Are there any turkeys voting for Christmas?

[FreeButtonBee]

I am a long standing lurker (moldies, red rug, that fabulous cutlery sex troll thread! etc etc) but was interested to see whether, in the current difficult economic environment, anyone was intending to vote for a party (and I don't care which one it is) which will increase their tax burden or decrease the amount they receive in state benefits?

I don't see any difference between someone voting for a party which increases one or decreases the other (where it affects the voter themselves).

So are you voting for someone who you think will continue to benefit you (or mean that you are in no worse position)?

Personally, I am voting tactically. I am voting Lib Dem in order to try to get rid of Labour. But the Lib Dems would probably cost me more in financial terms.

God, and I know that this seems dodgy as hell as a first post (politics, opinion etc) but promise I am not a journalist. Am tempted to started mis-spelling deliberately .

Whichever party one votes for come May 7th we will all be worse off. There's no need to keep deluding ourselves, times are tough, and they are going to get tougher.

Labour have p**sed away the pot of gold (literally) and now we all get to pay for it (again), better now than later.

We're all turkey's, some of us just don't know it yet.

Plenty.

No, I'm voting for the party I think will benefit the majority.

I don't agree with Atlantis, I think times might be relatively tough, but they will be tougher for most under the tories, and that the bankers are very much responsible for the financial problems we are facing now - not that I think the government is not partly responsible.

I want to see change, atm I want to vote for the least corrupt politician - is that possible? I won't be voting labour or tory, but I would vote for labour if I thought it would help to avoid a tory mp being elected - but I wouldn't be happy to give them my vote.

As it is I live in Scotland, and I will vote for my local MP, who is not aligned to either of the hideous two parties.

I was a Labour supporter, in the distant past, but Tony Bliar ended my support for them.

I don't know which party will benefit the majority, Expat, and I'd like to understand your reasoning.

Do you vote for more buy-now-pay-later Labour stuff? Which risks bankrupting the economy so that we end up like Greece?

Or do you vote for cuts and austerity, in which the lower paid and benefit-claimants will undoubtedly end up worse off than they are now (as we all will)?

Or do you vote LibDem because you fancy Nick Clegg and aren't worried by the UK becoming part of the Eurozone?

It's not easy ...

So how do you think that your vote will make your life worse and why do you think it's a good idea, expat?

I "know" you as a prolific poster here so v interested by what you say. I don't mean the ultimate result of your vote; I mean the party you actually vote for.

Personally, I have had what you might call an "easy life". I got good A-Levels, a good degree in Law from a great Uni and ended up in one of the best law firms in the country for 6 years. No children yet and and with a great guy. None of this was given to me; but then nothing serious (I mean, massively serious; not to say that I've waltzed up into this position without a backward glance) has happened to stand in my way either.

So now, I work for an investment bank. They didn't take any direct benefit from the whole bail out situation but obviously benefited indirectly.

None of this is meant to be a boast, it's just fact.

But if I vote Lib Dem, and they succeed, I would definitely be financially poorer, and actually their policies could mean that I could lose my job entirely.

I suppose that they are far enough removed from actual power that I've got comfortable with the risk and the result of voting for them is more beneficial to my political viewpoint that it is worth it overall.

yes I'm a turkey that will be voting for Christmas, our current MP is a Tory, but as politicians go he's not that bad really............and the alternative is a labour person who doesn't even live in the area (or anywhere close). Local MP has done quite a lot for local people. Not an easy decision, but I'd rather have an MP who knows the area and does actually fight for stuff for his constituents, than a wet kipper (Lid dem) or "foreign" (ie not local) Labour....

single mum on benefits shooting myself in the foot.............but it's going to be shite whoever gets in.

So Toc, are they voting for him because he is a good local MP despite his political views (and that is enough to override your natural political bias) or you're voting for him for another reason?

I find it really interesting and I actually I think women are more likely to vote across their political lines for societal reasons (whatever they might be - they seem to be numerous, but almost always personal).

Are there any studies to confirm that amateur view?

voting for him because he's a good local MP, the alternative round here is labour (was about 600 votes in it last time with Lib Dem some 5 figures behind). He lives locally, and is part of his local community, his children are educated locally too.

Certainly don't agree with all his viewpoints although he has voted against in his party on some issues which I do agree with.

No matter what any of the parties say those of us at the bottom of the socio-economic pile are going to be f*cked whoever gets in. Given that fact I'd rather there was an MP with a proven 5yr track record of fighting for his local constituents on issues that have affected them

He's one of those MP's who when people say "contact your local MP".......it generally seems worthile contacting him iykwim.

May as well have someone who cares about the local people in general seen as no-one is going to be much good to me.

Not an easy decision to make though, firstly because of my current situation, and secondly brought up in the NE of England during the 1980's voting Tory is about as alien to me as anything ever will be.

The Labour candidate is being shipped in from London as they're after their seat back (they lost it to Tory last election)...and I'm sure knows sod all about the area.

At least the Tories managed to put something about what they would "do" (haha) on their election crap stuff that came through my door................all Labour managed was a 4 sided cheat of Tory attacks.......

gah it's late - that load of waffle probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me

No, it makes so much sense. It shows that there is actually a personal face to it all. Which is what I was interested in. There has been so much bullshit party political drama which is so easy to see through.

But interesting to see why some voters stick with who they have despite it not being their 'natural' vote.

I suppose having grown up in NI my political views are a bit odd. The first time I voted was as a result of the Good Friday Agreement.

I don't think how anyone outside of NI can ever understand how important that vote was to me as a young person. It set me up for life. I have never and will never not vote, even if it is to spoil my vote. And I am probably more pragmatic than most.

Actually I am madly proud of that being my first time voting, if only everyone head the same experience, w might have better voting rates.

my first time voting I voted for Labour in 1997........I was thrilled when I watched them sweep into power - little did I know lol

I don't fancy Nick Clegg. He's not my type.

But of all the parties my conscience concurs most with Lib Dem.

I don't think you one decide who to vote for solely on whether they are giving you a few extra pounds in your pocket although obviously it is a factor. As the one that might give you the most in tax credits may not have as many police men on the beat. Labour have spent lots of money on education and the NHS but not always in the right way.

I am trying to look at the bigger picture and thinking which party has the best education policy, which is more environmentally friendly etc.

I realise that if people are on a very low income they need to look more carefully at the benefits proposed by each party. However unless you are wealthy enough to afford private healthcare and private education you have to consider what each party will do in these areas as well as whether you are gaining/losing tax credits, Child trust fund etc.

Also which chancellor is going to sort out the economic mess? According to the fiscal studies institute lib dem policies are marginally better on this but all parties have work to do.