Who will you be voting for? One week to go, has your mind changed from last time?

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

I think it's all still to play for in Rochester & Strood. The last constituency poll I'm aware of for the seat is the 25th April Ashcroft poll which showed Reckless three points behind his Tory opponent. He looks vulnerable and my inkling is that the Conservatives will retake the seat, but UKIP are still very much in the running there so far as I can see.

 

[SALTIRE]

Dislike of a political party is no reason to destroy the country you mug.

That political party has tried to tear up Scotland and use it as experiments for its more nefarious policies over the years and it would be better if we were the fuck out of it so they can't have a go at us again like they always will. The Tories are almost as bad as the Nazi's and that is saying something.

 

[Stevencc]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

 

[Blitzballer]

Was planning on voting UKIP, I agree with most of their policies but will most likely be a wasted vote. I hate the Conservatives but I hate Labour 10x worst Re: "Labour25" "Rochdale" "paedo gangs" "uncontrolled immigration", not to mention Ed Miliband.

 

[Red]

That political party has tried to tear up Scotland and use it as experiments for its more nefarious policies over the years and it would be better if we were the fuck out of it so they can't have a go at us again like they always will. The Tories are almost as bad as the Nazi's and that is saying something.

Fucking hell man don't use the word Nazi in reply to Alty. He really will assimilate what you said as literally that the Tories are Nazis.

 

[Red]

Was planning on voting UKIP, I agree with most of their policies but will most likely be a wasted vote. I hate the Conservatives but I hate Labour 10x worst Re: "Labour25" "Rochdale" "paedo gangs" "uncontrolled immigration", not to mention Ed Miliband.

Rochdale? Paedophile gangs? How is Labour to blame for that? What are the other UKIP policies you agree with?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well that was very tough to decide today, spent 10 mins in polling booth as still wasn't sure. In end finally voted labour, a switch from tory last time. The tories simply never gave me reasons to vote them in their dreadful scaremonger campaign

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Well that was very tough to decide today, spent 10 mins in polling booth as still wasn't sure. In end finally voted labour, a switch from tory last time. The tories simply never gave me reasons to vote them in their dreadful scaremonger campaign

Welcome to the Light Side

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Tory was right path last time regardless of what people think. Liked the coalition it steaded the ship. But I think more deep cuts will collapse the country, not fix it. Plus I wanted reasons to give them more time, not this hate filled snp stuff and their sneaky dirty tricks campaign...

 

[JJH]

UKIP or Tori now - swaying towards Conservative as UKIP is likely to be a wasted vote.

It's gonna be tight.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

You know what Dave, I despise the Tories but I admire you for actually voting for them previously if that's what you believe in. I'm not sure I've ever spoken to a floating voter between Blue and Red before. Most people sit staunchly on one side of the fence or the other (or at least say they do) and to be honest, that's probably quite unhealthy.

Making an informed choice has got to be better than ticking the same box every time because that's what you've always done.

Anyway, let's hope we have a big turnout this year. I'm ever hopeful that with such an unpredictable outcome, more people will feel engaged and feel like they will make a difference.

Edit: I read that back and it sounded a little patronising. It wasn't meant like that so apologies.

 

[Alty]

I paused for a second in the booth. Considered Green. But then bit the bullet and went for Labour. Most left-wing leader in a generation and a viable option for disposing of the Tories.

 

[mnb089mnb]

I've still not voted yet. I was going to vote Green, but in a (very) safe Tory seat I think my anti-Tory vote may be better served by voting Labour.

Our electoral system is a mess, needs sorting. Hopefully we may see some movement on that in the next parliament.

Could see:
- UK leaving EU
- Scotland leaving UK
- Electoral reform

Before the next election. Interesting times.

 

[Destruction]

If you want your votes to count people then I suggest you vote for a coalition.

All the best.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

There is loads will swing from Tory to Labour and vice-versa C&B, if there wasn't we'd never have these big changes, its just of course them doggedly sticking to one are a lot more passionate in their support, so more vocal.

Carlisle is usually a Labour seat, but Labour city councilors did the damage to Labour in the early 00's by blowing millions of Carlisle city money of utterly crap projects like a Millenium Bridge, spending millions of 'thinking' about moving the council building then deciding to just drop the idea etc, etc so people in Carlisle started voting in a conservative/Lib Dem council and of course the big election gap closed and closed and when the economy collapsed, Tory talked about Labour overspending etc, etc it hit home I think to most of us when remembering the idiotic Labour city council of the first half of the 00's and I think its why Tory finally over-turned them up here, plus Carlisle is a very skin-flint place so we can usually see the viewpoint of not spending what you don't have.

but I think it'll head back to Labour, its a Labour heartland and I think people are getting worried at the bigger cuts especially as our main Council is all but financially collapsed as it is, plus our wages are pretty crap and people have little to spend. The housing isn't that big of an issue I can get a nice 2-3 bedroom house for slightly over £100k which most cannot.

