for the rest, I agree with your analysis!

[Guest WillsbridgeRed]

I find the Green party outdated, as it needs a global effort to make any difference - And there's no hope in hell of the selfish Yanks harming their industry by introducing harsher emission controls ect.

This said I think the Green party could be a very posative force within the EU acting as MEP's.

Interesting the only view of the BNP revolves around immigration - I find them more odious due to their socialist views.

I'll vote for anyone that will give me a house and ends posative discrimintation in all its forms.

[Percy Parrot]

But least they will get rid of the immagrants. I cant stand them they should be thrown back into the sea when they reach our shores.

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take politics out of this for a moment and argue this morally: why should you or I have the right to live here more than anyone else? "cos I'm white" or "cos I was born ere" doesn't wash. If you were born in a country where you had crap wages, rubbish housing and a dodgy political system you'd probably try and get somewhere better.

You were lucky Jase, so was I. We were born in a country where we have a HUGE amount of luxuries and a great standard of living. Others aren't so lucky. Trying to keep all our luxuries just to deny others in the world the basics simply because we were lucky enough to be born here is selfish.

I'm not for open borders at all. My own opinion is that borders should be very tightly controlled and the rules on immigration overhauled...but I am pragmatic about it. If someone's life is in danger in their own country, if they have a real reason to come here or if they can fill a job that we need then allow them in and let's get rid of this ridiculous attitude of throwing them all back into the sea.

I have genuine criticisms of ALL political parties. One of my major criticisms of the current Tory policy is their shameful and ridiculous immigration quota policy. Britain's stand against Nazism is one of the proudest moments in our history- but in that chapter we are still embarrassed by the fact that we contributed to the numbers of Jews killed by having immigration quotas that left millions of Jews stranded in central and eastern Europe. Let us not shame ourselves again. The idea of a quota system means that we would return people to certain death in their native countries, it means in certain years we would allow more people in than necessary and could mean that if there was a repeat of Yugoslavia we would be unable to help. It is pandering to the right at the expense of logic, reason and the economy.

I can't remember the exact quote but I believe Churchill once said something along the lines of "I cannot see any reason now or in the future to limit immigration or any circumstance where it would harm the country".

[Percy Parrot]

I'll vote for anyone that will give me a house and ends posative discrimintation in all its forms.

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positive discrimination should be changed to "still discrimination" because it is still discrimination. It's unhelpful, unfair and unnecessary. It's caused many problems in South Africa. Just look at uni applications- it is not that hard to sort out- you just take the school name off the application form. It shouldn't matter how someone got the grades they did- they got those grades and should be judged on them. I was state school educated but do not expect my A Levels to count for anything more than someone who got the same grades from an independent school.

[Guest WillsbridgeRed]

Sorry Percy but Immigration quotas have made no difference in saving people in Congo, Rwanda and the Sudan.

The only reason we make such a fuss of the holucaust is because it happend in our own back yard.

The shame is not in refusing entry to people in the 30's, but taken a soft line against a tyranicle and evil government and allowing evil acts to go on. Communist Russia in the 20's and 30's are another examample. Something we are STILL guilty of to this day.

[Percy Parrot]

Sorry Percy but Immigration quotas have made no difference in saving people in Congo, Rwanda and the Sudan. 

The only reason we make such a fuss of the holucaust is because it happend in our own back yard.

The shame is not in refusing entry to people in the 30's, but taken a soft line against a tyranicle and evil government and allowing evil acts to go on.  Communist Russia in the 20's and 30's are another examample.  Something we are STILL guilty of to this day.

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Of course the fact that we have no quota now doesn't mean we can rescue everyone. That's obvious. But the idea that if opposition leaders of Burma or Zimbabwe came here to escape torture and we said "sorry. You're number 100,001...we only take 100,000 a year" or whatever is terrible. Or if those who did try and escape Sudan were refused because the quota had been set too low. It is rigid and unpragmatic- something the Tory party would deplore in any other sphere.

The fuss about Nazi Germany is obviously party to do with the it being in Europe...but also the fact that it was a unique attempt to kill a whole race of people, it was industrialised, exposed the complicity of many groups including the church and even Jewish leaders and was the largest killing of people per year ever, I believe. More may have died in Russia but over a longer period of time...oh, and also the fact that it had an aggressive foreign policy.

There is also shame over appeasement, but again something I doubt Conservatives would like to talk about too much!

