Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

As promised, this is the continuation of our Vote 2005 discussion, including another fresh poll to help us track voting intentions in the Parliamentary Constituency of Cable Forum. :D

Please vote in the poll, especially if you have voted in past weeks, so we can track any shift in voting intentions. You can find previous weeks' percentages in brackets next to each poll option, and this graphic, compiled by bmxbandit, shows how opinion has shifted so far:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2005/05/13.jpg


As far as the political debate goes, week 3 ended like this:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...908#post457908

Carry on!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

The only winner here looks to be apathy.

The whole campaign has left me even more jaded and cynical about it all. For the first time since I was 18 I really don't think I'll bother voting as they are all the same and only in it for themselves.

I think I could count on one hand the number of MP's or MSP's who I trust to be doing things for the good of the people and not just themselves.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Looks like even Labour MPs will be voting LibDem:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...ge/4484043.stm

I wonder if we will see a further swing to the LibDems from Labour this week?

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Hmm interesting reading, certainly wit h the Conservatives up the top there, wonder if this is an insight to the demographic of the site?? :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Hate to go :notopic: But I have not had my polling card yet. What do I need to do to get it.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

First of all, make sure you're on the register to vote - this is one of main reasons that people don't get their cards, because they're not registered. If you are sure you're registered, you don't need a card to vote. Just show up in the right polling station at the right time. :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

^^^What she said :D

Anyway, my card only turned up yesterday and, let's face it, there are still 10 days until the election!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Hmmm ... we got ours a couple of weeks ago. IIRC the deadline for getting on the register is this week, possibly even yesterday. :erm: As OB says, you need to check. Call your borough council and ask for the returning officer's department - and quickly!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

My local election card arrived a couple of weeks ago and the General Election card yesterday.

As OB said, phone your local council and check you are on the register of electors - otherwise you've lost your vote :(
__________________

Back on topic, I seem to recall Jon Snow saying that even a 5 or 6% swing to Conservative would still leave Blair in power, due to the boundary changes iirc. :(

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

If you are on the Electoral Register you don't need one to vote. It would be worth checking with your local council to find out where you vote and that you are on the register or if you know them a local Councillor.:Sprint:
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Slightly :notopic:.

For those of you who are going to vote at a polling station the gang of people at the door with different coloured rosettes on are NOT going to mug you, they will ask for your poll number. ALL this will tell them is that you have visited the polling station, they will not even be able to tell if you have voted let alone who for.
:idea:
Where it will help you is if you have told any canvassers that have contacted you and you said you will support their candidate they will not come knocking on your door later in the day to remind you to vote (it also explains the nagging leaflet on your doorstep when you get in from work).

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Ah, a personal bugbear of mine. I absolutely hate the fact that the party activists are standing there to hassle me on my way out of the polling station. I prefer my vote to be absolutely anonymous in every way, which includes them not knowing if I've even been there.

Where I used to live there were always a couple of old codgers (one Labour, one Tory) sat there with their rosettes on, asking everybody their name on the way out and giving no indication that this information was voluntary and not part of the electoral process. I always declined to give them any information, much to their immense surprise. I think they had forgotten that they are not part of the electoral process either.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

I'm with you on this one Chris - the ballot is supposed to be 100% secret, so why should anyone know if I've been there or not?

As for stopping them coming to my door later in the day - I don't get home until around 6 in the evening and won't be voting until after that so, if they want to waste a journey to get to my house, they are perfectly entitled to. If, however, I happen to be in when / if they come round, I hope that they won't be too disheartened with the rousing 'Sod Off!' that they will receive, as it will still be no business of theirs if I vote or not.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

I am also surprised by the weight put on "exit polls". They are always talking about them on election night on the BBC. I would have thought the vast majority of people would not want to say who they had voted for in the "anonymous" ballot.

If I was asked who I voted for I think I would tell them the opposite just to mess up their results!

This is just yet another reason why I prefer to vote by post.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

From the age of 18 until 26, I always voted in the town where I grew up, and there were never any party hacks hanging round my polling station. So it was, when we moved to Hemel Hempstead, and election time came round, I was taken completely by surprise by them. As I left the polling station, they asked 'could we have your name please?' and I shot back 'Now why would you want to know that?!' without slowing down. Mrs T gave them an apologetic look (and her name, which rather spoiled things as it wouldn't have taken Einstein to work out I was probably Mr T), and scolded me for being rude! But I wasn't being rude, I was being surprised and indignant ... :( :p:

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

'Surprised and indignant'? Is that the same sort of thing as 'tired and emotional' :p:

Mrs Nug has actually got to the point now where she'll intercept people to get them out of my way, because she thinks that I'll just start being unpleasant :D

Mind you, she's probably right :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

the bling bling, calling people 'fool' & the fear of flying, probably gave it away, anyway :D

I was heartened to see that a very strong candidate is standing against Tony Blair in his constituency, I do so hope Blair is voted out, I would vote Labour with a clear conscience if I could guarantee it ...

