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AIBU?

To ask for somebody who is good at explaining things simply to explain the election.

147 replies

hellokittymania · 15/05/2017 12:51

I don't understand anything! For example who and what are we voting for? What does each person want to do if they get elected? Who is Corbin is he good or bad? Please help me to understand what is going on. I really want to vote but I don't understand things

OP posts:

Report

LadyPW · 15/05/2017 13:02

Take my advice - don't vote. You're clearly not capable if you don't know what we're voting for.

c3pu · 15/05/2017 13:05

Sweet mother of mercy, use google to find out what the ideology of each party is and their policies.

You can interactive guides that ask you a few questions and tell you which party you align with most...

Also, read up on your local candidates and your sitting MP. Find out what they have done for the constituency.

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:10

LadyPW that wasn't a particularly kind or helpful message. This isn't the first time your messages about the election have been rude.

OP I second what c3po suggests. A lot of the main newspapers (e.g. the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, the Times) also have daily news briefings that they send for free to your email inbox. They'll be filled with election-related news over the next few weeks and will be worth reading.

If you don't mind me asking, is this the first time you've voted or have you voted before? If you've voted before, would you be interested in voting for the same party that you voted for last time, or have you changed your mind since last voting?

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:10

c3pu even - sorry!

hellokittymania · 15/05/2017 13:11

C3pu is there a children's guide somewhere to British politics? I really want to understand it.

OP posts:

EmilyBiscuit · 15/05/2017 13:12

You should get leaflets through the door explaining the position of your local candidates.

You can check out your current MP's voting record at //www.theyworkforyou.com which gives lots of information in plain English.

TheWeeWitch · 15/05/2017 13:12

Try this for a start:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/modern/uk govvpolitics/electvote/revision/1/

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 15/05/2017 13:12

I suggest avoiding the papers completely and just waiting for the party manifestos.

Then, if you find you agree with the majority of what one party says they will do, vote for them.

megletthesecond · 15/05/2017 13:13

Newsround will probably have a report on it. Or Buzzfeed.

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:13

OP this might be useful (sorry about the title!)

TheWeeWitch · 15/05/2017 13:14

Then this:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/24/everything-you-need-to-know-uk-general-election

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:15

this quiz can also help you decide which party's views and policies you agree with most.

TheWeeWitch · 15/05/2017 13:15

Oops. Weird link there. Try this one -
www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/24/everything-you-need-to-know-uk-general-election

hellokittymania · 15/05/2017 13:15

Rouge, I voted two years ago for the first time for the mayor of London but I went on what other people were saying was popular and I didn't really understand much.

Did the guardian guides explain from scratch or do they just give updates without much background?

OP posts:

Goldfishjane · 15/05/2017 13:16

Kitty, how old are you? BBC Newsround might be okay - but tbh I think it's better to look at party manifestos than any media.

however, if you are this lost then I would sit it out this time and get learning in time for next time.

Goldfishjane · 15/05/2017 13:17

x post.

"Rouge, I voted two years ago for the first time for the mayor of London but I went on what other people were saying was popular and I didn't really understand much. "

OMD!!! don't vote.

hellokittymania · 15/05/2017 13:18

Emily, i'm visually impaired so leaflets aren't helpful.

OP posts:

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 15/05/2017 13:19

Why would you tell someone not to vote?

Especially someone who recognises they don't know enough to inform an opinion and is trying to fix that.

hellokittymania · 15/05/2017 13:20

Jane, this is why I really want to learn.

OP posts:

peenakholahda · 15/05/2017 13:20

OP, good for you trying to find out. I think lots of people don't know much at all about this stuff. It's really important to know. I think I understand a bit so I'll try to explain some bits I know about.

We are voting for who will be our next Parliament. The Parliament is a big group of people who make decisions about how to run the country and what the laws should be.

Everybody votes for somebody to represent their local area in the Parliament. The people that get the most votes in each area will be the 'Member of Parliament' for that area.

There are different political groups called 'parties'. These are groups that believe particular things about how the country should be run. Most Members of Parliament belong to one of these groups. The biggest ones are called Labour and Conservative but there are others too.

Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of the Labour party. If lots of people voted for Labour members of Parliament then he might become Prime Minister. Some people think he's good because he cares about poor people and about things like hospitals and schools. Some people think he's not good because they think his ideas aren't realistic and they don't think he'd be a good leader.

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:21

And Goldfish and Lady are both joint winners of the 'award for the most helpful responses to the thread so far'.... 🙄

PamplemousseRouge · 15/05/2017 13:22

Sorry I should've said LadyPW - I don't mean LadyGlitter! Sorry LadyGlitter

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peenakholahda · 15/05/2017 13:22

Ah, OP sorry I hadn't read your update that you're an adult; when you asked about kids' guides I assumed you were a child posting on a parents' account. I didn't intend to patronise you with my first paragraph; I'm sorry if it came across that way.

Goldfishjane · 15/05/2017 13:23

okay, let me back up

Kitty, it sounds like you don't understand elections generally. Have I got that right?

If I have, then I really don't think there's anything wrong with sitting it out. If you literally don't know how elections work in this country then you've got about 3 weeks for someone to explain the basics and then the current situation to you. I read somewhere that something like 33 students at one particular uni are registered to vote and tbh that's not a bad thing if their vote will be based on zero information.

sorry Kitty I digress - probably the best thing is to get someone to explain it to you - it will be easier to ask questions as you go along in a conversation.

Kokusai · 15/05/2017 13:23

Well, it is really good that you are trying to educate yourself.

Quite a big failing by your parents though to have got you to voting age with so little political awareness.

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