OK, so we all hate Blair. Election tomorrow - who would you vote for and why?

[Tinker]

I find this a really tricky one atm.

Blair lacks credibility, has let down the name of the Labour party. It's inconceivable that I could vote tory so that leaves Charles Kennedy. Have the Lib Dems got any real chance of ever gaining a majority.

Not voting not an option for me, get too emotional about the 'women died for my right to vote' argument.

Anyone want to discuss?

oh bunny2 - you beat me to it. I will be voting Tory too - I don't agree with all their policies but prefer their handling of the economy in general. Not because they make me personally better off but because they make the country better off - usually.

(Sits back and waits for the mudslinging to start.)

Um, Jude, the Major government wasn't exactly famed for its economic management... did you have a mortgage on black Wednesday? And Thatcher gave us 2 recessions...

They didn't keep their election promises (I know, I know) and they are all in it for their own aggendas. They don't seem to be the slightest bit interested in what the voters want.

Hmmm, its a tricky one.
I have been completley supportive of Blair so far. I need to trust our leader and Blair has been the only one who seems honest. He has made some questioable decisions but they were made with good intentions.
The only thing that has made me hesitate is the fact that he looks exhausted by it all. I think hes had enough.
I think Charles has my vote. Because he looks honest.
And if those are stupid reasons to choose our leader then so be it, I don't care what you say.

What do the voters want exactly?
Everything! We can't have everything. There are limits and people forget that. There is a budget to keep to and time restraints.
If people are after miracles they're not going to find it in a government.

Bliar honest? really? I think he's pinnochio.

Dinner date out of the leaders? CK- he's quite amusing on Have I Got News for You. Followed by MH, not TB because like Aloha I'd want to punch him and he'd put me off my food.

Zebra which came first? MH shafting Anne Widecombe or the "something of the night" comment? (Genuine question- I don't know).

Anne Widecombe as a dinner date? Nah think I'd still prefer CK. Or John Major so you could dig for dirt about Edwina Curry

Think I'd prefer GB for dinner than TB, but my first choice would be red Ken. He'd be reallly indescreet and a laugh.

BK - Alistair Campbell??? Ooh, it's getting very DH Lawrence with you isn't it

I'd have dinner with Gordon Brown. We could talk about babies. I never had much time for him 'til his face when he was describing how beautiful his baby girl was, then his utter sadness when they lost her.

And I'm sorry if that sounds flippant, because obviously this is serious and I for one have little, if any, faith left in the Government I voted for BUT deep down, I can't help feeling that really it has so little meaning. I am deeply suspicious of ALL politicians because I think, by and large, they're a self-serving bunch. The people who would make good politicians wouldn't touch the role with a barge pole. The whole thing is deeply depressing and I feel particularly sorry for Dr. Kelly's widow.

Just a thought: do you think a Tory Government would have handled things any better/differently?
Or are they, as I suspect, secretly rubbing their hands together in glee and thinking "thank God we didn't have to deal with this one" ?

No Enid, you're not

Oh Tink you sussed me, will keep quiet. No problem with the tax situation here though.

I do have a problem with those not contributing to the country's economy. Hey but I dare not go there!

Hutton Report was a cover up in my opinion. Resignations from the BBC? They were given the information in the first place. No wonder the poor man killed himself. RIP.

I agree with all of what Marthamoo just said. The people who go into politics usually do it for their own agendas.

I don't think the Torys would have handled it differently. I think they're all as bad as each other. Theres nohing to choose between them - so why bother voting?

Enid, you're not alone - I still like Tony. I'm a labour voter and after having endured 18 of my formative years under the Tory's, I'm still ecstatic (sp) that Labour are actually in!

The rest of the thread reminds me of an old Douglas Adams chestnut about a planet governed by some nasty old dinosaurs. When asked why people kept electing these awful creatures, the people would say, 'you have to vote for a dinosaur in case the wrong dinosaur gets in.'

lol, aloha! yes he would be dangerous and sexy! must be pg hormones running away with me

I'd vote Blair because I don't see any alternative. Family friendly policies are realy important to me, and I this government has at least recognised that we need more money for childcare and that it's good for women to work. The Tories idea of family-friendly policies means Mummy staying at home.

Also, Blair wears boxer-shorts and I suspect Michael Howard has really old-fashioned underwear so would never vote for that man!

I'm with Northerner. Although I disapprove of many things Blair has done, I could never bring myself to vote Tory. I remember all too well the bastard things the Tories did when they were in power.

Droile - no dissing dinosaurs now!

Bekkikay, what's that saying....? 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'

Whist I applaud TB for his efforts at making work family friendly, I wish he'd do something for SAHM's too, such as tranferable tax allowances.

can I second marthamoo - jimjams for prime minister

I will be very torn come the next election
On the one hand I have an excellent local Labour MP who I am frequently harrassing to support various causes - like door-to-door recycling, improved sex education in schools, etc - and he always replies with his endordement of the up-coming bills.
On the other hand I despise Blair, I cannot stand the thought of that smarmy lying f**ker running the country, deaf to the opinions of the voters, for another 5 years.
I would love a two tier electoral system whereby you can vote for your local representative with one vote, then vote for the National Party you want to win with another.
Also I am dismayed that there is no way you can register an anti-vote - a destroyed ballot is not recognised, so I think there should be a box on the ballot you can tick if you are disgusted with the lot of them and want that opinion known.

I don't hate Tony Blair.He is a good leader. Funnily enough I actually like the fact that unemployment is low and interest rates are also low. I like the fact that he is a Church goer and not ashamed of it.I like the fact that he is so much better than Thatcher,Major or any other predecessors in my memory.I like the fact that he has made huge strides in brokering peace in Northern Ireland. I like these facts and many others.Does this make me a freak?

Probably, Donnie, you, me, Enid, a handful of others. Maybe we should start our own little mutant colony?