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Round two of Jack Straw vs The Today Programme:

http://www0.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/l...w_20050428.ram

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It's interesting to compare the interviewing techniques of Humphreys and Naughtie. James Naughtie is not so obviously quick-fire and combative (Humphreys is very much in the Paxman role in that respect), but despite the appearance of being less forthright, he still left Jack Straw spluttering.

The big question now is, how do we think Iraq might affect the vote next week?

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

graph updated, check back to the start of the thread and do a ctrl-f5 if necessary :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

I think most people have made their mind up in Iraq by now, also it doesn't seem to be a big issue. Even the release of the legal advice quickly subsided. I think damage to labour has been done now and unless a big issue arises in the next few days they look to have survived what has been a disaster of a campaign

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

If this forum poll is any indication as to voter's opinion, I would have to say they havent survied it! look at the hughe nose dive in labour support

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Well, this forum poll is not really the most accurate poll in the uk is it

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

from a statistical point of view, you should really disregard the week 4 results as they're not all in yet...also the sample size here is waaaaaaay to small to be of any significance.

but it is interesting :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

If it were in an way a normal representation!!! It would be a wonder Labour got in at all last time?

Howe/d/r ever my question would be: - given that all Jews claim that their first loyalty is to Israel where would that leave us?????

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

What the frick?

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

This was what I had heard regarding a certain faith (hopefully it is not true). The spellings owe more to too much "sun" or whatever you care to call it:drunk:???

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Orthodox jews don't even recognise the state of israel.
All the jews I know in this country consider themselves british.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Interesting article here
For those of you who still believe that Gordon Brown is responsible for the economic stability ( which is not as sound as he would have us believe ) that appears to exist at the moment.

It proves that the Major government did indeed make a very good job of running the economy.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Local Labour leafleters actually made an appearance today, to my surprise (Labour have sod all support in my area, & usually don't bother canvassing etc as they know the Tories will win the parliamentary seat - South Cambs - while the Lib Dems / Tories will take the Council).

I couldn't help but laugh at the Labour leaflet, when I noticed it made no mention whatsoever or Blair or any Blair-ite policies, but made a big thing of Gordon Brown's stewardship of the economy

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Interestingly a labour van like noise thing came round at some silly time this morning blairing out (get it haha!) vote labour, with some really tacky music. -1 to labour, waking me up on a lazy bank holiday is not going to do you any favours!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

So you all know what to expect ... there will not be a 'week 5' version of this thread. This one will remain open until Thursday morning when it will be replaced by the Cable Forum Exit Poll Thread, whose purpose will be to find out who we all actually voted for.

So if you have not yet given your voting intentions, please use the poll in this thread to do so.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Yeah thanks Chris

Been interesting. Although the best debates have been kicked off outside of the poll topics. Sadly, with the exception of immigration, this election campaign hasnt sparked great debate in the country. Instead its been a very angry, nasty election. It would have been good to have proper debate on health, education (especially education), the lords, abortion (which nearly kicked off towards the start), and so on. Sadly it never took place, overtaken by personal insults and attempts to avoid people voting tactically.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Blair & co have been trying to scare wavering Labour voters by saying that if they defect to the Lib Dems to punish Blair, all they'd succeed in doing would be to "let the Tories in by the back-door".

Well........Vote for Lib Dems will not let in Tories

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

If you are under 25 and do not vote socialist, you have no conscience.

If you are over 25 and do vote socialist, you have no brain.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

But which main party is actually "Socialist"?

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Well the LibDem party is half socialist as they were a merger of the SDP and Liberal parties.

In fact, the pure Liberals formed a breakaway party:
http://www.liberal.org.uk/

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Just discovered Labour wanted to ban beer glasses!

http://www.dvc.org.uk/~johnny/dunblane/beer.html


:rofl:

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

On a light hearted note, here are some of pledges from 'other' parties.:)
the Church of the Militant Elvis Party would get my vote.:D

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Frederick Forsyth explained the pointlessness of national polls this morning on Radio 4
If labour wins a constituancy with a majority of 10,000, then they've still only won a single constituancy, but if the tories wins 10 constituancies with a majority of only 200 in each, then they've still beaten labour.
So if the 40% of mori poll respondees who say they're voting labour are concentrated in fewer constituancies than those voting against labour, labour could be in trouble :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

As a parallel thread to this, I thought it would be interesting to find out who everybody thought would win the election on Thursday, rather than who they will vote for:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=28079

We can then compare this result with the Cable Forum exit poll and the actual result - just for fun!

So, go on then, who do you think will win the general election 2005?

