Downing Street has confirmed that the Prime Minister is going to Queen to dissolve Parliament (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8603591.stm)

So, it looks like May 6th, which has been thrown around news channels, papers and Westminster *is* the date that the country will decide whether or not to install a new government.

Will Labour reach a fourth term of Government? Will we be waking up to Prime Minister Cameron on May 7th?

Or, are we going to see a hung parliament, which until this weekend, has been the prediction among many of the political elite?

Of course, there's a lot to consider - who has the best plan for the recovery, who will look after the armed forces, who's going to cut what where, and a whole lot more.

And this time round, we have the added pleasure of TV debates between the 'Big Three' (or five, depending on whether Plaid Cymru and the SNP manage to get some airtime).

So, what do people think?

Hung Parliament, with the Conservatives forming some sort of Coalition, meaning (unfortunately) Prime Minister Cameron (though that's better than Brown) with either UKIP (depending on votes) or the Lib Dems, forming the Coalition; hopefully the latter meaning Menzies Campbell is made Chancellor...

Being the ill-informed American that I am, the term "dissolving Parliament" isn't exactly the best choice of words there, Britons. >_>

Being the ill-informed American that I am, the term "dissolving Parliament" isn't exactly the best choice of words there, Britons. >_>

Ditto. You guys had me scared for a sec. :confused:

Hung Parliament, with the Conservatives forming some sort of Coalition, meaning (unfortunately) Prime Minister Cameron (though that's better than Brown) with either UKIP (depending on votes) or the Lib Dems, forming the Coalition; hopefully the latter meaning Menzies Campbell is made Chancellor...

I understood that in the event of a hung parliament, the current Government is traditionally allowed by the Queen to attempt a coalition - which would mean that Brown & Co would potentially still be in office.

Although, i'm not entirely sure how a hung parliament works - I've been reading about it, and just can't get my head around it.

I agree that the Conservatives gaining power still isn't a great prospect, but is infinitely more preferable to another five years of a dead-dog Labour government, complete with Brown, Balls (Darling certainly won't be chancellor on May 7th), Harman (or should that be Harperson?), and Mandelson's ****-eating grin.

Aside from the big issue of who will be in power on May 7th, i'm more worried about the potential increase in influence that the BNP and other extremist groups will enjoy - it certainly wouldn't be a surprise should they gain a seat in the Commons, but it would be incredibly sad if they did.

Being the ill-informed American that I am, the term "dissolving Parliament" isn't exactly the best choice of words there, Britons. >_>

Hmm, I tried to think of a clever joke involving dissolving agents, but couldn't.

Would 'Terminate' be a better word? :p

hopefully the latter meaning Menzies Campbell is made Chancellor...
Don't you mean Vince Cable?

either way I'm hoping Labour win or gain more places in a hung parliament - the Tories getting any sort of majority would be very bad for the country for all that Labour is by no means perfect. re: hung parliament, I think that a change from the adversarial politics they practise at the moment would do british politics some good.

This is the sort of narrow margin that makes NI parties happy. :lol: It means that there is a good possibility that our MPs will have a greater voice in Parliament, though certainly the Ulster Unionists will (if they manage to gain more than one seat this time...) in the Tory alliance thing. I'm not very fond of our one-issue parties, though.

I'd hope that the size of NI parties in Parliament would reduce the likelihood or necessity of resorting to sucking up to UKIP, the BNP or the like. The DUP after all is the fourth largest currently, though by all accounts that could change a bit after the election.

Would 'Terminate' be a better word? :p

Well, considering the fix that you guys are in right now, it might just be. :xp:

Of course, one might say that's the pot calling the kettle black...

Don't you mean Vince Cable?

Yeah I did... 3 hours sleep and 12 hours on the road can do that to you >.>

Should be an interesting election: I still don't know what the best outcome would be. The polls are probably going to widen what with Labour's poster cock-up.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00704/Poster385_704471a.jpg)
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01609/camtory_1609430c.jpg)

Being the ill-informed American that I am, the term "dissolving Parliament" isn't exactly the best choice of words there, Britons. >_>
That's the correct term: Parliament is dissolved during a general election i.e. it ceases to exist. It's what you get for having a democracy designed and built in 1688.