Be interesting to see.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Oh, I know many do 'swing' but it's not often you hear of anyone [admitting to] doing it. Most people are Labour (anyone but Tory) or Tory (anyone but Labour) but may be tempted by a minor party but not the other main one.

Anyway, let's sit back and 'enjoy' the drama unfold.

 

[Krazy8]

UKIP or Tori now - swaying towards Conservative as UKIP is likely to be a wasted vote.

It's gonna be tight.

This.

Pretty sure I'll vote Tory, the thought of Red Ed as prime minister supported by the SNP makes me physically sick.

 

[Red]

Yeah, keep the Commie bastard away from No 10.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

I was just having a chat to a chap at work who has been campaigning for a Labour MP. I was surprised he was red, I'd always assumed he was blue. Anyway, we got chatting about who vocal we dared to be at work about politics and I thought I'd throw the question out there. Have any of you felt like you shouldn't be vocal about voting one way or the other for fear of being labelled?

I work in a place full of professionals (lawyers, doctors, actuaries etc), most of which are comfortable financially and love in the leafy suburbs of London or the Home Counties and therefore I would have thought most would be Tory. I've never really been that comfortable talking about being a Labour voter before.

 

[Red]

I get where you're coming from about how we might associate certain professions with certain political preferences, but I've been surprised a few times with regard to this. It never ceases to amaze me how working class people vote Tory though. I know Labour have sold the working class out, but voting Tory, really?

Sometimes I'll gauge whether or not to ask someone who they're voting for. I've not yet had someone tell me to mind my own business. Not that I make a habit of asking people how they'll vote. I set the poll up, but it was anonymous. I'll shut the fuck up about now.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

some have been saying C & B that Lib Dems may not do as badly as polled due to the 'silent vote' people who are sort've ashamed to say they would vote for them due to how unpopular they currently are................but that we'll see.

I have voted Labour backed on the view they will not give ground to SNP, I shall at present believe Miliband on that stance, but if they do backtrack then tory will get my vote next time as I'm sure will happen with others. At the end of the day Labour should be able to easily put through their stuff without worrying about giving ground to SNP at all because SNP then just gets a choice of Labour manifesto stuff or tory Manifesto stuff and then we can see if they do back their own mouth about only making sure to keep tory out.

Do not think Labour can give ground to SNP anyway as there would be enough rebellious English Labour MP's would side with tory/Lib Dem MP's to block SNP stuff if that happened.

I will give the SNP a lot of credit though as they have ran the best campaign by a long long way and clearly touched the right notes with people north of the border................to me I think a lot up there are voting for the wrong reasons and for a party they'd not usually vote for, but the SNP has brilliantly worked the Scottish people well..............I am hoping though if Labour get in that will give Scotland abit of a wake up call and kick SNP down abit when they find all these promises and speeches were rubbish.

 

[Ian_Wrexham]

Probably won't bother. In East Lothian, where none of the parties I like have a hope in hell. Stopping the SNP achieving a clean sweep is about as good as my realistic goals get, but that means voting for Labour. And the Nats are going to win big and plunge us back into constitutional uncertainty for the next fuck knows how many years anyway, so taking part just seems a bit pointless. Will probably stay in and investigate moving to Canada.

@ Ian_Wrexham
What's happened with Reckless, then? I haven't been following it at all.

Looking like a double-digit lead for the Tories. Hard to tell exactly, but a lot of UKIP support seems to have drifted towards Labour as the Tories are polling at a similar level as the by-election.

 

[Stagat]

My place was about as close as it could have got last time around.

Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Mark Spencer 19,211 39.2
Labour Emilie Oldknow 18,997 38.8

That's got me thinking slightly about going Labour, but still reckon I'll go Green. People talk about a wasted vote but I reckon voting for someone you don't really want to is a bigger waste. I wouldn't feel right... got to go with my heart really and go Green.

I think.

 

[Red]

My place was about as close as it could have got last time around.

Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Mark Spencer 19,211 39.2
Labour Emilie Oldknow 18,997 38.8

That's got me thinking slightly about going Labour, but still reckon I'll go Green. People talk about a wasted vote but I reckon voting for someone you don't really want to is a bigger waste. I wouldn't feel right... got to go with my heart really and go Green.

