When can we get rid of this government?

[abraid]

When is the earliest we can throw them out? I feel like starting a calendar and ticking off the days.

It is so depressing to think that we face years of tax hikes whilst bankers sit pretty, however I would NEVER vote Tory. I just couldn't. I do agree with edam and am angry that New Labour has been so disloyal to the socialist principles the party originally held. I voted Green and Lib Dem in the last elections. I knew they weren't serious contenders but I couldn't not vote and equally my conscience wouldn't let me vote Labour.

My biggest worry about the tories is that they are the richest, most privileged bunch for a long, long time.

Mrs T was a witch but she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

I worry that it's like going back to the old days of the aristos ruling the peasants.

I'll vote lib dem.

Still haven't got over the iraq war which I was totally opposed to so can't vote labour.

Would never vote tory.

Plus vince cable seems about the most sensible bloke around at the mo.

They'll never get in though..

Lol Leningrad My father would approve of your name by the way. He belonged to a communist organisation (in London ) and sometimes when we were kids db and I went along with him and had to wear red scarves on our head

Yes I was quite young but I still remember Albania being hailed as the perfect state

Penth - I think you make a v good point. Banking shares have risen hugely this week. Lloyds is up 15% just today and the state are a 45% stakeholder in Lloyds.

The worst thing about New Labour is the betrayal of working class roots and the deceit as they masquerade as something they are not. Keir Hardie must be spinning in his grave.
I dislike the Tories less because you at least "get what is says on the tin" with them.
I've never voted for BLiar, I saw though him before he was even elected. Absolute shower of s^!t£ they are! Hopefully when they get kicked out the will party will go back to its roots...not too hopeful though.
John Smith dyeing was a tragedy, he would have been a great PM

Alan Millburn is a treacherous little shit if ever there was one. Him and that ghastly Byers man are waiting in the wings.

What worries me is that there'll be yet another landslide win. I think that's where the real danger lies. It is never good if the party in power has such a large majority that they can ignore everyone else.

I think I'll probably vote LD in the hope that lots of other undecided do too, and thus make it a bit harder for the ruling party to ride roughshod over us.

Whoever wins must have a strong opposition and a small majority.

(No matter who you vote for, the Government gets in.)

Haven't had time to read all this thread, but agree with abraid's posts.

I've never felt more dislike for a politician than Gordon Brown in my life. He's a complete fraud, not only ecomically incompetent ("the end of boom and bust", 10p tax band, selling off our gold at the bottom of the market etc) but ideologically opposed to the south, middle class and the private sector, and has created a ticking debt disaster for future generations starting from when he first became Chancellor.

The recent invitation for the world to prop up the IMF is a prelude for an inevitable future UK government application for funds to avoid national bankruptcy.

The Lib Dems impress me the most, but I'll probably end up voting Tory as the best way to get rid of GB.

I don't think the Tories were any better at providing kit or pay for ordinary servicemen and women - seem to remember a constant stream of stories during the Major govt. about this. They spent an awful lot of the defence budget on dodgy deals, making their mates in the armament industry rich (and Jonathan Aitken's Saudi pals, too).

It's true council tax has gone up well above inflation every year to painful levels but the Tories gave us the Poll Tax which was even worse. And part of the reason for residents' tax going up is that the business rates have been held down (in relative terms residents have been paying an increasing share of the burden).

I've namechanged for this as I don't want to be outed/stalked etc, but I am a regular and I've been following this thread with interest.

Swedes said "I think if you are truly left wing, in the old sense, you need to vote [Lib Dem or] Green."

Bang on the nail there Swedes - I come from a family of major Trade Union/Old Labour activists, and could never have imagined voting anything but Labour.

I started to have my doubts around the time they ditched Clause Four... but like any sane person I voted Labour in 1997 and was thrilled to see the back of the vile Tories.

However, the way Ken Livingstone was treated in the run-up to the London Mayoral elections in 2000 just compounded my unease , and the war on Iraq was really the last straw. Coupled with my emerging consciousness about the havoc we are wreaking on the planet, by 2004 it was clear to me that the only way forward (certainly in terms of formal politics) was to join the Greens.

I am lucky to live in Brighton - as noddyholder observes, a Green vote in my neck of the woods isn't wasted: we have 12 local councillors (holding a quarter of the seats on the council), and we look likely to return Caroline Lucas MEP as Westminster's first Green MP whenever Gordon decides to call the general election.

So if you live in Brighton Pavilion and can't be arsed with NuLabour or VileTories, please vote Green and make history. Similarly, if you live in Norwich South, Oxford East, or Lewisham Deptford, the odds are good too - and your Green vote will count, if not in 2010 then certainly in 2014/15 (remember Keir Hardie).

