The Tories are gonna get in, it's inevitable do you care? Is there an upside?

[TheDullWitch]

Oh why not have the election NOW. Let the buggers get in, show their true colours, become universally loathed, then get kicked out after one term. Come on, let's get on with it!

It's got to be good for democracy to have a change of government every so often, even if that means not having the party in power that you personally would want. How undemocratic would it be to have Labour (or the Tories) running the country for 20 years with a massive majority? It would be like living under a one-party state.

But we had a bunch of incompetent, dishonest scumbags before Pixel. Some of them even went to prison.....remember Jeffrey Archer, Jonathan Aitken. Then there was that chap Hamilton (wife Christine) can't remember his first name. They are all the same when they've been in power for a while.

Neil Hamilton

Good point, UnquietDad. Can't they just all have the same (lefty) policies though?!

I agree widgeon. OK, many people are tired of Labour and everyone seems to hate Gordon Brown.....but....they have put in a lot of good policies. I think a change is as good as a rest but I'm totally not convinced about the Tories at all.

I tried to click on the link on the conservative webpage detailing where they stand on the economy but the page is stuck. Does that mean they don't actually have any detailed policy on how they will deal with the economy and the national debt?

agree with you UQ. and i take solace that being in opposition is far more fun and easier so i am in a way looking forward to it.

ha ha hamilton. god they've minted it in haven they.

dont worry pinky, you are not alone, but i think MN is decidedly blue..

Sorry, that was tongue in cheek.

Oh, I managed to get on the page, here is exactly how they will mend the economy:

To repair the broken economy in the long run, we need economic responsibility. That means:

• A responsible fiscal policy, bolstered by independent oversight.
• A responsible financial policy, bolstered by a renewed role for the Bank of England
• A responsible attitude to economic development that fosters more balanced economic growth

I cant' think of an upside. Listening to all their proposals so far it's exactly what you'd expect - taking from the poorest people in society - removing incapacity benefit from vast numbers of people who are disabled and unfit for work, cutting education, cutting benefits - it's fine if you're wealthy but if you're not, it's going to be a nightmare.

The Conservatives polled fewer votes than Labour in the 2005 general election. They polled more in England I believe, but not in the UK overall.

What's wrong with the conservative party?

If they're so bad, why don't people vote liberal?

Are labour really all that great?

For the record, I am a conservative, always have been and more than likely always will be.

Labour is soft. They don't take a firm stance on anything and Gordon Brown is a joke.

As not very many people are happy with labour and people seem to be uncomfortable with the conservatives, then I ask again - why not vote liberal?

I do. Liberal Democrat.

i think it's a bit that people are getting excited about swapping labour for tories, when many of the policies that have caused this financial mess are tory through and through.

in terms of free market policies and privatisation of the public sector, labour continued with tory policies as though there was no option.

the tories wouldn't have acted any differently on iraq or afghanistan, and were just as embroiled in the expenses scandal as labour.

returning the tories to power will lead to a continuation of all the worst policies of the current government, with none of the positive aspects (see wigeon above).

it does seem very likely that scotland will want to go its own way; labour in tory clothing is bad enough, but the real thing just doesn't bear thinking about.

at 'MN is decidedly blue.. '

I wouldn't have thought so .

very well put robin...

i have a wonderful vintage poster which says "women vote labour for the children"....

i dont think that maxim holds today, somehow!!

i say wonderful, i bet you all think i am a bit of a loon..

wigeon- Am in your shoes too.
So- labour introduced tax credits. I know it had its problems at the start but I have yet to see anyone refuse to take it and for the Lone Parents out there it can make the difference between work being worthwhile or not. and i have benefited personally from the extra maternity leave and flexible hours. Just because Gorden's floundered abit doesn't mean he hasn't done anything positive. having said that i still await Tory gov with interest. a change is as good as a rest and all that.

Whoever is in opposition has got to master the art of doing it effectively. Part of the problem with politics in the last 30 years has been two long periods not of strong government but of ineffectual opposition, on both sides.

Maybe a close result - not quite a hung parliament but a very shaky majority for David Cameron - will make things more interesting.

It should also increase voter interest if the election is flagged up as being close. Turnout always goes up if the election is close (viz '74, '92) and down if it is perceived as being already won (2001 the prime example).

