Everyone around the world is invited to vote in our Matazone mock-elections for Europe, local councils and London. When you vote, you'll be voting for three things: who you want as Mayor of London, who you want to represent you in the European Parliament, and who you want running your local council. Currently, the Mayor of London is Ken Livingstone (Labour), the European Parliament is dominated by the Christian Democracts (Conservatives), and local councils are split fairly evenly between Conservatives and Labour, with a strong Liberal Democrat showing. Please give reasons for your vote - this is not meant to be a secret ballot!

I appreciate that I've missed out the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, but the purpose of this thread is to discuss UK-wide politics.

These elections coming are one of the most interesting elections ever to be fought. For the first time ever, the election campaigns are being fought over managerial rather than ideological issues. I urge you all to take this into consideration before voting.


Before you start voting, I'll just give a quick run-down of each party (apologies for lack of balance! If you want something more reasonable, I've provided links to party websites in the names):


New Labour:
Supposedly left-wing, but in reality their policies during the last seven years have been moderate-to-right-wing. On the environment movement has been slow but encouraging. The Labour government has massively increased funding of the Health Services, and some improvements have been noted. However, two-thirds of the population is overweight or obese, which is a huge failure on the part of the government. Transport has continued to deteriorate, though bus services have improved somewhat. Violent crime has risen, though petty crime has fallen in equal amounts, and there are several thousand more officers on the streets. Child poverty has decreased, employment is at an all-time high, and the economy has been stable for the last few years. This is despite a recession in Europe, North America and Japan.
Schools and Universities have continued to face funding crises, and the contentious Higher Education Bill containing top-up fees has been passed (narrowly). Tony Blair has promised that Britain will join the Euro and sign up to the European Constitution (subject to referenda). The Blair government was responsible for taking us to war on Iraq. The Blair government was also responsible for devolution (in NI, Wales, Scotland and London) and the Northern Ireland peace process (currently stalled). Botched reform of the House Of Lords has been an embarassment, and fox-hunting still has not been fully illegalised.

Conservatives and Unionists:
After a pretty disastrous election campaign focussing entirely on "saving the pound", the Conservatives have only improved their position slightly. Their new leader, Michael Howard, has been marginally more successful in the polls, pulling ahead of Labour in the last few months. The Conservative leadership remains staunchly Eurosceptic, wanting to pick-and-choose which parts of the EU we sign up to, but insist that we must remain inside Europe. The Tory party remains in some disarray, split as it is on the matter of Europe and other areas. Most of its policies are in line with Labour's, seeing as those are moderate and right wing. On education, health, transport and justice the Conservatives have made obvious their commitment to good management and reform.
Constitutionally, the Conservatives have kept fairly quiet, only criticising the government on managerial failures - such as the cost of the new Scottish Parliament building, or on the West Lothian question (Scottish MPs can vote on English domestic matters, but English MPs have no say over Scottish domestic matters). The Tories have also been critical of slapdash reform of the Upper House and judicial reforms.
The Tories were in favour of the war on Iraq, but have since withdrawn their support because of a lack of WMD. The Conservatives have urged Blair to distance himself from Bush. On the environment the Conservatives have not much new to say - keep Britain clean and beautiful, that kind of thing. On law and order the Conservatives maintain a tough stance, particularly regarding anti-social behaviour. Not much complaining has been heard over the economy, for obvious reasons (nothing to complain about!).

Liberal Democrats:
Sorry, I should really devote more time to the Lib Dems, but I have to get of the computer. Everything you need is on their website (as long as it doesn't freeze up like it did for me). The Lib Dems are just... reasonable and nice. End poverty, make Europe work efficiently, be nice to other countries, improve the environment, reform things properly, blah, blah, blah. The big problem with the Lib Dems is their public showing. Charles Kennedy's a nice guy, but he's not very strong. The Lib Dem's get pretty poor publicity, and frequently come across as weak and compromising.

UKIP:
The UKIP's policy on pretty much everything is: GET BRITAIN OUT OF EUROPE!!! It wants to maintain British independence and sovereignty by keeping us well away from the EU. Free trade should be kept, however. In every other area they are mainly in favour of making Britain more efficient, better managed and properly run.

Greens:
Sorry, I'm running out of time here, so this'll be short. The Green Party's main aim is to improve the environment. They want everyone to recycle everything, carbon emissions to be cut, and any other green policy that you can think of. Best to look at their website (link in the name) for other policies. Moderate on everything else.