[Stoke_Gifford_Red]

As a politics A-Level student if I could vote I would vote for Lib Dems as they want to get rid of top-up fees or I hate to admit it, the BNP, just because they seem to be very good in ending this positive discrimination eg. a black person needs on average 3Bs to get into one of the Cambridge colleges, whereas whites have to get 2As and a B. Where is the sense in that? Also at sixth form we are not allowed to celebrate St Georges Day, and in 2002 we weren't allowed to stay off school for the first 2 hours to watch the World Cup in case people would fell uninvolved if they didn't like football.

[Slave to the rhythm]

As a politics A-Level student if I could vote I would vote for Lib Dems as they want to get rid of top-up fees or I hate to admit it, the BNP, just because they seem to be very good in ending this positive discrimination eg. a black person needs on average 3Bs to get into one of the Cambridge colleges, whereas whites have to get 2As and a B.  Where is the sense in that?  Also at sixth form we are not allowed to celebrate St Georges Day, and in 2002 we weren't allowed to stay off school for the first 2 hours to watch the World Cup in case people would fell uninvolved if they didn't like football.

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So, let's get this straight. You'll be prepared to vote for the nastiest party in British politics because your school wouldn't let you watch football on TV?

The BNP aren't "very good" at anything, except exploiting peoples' fears and prejudices. They are a nasty, vicious bunch of thugs and gangsters, and anybody who votes for them needs their head examined.

[Guest Slinky]

So, let's get this straight. You'll be prepared to vote for the nastiest party in British politics because your school wouldn't let you watch football on TV?

The BNP aren't "very good" at anything, except exploiting peoples' fears and prejudices. They are a nasty, vicious bunch of thugs and gangsters, and anybody who votes for them needs their head examined.

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Worrying, isn't it. And he's a politics A-Level student? It makes you wonder, it really does.

[CiderEagle]

a black person needs on average 3Bs to get into one of the Cambridge colleges, whereas whites have to get 2As and a B. 

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Where in the hell do you get THAT statistic from? No, really, I'd love to see your source for this. And "some bloke down the pub" doesn't count!

[Guest WillsbridgeRed]

So, let's get this straight. You'll be prepared to vote for the nastiest party in British politics because your school wouldn't let you watch football on TV?

The BNP aren't "very good" at anything, except exploiting peoples' fears and prejudices. They are a nasty, vicious bunch of thugs and gangsters, and anybody who votes for them needs their head examined.

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Are you sure you're not confusing them with the RESPECT party?

[Slave to the rhythm]

Are you sure you're not confusing them with the RESPECT party?

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Respect is basically a vehicle for George Galloway's outsized ego.

I don't take him seriously, whereas I DO take the BNP seriously. I'm all for freedom of speech, but the things they say and do worry me enormously.

[Stoke_Gifford_Red]

Worrying, isn't it. And he's a politics A-Level student? It makes you wonder, it really does.

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Don't worry, someone else (the year above) got arrested for doing the Nazi salute in Auschwitz and he is off to do some history of politics course at Oxford Brookes.

[Guest WillsbridgeRed]

Respect is basically a vehicle for George Galloway's outsized ego.

I don't take him seriously, whereas I DO take the BNP seriously. I'm all for freedom of speech, but the things they say and do worry me enormously.

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I think the BBC documentry has set them back decades, as up untill then they really had started to appeal to people.

But as I said, socialists in disguise

[Percy Parrot]

eg. a black person needs on average 3Bs to get into one of the Cambridge colleges, whereas whites have to get 2As and a B.  Where is the sense in that? 

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This is rubbish. Look at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personn...licy/equal.html

I can't imagine many get into Oxbridge with 3Bs even if they are pink and purple stripes.

Most universities don't interview- and the bit on UCAS forms you fill out (optional I believe?) about your race is only given to the universities AFTER the selection process anyway, I think.

I think you have been a victim of scaremongering- shows that racism and prejudice thrives on fear though.

[hilltop red]

take politics out of this for a moment and argue this morally: why should you or I have the right to live here more than anyone else? "cos I'm white" or "cos I was born ere" doesn't wash. If you were born in a country where you had crap wages, rubbish housing and a dodgy political system you'd probably try and get somewhere better.

You were lucky Jase, so was I. We were born in a country where we have a HUGE amount of luxuries and a great standard of living. Others aren't so lucky. Trying to keep all our luxuries just to deny others in the world the basics simply because we were lucky enough to be born here is selfish.

