so who am i going to vote for in may?

[tilder]

I have voted since I was 18. Always feeling that my vote was worth something. That the person and party I voted for was worth something.

So now who do I vote for?

I am a little left if centre but don't want to vote labour. The Eds are not for me, they seem to miss the issues, chase headlines and are having a major knee jerk reaction to Nigel farage.

I believe in being part of Europe (am I a dying breed?) And fairness and equality but Clegg is an arse.

I think the NHS is a corner stone of our country. That the environment matters (and scientists tend to be more accurate than politicians here). That people should earn their place but that not everyone can. So I can't vote Tory.

That despite immigration being undeniably an issue for many, that the racism, bigotry, extreme right wing views of ukip mean I would rather drink battery acid than vote for them.

Greens are slightly further left wing than me but to be honest I don't know much about them. Just that, from a purely selfish point of view, dh and I have good salaries and much as we believe in social justice would like to feel some financial benefit from our work.

So I'm fucked aren't I. I have know idea who to vote for. Just feel depressed and for the first time worried about politics.

Seriously? They are the polar opposites! If those were my options I would vote green, and waste my vote. There is no way my conscience would allow me to vote Tory.

I will be voting Lib Dem, as I did at the last election. I'm very happy with the incumbent Lib Dem MP, and am quite certain he will hold his seat. The probability is that there will be a rump of 30 or so Lib Dems in the next parliament and Clegg will get the boot.

I think I am leaning towards lib dem too. I can't bear the Tory idealogy and was shocked that I chose their economic policies. The greens seem to naive and idealistic in so many ways (sadly) and labour is just floundering.

If Clegg went I would be happier. I prefer lib dem stance on Europe and the environment, I like Danny Alexander. Being in coalition was always a poisoned chalice. Despite the whole rennard thing I still think at the core they represent more equality for women than the others.

Totally agree that the greens and Tories are polar opposites though!

"Totally agree that the greens and Tories are polar opposites though!"

The Tories changed their logo to a green "squiggly" tree and then turned the green "squiggly" tree blue. They aren't Tories, they're evergreens.

Cameron even installed a "rooftop wind turbine" on his home and flew over to "hug a husky" for a photoshoot. "Vote blue go green" they said. That's why I've gorn UKIP, I've had enough!

If you think you may want to vote green and the only thing stopping you is not knowing their policies then find out about them and vote.

Came across this the other day, food for thought?

flippantirritatingandboring.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/2015-general-election-get-out-there-get-informed-and-vote/

A vote for tories is a vote for the abandonment of the poor to their deaths blacktrianglecampaign.org/2014/10/21/uk-welfare-reform-deaths-updated-list-october-21st-2014/

Has anyone else noticed that the economic golden age from the end of the war til 70s was also the time of growth of the public sector?

Hi lightning. I went through the policies website mentioned upthread. I thought greens might be for me but the policies highlighted on that website really put me off. Was surprised as I always wondered about them.
Why do they come across as so anti Europe? In my experience being part of Europe has been the best thing we've done for the environment.

You might want to try getting in touch with them either at a local group or national level and asking them that...

I believe they are well aware of the benefits of the EU overall but are equally well aware of the faults in the current set-up. I'd guess you're only coming across the latter. That's what this from one of their meps says anyway. www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/2014/05/06/europe-matters/

Labour for me. Politics affect all our lives and so I want to make a difference at the election. Labour have policies for improving the NHS and social care-which we all rely on at some time of our lives. Also their policies are geared more towards 'ordinary' people, the rich can always look after themselves. So I need/want a party that will promote issues that affect me-good education,health,welfare,striving for equality,oppourtunity of good jobs(end of 0 hours contracts),not a race to the bottom in wages and pensions and a voice in Europe. This current government have shown who they really are-so kick them out.

I'm really beginning to feel that a vote for anyone but Labour is risking another five years of the Tories. If you're ok with that fine - but I really don't understand why anyone would vote green because Labour aren't 'left' enough.

The sad thing is that if AV had been adopted, none of this would be a problem. It would have been quite safe to vote Green as, say, a first preference, and then Labour second.

Or for that matter, UKIP first and Tory second if one is inclined to the right.

AV in an election like this could have buried the Lib Dems. As it is, they will simply revert to the same presence they had in Parliament from the 60s to the 90s, and will remain the third largest party unless the SNP stay high in the polls (God forbid).