BNP:
I can't write anything balanced here. They're a bunch of racist thugs in suits. They're authoritarian nationalists and slightly socialist.
Nationalist + Socialist = ?

Westphalia was a province of Prussia, between the Rhine and the Weser. You're thinking of the West Lothian question, so called because it was first raised by the Honourable Member for West Lothian, a Scottish constituency.

I voted Liberal Democrat, because that's where my party loyalty lies - lots of liberalism, slightly less capitalism.

*Smacks head*
Whoops, my mind must've switched off there.

I'm pretty sure that was just political point-scoring, opposing the governing party for the sake of it, rather an a real difference of opinion. The Conservatives wanted us in Vietnam, for Heaven's sake.

Vietnam was a very long time ago. The Iraq affair may have been political point scoring, but it is a fairly sensible policy nontheless.

Whoops, I never justified my voting. Well, I voted Green entirely because of a newspaper article that I read this morning. The world is going to hell, and the only people who have a serious mind to stop the environment going crazy are the Green Party. Hence my vote for them. Obviously I wouldn't bother doing that in the General Election. I'm not about to waste my vote, now, am I?

See, if we used the Alternative Vote System, your vote wouldn't be wasted.

</cunning segue>

*Fans self*

Why, Mr B'stard, if you haven't convinced me of the vital importance of your democratic system!

I've been voting Liberal Democrats since I was old enough to vote (about six years now) and it will be no different this year. They may not be strong now, but I have complete confidence that their time is coming.

However, The Green party is starting to look VERY promising. They support everything that I'm looking for in a party but we shall see where it goes.

I'm 24 now and never voted. However, this year seems to be an important one, with the EU rubbish happening now. I don't want to be part of Europe. I want to keep the Pound. The only way I can see of supporting this is to vote UKIP. However, what they would do with Britain if they won, is hazy at best.
To improve Britain I would vote Lib Dem, but I don't want EU!

My brain is fried over all this. The only one I have been told I am categorically not allowed to vote for is Conservative. That was by my parents, if I did they would probably kick me out. No biggie.

I'm always interested by people who say, categorically, that they don't want to be part of Europe. As far as I can see, Europe isn't really so bad. It's helped our economy in lots of ways, it's improved working conditions, it's made businesses more accountable, and it's made it possible for the British government to co-ordinate with other European countries to work against organised crime, terrorism and other transnational problems. Sure it doesn't always work perfectly, and it might mean a loss of sovereignty, but at the end of the day we get an awful lot out of it.

poppa_moo, do you want to explain why you feel the way you do about Europe?

I had to nulify the vote here as I tend to vote tactically...

For European and General Elections I vote for New Labour - this is more a vote for my constituency representatives (both of whom I know and dislike less than the alternatives). Generally the New Labour MEPs are better at what they do than all but the Lib Dems - who aren't likely to win in my constituency otherwise I'd vote Lib Dem. Our local MP is also a Minister for London and as such is good to have as your MP, plus I know him and he's better than the alternatives.

For the Local Elections I vote Lib Dem, as they've consitently represented the people of my borough fairly and compassionately. They have a great business sence and are more atunned to the local community than any other party. They're also a hell of a lot less corrupt.

For the London Election I'd probably vote for Ken and his Newts (who I think have been welcomed back into the New Labour fold), unless Shagger Norris (wet / old style conservative) can come out with a full and comprehensive manifesto that provides more for the people of London than Ken's. My concern for Ken is if New Labour end up curbing his support of London Underground, Hospitals and Schools. I've seen the Lib Dem candidate and I'm not impressed.

I don't want to be part of Europe either. However, you're never going to be able to find a party that represents EVERYTHING that you want. You have to sacrifice some things for others.

I think that the Lib Dems support near as dammit everything I want in a party apart from the EU thing. Well, I'm happy enough to forfit that for the rest.

If you want a perfect party that works for you - start your own.

*suddenly wondering if the Matazonians should start their own party and what our policies would be, hmmmm*

I really don't see what's so bad about Europe. In Europe, we have a freer cross-country market as goods and services can cross borders, more opportunities for trade with other member states, regulations which safeguard our civil rights, and we're part of just about the only economic bloc capable of challenging the US' economic dominance. The reason that the only parties which want to leave Europe are fringe parties is because leaving Europe would give our economy, trade and diplomatic relations a swift kick to the kidneys. What, exactly, is the drawback of being part of the European Union?