I'm not for open borders at all. My own opinion is that borders should be very tightly controlled and the rules on immigration overhauled...but I am pragmatic about it. If someone's life is in danger in their own country, if they have a real reason to come here or if they can fill a job that we need then allow them in and let's get rid of this ridiculous attitude of throwing them all back into the sea.

I have genuine criticisms of ALL political parties. One of my major criticisms of the current Tory policy is their shameful and ridiculous immigration quota policy. Britain's stand against Nazism is one of the proudest moments in our history- but in that chapter we are still embarrassed by the fact that we contributed to the numbers of Jews killed by having immigration quotas that left millions of Jews stranded in central and eastern Europe. Let us not shame ourselves again. The idea of a quota system means that we would return people to certain death in their native countries, it means in certain years we would allow more people in than necessary and could mean that if there was a repeat of Yugoslavia we would be unable to help. It is pandering to the right at the expense of logic, reason and the economy.

I can't remember the exact quote but I believe Churchill once said something along the lines of "I cannot see any reason now or in the future to limit immigration or any circumstance where it would harm the country".

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where the bloody hell could britain put a million refugees?

This is what i think the un should say on the following headings:

refugees: should go to the nearest boardering country and return home after the conflict or natural disaster has ended

Asylum seekers: Asylum seekers should go to a country of similar cultural background, this way social conflicts will not happen. Also if an asylum seekers application has failed, he or she should be sent home, without appeall. This way numbers of asylum seekers will be properly recorded, and money will be saved, and the benefits system will not be abused and money will be givien to those that need it most.EG disabled, pensioners

Immigration: we should not accept people that will not bring a skill or profession to this country, and we should not take teachers or nurses from countries with a shortage.

Aslo people from the E.u should not be allowed to freely immigrate thourought the union. The countries of the EU have passed tests laid down to allow them entry, and there should be no need for 50000+ poles and slovaks to pack up and come to britain as there human rights are the same as ares.

Also i think that immigrants and asylum seekers should be sent home to country of origin if they commit a crime (including benefit fraud) withen there first few years of residence in the u.k. I think that this would be more benificial to society if this was incorperated to a pledge of alligence to queen and country. Because the indingenous population will then know that immigrants are not flouting the rules. Also immigrants should not be able to vote untill a residence of 10 years has been completed.

Also the extended family left behind should have to apply for there own immigration, and just because they already have family in the country does not grant them resindence in the uk.

All immigrants should be screened for infections so that they are not spread to the existing population.

Someone with HIV or aids should not be rejected entry. I know this is a tough measure but it is more effective then a condom and the number of hiv suffers in this country will remain at a steady rate

[Guest]

Bush`s slave/servant Blair he just about got out of the Unions pocket but then gets straight into Bush`s; Whats the matter with the man

Always voted for the blues I`m afraid,sorted the Argie`s and unions out, no-one messed with them, unfortunately they fell apart without Maggie.

Lib/dems this time purely for their "promise to get rid of the unfair council/poll tax in favour of a , hopefully more fairer, local income tax.

[screech]

Exactly Hill Top, don't worry about the "right on" attitude of students like Percy, they are an absoloute bloody joke, they don't live in the real world.

They sit in the Nelson Mandela bar with all their scruffy tax dodging mates and discuss the rights and wrongs of the world without having lived in it.

Immigration in the numbers being thrown about will kill this country, I work with a guy who has an Ethiopian girlfriend, she has been housed, given a place at College and has been given a wage to live on, she passed through about 10 countries to get here, she is here because she didn't want to do her National service. Her aim now she is here, is to save up and get her brother over here so we can house him, send him to college and give him free handouts. Her flat mate has been turned down once already but still she is here and in all likelihood will go missing in London when she is finally told she can no longer stay here.

My dad being a pensioner and who has lived here all his life could have done with the extra money we are paying these scroungers to put in his pocket instead of those who come here for an easy life, he deserves it because he has contributed to this country for 50 years and deserves to retire and live comfortably, he's still paying taxes now on his pension and through VAT etc.

If we needed people to do low paid jobs then I can think of a million that are currently out of work and sitting on their arses picking up their giros instead of Johnny Foreigner getting them. Perhaps after these British citizens have filled those jobs and there is work still available we can look elsewhere.

Until then keep Britain - BRITISH.

[Guest WillsbridgeRed]

Screech, the left would call you a liar.

I call you a honest man fed up with being taken for a ride by people out to fleece us for all they can get.