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

That theory would be fine except for the fact that due to most Scottish & Welsh constituancies voting Labour, and the effect that the last change in the boundaries had in making large numbers of former Tory safe seats into marginals, it would need a swing of over 42% to the Tories for Labour to lose. One of the best reasons I can think of for some from of PR or an exclusively 'English' parliament.

What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I understand that an indipendant candidate is standing against Bliar (someone who's lost their son in Iraq I think, sorry, can't remember all the details)
What would happen if Bliar actually lost his seat?
Can you be PM if you're not an MP?

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

You have to be an MP to be PM...

the labour party could force a by election in another constituancy so blair could have the seat there.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

The PM is simply the leader of the party which has the greatest no. of seats in Parliament.

If Blair got kicked out, but Labour still won the election, then presumably Prescott (as Deputy PM & Deputy Leader) would be PM... at least temporarily.


EDIT:

D'oh. Forgot to mention about what MB said. Have to be an MP too.
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Reg Keys, father of a soldier killed in Iraq, is standing against Blair - http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpo...466080,00.html

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

No you cannot - it would be a quick way to get GB into power :Yikes:

The Junior Minister for Health is in this position as member for Hatfield and Welwyn

Though I suppose you would get a safe candidate stepping down and a byelection to parachute him back in place.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I would love to see TB's face if he lost his seat, then lost again in a "safe" labour constituency by election!

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

We all celebrate ? :) :angel:

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I'll drink to that!

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

One other possibility -- if Labour won, they could rush through a peerage, and Blair could be Prime Minister in the House of Lords. There's nothing saying the PM has to be a member of the Commons...

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

No no no no, you've never had it so good, don't let the Tories get back into power for gods sake.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Oh no! Nidge has started to believe the goverment!
Anyone have experience in treating brainwashing? :D

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I am sick of this goverment, I hope that person does win and then I wont has to see his smirkingfizz anymore.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

To a certain point I don't want him kicked out. Only because of one major thing he is doing though :(

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

He'd still be leader of the Labour Party, but I think he'd have to resign as PM, since the PM has to be a Member of Parliament, although either House will do. Either a by-election or a peerage would get him back in.

The last peer to be PM was the Marquis of Salisbury (1895-1902). He had been an MP before that, though.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

So basically after we all stop laughing things would be twisted so he gets to be PM again anyway.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

So what was TB's majority in the last election?I suspect he has a very safe seat...

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

17,713 - 44% ahead of his nearest rival.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

It would be funny, but it's hugely unlikely.


It does raise the issue about this silly system we have in place. The whole purpose of an MP is to represent the people of his/her constituency.

There is no way that the Cabinet (including the PM) can do their jobs properly as MPs and serve in the Cabinet at the same time.

It would make far more sense to have the Cabinet elected by the party prior to a General Election and have them only look after their Cabinet roles, with MPs serving their areas.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Did yoou spell his surname incorrectly in the thread title on purpose?

Bliar.....as opposed to Blair?

Good one :)

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

An excellent summary of what the Prime Minister is, is to be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_M...United_Kingdom

The PM has to be a member of Parliament by convention, but not by any written law. He could conceivably remain PM long enough for Labour to elect a new leader, should he lose his seat, and would not break any law in doing so.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

That actually sounds like a good idea.
How would you handle reshuffles though?
Would a MP be promoted to cabinet and then a new MP be elected, or would they be selected to replace the minister?
What about those who are moved out of the cabinet, how would you make space for them to return to their constituency as an MP?

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

you do realise that you said that out loud dont you!!

Never had it so good huh. Funny that, since savings interest is almost worthless, investment companies are closing their books and giving zero bonuses. I've been through 3 redundancy exercises in this government but never been through one before, council taxes go up and up, fuel costs a fortune, immigrants all over the place, crime on the increase, hospitals where you go for a minor operation and end up dying due to super bugs, pension funds collapsing.

And now the government wants us to work longer, why? becuase Gordon has swiped the pension fund money for other purposes and now cant sustain the fund.

Yeahhh its never been so ****e


Didnt you start the "Sign This, Fuel Prices" thread??? :erm:

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Far be it from me to defend Labour, but here goes:

Loan interest, however, is historically low, which helps people with mortgages. Swings and roundabouts.

People's houses have put on about 134% in value. Some investments perform better than others, that's the market for you.

Unemployment countrywide is historically low, well under 1m. More people have jobs than ever before.

A tax introduced by the Tories.

The escalator was introduced by the Tories and scrapped by Labour.

Why is this a problem?
1996 with Howard as Home Secretary - 30,000 asylum seekers
2004 with Howard in Opposition - 34,000 asylum seekers. Devastating!
Immigration is only a problem if you listen to the dog whistles of Howard and the Tory press.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I'm so tempted to wade in, but I'm resisting! Can we keep this on topic please.

