[Jøsh]

UPDATE:This is now the Politics thread.

[Calderyon]

It seems that the UK practically has a two party system, with only two parties (Conservatives and Labour) to have an actual chance to get the top place in terms of parliament seats, the other getting to be the second and main opposition, with others (little parties) fighting for scraps and a slim to none chance of getting a top spot.

Why is that?

Is it Constitutional or just kind of happened that way?

[Jøsh]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

It seems that the UK practically has a two party system, with only two parties (Conservatives and Labour) to have an actual chance to get the top place in terms of parliament seats, the other getting to be the second and main opposition, with others (little parties) fighting for scraps and a slim to none chance of getting a top spot.

Why is that?

No idea, yet when UKIP win the 2014 election,it makes no difference in the general election (well at the moment).

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

It seems that the UK practically has a two party system, with only two parties (Conservatives and Labour) to have an actual chance to get the top place in terms of parliament seats, the other getting to be the second and main opposition, with others (little parties) fighting for scraps and a slim to none chance of getting a top spot.

Why is that?

Is it Constitutional or just kind of happened that way?

I don't think its that unusual really for a country to have two main parties. It's pretty much always been the way going back to when political parties first formed in a formal sense with the Whigs and the Tories. The Liberals and the Conservatives basically grew out of these and were the two main parties before the birth of the Labour party who steadily displaced the Liberals as the main second party. The first past the post system we have has contributed to two parties having more dominance but that's changing a bit now, the next parliament will be the most uncertain in decades and either main party will need the support of at least one other to have a majority government

[JoshBB]

The BNP is not even a main party so I do not know why you have even mentioned them.

If I could vote, it would be for the greens.

[Calderyon]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I don't think its that unusual really for a country to have two main parties. It's pretty much always been the way going back to when political parties first formed in a formal sense with the Whigs and the Tories. The Liberals and the Conservatives basically grew out of these and were the two main parties before the birth of the Labour party who steadily displaced the Liberals as the main second party.

Has there ever been a one party only majority or overwhelming majority in the UK? (ie: One party getting more than half of the seats of the parliament)

Cause technically that´s possible.

[Doogle]

I turn 18 a month after the election > : (

I'm torn because I want Labour over Conservative but I really dislike Milliband.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

Has there ever been a one party only majority or overwhelming in the UK? (ie: One party getting more than half of the seats of the parliament)

Cause technically that´s possible.

Yeah it almost always happens, this is actually the first coalition government in the UK since WWII

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Calderyon

Has there ever been a one party only majority or overwhelming in the UK? (ie: One party getting more than half of the seats of the parliament)

Cause technically that´s possible.

http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/uktable.htm

Shows the %ages going back to WWII.

Blair's Labour held a 60%+ majority for most of his time in No.10

[JoshBB]

Originally Posted by Doogle

I turn 18 a month after the election > : (

I'm torn because I want Labour over Conservative but I really dislike Milliband.

Be careful as to not let media form your opinions for you. Look up some of his speeches and make a judgement of that.

I am neutral towards him .

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Doogle

I turn 18 a month after the election > : (

I'm torn because I want Labour over Conservative but I really dislike Milliband.

You are voting for a political party, not for a president... I think it's important to remember that. Vote based on policies, not based on how much you like or dislike one individual.

[JoshBB]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

You are voting for a political party, not for a president... I think it's important to remember that. Vote based on policies, not based on how much you like or dislike one individual.

This is my opinion too. I am not a massive fan of Natalie Bennett, i would have much preferred for either Caroline Lucas to carry on or Jenny Jones take over.. but at the end of the day the leader doesn't have any more of a say than the rest of them.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by JoshBB

Be careful as to not let media form your opinions for you. Look up some of his speeches and make a judgement of that.

I am neutral towards him .

That's a very fair point, if more let the policies do the talking and not get swayed by petty mud slinging then it would be much clearer.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Remember to vote Ukip as they have pledged to abolish The Lounge and make Tibb close between Midnight and 7 am

[MTVN]

Watch out for the three witches

[Glenn.]

Tories>>

[Crimson Dynamo]

[joeysteele]

I will definitely be voting,I will be voting for Labour and if they don't get an overall majority on their own I would prefer to see a Labour minority govt; supported by the SNP on confidence issues.

My absolute nightmare result would be a Conservative govt; with an overall majority,or a Conservative min govt; supported by UKIP and/or the DUP.

This will then mean in the last 5 years I have voted for all the 3 main parties, the Conservatives/Labour in local elections, the Lib Dems in the 2010 election and now Labour in this election.

[Crimson Dynamo]

[Kizzy]

Spoiler:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Spoiler:

plans to

[Kizzy]

Yes and the conservatives plan 12 billion more cuts... what's your point?


Labour outlines '40 days and 40 ways' to change Britain campaign
Labour has detailed a '40 days and 40 ways' to change Britain programme - a policy for each day in the run-up to the general election on May 7th.

'The party's plans include a £2.5 billion Time to Care fund for the NHS, capping rail fare increases, 50,000 more Sure Start places and 3,000 more midwives.

A promise of cancer tests and results within a week, more affordable homes, doubling paid paternity leave and giving football fans a say in how their club is run are also on the list.
Douglas Alexander, chairman of Labour's election strategy, said the voter's choice was between a "failing plan and a better plan for working people".
Labour knows that we only succeed as a country when working families succeed and over the next 40 days we'll be campaigning hard to take this message to Britain's homes, communities and workplaces, setting out our better plan.

Unlike the Tories, who think this is as good as it gets, Labour believes we can do better than this - and we've a plan to make it happen.

– DOUGLAS ALEXANDER
Other policies included on the list are English and maths to 18 for young people, insulating five million homes, a ban on rip-off letting agent fees and 5,000 more homecare workers.'

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-03-29/l...tain-campaign/

[Crimson Dynamo]

UK economic growth better than previously thought



The UK economy grew more strongly than previously thought last year according to revised official figures showing gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 2.8%.

The UK's GDP had previously been estimated to have increased by 2.6% in 2014.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth in the fourth quarter was 0.6%, up from a previous estimate of 0.5%.

UK Finance Minister George Osborne hailed the figures, writing on Twitter: "GDP revised upwards from 2.6% to 2.8% for 2014. Confirms UK as clearly fastest growing major advanced economy."

[MTVN]

Will you be buying one of these mugs kizzy?

[Kizzy]

No but I'll be voting labour because I'm not a mug...

'Cameron has refused to rule out taxing disability benefits. He has also hat the Conservatives would try to squeeze more efficiencies from the NHS than already planned. (See 9.21am.)
Paul Johnson, the Institute for Fiscal Studies director, has said the Conservative claim to be able to raise £5bn from tackling tax avoidance is “very flaky”. Only 24 hours after the IFS said Tory claims about Labour tax plans were unfounded, Johnson told Sky News.
Conservatives have said we’re going to get £5bn from tax avoidance measures. Now that’s a very flaky number. Where do you get £5bn from tax avoidance? We don’t know. Given the scale of spending cuts they’ll otherwise require they must be at least thinking about tax rises.'

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...ign-trail-live