Menzies Campbell
For any non-Britons: this man's name is pronounced "Ming-iz". The "(n)z" is actually a "ȝ"; which is a letter capable of producing whatever ridiculous sound the writer wants it to in the middle of an English word generally makes a "gh" sound, but apparently can make an "ng" sound in Scots.

Should be an interesting election: I still don't know what the best outcome would be. The polls are probably going to widen what with Labour's poster cock-up.

Yes, Labour certainly seems to be lagging behind on the poster front.

http://heady.co.uk/politics/conservatives_ive_never_voted_tory_before_600.jpg)

Just listened to the coverage of the PM going to the Palace and his subsequent speech - did anyone else think it funny that he opened by saying that that Her Majesty 'has kindly agreed to dissolve parliament'?

It's not like she had an option, and we all knew that he wouldn't dare leave it till June 3rd, otherwise he'd risk looking like a coward.

I guess we now have four weeks of endless electioneering, canvassing, leaflets and yet more mud slinging!

at least your electioneering and mudslinging isn't covered by every news outlet on the planet to embarrass your country with how ugly it gets.

as an aside, "Dissolving" Parliament sounds like fun, what kind of acid do you prefer.

at least your electioneering and mudslinging isn't covered by every news outlet on the planet to embarrass your country with how ugly it gets.

as an aside, "Dissolving" Parliament sounds like fun, what kind of acid do you prefer.

Throwing H2SO4 at faces is pretty common during elections. :devsmoke:

Voter Power Calculator (http://www.voterpower.org.uk/)

Calculate how much a vote in your constituency is worth. Pretty nifty.

In York Outer, one person does not really have one vote, they have the equivalent of 0.913 votes.

The power of voters in this constituency is based on the probability of the seat changing hands and its size.

Voters in York Outer have 3.61x more voting power than the UK average.

I trust everyone knows about the BBC Election website's snazzy seat calculator (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8609989.stm), by now.

In Nuneaton, one person does not really have one vote, they have the equivalent of 0.352 votes.

Voters in Nuneaton have 1.39x more voting power than the UK average.

Joy. I'll still be doing my best to reduce Labour's majority.

I trust everyone knows about the BBC Election website's snazzy seat calculator (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8609989.stm), by now.

I've been playing around with that this afternoon, and have played around with their swingometer a little too.

Of course, for those who are tired of the Election already, there's always the brilliant Slapometer (http://www.slapometer.com/).

So, the National Insurance mashup continues between the Tories and Labour, with varying levels of ferocity, and a Scottish Labour Candidate (Ex) proves to be a twit. I wonder what next week will bring?

I'm quite looking forward to next Thursday's debate on ITV - maybe the Prime Minister will directly answer a question for a change?

Voter Power Calculator (http://www.voterpower.org.uk/)

Calculate how much a vote in your constituency is worth. Pretty nifty.
In North Down (though I can't figure why it's listed as 'Down North') we have the equivalent of 0.219 votes each. Interesting.

The average UK voter has 1.15x more voting power than voters in Down North.
Discrimination. :xp:

It's listed as 'very safe' but it could be interesting this year with Lady Hermon standing down from the UUP/Conservatives and going Independent. And yes I realise that's only interesting to people in North Down. :lol:

I'm quite looking forward to next Thursday's debate on ITV - maybe the Prime Minister will directly answer a question for a change?
I predict Gordon will be solid if uninspiring, dealing in pragmatism rather than idealism, rather like Darling was in the Chancellors debates, whle still looking a wee bit stubborn and hidebound. Nick Clegg will throw himself at absolutely anything - as he has done with his Paxman interview - because he basically has no chance of winning and so might as well enjoy himself, and David Cameron will continue to come out with vaguely pleasant sounding mush in lieu of any ideas, whilst praying that people don't realise that yes, George Osborne really is their potential Chancellor-in-waiting (lord help us).

Our uni is putting it on in one of the unions. I suspect it will be one of the few places in the country where Labour still has the majority of the support.