Quattrocento and ladylush - I'm so sorry you feel your Green votes are wasted. I could embark on a polemic regarding our retarded, medieval 'first past the post' electoral system... but I won't.

Suffice to say that, given the electoral strictures we have to work under for now, some local Green parties are frankly fucking lazy, and are strangers to the tried and tested methods of door-knocking and leafleting (Manchester Green Party, I'm looking at you).

But all it takes is a handful of dedicated activists to get out there and give the system a boot up the arse, so why not get involved and try and change things?

Finally (sorry this is long, but hey, it is a PartyPoliticalBroadcast) - if you live in London, the South East, or the North West, please please consider voting Green on June 4th in the Euros purely to thwart the BNP - who regrettably pose a very real threat and might just gain their first MEP in one of these regions ).

I'd hope that (regardless of any allegiance to Labour, Tories etc) we would all agree that there should be no platform for Fascists.

Plus our policies rock, and (just to prove we're not all humourless sandal-wearing bearded twats) funnyman Mark Thomas thinks voting Green is the way to go.

• • ENDS * *

[dons home-made pith helmet woven from tofu and awaits the flak... ]

Keir Hardie cannot be spinning in his grave (He was cremated) but is probably birlin in his urn! Interesting to note that he was also an advocate of Home Rule for Scotland.

I do not understand how anyone can still believe that Labour is for 'the workers'. The current crop are all middle class, career politicians who have never done a hard day's work in their lives. No one of my personal acquaintance will be voting for them again or at least no one will admit to it! Here, in Scotland, the Tories are a spent force and show no sign of a revival; the Liberals have been tainted by their spell in coalition with Labour in the Scottish Parliament. I expect the Scottish National Party, a left of centre, social democrat party, to do exceptionally well at the next election, which will please me - a life long SNP supporter and voter.

I could never vote for any of the 3 'main' parties. If I had to vote in England I would vote Green.

Must agree with PPB, there is no point in just moaning that there is no party worth voting for, you need to get involved. Either join one of the big parties and change it from within or join with some like minded people and start a new one. With no funding from business or unions the SNP has grown enormously, entirely thanks to the hard work of its members.

Frankly, whoever wins (and of course it's looking like the Conservatives) there will be very very limited scope for the winning government. The UK needs to control / reduce debt, and the economic outlook is poor, so there is very little room for manoeuvre.

There will have to be cuts, and someone's going to have to pay more tax as well. The key difference will be in the areas the two main parties pledge to protect. I think some of the most confusing issues for the electorate will be when a party promises to increase spending in an area, while another party says that's actually a cut because the rate of increase year on year will decline (eg if you've been increasing spending on widgets 5% every year and then pledge to increase it by 2% from here on in, is that a 2% increase, or a cut?)

Oh yes - and it's June 3rd 2010 at the latest. Would be amazed if it was this year.

Hmm! If the Labour government has shown me anything it is that power absolutely corrupts. It did at the end of the Tory administration and it does now at the end of the Labour administration. Dreadful.

It's time for new fresh thinking and ideas.

I will be writing to David Cameron pleading for Children's Centres and investment in children's services/inequalities in health to remain. At least there is now support for young families - which is more than existed under the Tories.

I've not really been into politics before as I consider myself too ill informed to form an opinion, but I feel I just have to vote labour else I would be going against all my principles. Plus as a civil servant the Tories are not my friend. Either way we are in a solid Lib Dem area which is surprising as we live in a pretty posh town.

Lib Dems are often strong in the most "classy" areas. Look how often John Hemming comes on MN!

GB will still do well from the vast numbers of people in this country who are on his payroll, mainly public sector workers with pensions, people on benefits, Scotland and the super rich who have flourished over the past 10 years with the unregulated City boom and their tax dodges. It's the middle class private sector families who will turn against him, those that receive no state help and no pension and who have either lost their jobs or are struggling to make ends meet. I hope some people will also vote on moral grounds, looking to the future and the dreadful mess he has created for our children and grandchildren in terms of the national debt.

Public sector workers with pensions?? I'm sure you don't mean nurses. We get screwed over time and time again.

PPB - voting Green is a wasted vote in Croydon. It is a Tory borough. I do actually think Green have a lot to offer. I wouldn't vote for them if I thought they were crap. I'd just not bother voting.

abraid, your savings will recover when the economy turns

I agree ppb.I am glad to live somewhere where real change can be observed happening and a vote for someone other than the big 3 is not just a statement or a wasted vote but a real signal of change and a true alternative.I hope it catches on!

So do I NH - but Conservative have such a firm hold here unfortunately.