UK Ledgies: Will you be voting today?

[trackaghost]

General election today in the UK but with a rather underwhelming run-up to the election there sadly appears to be a lot of voter apathy.
I would encourage everyone to go and vote though. Honestly, it's a bug bear of mine to hear people complain about the state of things, and then discover they couldn't be bothered to cast a vote.

I'm sure everyone will be voting Labour after reading the exclusive with Tony and Cherie Blair yesterday in The Sun. Now we know their marriage is good and sound, I'm sure you'll all want to vote New Labour

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

yes... I will be off to vote later!

Pip

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon

yes... I will be off to vote later!

Pip

Cool!

I wonder how many Brits there are on The Ledge

[ShangriLaTroubl]

How come everyone is saying on the news "although Prime Minister Tony Blair is EXPECTED to win..." how is someone expected to win? I thought since the war in Iraq his approval ratings had gone down considerably?

Chris

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

How come everyone is saying on the news "although Prime Minister Tony Blair is EXPECTED to win..." how is someone expected to win? I thought since the war in Iraq his approval ratings had gone down considerably?

Chris

It has.. but he still has a lot of followers. He didn't get my vote tonight tho..

[GirlNamedGoo]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

How come everyone is saying on the news "although Prime Minister Tony Blair is EXPECTED to win..." how is someone expected to win? I thought since the war in Iraq his approval ratings had gone down considerably?

Chris

Coming out of 'lurkerdom' for this!

Blair is expected to win because a lot of people who disapproved over Iraq, and other issues such as higher fees for students, would rather have the Labour Party in power than the Conservatives anyday. Plus, Blair is expected to resign as leader of the party within 2 years- meaning that the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who has been behind most of Labour's good domestic policies and stable economy, will become Prime Minister.

Hopefully I won't wake up to a Tory government tomorrow- was v. dissappointed when I woke up after US election last year, with Bush celebrating. Bad start to the day...

Shona

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by GirlNamedGoo

Coming out of 'lurkerdom' for this!

Blair is expected to win because a lot of people who disapproved over Iraq, and other issues such as higher fees for students, would rather have the Labour Party in power than the Conservatives anyday. Plus, Blair is expected to resign as leader of the party within 2 years- meaning that the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who has been behind most of Labour's good domestic policies and stable economy, will become Prime Minister.

Hopefully I won't wake up to a Tory government tomorrow- was v. dissappointed when I woke up after US election last year, with Bush celebrating. Bad start to the day...

Shona

Hey Shona, is your name Sonic Youth related by chance?

Chris,
Labour has been ahead in the polls. Like Shona said, they say the big issue is the Iraq war but for most people that is low down on their list of everyday priorities. Plus Blair is far more charismatic than the other party leaders. I'm no fan of New Labour but I'd prefer them any day over the Tories.
What I find most worrying about this election is the indifference to it. So many people I know can't even be bothered to vote. Seems strange given whoever is voted in will be making decisions for all of us over the next four years.

[GirlNamedGoo]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Hey Shona, is your name Sonic Youth related by chance?

Not as far as I know!

Big Goo Goo Dolls fan though, they had an album called 'A Boy Named Goo', the rest is history!

I'd like to see Labour win, but with a reduced majority. Hopefully then Blair will leave sooner rather than later.

Hope Lib Dems win few more seats too.

I hadn't decided who to vote for til I got to the booth. I'm a pissed off Labour supporter, so it was a tough choice.

Shona

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by GirlNamedGoo

I hadn't decided who to vote for til I got to the booth. I'm a pissed off Labour supporter, so it was a tough choice.

Shona

Me too. I must admit I voted Lib Dems this time. Not sure it will make any difference though.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Me too. I must admit I voted Lib Dems this time. Not sure it will make any difference though.

So would the Labour Party be like the Republican Party of the USA?

Chris

[GirlNamedGoo]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Me too. I must admit I voted Lib Dems this time. Not sure it will make any difference though.

I had good intentions of voting either Lib Dem or Green, but in the end I gave in and went Labour. Our Lib-Dem candidate was invisible, which put me off.

It's a selfish choice, because, on the whole, they have made life for my family better since 1997.


Just saw exit polls on the news - looks like a big reduction in Labour majority if it's correct.

[GirlNamedGoo]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

So would the Labour Party be like the Republican Party of the USA?

Chris

In general;

Labour= Democrats
Conservative (known as Tory) = Republican

Liberal Democrats are a little more complex...but generally, at the moment, they are to the left of Labour