Joy. I'll still be doing my best to reduce Labour's majority.

Of course, for those who are tired of the Election already, there's always the brilliant Slapometer (http://www.slapometer.com/).

:p Wish we had one of those for US pols. Then everytime Pelosi opens her mouth (to make yet another vapid statement) I could slap it. :devsmoke: Didn't pass up the op, though, to slap Brown around a little.

There's a disturbing story in today's Sunday Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7094308.ece) claiming that cancer patients have been targeted by a Labour mailshot which, to put it bluntly, appears to claim 'Vote Tory and die'.

LABOUR has become embroiled in a row about the use of personal data after sending cancer patients alarmist mailshots saying their lives could be at risk under a Conservative government.

Cards addressed to sufferers by name warn that a Labour guarantee to see a cancer specialist within two weeks would be scrapped by the Tories. Labour claims the Conservatives would also do away with the right to be treated within 18 weeks.

Cancer patients who received the personalised cards, sent with a message from a breast cancer survivor praising her treatment under Labour, said they were “disgusted and shocked”, and feared that the party may have had access to confidential health data.

I'm sure that this won't be the only distasteful mail campaign of the election, but to attempt to gain votes and political points by specifically targeting cancer sufferers is disgusting in the extreme, although I should make it clear that I am saying this as a previous sufferer (although not breast cancer, obviously) myself, so I may be a little biased.

EDIT: And I could care less about who sits in the Lords with the likes of Lords Mandelson, Martin and the Kinnocks in there already, but this just smacks of spite (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7094306.ece) - outside of politics, this is a man who has served his country dilligently for decades, and consistently stood up for the Army - even if it has meant fierce criticism of the Government.

So, this week is 'Manifesto Week', with Labour's manifesto launched yesterday, the Conservative launch today, and the Liberal Democrat launch tomorrow morning (Plaid Cymru and UKIP also launched today, and the SNP launched yesterday).

Just looking at the covers of the two manifestos presents two very different visions of a future Britain.

http://www2.labour.org.uk/uploads/50f2ecb8-41d4-0664-59b3-013e288a09f4.jpg) http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47636000/jpg/_47636775_009106601-1.jpg)

Labour's manifesto has been derided as empty, 'nothing we haven't heard before', and no doubt the same will be said of the Conservative manifesto. Although one has to wonder why, after 13 years, we don't already have a 'Future fair for all'.

Both launches were slick, and filled with the faithful supporters of each party - although there was something very ugly in the way that Mr. Brown allowed his audience (and the Cabinet, it must be said) to repeatedly heckle the Press - even going so far as accusing Sky's Adam Boulton, on asking a question about the use of an NHS hospital for an election rally (no, no breach of rules here, Cabinet Office - it's not technically NHS - yet.), of being a Tory, and even saying this with his uncomfortable smile -

“it’s not a fair press. It’s a fair audience.”

I imagine that Mr. Brown will eventually regret saying that. It's well known in the Press and other circles that the Prime Minister does not like being questioned by the press, as Tom Bradby (http://blog.itv.com/news/tombradby/?p=232) mentions, but yesterday's display looked childish and petty - 'How dare you question our glorious leader?'

I missed any coverage of the Conservative launch, so I don't know how it compares to Labour's, but I have heard mention of 'Cameron's JFK moment'. Of course, that could all turn out to be nothing.

I wonder what the Lib Dems will come up with.

And yes, in case you were wondering, I have an intense dislike of the Labour Party.

I'm hoping for a Lib Dem/Conservative government. Sure, the stockmarket isn't too keen on a hung parliament, but at least this way the conservatives less desirable policies (insta cuts, europhobia etc) would be moderated. Also, since the conservatives suffers (to some extent) under first past the post, there is at least a chance in getting it abolished.

And please keep the NI parties outside the government, if only to avoid unerving the other side. Unless Brittains election laws forbids this, I'd prefer them from influencing the government from outside should they become kingmakers.

Also, since the conservatives suffers (to some extent) under first past the post, there is at least a chance in getting it abolished.

how exactly? and labour is by far the more likely of the two prime candidates to change that particular aspect, besides the lib dems although they have **** all chance of getting in and therefore their policies are more or less only of interest as a sort of tie-breaker.