I feel the same Tidler and agree with you on Europe and the parties!

I have the same dilemma except I'm in a seat which the Tories won from the lib dems in 2010- it was solidly lib dem from 1997. The MP is okay, not great and has a majority of about 200... Do I vote Lib dem again or tactical labour?!! Lots of students round here!

I will never vote for any party that includes Grant Shapps as a person with paid-for responsibilities, so that makes the choice a little easier.

I won't vote for a manipulative demagogue which cuts it down a bit more.

I wouldn't rule out building on the Green Belt so that eliminates another candidate here.

And I'm left with two. I think I know which way I will vote but it will be with some gloom. I just watched the film Argo and the quote 'This is the best bad idea we have' comes to mind.

I have no idea either. I have always voted the same way but now I am not inclined to do that so I really have no idea, the only thing I do know is is won't be UKIP, or any of the less popular parties. I really need to give it some thought. I don't like the idea of not voting so I really need to decide.

I agree with robin4. Labour for me.

I suggest that anyone who votes Tory should take a long hard look at what that means.

They're going to privatise the NHS. They've already transferred the NHS properties (hospitals, gp surgery buildings etc) to a company - I bet they will then sell the lot off and charge commercial rents. Which will cost the taxpayer more.

The clamp down on benefits is punitive when unemployment benefits form a small part of the overall bill. Most of it is housing benefit and pensions.

The Tories have done nothing to protect renters, who make up a huge proportion and cannot afford to buy.

Think of their cabinet:

Jeremy Hunt - the friend of Murdoch who will sell the NHS to the highest bidder Tory donor

Michael Gove - who has overseen the destruction in the morale of teachers. Thanks, that's my child's education fucked

Iain Duncan Smith - under who's watch we have people committing suicide.

I won't be voting labour. They're a bunch of Tories in red.

I will vote green. I won't be better off under the Tories - as a higher rate taxpayer I earn less in cash terms than I did before they came into power.

I don't believe in tactical voting because while you "stop" one party getting in, it helps another very similar party get in.

So I'm going to vote as per the policies. The greens won't get into power but it will help reduce the power that the leading party has. That's good enough for me.

I would like to vote Labour. But they do badly in my constituency. Realistically, the Tories will win with UKIP possibly close behind. I really don't want to risk UKIP winning so therefore is it worth voting Tory to keep UKIP out?

I'm voting SNP for the first time ever. Their candidate in our constituency is a left wing trade union activist so it's an easy choice. I'd never vote Tory or UKIP for ideological reasons.

I agree with the OP. I was going to vote green but they do have some crazy policies re education and Europe that I totally disagree with so I am unsure who to vote for.
I live in one of the most marginal seats so I'm sure I'll have potential MPs persuading me.

I live in a (safe) Tory ward within a safe labour seat. My vote is completely irrelevant ( though I will still vote, likely green).
FPTP just isn't democracy!
TBH I don't believe in democracy anyway.

I desperately want to vote labour but I can't vote for the Eds. I don't know what to do!

Policies are what count-they will effect us. Personalities won't count when policies are put in place. I Say labour-their policies are more geared towards ordinary people - supporting public services like NHS which we all rely on.

Tories will win here regardless of who I vote for. If that weren't the case, I'm not sure what I would do. I'm a socialist in essence but the Labour party atm isn't everything I would hope. I have in the past voted for Lib Dem purely because of where I lived and the fact that the LD candidate was a good, sensible hopeful option who had the potential to oust the Tories for the first time in decades. It worked and it was brilliant but then we moved. I still support some Lib Dem policies but they have got years before being a credible option again. I would vote Green if there was any real chance of it making a difference.

So I'll vote Labour because that's where my withered heart lies and I'll die inside a little when the Conservatives win and UKIP come second.

Surely you start from first principles. Do you believe that (on a broad brush basis of course) capitalism is better or worse than socialism.

Answer that one, and you're halfway towards choosing who to vote for. If you're not sure if you believe in socialism or capitalism, just ask yourself basic questions - Do you believe in the rights of ownership? Or do you believe in the principles of the invisible hand?

....Or look at the things that have improved your life. Things that have supported you, education, health service, welfare state. All things that capitalism cannot do alone. Then look at the party that continually support these services and can make a difference if voted for.