If all our political threads start naturally merging into the same topic, I'll just go ahead and merge 'em.

Now, what if Tone loses his seat?

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

But doesnt help the older generation who dont have mortgages and may be preparing for retirement or have retired and now cant make ends meet as they are not getting the income they thought the would.

Also doent help those people that are locked into endowments who would have to pay a high MVA to get out.


means nothing as the house you buy has also gone up in value. It only ever helps if you sell and dont buy another house



How much has tax on fuel risen in the past 7 years? Not that it matters as the government gets all of the money eventually


Does that include the illegal ones??

+ with the EU recently getting larger, some who were asylum seekers are now here legally

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

And put up by Labour. Just think how much it would go up if they got away with re-assesing properties!

After increasing it from 2p to 6p for 2 years!

Asylum seekers are not the same as immigrants.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

his back side will get cold? :D

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Aw but it's my thread *has a paddy*

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

go on go on go on, i'll hold him :D

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Someone with their eyes open, fab. :tu: :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

How about one more poll just before the big day? :)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

That's actually an eminently sensible proposal Xacc. Glasses that shatter rather than shard - they've been trying to introduce them in Manchester and I'm all for it. Glassing of blokes and girls looks, anecdotally, to be on the increase. Course they could ban WKD instead! Never trust a drink that's blue (or a politician for that matter) - that's my motto!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Now, we don't want to get poll fatigue, do we? ;)

TBH there's little point, a new poll starting today is hardly likely to differ significantly from the exit poll we're going to run tomorrow, and won't be open long enough for the results to be meaningful.

If you haven't voted on the current poll, please do so quickly, it will close tomorrow morning!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Ah right, didn't know we were doing an exit poll.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...8&postcount=30

;)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Maybe that will teach me to actually read threads thoroughly!

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

To be fair its quite hard to avoid a discussion on politics when the name is changed for a political point of view. Not everyone thinks the same, so we may argue that :)

Anyway, he will resign as PM he cant really be in a good position after losing his seat. Also he wont be able to stand in parliament?

I like the american system is some ways. Two houses and the President. Is there a good resources to learn about there government system (i.e what it is, how its elected, power, how a bill is made into law)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Labour have gone up a bit!

As a note this will be my first time voting wehey!

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Blair may have a safe seat, I believe Howard's is a lot less secure :eek:

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

I agree but I hope Labour pull through this and keep as they are, Tories have a bad enough record with John Major and Thatcher.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

But sadly blind :shocked:

I believe the only reason Tone will win is because there is no real opposition

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

You mean by tackling the unions and turning britain into a honeypot for foreign investment and services boosting our economy and enabling us to thrive whilst the rest of the world daudles along or goes under?
Check the recent political threads as there's a link to an excellent link which shows just how good the economy was that labour inheirited (and are looking to destroy, hmm, now which party had to go to the IMF and ask for advice on how to run the country's finances?)

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Wish I could :( So annoying when my Mum and Dad can't even be bothered, and they hate it when I have election stuff on the tele. I'm actually quite excited about this election, probably because it's the first election I've truly understood, but still I would be grateful to vote and some people don't appreciate their democratic rights! However I don't think the voting age should be lowered because I feel that too many people I know in my age group would choose the far right parties such as the BNP :(
__________________

Oh, and another thing, how convenient is it that the labour government introduces tuition fees for the first time on my year, the people who are just not quite old enough to vote in this election? :mad:

Or is this just coincidence?

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

Yes and the millions unemployed??

The misery of those who could not work due to mental disabiltiy I know all to well as my poor father had to work his arse off for a pitince of a wage thanks to Thatcher and John Majors rules.

I prefer to have a lesser economy and a more comfy country then the one they would bring.

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

Something had to be done about University funding, and when ever it was introduced there would be the same problem that a year gets effected by something they then cant vote against.

Re: What happens if Tony Bliar loses his seat?
 

OK, enough. Merging...

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Right, the Tony Blair seat-losing thread is now merged into this one as that thread had turned into a general political fist-fight. That's what this thread is for!

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

its blue all the way to the polling station please please please dont let me wake up to 5 more years of hot air blair

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

assuming you're all done voting here, final results:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2005/05/13.jpg

...and in absolute terms:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2005/05/13.jpg

number of votes each week was 74, 78, 58 and 68. given these different numbers, there aren't big enough swings at any point to give statistically significant changes.

in other words, talking hasn't changed anything, we're all as bloody-minded as each other! :spin:

Re: Vote 2005, week 4 - new poll again!
 

:tu:

Thanks bmx ... wonder if Coggy can make up an award for being our very own Peter Snow ... :D

Right chaps, that's your lot. The polling stations are open; this thread is closed; go cast your vote for real, then don't forget to take part in our exit poll - otherwise known as the Election for the Constituency of Cable Forum. :)

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=28136