The Big DebateIf you feel the need to get your teeth stuck right into a heavy debate on a subject you feel really passionate about, then this is the place to do so. Post about religion, politics, laws and all things juicy like that here.
Labour has performed badly in the local elections after days of turmoil, the first poll results suggest.
In the first council to declare overnight, Labour was forced into third place in Bristol.
They lost several seats to the Liberal Democrats, who took overall control for the first time in their history. The Tories also gained seats from Labour in the council.
TheConservatives won a landslide victory in Central Bedfordshire and Labour picked up no seats there.
The Tories also increased the share of Lincolnshire County Council at the expense of Labour.
The bulk of English county council results will come this afternoon, with European results due on Sunday night.
In England, 27 county councils and seven unitary councils are up for grabs. There have also been three mayoral votes.
Did you vote then? Is this going to do anything for the situation the country is in at this time?
Yes I did vote - same as the last 40 years. I may have been in doubt before the election but not any more. It was also noticeable that our local turnout was very high. Then again, this area is full of us 'oldies' so it's possible we just got the bit between our teeth and thought "sod it, we've seen worse - business as usual" As for the rest of the country, I think the turnout will decide that. If it's low, we'll get very little change as the politicians can reasonably say, "they don't really care that much" Business as usual for the politicians.
Last edited by Bilko; 05-06-2009 at 12:50..
Reason: Additional Text
We didnt have a local election here, just the euro one.
Im pleased with the result so far, mainly because i dont like having an unelected prime minister in power. There should have been a general election when Blair stepped down or very shortly after.
You mean like the one they didn't have after Maggie T stepped down for John Major
Yeah if the same thing happened then exactly like that. They shouldnt be allowed to do that imo. If youre implying that all the parties are as bad as eachother then im happy to agree. I dont really like any of them, i just really dislike Labour atm, they seem a bit socialist and Gordon Brown is an unelected nob imo.
If youre interested at all, i align closest to LibDem atm in terms of policies.
If I remember correctly John Major wasn't the Priminister long before an election took place (which he won).
He was also a good Prminister as well, he just had a terrible team alongside him that fucked him over. It's not like Gordon Brown though because he is a disaster, how the hell does he have the nerve to stay on? Although I'm pleased to see arseholes like Hazel Blear go at the same time she's just one of three major players that have gone in a week right before local/european elections. Disgrace
I think if a leader steps down the should be a general election straight away, regardless of which party it is. Most people vote on appearances and who they would trust (stupidly of course- rather than reading manifestos). Brown looks like someone the cat dragged in...
I think when you vote, you vote for your own MP, not for the prime minister, unless you live in his constituency, therefore all the MPs in office have been voted for, so they are still elected to power.
its not like you can vote for who's going to be chancellor etc,, which tbh is probably just as important or more so.
the power lies in the individual MPs as they have the vote in the house of commons to pass laws or whatever were still allowed to do by the EU, however with a crap leader its not gonna go so well obviously.
I doubt if labour would of got in in an election with Gordon brown as the leader.
I think when you vote, you vote for your own MP, not for the prime minister, unless you live in his constituency, therefore all the MPs in office have been voted for, so they are still elected to power.
its not like you can vote for who's going to be chancellor etc,, which tbh is probably just as important or more so.
the power lies in the individual MPs as they have the vote in the house of commons to pass laws or whatever were still allowed to do by the EU, however with a crap leader its not gonna go so well obviously.
I doubt if labour would of got in in an election with Gordon brown as the leader.
That's how I thought it worked as well, that you voted for a party candidate who represents your constituency and the party which gains the most votes from the populace takes power and selects their Government..
Nice to see Labour getting utterly trounced in local elections, though. Britain has had enough, clearly, but not enough to hand power to those fools at the BNP (though they have gained 3 seats on councils around the UK)
I think when you vote, you vote for your own MP, not for the prime minister, unless you live in his constituency, therefore all the MPs in office have been voted for, so they are still elected to power.
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I doubt if labour would of got in in an election with Gordon brown as the leader.
What that means though imo, is that at a general election most people vote primarily for the leader rather than which party has the MPs best suited for important roles. How many times have you heard things like "im not voting tory, cameron is a posh twat" or "im not voting labour, browns an idiot" etc. I would argue the leader is possibly more important to the voting masses than the actual policies or MPs in the party, so when one steps down its even more important that theres an election.
The system is utterly ******ed though, the percentage of UK people who understand what each party stands for has to be low and the percentage whom also understand the implications and economics of governement policies such as tax/euro/war etc has to be even less. I read quite a bit and have some idea of politics and economics, but i dont feel qualified to know which policies or really even which party would be best for the country longer term.
Im sure it would be amusing if not saddening to see the reasons people vote for who they do. Im convinced it would read like headlines from the sun.
First Election Results Suggest Labour Mauling
As for the rest of the country, I think the turnout will decide that. If it's low, we'll get very little change as the politicians can reasonably say, "they don't really care that much" Business as usual for the politicians.
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