Labor "waste" much fewer votes than the conservatives due to first past the post, it's one of the reasons why this election is close. Do you really expect politicians to vote for a law that will make them less likely to gain power?

Labor "waste" much fewer votes than the conservatives due to first past the post, it's one of the reasons why this election is close. Do you really expect politicians to vote for a law that will make them less likely to gain power?
They have promised to change it: they're cutting the number of seats in the Commons. It's not so much electoral reform as it is reskewing the hopelessly unfair system we have now.

The Tories are really not the party of constitutional reform: a good deal of their backbenchers think that the constitutional settlement of the Glorious Revolution was just fine and dandy.

Fair point, however, since whoever wins will probably do so narowly, selling the abolition of FPTP to Labor is going to be hellish as it's elections like theese where the FPTP system can lead to a Labor win.

Fair point, however, since whoever wins will probably do so narowly, selling the abolition of FPTP to Labor is going to be hellish as it's elections like theese where the FPTP system can lead to a Labor win.
The Labour party have said that there will be a referendum on electoral reform after the election. They're proposing a change to the alternative vote system, which is better than nothing, I suppose. Whether or not it happens is another matter.

And the winner is... Nick Clegg, by a wide margin.

I don't see why it is as surprising as some are claiming, though - many had said that the third party would benefit greatly from this equal footing. They had little to lose and much to gain from such a debate.

Cameron should have been a lot more forceful with Brown - especially when he talked about fixing existing systems - why no 'you've had 13 years to do that already, so why now?' ? I think that being on the center podium also damaged his chances somewhat, as at times it looked like he was caught in a crossfire between Clegg and Brown.

All three did make good points, and Brown even managed to make a joke. About Lord Ashcroft (so plant-like it's almost a tree). :¬:

Brown's constant stream of 'I agree with Nick' was ridiculous, especially when Clegg rounded on him.

The next two are going to be much more interesting. People are going to be paying far more attention to Clegg and the Liberal Democrats now, and I don't think he'll get as much of an easy ride in them.

I agree with Nick (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/16/digital-economy-bill-nick-clegg).

I agree with Nick (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/16/digital-economy-bill-nick-clegg).
It's said that Beau Nash agreed with Nick Clegg no less than five times yesterday.

I though Clegg was impressive and Brown was more convincing than Cameron. Brown was definitely angling for future pacts in a hung parliament with the Lib Dems though he did perhaps over-do it. I thought that Clegg came across as occasionally too 'me against the world' and at a few points just sounded whiny. He did make some good points though and to be fair had a lot of ammunition to work with.

It's said that Beau Nash agreed with Nick Clegg no less than five times yesterday.
A milkmaid in Somerset saw five cows mooing the words, and 'tis said that three times did the monuments of the yard at Shrewsbury rise up and release their horrid charge, whose scaly arms and shotten heads cried out to Moon and Carriage that Nick was right: the words "I agree" on their nicked and shrunken lips.

I also saw a mudcrab the other day.

I don't drive, I don't use public Transport, I'm not an immigrant... I am a Sophisticated sex Robot though, who should I vote for?

I don't drive, I don't use public Transport, I'm not an immigrant... I am a Sophisticated sex Robot though, who should I vote for?

Vote? We don't let your kind vote - you'll have to stand for parliament with the rest of the robotic whores.

Who has David Cameron been talking to? (http://www.fridgemagnet.org.uk/toys/dave-met.php)

"Last week, I met a wheelchair-bound reformed paedophile, who told me that homosexual activists went to Eton."

So, what was the original statement he was being mocked over?

Oh, Call Me Dave turned the first ten minutes of the election debate into an anecdote competition with some terribly contrived story about meeting "A spot-welder" who supports the Conservatives or something.

Personally, I agree with Nick.

"Last week, I met a Scottish sort in Westminster who told me that he agreed with Nick."

Don't you know he's a man of the people? Some of his best friends are poor.