What are your reasons for keeping the pound? Other than Britishness being defined by it? Well that's one of the reasons I would want to keep the pound. Other than that I'm not really that bothered. I think having the EURO wouldn't make us lose our independence but then that's just me. So I won't be voting UKIP then

I watched a UKIP partly political broadcast....I laughed....lots

I have to say lib dems have always struck a chord with me for some reason or other, they just seem to have thought things out a little better than the rest.
On the issue of the euro, I'm not overly fussed either way, though the pound is prospering at the moment, and it would seem foolish to lose out on that for the time being at least, its not as if the euro is dragging its heels. Whats more, the idea that some people don't want to lose the pound on the matter of identity, I say PAH!! How many of you want to keep the monarchy? Our coinage is hardly what makes us stand out to the rest of the world.

Just thought I'd resurrect this for the big day. Has everyone who has the vote gone and voted? If not, why not? And how do you expect to get away with it?

Can't

I'm going to null and watch.



Because we all agree on SO MANY political matters...

edit: or you can vote for me because I quote radiohead! *points at member title, nodding hypnotically*

That's the beauty of it - we represent all sides. One government for all religions, sex etc...

Ahhhh....

OK, I guess NO-ONE CARES enough to post how they voted. I should call Childline about this - this is serious maltreatment of a fellow poster's thread.

Me? I got my mum to vote Lib Dem on everything (except Mayor of London; I lessthanthree Ken Livingstone). Anyone else abuse the democratic system?

I was going to vote green but forgot untill it was nearly 10pm

It was only European where I live (east Devon)

Lib Dem for my household - there was no doubt!!

I was fascinated by the stats on Sky News though. Labour has lost a LOT of seats and Conservative has gained more than I would have imagined.

I don't think we're any closer to a Lib Dem Government (my dream!) but I think we're getting there.

On my last check (about lunchtime) - Labour was down ten counties, Conservative up by eight and Lib Dem down by three.

BTW - I notice that Lib Dems has lost Winchester. That being my home city - can anyone tell me who's in charge now? I always assumed Winchester was Conservative (something about how affluent it is).

Yeah, the Lib Dems do tend to get the odd small rural town. I'm not entirely sure why, could be because of progressive attitudes exported from London (lots of Londoners like to move out into the sticks, but like the conveniences of a nearby town - which would explain situations like Winchester).


I have to say, it's no huge surprise that Labour lost so many seats. I was surprised the UKIP didn't do better - from all the news coverage you would've thought that they were about to storm the barricades.

It wasn't so much the amount they lost as it was the amount the Conservatives gained.

Most people thought the UKIP were a joke. However, my Dad did vote for them but I know that he's only done it to be cantankerous - and I also think he did it to wind me up. He's a wind up merchant like that...



They've always been in my town and they work really hard for us - since thay have been in, we have wheelie bins, curbside recycling and they're going to put speed bumps in my estate (which is a good thing, because boy racers use out estate to avoid the bypass where the cops wait to nick them)

We're now under no overall control. As it turns out my patch (Badger Farm and Olivers Battery) is still represented by a Lib Dem coincillor, but it is now a friend of mine. A younger friend. Luckily I warned him many years ago that should he ever gain political power I would begin to blackmaiil him.

By the way, tactical voting is a ridiculous idea. The people who do it could make the difference between second best, and the candidate/party they actually wanted. For the love of all that is good... Vote for who you actually want. Thatt's what the vote is for. There really is no excuse for being a pansy and basing it on what some poll (paid for by God knows who) says.

I voted Labour. Just because I did. The Iraq war didn't really affect my vote because Labour seems ot offer more Education (Education, Education), Hospital and University/Libary stuff. And they havfe a cool slogan:

"England is working, don't let the Tori's wreck it again"

And I'm still glad no-ones voted BNP. Those scum.

And what sort of idiot whats to save the pound?

Actually, it was kind of scary - the BNP got three seats in Epping Forest, the constituency just to the north of mine. There's been a BNP advert-trailer parked down my road for a few weeks now (no, I haven't yet taken the opportunity to firebomb it) and we had some leaflets through our door from them. Lord knows why anyone in Epping Forest would vote BNP - there isn't an immigrant in sight.

It's quite often the constituencies with no immigrants at all who do vote BNP. They've never actually seen one, so all they know is what the tabloids have told them - they're overrunning the country in hordes, the government has barred them from working and is giving them free mansions, butlers, chauffeurs and fois gras at the expense of the taxpayer, etc...

There's this fantastic rumour going around that the local Council in some Northern sink estate was paying asylum seekers £800 to buy cars. It makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.