I think.

I don't think voting to avoid a party in power that you don't want is more of a waste than using your vote on a party that cannot have any affect on how the country is run for the next term. At least by voting Labour you'd possibly be contributing to deliver another Labour seat. However, I respect and admire your desire to vote for a party you truly believe in. I on the other hand will be voting for Labour when there are other parties standing here, just to get the Tories out. I imagine a lot of people will be doing this sort of thing irrespective of who they're voting for. It's a sad state of affairs really.

 

[Techno Natch]

My place was about as close as it could have got last time around.

Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Mark Spencer 19,211 39.2
Labour Emilie Oldknow 18,997 38.8

That's got me thinking slightly about going Labour, but still reckon I'll go Green. People talk about a wasted vote but I reckon voting for someone you don't really want to is a bigger waste. I wouldn't feel right... got to go with my heart really and go Green.

I think.

Completely agree with you. I don't see voting for someone that I actually like as a wasted vote.

When I woke up this morning though I have had doubts about my choice. I'm going to wait until after work to decide.

Seen a lot more people showing an interest this time around.

 

[Stagat]

I don't think voting to avoid a party in power that you don't want is more of a waste than using your vote on a party that cannot have any affect on how the country is run for the next term. At least by voting Labour you'd possibly be contributing to deliver another Labour seat. However, I respect and admire your desire to vote for a party you truly believe in. I on the other hand will be voting for Labour when there are other parties standing here, just to get the Tories out. I imagine a lot of people will be doing this sort of thing irrespective of who they're voting for. It's a sad state of affairs really.

That's fair enough too mate.

Bit of an abstract image maybe but I think I'd see tactically voting Labour as a double negative whereas voting Green is a positive, if you know what I mean? It's an important distinction in my mind.

However well or badly Labour might do if they get in, it seems to me it'll just be the continuation of a cycle where the two negatives are constantly fighting to cancel each other out.

Of course Green won't win much at all but small gains in votes, popularity and in the public consciousness are all important for the long game. In decades to come, who knows?

Bottom line is I would feel unfulfilled if I went Labour in the situation I'm in but satisfied in myself with a Green vote.

 

[silkyman]

Rochdale? Paedophile gangs? How is Labour to blame for that? What are the other UKIP policies you agree with?

Because Britain First shout it a lot?

What about the Tories voting against a bill to protect people from prosecution under the official secrets act for testifying against people accused of historic child abuse?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Says a lot about to me how poor the conservative campaign was that as of last night I was still a floating voter, Carlisle is a very very close, tight marginal Tory seat at present, I think its less than 1,000 votes difference.

we've had absolute nothing here, I expected lots, but its been quiet and only just see this morning Cameron was at Carlisle last night for afew speeches about the area.............but you'd never known he was here, it was kept very hush hush and out the way right on the edge of Carlisle for a pretty much select group of already die hard tory voters.

This when maybe a speech in the centre of Carlisle for anyone to go to might......might have swung afew people like myself to them instead, but I only can read about it all now when too late anyway.

It is no wonder really people do not trust politics when frankly their main faces are too scared to face the gen public

 

[Gilly?]

I've been leaning towards the Greens but it'll be a waste no doubt. A lot of Torys in my area so I might just torch the polling station instead.

 

[Red]

That's fair enough too mate.

Bit of an abstract image maybe but I think I'd see tactically voting Labour as a double negative whereas voting Green is a positive, if you know what I mean? It's an important distinction in my mind.

However well or badly Labour might do if they get in, it seems to me it'll just be the continuation of a cycle where the two negatives are constantly fighting to cancel each other out.

Of course Green won't win much at all but small gains in votes, popularity and in the public consciousness are all important for the long game. In decades to come, who knows?

Bottom line is I would feel unfulfilled if I went Labour in the situation I'm in but satisfied in myself with a Green vote.

Yeah, I do see the double negative of my vote, it being one that does not represent my beliefs and being one that is negative in terms of it being cast in terms of trying to avoid something. A few months ago I was going to vote Green, but then shit got into my head about that maybe it's closer than I think between Labour and the Libs here in Chesterfield . Then the Tories £12 billion of welfare thing came out and I buckled . The thing is I know that if Labour get in it won't be that much different from what we have now, but this time even that lesser of 2 evils is enough drive me to vote for them. If they do get in and don't use their time wisely I'll vote for another party come what may next time.