2010 General Election: The Cable Forum Exit Poll

[ashgray]

its a bad day for democracy though when the next government of this country is going to be made up of the also rans.
and there going to change the way we vote without asking the electorate.

Originally Posted by ashgray

i think you do because i don't believe your as dumb as your trying to make out you are.

i'm realy dumb so could you enlighten me ?

Originally Posted by Damien

This argument seems weak to me, The other parties hand their hands in the till. Can hardly trust them to have controlled the system when they were getting everything they could get their grubby mits on.

No it is not weak Damien - A party which is in Government has the power to stop abuse of such a systems - the Labour party allowed it while they were in power and only apologised and reformed (Or so we are led to believe they have) the expenses system when their utter greed got found out.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by ashgray

its a bad day for democracy though when the nex6t government of this country is going to be made up of the also rans.

Well, whatever the outcome, it will be made up of also-rans, cause no-one actually won

[ashgray]

Originally Posted by martyh

i'm realy dumb so could you enlighten me ?

no coz your names not russ.

---------- Post added at 22:32 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

Well, whatever the outcome, it will be made up of also-rans, cause no-one actually won

so if thats the case we should keep having elections until someone wins.not make up a coalition of the losers.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Damien

The Tories want to form a government with giving the Liberal Democrats as little as possible, The Lib Dems want to be part of a government and want as much as possible. They are bargaining.

I state this again. Despite what Tory Supporters may think, The Tories do not have a clear mandate to govern and must make compromises in order to do so. I love the idea of portaying the idea of PR as somehow a undemocratic power-grab, there are reasons to oppose it but it is more democratic than the current system, people get the parliament they voted for. Seems fair to me.

The Lib Dems just need to make up their mind who they are going with.
I believe a Lib Dem/Con government has a chance, but a Lib Dem/Labour will be a short government before another election.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Funny, I thought they said they would give first chance to the party with the most votes and seats -

During the run up to the election I distinctly recall (and have posted here about it previously) various Lib Dem spokesmen (including Clegg) being pressed on who they'd support in the event of a hung parliament. They stated they'd support the party with the largest mandate but refused to clarify whether this meant the party with the most seats or the most votes. They were hedging their bets then and are doing so now and it's not serving them well IMHO.

As for the prospects for another election, New Labour being the party of dodgy financial management that they clearly are, I'm not sure they'll have the funds for another run at it for some time.

Originally Posted by Mick

No it is not weak Damien - A party which is in Government has the power to stop abuse of such a systems - the Labour party allowed it while they were in power and only apologised and reformed (Or so we are led to believe they have) the expenses system when their utter greed got found out.

All the parties took part in that greed. The Tories were 2nd home flipping,duck-house buying, moat-cleaning abusers of the system as well. Saying we're so greedy we can't help ourselves so the those in charge need to stop us is hardly confidence inspiring. The Tories could not reform the system but they could elect to avoid the corruption themselves, which they didn't.

Replacing the corrupt sheriff with one of the corrupt inmates is not a exactly a victory is it.

---------- Post added at 22:34 ---------- Previous post was at 22:34 ----------

Originally Posted by Escapee

The Lib Dems just need to make up their mind who they are going with.
I believe a Lib Dem/Con government has a chance, but a Lib Dem/Labour will be a short government before another election.

I agree.

[ashgray]

Originally Posted by Osem

During the run up to the election I distinctly recall (and have posted here about it previously) various Lib Dem spokesmen (including Clegg) being pressed on who they'd support in the event of a hung parliament. They stated they'd support the party with the largest mandate but refused to clarify whether this meant the party with the most seats or the most votes. They were hedging their bets then and are doing so now and it's not serving them well IMHO.

As for the prospects for another election, New Labour being the party of dodgy financial management that they clearly are, I'm not sure they'll have the funds for another run at it for some time.

Haven't you learn't yet.the first thing they learn when becoming an mp is,never tell the truth.followed by never answer yes or no.

Originally Posted by Damien

I state this again. Despite what Tory Supporters may think, The Tories do not have a clear mandate to govern and must make compromises in order to do so. I love the idea of portaying the idea of PR as somehow a undemocratic power-grab, there are reasons to oppose it but it is more democratic than the current system, people get the parliament they voted for. Seems fair to me.

They may not have a mandate to govern - but they did get 2 Million more votes from the British people - surely that holds a lot of weight - this is a clear message that the British people didn't want the Lib dems in power and that they didn't want Labour in power - all this messing about by all the parties, and the Lib dems thinking nothing but themselves haven't they shown their true form don't you think?

Is it any wonder why voter apathy in this county is so high when you get this nonsense going on for days on end. It's an utter farce.

[ashgray]

Originally Posted by Mick

They may not have a mandate to govern - but they did get 2 Million more votes from the British people - surely that holds a lot of weight - this is a clear message that the British people didn't want the Lib dems in power and that they didn't want Labour in power - all this messing about by all the parties, and the Lib dems thinking nothing but themselves haven't they shown their true form don't you think?

Is it any wonder why voter apathy in this county is so high when you get this nonsense going on for days on end. It's an utter farce.

Well said Mick.

Originally Posted by Mick

They may not have a mandate to govern - but they did get 2 Million more votes from the British people - surely that holds a lot of weight - this is a clear message that the British people didn't want the Lib dems in power and that they didn't want Labour in power - all this messing about by all the parties, and the Lib dems thinking nothing but themselves haven't they shown their true form don't you think?

It does hold a lot of weight. Hence why a lot of policy areas are closed off. Economy, Immigration, Europe, Foreign Affairs, Heath, Crime, are all areas in which there appears to be no discussion of change or compromise.

You say people didn't want Labour or Lib Dems in power but the Tories didn't win a mandate to govern so for the Lib Dems to give them one without addressing any of the concerns of people who voted for them would be disgrace.

Lib Dem showing their true form? Yes, to represent the people who voted for them and not the people who voted for the Conservatives. We live in a democracy and as unfair as this crappy system is, it's not so bad to let 36% of people decide the government.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

My pay has been frozen, and will be for 3 years - will that help (I work at a University).

The books have to be balanced somehow.

Although the question was not directed at you, I presume you are happy having your pay frozen then?

[ashgray]

democracy damien,what democracy.there even going to change the voting rules without asking the british electorate if its ok to do so.
A minority party wants it changed,labour are that desperate to remain in power that they'll offer the libdems anything they want.
please tell me whats democratic about that.in my book its bribery or blackmail,its certainly not democracy.

Originally Posted by Mick

They may not have a mandate to govern - but they did get 2 Million more votes from the British people - surely that holds a lot of weight - this is a clear message that the British people didn't want the Lib dems in power and that they didn't want Labour in power - all this messing about by all the parties, and the Lib dems thinking nothing but themselves haven't they shown their true form don't you think?

Is it any wonder why voter apathy in this county is so high when you get this nonsense going on for days on end. It's an utter farce.

Funny Mick I thought this showed that everyone is fed up with a two party system.I know I am.I regard this as a real kick up the bum to both parties as being far too damned complacent.It's the feeling that neither Tories or Labour give a stuff about those people who live in the terraced back streets of every major town or city in the UK that leads to voter apathy.Years of neglect of inner city areas will lead to voter apathy.

This was a year in which apathy was reversed somewhat and more people were at the polling stations.

I actually had to queue to vote.I cannot ever remember having to queue since I started voting.