MNHQ Group 5

Id like to be able to say that the leader isn't importnst, that it's the party and the policies that count. And while this is true for the extremes, the more I think about it the more I disagree with what I thought was true.

Leaders are incredibly important. When I was growing up, leaders had a massive presence- they were a strong figurehead. Looking through the past, I feel as though this has seen a continual slow decline. We will never again see a Churchill. Even Mrs T had a strong image, regardless of if you loved her or hated her. Then it all got a bit drippy with John Major - and now, apparently, a high percentage of the population couldn't actually name our main political leaders.

I think political leaders are far too easily out of touch with the real world - their reality is not that of the majority for whom they are trying to legislate etc. Like all things, intentions are good in principle, but the reality gets warped. It will always be those that can afford to get into politics that will be leaders - very few less well off people have the means to fund being an mp and working their way up. Of course this is a broad generalisation, but I'm trying to be concise!

I didn't vote in 2010.

515
As a footnote I should add that I have always voted and will NEVER not vote. I am always harping on at my children about the importance of voting.

I need a Like button for 509s post!

I do however vote in the local elections, I always voted LibDem because they were the only party that I ever saw going door to door all year round instead of just shoving a leaflet through at election time. You could also see the work that they were doing, graffiti being removed, waste ground being cleared, police on the streets etc. Unfortunately, due mainly to the LibDems and Conservatives joining together and the LibDem voters feeling cheated, they lost at the last local and you can really tell the difference.

The leader of the party I vote for is very important, I wouldn't vote for a party if I didn't have confidence in the leadership.

I am coming at this political discussion I guess from a different perspective as I am in Scotland and would not consider voting for a "UK" party.

I feel totally removed from Westminster politics, Cameron, Milliband, Clegg, and Farage pretty much sum up everything I despise about politics, private school educated numpties who have not a clue about real life.

They are particularly clueless and patronising when it comes to their involvement in Scottish politics.

I think Alex Salmond is head and shoulders above any other party leader in the UK today.

I have always voted SNP, this may change if after we (hopefully) get a YES vote next year other parties have something to offer.

I think that these days the leader of a party is as important as it ever was - perhaps more. The reason Labour will just not get in next time is because EM has no charisma. Blair had charisma in bucket loads, Cameron ditto. It matters to people. (Disclaimer: personal dynamism has no bearing on being fit for purpose, however). Even Nigel Farage is good in a debate FGS.

I grew up in Islington and for years my MP was quiet, undynamic Chris Smith. Hard working, a great role model for gay people (he was the first openly gay MP) . I liked him because he did what he said he would do. I think that there are still MPs like him out there. He was not interested in being a big name. What I cannot stand is the influence the media has had on MPs. There seems to be a blurring of lines and a crossover from politics into fame and celebrity - why the f**k are MPs like Nadine Dorries going on 'I'm a Celebrity' and expecting to be taken seriously? what does this say about our society? chat shows, twitter blah blah blah.

I look for integrity. That is my benchmark. I like people who will stick their necks on the line and speak the truth, however unpopular. That is why I like Vince Cable - he was one of the only politicians to denounce Murdoch for what he is, and long before Leveson.

What is a good party leader? someone who can capture the essence of an ideology and convince their MPs and followers to work hard for that ideology, make it workable as a series of practical policies for the nation. Someone who can captivate the youth and convince them that they matter, and that their interest and involvement in politics - even if it was just to be arsed to actually vote - would make a difference. I no longer know what the Labour ideology is, although in my youth I believed in it passionately. If anyone can tell me what the Labour ideology is currently, please do.

When your Prime MInister is slashing benefits and services for disabled and disadvantaged children, despute the fact that he had a profoundly disabled child himself, you know you are in trouble. That is what you call hypocrisy. It is also an illustration of how MPs are so out of touch with the ordinary man that the ordinary man has voted with his feet and given up voting.

Rant over.

I ought to take more notice of the policies behind the party leaders but I never seem to take the time to look into although I should. So I tend to vote in a rush and go completely by the party leader themselves. I take more notice of someone who can hold my attention and comes across well on camera. I couldn't tell you who the party leaders are at the moment, but I took notice of Tony Blair and William Hague when they were around.

I think I look for confidence in a party leader, charisma and how he or she interacts with people. I am bright but must confess I don't know anything about any parties policies, they all merge into one for me. I can't remember who I voted for in 2010, or even, when the last general election was. My life is taken over by Cbeebies and playgroups. The last time I voted I think Tony Blair was in office and I voted Labour. I had to really think about who was PM after him and who the PM is now.

