I really don't know who to vote for!

[mumto3boys]

And I'm finding it quite depressing!

I'm finding it hard to read through all the mudslinging etc to find what each party will actually do. I've just downloaded the manifestos but they are more of the same.

I need bullet points or similar. Can anyone point me in a good direction.

I thought I had made up my mind, took about 5 on line test things and they all came up with the same party as eachother which wasn't the one I thought I was going to vote for. Now i'm worried i've belived too much of what i've seen on tv / newspapers etc and not made up my mind on what was important.

help

[Mumof]

I am in much the same boat! x

[Cablepower]

I am slightly wary of replying as I seem to have been accused of patronising, prodding and propoganda. But I too wasn't sure who to vote for. There are some manifesto comparison websites worth googling but I'm never sure if there is bias. I agree there is a lot of overlap which confused me. A Mum on this website suggested focussing on the all important aspect(s) for you. For me it was environment and a fair voting system which lead me to LIB DEM. For you it might be a different criteria...but I don't think any party will tick all your wish list. Also, for my personal circumstances ie personal gain for my family I'd be better to vote conservative...but I think it's time we looked at better distribution of the economy...and Vince Cable is about the only politician I trust.

At least you are weighing it all up and bothering to vote! Good luck.

[Cablepower]

I am slightly wary of replying as I seem to have been accused of patronising, prodding and propoganda. But I too wasn't sure who to vote for. There are some manifesto comparison websites worth googling but I'm never sure if there is bias. I agree there is a lot of overlap which confused me. A Mum on this website suggested focussing on the all important aspect(s) for you. For me it was environment and a fair voting system which lead me to LIB DEM. For you it might be a different criteria...but I don't think any party will tick all your wish list. Also, for my personal circumstances ie personal gain for my family I'd be better to vote conservative...but I think it's time we looked at better distribution of the economy...and Vince Cable is about the only politician I trust.

At least you are weighing it all up and bothering to vote! Good luck.

[Cablepower]

OOPs Trigger Happy and late for school pick up.

[longfingernails]

Have a look at the BBC site

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/parties_and_issues/default.stm

But also look up your local candidates websites to get an idea about their local priorities.

[Scorpia]

A Conservative win would be a disaster for women. The majority of cuts that they propose eg.to Child Tax credit, Child Trust Fund, and the means-testing of Child benefit would take money away from women and children, whilst their proposed married couples tax allowance would for the most part go to men.Since the majority of teachers and teaching assistants, not to mention healthcare workers are female, Tory cuts to these areas would take employment away from women. It's the same old Tory story, need to save money and jobs? Women and children first!Most of the initiatives taken by the Labour Government have benefited women and children eg. extended maternity leave, Surestart centres, minimum wage (because women's pay still lags way behind men's) Child Tax Credit, Working Families Credit etc. It may not be enough but these are all measures taken since 1997, don't let's go back to the days when women were second class citizens. David Cameron and his wife have a personal fortune of £30,000,000 and she is heir to the Guiness fortune and will one day be Lady Astor, Nick Clegg went to public school. Let's be real, when have they ever known what it is to be juggling the money. Women need to fight for a fair society for themselves and their children and neither the Tories or Lib Dems will offer that.
Post your comment

[Wineonafridaynight]

The BBC link above is very helpful.

I myself am torn between Lib Dem and Labour. I am finding it such a tricky decision.

[WestYorkshireGirl]

Hi

I used this - www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7541285/How-should-I-vote-in-the-General-Election-2010.html

You go through a series of questions and say if you agree and then it tells you who to vote for! It took me about 5 mins and confirmed the way I had been leaning!

[expatinscotland]

We voted today. DH voted differently from me.

But he made his choice based on what he felt was right, so I'm just glad he voted!

Whatever you do, don't just not vote, please.

It's so important. Your vote is so important and valuable.

DO IT!

[madpark]

For me its a no brainer,whichever keeps the tories out is how you should vote.How can anyone especially a parent vote for a party that wants to scrap Sure Start, cut working family tax credits, and reduce investment in essential services such as hospitals and schools to pay for tax breaks for the richest 2 or 3 per cent of the population. To cut investment now, as the tories plan to will send us crashing back into a recession.

[mumto3boys]

That BBC link was very helpful, thank you. I have been having a good old think about it today, and more from a different perspective from the last few weeks. I have been thinking about the government that my parents raised us under and then the government that I have been under as an adult.

My own journey through lifer too, at 19 I was a single mum, benefits, living back at home. Then council flat, job etc and we now own our home (mortgaged tho!) and are a lot better off than before, although just about breaking even.

I'm not sure where I would have been under a tory government all those years? Funny tho as last night I was sure I was voting tory but now that is very doubtful. I'm not sure I would have got where I am now, helped by tax credits a few years ago etc under a tory government.

But OMG GB is a bit of a tosser isn't he!

[AmberTheHappyLuddite]

Easy.

If you're rich vote tory if you're anything else vote labour.

The libdems are a flash in the pan.

Radio4 did a programe on why poor people vote for right wing parties (like the tories). They called it "Turkeys voting for Christmas."

If you vote Tory, you must be either rich or a turkey.

[ThatVikRinA22]

i wasnt going to vote. i am now. its a labour vote for me after much deliberation.

lib dem have no teeth in this area, in fact ive never even heard of our lib dem candidate. our labour mp has been a good one on the whole. id never vote tory.

so GB has my vote on thursday. i think.

[Smilehighclub]

I want to vote for Gordon. I always vote labour. But...my area has been a tory safe seat for donkey's and the Lib Dem message is a Labour vote is a vote in favour of the tories.

So I'm considering a tactical vote. which is so hard.

[Chil1234]

Few people agree 100% with the policies of a party. The 'tax and spend' division is the one most people work with because it affects us most directly i.e. in the pocket!

The Labour and Lib Dem parties will tax relatively heavily and use the money to finance public services and subsidise those on low incomes... redistribution of wealth. The Tory party will tax individuals less heavily but expect them to finance more of their own lifestyle and rely less on public services and top-ups.... retention of wealth

If you have a low income and rely a lot on benefits or public services then most people in that situation would traditionally vote Labour or possibly Lib Dem. If you have a moderate/high income, a low user of public services and are not in receipt of benefits/income support then you're traditionally more likely to vote Tory.

[madpark]

Vote tatical,if a vote for the libs is the best way to take the tories out, then thats the way to vote. We can't afford a return to the I'm all right Jack policies of the Tory party.