It feels pointless not voting conservative or labour

[msrisotto]

What do you think?

I'm a swing vote for sure. I've done loads of online quizzes to see who I should vote for but it feels pointless voting for the party that i agree most with, when it isn't the two main parties.

[claig]

It depends how much you want change.

It seems like approx 30% of voters may vote for parties that aren't the two "in it together" ones. That will probably mean that the Establishment will not be able to prevent a proportional voting system for teh next election or the system risks turning into a farce.

Any vote for a party other than the major two (and the LibDems) will make PR voting more likely and that will bring real political change to the country next time.

[mrsmugoo]

PR voting is not happening any time soon. We've already had a referendum on it and it was a resounding no.

[foxinsocks]

Depends what happens in your area

Mine is a Tory vs Lib Dem area. Labour barely poll a vote so if I voted for them, I probably wouldn't be making much of a difference. If I wanted to keep the Tories out, I'd need to vote Lib Dem

[claig]

We've already had a referendum on it and it was a resounding no.'

They didnt promote the campaign well enough and it wasn't a good version of PR. This time they won't be able to stop it. The rise of UKIP, who want it, has changed everything and will change British politics completely.

[caroldecker]

claig Sorry, you got the answer wrong, vote again? There needs to be a reasonable time before the next PR referendum.

[claig]

I don't see how they can stop it. This is the second time it looks like we will have a hung parliament with no party being able to form a majority. Labour looks ike it will be wiped out in Scotand and UKIP will probably become Labour's main opposition up North.

The established parties are in decline and it will probably get worse. UKIP is now Britain's third party and they are totally different to the rest - they are not liked by any of the rest, which means that UKIP won't compromise on change.

Parties are losing their credibility and mandates. The only way to reflect the wishes of the people is to provide proportional representation or there will be risk of people feeling cheated.

[mrsmugoo]

"I don't see how they can stop it"

Who are "THEY"?

[SolomanDaisy]

I think the strong argument for voting for whichever party you prefer is the potential hung parliament. Your vote gives additional legitimacy to your party in its negotiations to be part of a coalition. There is zero chance of another referendum on PR for many years, so that's not worth thinking about.

[Whitershadeofpale]

UKIP is now Britain's third party

Let's wait until after the results are in shall we. As it stands they have 2 MPs making them Britain's tenth party in the commons.

My opinion is that ukip will probably gain a couple of extra seats but not a lot, people tend to big things up but then revert to type at the polls. Look at how the BNP were being touted to start having greater numbers in parliament a few years ago.

If they have 10 seats they would have exceeded my expectations.

[caroldecker]

I'd be surprised if UKIP retain 2 seats. The conservatives will have the most, follwed by Labour, SNP and then Libdem. After that will be the NI parties, finally UKIP and Green.

[Whitershadeofpale]

Realistically I think ukip might come out with 5 seats. I think lib dems will certainly lose seats but probably not quite as many as predicted a few months ago (I imagine they'll have 18-20 seats).

I think SNP will be the third party. Basically I agree with Carole although I think labour will have the most seats (very narrowly and nowhere near enough for a majority)

[Toadinthehole]

You should look at previous results in your constituency. Mine is a Tory - LD marginal, so I will vote LD partly to keep the Tory out and partly because I like the LD candidate best.

PR is an awful idea. I want to vote for the individuals who make the laws. I do not want to delegate my choice to a back room party goon.

[LineRunner]

The referendum vote we had was on AV, a shit version of PR. For some reason the Lib Dems accepted the terms of this referendum as part of the coalition agreement. So they managed to stuff that up as well and get shafted by the Tories.

[chocoluvva]

You'll increase the percentage of voters who voted for the party of your choice.

I have the same dilemma, especially as the lib dems could in theory prop up either of the two big parties.

[robin4]

Truth is there is labour and tory to choose from as there are only two that can form a government.
Lib/dems will go anywhere and have proved that they will drop policies. Greens,although some good stuff is said by them, they are not is a position to win more than one seat in parlimant, and parliment will be where laws are made and voted on.
Definitly don't want the Tories as they prove over and over who they stand up for.
Labour's policies are what I want to see implemented and I want my vote to go to them.Win or not in my area-thats what I want my vote to be counted as.

[LumpySpacedPrincess]

If you have to vote tactically to achieve the desired result then so be it, sucks though.

It's a three horse race round my way but one of those horses is Farage. It would be such a shame if he didn't get in.

[robin4]

If you vote tactically you can never depend that other people will too. Also the party you tactially vote for is given the message that their policies are what you want.And oposition votes can be split by voting too. Maybe others will want the one that came last, last time and want to vote for them this time too.
So vote for who you want.

[robin4]

.....ummm, I'd like to know why/how a swing voter though. Is it that hard to make up your mind?

[msrisotto]

Yes I am finding it very hard to make up my mind!

Well, I have an overarching resignation that they'll all go back on promises anyway.

I am worried about what the conservatives are doing to the NHS.
But overspending is not a long term strategy and chasing out high earners through ever increasing taxes won't help the economy grow.

That is how i'm boiling down my priorities I suppose, NHS and the economy.

[chocoluvva]

Overspending will only be a problem if it's wasting money - spending money on public services can be seen as an investment when you consider that services which benefit people; whether it be their mental health, feeling of involvement with their local community, physical health whatever will result in reduced spending on things like prescriptions for anti-depressants, reduced crime levels, less obesity etc. Sometimes it's a question of what you can't afford to not spend money on.

[LumpySpacedPrincess]

The conservatives pledged to match Gordon Brown's spending plan before the last election, they only changed their mind when the crash happened. The idea that they are more fiscally responsible doesn't really hold water.

[robin4]

The NHS is not safe in Tory hands,and this has also been proved in the past-they always run it down. Education spending is also cut,also proved in their current and past policies. Both things are very important to most of us,most who can't afford to pay private. Surely you can't swing from Labour to Tory given the current evidence of tory cuts and past evidence of running down services we rely on.
Labour's present policy and past evidence shows these two vital services are put to the top of their priority in Government

[caroldecker]

robin Labour and the conservatives have broadly matched spending promises on education and the conservatives have pledged more to the NHS.

[robin4]

caroldecker Can see what the priorities are of the Tories,they have had last 5 yrs to show-tax cut for millionaires while food banks increase.NHS undermined etc.
Remember tories have promised 12 billion cuts.

Labour have promised in the first 100 days they will have a budget to get money in straight away to start helping the NHS-1000 new nurses in first year and a GP in all A&E by the Winter-and thats just the start.Labour have shown how these things will be funded. Tories just promise without funding simply saying by 2020 they will invest in NHS if in their judgement its ok to do so.

If you care about NHS vote Labour I say

[fortyfide]

well one vote will not change things. Lose no sleep. Toss a coin if you really want to vote.

Sadly 25 per cent of people wont bother.