How will you vote on May 5th?

[victoriapeckham]

Just wondered. A little bit political...
a) how did you vote last time (if at all?)
b) how will you vote this time (if at all)?
c) what to you is the deciding issue of this election?
d) if you had to make love (not war) with one politician (past, present, senior or backbench?) who would it be?

Wow - I wonder what that loophole is.

bump.. don't let me have killed this thread too.

Haven't read the whole thread, will vote Labour - our MP is excellent. Heard an interesting argument about 'economic migrants' - if we were prepared to pay fair prices for things in our country, and not exploit workers in other countries then people would be able to get a better standard of living in their own countries and wouldn't need to move to this country (this doesn't include asylum seekers obviously).

a) Lib Dem (we have a very effective MP in Evan Harris and I'm happy to vote for him)
b) Lib Dem (tactically: to remove John Patten)
c) Iraq War/Labour's plans to reduce Child Poverty (I'm so concerned about the latter that I'd vote Labour in a seat where they had a chance, even though I was infuriated by their conduct over the War)

Absolutely tortoishell. In the 18th century we shipped people over on ships and called it slavery. Now they work in Western-owned factories for a pittance and we call it 'free trade'. Same thing though.

I voted labour and always have done, used to be very active in supporting the labour party and was at festival hall on our night of glory.

Labour have done a lot of good, especially for families (sure start being a fantsitic initiative) but I do not think they have been radical enough and the whole Iraq war left me feeling that Tony Blair was not a man to be trusted. I also think that although there has been a lot of good work for helping young familes a lot of policies seem to be rushed snap decisions that change with the wind especially with regards to early years and childrens centres.

I was going to vote Lib Dem this time as I tend to feel more at home there, Labour is no longer socialist! However Charles kennedy (even alowing for his new bambino) seems to be a liability his interview with Paxman last night only served to highlight his flaws. Although the local income tax seems a good idea at first it will cripple many families with two earners who are just surviving already.

I will probably vote labour again, and just hope Gordon Brown is a true labour prime minister.

Sorry to drop in on this thread after its got so long but I want to ask a question.
If Tony Blair does stand down, what is to say that Gordon Brown will be his replacement? I mean, I don't know the structure of how the party leader would be replaced but surely it isn't just a case of the person who wants it gets it. I think its quite likely that someone else would come through. My MP, Glenda Jackson (and other local MP Frank Dobson), is campaigning partly on the basis that you should vote Labour as you would not be voting for TB but for GB. Isn't that a bit of an assumption? Or have I got it wrong and the "crown" somehow would go to GB?

Think there has to be a nomination and election process Davros. Remember Blair standing against John Smith I think (was at university at the time). Then when JS died didn't Blair, Prescott, Beckett and Brown all stand. Think Prescott came second which is why he got to be deputy.

And now I'm thinking that it might be the full Labour party, plus unions etc (basically same votes as at Conference) that decide rather than MPs - think the Union vote might have secured Prescott his second place.

Might be totally wrong!

Has anyone who posted on here changed their mind in last three weeks because of the election campaign? A few anti-Labour folk I know have since decided they will - reluctantly - cast a vote for Mr Tony because Tories too close in polls for comfort.

I just hope anyone who does vote for TB's return is prepared if he takes us off on another war for best buddy George. I hate this two party thing. I have never voted for either and my vote has counted several times.

I have heard people go on about how they will just vote for Labour and I want to scream. If GB was in charge I would feel different so hopefully their majority will be so low that TB will be forced off his throne. A thoroughly obnoxious man.

I just hope anyone who doesn't vote for TB is prepared for the happy day when Michael Howard walks into No. 10 and we watch the systematic dismantling of the NHS, swiftly followed by the economy (anyone think they might feel the pinch if their mortgages doubled again, like they did the last time the Tories were in?).

VP I have changed my mind in the course of the campaign. I wasn't going to bother to vote at all - none of the parties in my area are much to my taste, but I live in a marginal and certainly don't want the Tories in. I agree with Morningpaper - the Tories are a much bigger bunch of bastards than the Labour bastards.

I also think that of course Labour hasn't been radical enough, but tax credits really have changed the lives of people who live on very low wages. I am paid almost as much in tax credits, as I am in wages. I simply cannot imagine going back to the old days when the Tories were happy to leave people better off on benefits than in work. I know it's not 100% working, but it is a start, and the principle of "making work pay" is so important.

I have no idea who I will vot for right now. Going to do a bit more readin gthis weekend, and then fill my ballot papr in then.

I know that I will not be voting for TB - DH and I are financially much worse off under Labour. And because of the state of education under labour I have now walked out of my career - after working as a teacher for 9 years

Not decided on who will be better yet. Hence the need to read. Need to balance up my own financial position with other factors that are important to me.

For me, I honestly don't know what Labour could actually do to make me vote for anybody else. Even now with the whole war thing, I can see how the cabinet probably were told the whole story and said to Blair, take all the credit, and all the blame if it goes horribly wrong (which it has done now). But I still couldn't bring myself to vote Lib Dem or Tory if I thought there was any chance whatsoever that they'd get in nationally.

I think you have to vote with your conscience. Aside from the fact that the current government are hypocrites, the Iraq war was wrong. The Tory policy on asylum is just poisonous - any minute now MH will actually turn into Alf Garnett - an dare unelectable on that score alone. Voting for someone you don't like simply to keep out someone you lik eeven less seems very odd to me. If all of those who don't want either of the main two parties actually vote for someone else we can really change things.

Not changed my mind, am in a safe Labour seat. But do want to stop Tories winning back most marginal seat which is next door constituency. Certainly don't vote on whether I, personally, will be better off or not. Always depressed by that kind of thinking.

Don't understand the Greens abolition of VAT policy? So, are they anti-EU?

Working in the NHS I certainly do not think it is safe in Labour's hands. Targets are absolutely not improving patient care. I really think we need a change.

Should add that locally our labour administration is completely wasteful. We were far better served by the conservatives.

Tory

Interesting, mears. Don't think we will get a change though.

I'll be voting Tory-hate TB almost as much as I hate John Prescott!

I haven't read the thread but I tihnk I'm going to have to put a peg on my nose as Polly Toynbee suggested and just vote Labour to keep the Tories out doesn't mean I've forgiven them Iraq though.

I voted labour

I would vote labour again but they have no chance of winning in West Dorset (Oliver Letwin is our MP) so I will vote Lib Dem - more chance of keeping tories out.

no deciding issues - or maybe that I hate Michael Howard with a passion.

god, none of them. maybe the politics student I went out with at uni

Mears I don't see how you can be far better served by the conservatives when they are planning on wiping 35 billion from public services?