" I cant' think of an upside. Listening to all their proposals so far it's exactly what you'd expect - taking from the poorest people in society - removing incapacity benefit from vast numbers of people who are disabled and unfit for work, cutting education, cutting benefits - it's fine if you're wealthy but if you're not, it's going to be a nightmare.

I'm not quite sure where your getting these policies from ? Could it be the Labour website and their idea of 'premoting' tory policy?

uqd its funny i was saying this today. nothing better to galvinise voters than a result being marginal. that could really hit some tory targets. but a shaky majority is tricky for a first term government - it can make them look ineffective if strong but party-controversial policies dont go through.

I wouldn't vote for the blues if my life depended on it - well perhaps then - but I certainly won't vote for them in the next election. It is a crying shame that New and Old labour have lost their way, but I can suffer one term of capitalist indulgence if it means a socialist revolt within the labour party.

As someone who works in education research and is deeply entrenched in policy I can promise you a Tory government will do our schools no favours. Yes, the reforms to education have been too fast paced, too complex and have turned off too many otherwise enthusiastic frontline staff, but schools have improved and the focus on equity has never been so glaring - even if ultimately not much may have changed.

Gordon was always going to be the fall guy - no government can last too long, their faults, and none are faultless, will always undo them eventually. But to replace what we've got now with a Tory government who have no clear strategy on anything... I've had enough of Gordon's circus but I'd be cautious about hanging out the bunting for Cameron's lot.

I feel this is such a self fullfilling prophesy.

The socialist ideals are brilliant, I love them but they are expensive and the way we run our society does not provide enough income for that.

So we have a labour government who boosts spending in so many areas, ok there is wastage and greed but IMO that will happen who ever is in power.
We run out of money, the country feels the pinch - demands a change -
The conservatives come in, slash costs - cuts services and reinforces everyones opinion of them as a slash and burn government, so as things balance out labour gets voted in and the cycle starts again.

as a life time tory, I feel like voting for labour, - all these cuts will HAVE to happen no matter who is in power, the tories should be trying to loose this election let labour take the heat for all the nasty painful cuts that will happen no matter who is in power, then maybe people will stop constantly blaming the tories.

Sorry rant over.

Oh the joy of the Tory party being in power again.

4 million unemployed
National Health Service being full of Managers rather than nuirses and Matrons
No minimum wage
No flexible working
No tax credits
Two tiered education system. Grammar schools for the brightest and the rest on the scrap heap.
Interest rates of 15%
Public services cut
Fleecing the poor and ensuring the rich continue to be rich
School standards at an all time low - read the Leitch report - only Greece and Portugal had worse numeracy and literacy standards.

I think not!!!!!

I don't see how it is inevitable.

I was quite shocked by the policies they want to bring in detailed yesterday.

I am not a Labour voter and was considering voting Tory but the raft of proposed measures really attack women. Many women work as teacher, nurses or admin staff in the public secot on a full or part time basis to fit in with childcare arrangements.

What effect will freezing pay have on their pensions even if it is only for a year?

I do not agree that cutting child tax credit is beneficial and punishes families trying to survive the recession. 50k although not the poverty line is still only enough for the basics if you have two or more children. You don't get anything free like school dinners. Mortgages, rent, council tax and utilities are higher when you have kids so once you've paid for these as well as clothing etc, thee is nothing left each month.

What is the point of attacking families? I simply can't vote for a party that punishes people for having a family. Childcare is extortionately expensive and many families (including my own) have to manage on a much reduced income or one wage because they can't afford to go back to work (I have 3 DC's 5 and under).

Why don't they focus perhaps giving more tax breaks for families with only one working parent, cutting the salaries of overly paid BBC presenters or MP's?

It does seem like Cameron is targeting those on average incomes who are coping but not wealthy which is blatently unfair.

If this is what they have to offer then no, they don't get my vote. Gordon Brown, poor man, is probably fighting a loosing battle but Labour have been disaterous for the country.

I think I will vote UKIP or Green. I will vote as women died for my freedom to vote and I will always respect that.

I don't think there's much point in these threads TBH, they seem to get very shrill very quickly.