David Cameran doesn't even register on my radar, he's alot of nothingness to me. I have felt the effects if his campaign against people who claim benefits though, I'm a single parent to four children, my partner left when I was pregnant and now I claim benefits. Which in the eyes of the media and people that read the propaganda in newspapers makes me scum. Its very depressing and I am ashamed.

I probably won't vote at the next election as according to the government the opinions of people like me mean nothing. I think a lot of people feel the same way.

The leader of the party is not especially important.
The party's values, ideas, the whole ethos and what they stand for and implement is the main thing for me.
I also take a lot of notice of how active the party is in my community and whether they are addressing issues specific to the community.

A good prime minister? That's tricky. I would expect a good leader, who listens to the views of the people who support him/her, someone who is not afraid to make difficult decisions.

The party I voted for has changed and I would think long and hard about voting this way again as I don't feel it changed for the better.

Given that I know someone HAS to win an election, I do agree that the current government should be given more time to turn things around. It doesn't happen overnight so fair is fair. It just strikes me that one party cocks up for an age and then another party gets to come in and cock up again in trying to put things right and it's a vicious circle.

I vote for policies rather than leaders, but I do like to see a leader who might identify with me and my issues. I agree that the Eton/Oxford lot seem like they're from another planet- how can they possibly represent me? I'd like them to be more straight-talking as well; answer the questions!

The party that I voted for in the 2010 elections... I keep saying hell will freeze over before I vote for them again, but come their new manifesto I might get all starry-eyed again and think that voting for them will make a difference (it won't- I live in safe seat and may as well just post my ballot paper in the bin. Yet still I vote).

Isn't the government meant to represent its people? I can't be the only one that feels like it doesn't.

For me, I'm not sure the leader does have much bearing on who I vote for. I'm incredibly cynical about politicians, and I'm not convinced the ones who end up leading their party are necessarily those best suited to the job, but rather, those with the best PR team. I'd like to hope I'm wrong in this, and that the party members know the candidates well enough to choose appropriately, but I'm not convinced.

Therefore I'll look at the party as a whole, and it's policies, and whether or not I think they'll actually do what they say. I'd rather choose the better party rather than the better leader. Saying that, of course I'd rather have both.

I think a good PM / party leader is one who listens to both his / her party and the views of the general public. They are in their job as they have been chosen by the people, and therefore should always try to ensure that they listen to what is being said to them and act accordingly. It's no use trying to sweep things under the carpet, and as delegate520 said, I'd rather have someone who will put their hands up to mistakes, or change policy if it's wrong.

I would still vote for the same party as I did in 2010, as I feel that the present Government needs more time to turn this country around. I believe they can do it, but also feel that if they fail during another term than the chance to improve matters should be given to someone else. However, as much as I believe they CAN do what they claim they have set out to do, they do need to do more to listen to what their country needs. I think all politicians quickly lose touch with reality and they need to reverse this.

520 I agree with PM being willing to admit when they're wrong about something!

Personally I don't think the leader of the party is all that important when thinking about the party as a whole - after all, we don't vote for the person in this country and the person heading it up can change.
I spoiled my ballot in the last election as I have done in the past - I don't agree with all these parties heading up campaigns to make changes when they have absolutely intention of following it through. Yes, sometimes they cant fulfil their promises due to cost, budget etc but then don't make promises!
I'd be far more inclined to take a closer look at politics if people were more open and honest with it all.

When it was the election I have to say the leader at first didn't have much of an impact. It was more the party, their values and how the hell they we're goin to get us outta the shit. I know I'd been affected by the recession and that wasn't fair so I wanted a party to sort it. After watching the debates that helped part of my decision. I didn't want someone who cracked but someone that didn't just talk the talk but walked it too.

A good leader or even prime minister would be one that's got a plan and a good team around them that supports them. And you know what? Most of all one that has the guts to just put their hand up and say 'you know what. I've cocked up here. But this is what I plan to do instead'. I'd have a lot more respect for that than someone bullshitting their way through their leadership.

Also a good leader would be someone that lives n breathes their community and actually knows whats going on and how things effect them. Not some person who went to Oxbridge and is so out of touch it's untrue. But that says more about out education system. But if there was a leader that was a bit more 'real' then maybe it would inspire more people togoninto politics

Yes I would change who I voted for. I feel like those in the middle were jipped into voting lib dem. their ideas were or seemed realistic at the time. But pairing up with who they did they don't have a leg to stand on, they've lost all credibility and as a voter I feel like ive been screwed over