"Last week, I met a Dutch Chelsea supporter, who told me that the Minimum Wage killed Diana."

e: "Last week, I met a Polish policeman, who told me that teenagers high on meow meow had been shouting at buses on the high street."

what is meow meow

^^ A cheap, legal and dangerous high apparently. It killed one kid so it must be deadly. Oh wait...

Vote? We don't let your kind vote - you'll have to stand for parliament with the rest of the robotic whores.

Damn you Metalliphallus®, Damn you to Hell!

Last week, I met a Polish policeman, who told me that teenagers high on meow meow had been shouting at buses on the high street."

what is meow meow

4-methylmethcathinone, aka MCAT, hence the "Meow", legal amphetamine, well soon to be illegal, some of the lowlifes in my area like to sniff on that tihs.

Oh, Call Me Dave turned the first ten minutes of the election debate into an anecdote competition with some terribly contrived story about meeting "A spot-welder" who supports the Conservatives or something.

I believe it was a man in Portsmouth who told him about something. But it was the way he said it -

Last week I met a black man

That was quite a surprise, and it did sound a little snobbish.

Although I do think the media frenzy around Nick Clegg is getting ridiculous. However true it might be, I never expected to see 'Clegg as popular as Churchill' on the front page of the Sunday Times.

As for the Digital Economy bill, I have to say I agree with Nick. :D

http://lucasforums.com/picture.php?albumid=100&pictureid=6334)

So, what do you guys make of Brown's chances in light of his recent embarrassing gaffe?

Well, I just cast my vote for the Liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, they don't stand a hope in Hell of taking this seat but the goal is to up their share of the national vote, making the case for electoral reform that much stronger.

In other news, it turns out that the New York Times has a rather skewed view of our democracy:

Clicky (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/arts/dance/03dancevote.html)
In a general election as impossible to predict as the one here on Thursday, with many constituencies in the balance and a large chance of a hung Parliament, any pressing issue may swing the vote of the undecided. One of these issues is dance.
[...]
Ms. Miller is careful not to urge the cause of any one party. “We simply want dance to be recognized as an issue.”
Makes satire superfluous, doesn't it?

The NYT has a rather skewed version of a lot of things. :p

I shall be casting my vote in the next two hours or so, attempting to end 18 years of Labour in my area, and hopefully the country.

If Brown is PM tomorrow i'll be both saddened and amazed.

I went Labour tactically, though to be honest the whole tactical voting thing makes me a feel a little dirty. Hopefully enough pressure can be brought to bear on whoever wins to introduce PR. Hopefully then we can actually vote for who we believe in which in my case would be the Greens. This is also one (of many) reasons why voting Tory would be a disaster - they are the only party of the main three that has made no commitment to introducing PR. Oh, and they're scum. Nearly forgot that bit.

@Totenkopf: that 'gaffe' was a ridiculous bit of the media making a story out of absolutely nothing. She was bigoted, and it would have been worse if he had shrugged it of - betraying a lack of principle - or even worse if he had agreed because what she was spouting was the worst xenophobic paranoid crap that most people who vote BNP use to justify themselves.

I voted at a quarter past 10 this morning - for the first time that it actually matters on a national scale.

I'm hoping to see some indication of a swing away from the extreme parties here - but on a larger scale of course a shiny new government tomorrow. :xp:

Oh, and they're scum. Nearly forgot that bit.

If that's your view of anyone voting Conservative, I have to say i'm rather proud to be 'scum'. :¬:

If I were living in the U.K, and if I were over 18, (Sorry, I dunno what age you have to be in order to vote there) I'd most likely vote for Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats.

David Cameron is "too" Conservative, (meaning, that he'll remove a couple of Beneficial changes to Britain, and will take the UK all the way back to the 80's) and Gordon Brown has issues that the British people already knows about.

If I were living in the U.K, and if I were over 18, (Sorry, I dunno what age you have to be in order to vote there) I'd most likely vote for Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats.

David Cameron is "too" Conservative, (meaning, that he'll remove a couple of Beneficial changes to Britain, and will take the UK all the way back to the 80's) and Gordon Brown has issues that the British people already knows about.

^I'd do the same thing.