Brits - how you gonna vote on May 3rd?

[StarWorms]

I thought the Lib Dems would share more with Labour than the SNP, given that the SNP is heavily right wing.

 

[cthom]

... the SNP is heavily right wing.

when did that happen?

 

[StarWorms]

when did that happen?

I guess I just assumed because they were a nationalist party, like the BNP. Seems I was wrong.

 

[Cuivienen]

I thought the Lib Dems would share more with Labour than the SNP, given that the SNP is heavily right wing.

Nope. The SNP is to the left of all of the big three, though still only centre-left. There are in some rural areas so-called "Tory nationalist" voters, however, who are very conservative but vote SNP because they're also nationalist. Nationalist doesn't mean right-wing in this sense, it just means pro-independence.

In any case, a Labour-LD coalition wouldn't have a majority. 65 seats are needed for a majority, so the theoretically possible coalitions are (including only the minimal number of parties in each):

SNP-Lab
SNP-Con-LD
SNP-Con-Green
SNP-LD-Green
Lab-Con-LD
Lab-Con-Green
Lab-LD-Green-Margo MacDonald

Of those, only SNP-LD-Green is possible from an ideological standpoint. The Greens are as nationalist as the SNP, and Margo MacDonald is more nationalist than either. Since the LDs are big on consensus government, they're the only of the big three who could work with the nationalists. They might even allow a referendum on independence, knowing that it will be defeated. (Personally, I don't think the SNP is stupid enough to push for a referendum without a nationalist majority in the Parliament.)

I don't think either the SNP or Labour could run an effective minority government, both being so far short of a majority.

 

[nonconformist]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6629775.stm


Smart decision I feel I'd hope they don't deal with the SNP either...though they do share alot of common ground I think they need to establish themselves firmly as an individual party which is a viable alternative to Labour and to the SNP.

Like i predicted a month and a half ago, eh Davo?

 

[Cuivienen]

LDs have said no deal with the SNP. So instead, Scotland will effectively run around headless for four years. Sounds like fun for all involved

Alex Salmond will become First Minister and Independent Margo MacDonald will probably become Presiding Officer (since none of the parties wants to give up a voting member). The Greens may coalition with the SNP, which will look for majority support on an ad hoc basis. The LDs and Tories will probably abstain on the vote for FM, indicating their willingness to tacitly let the SNP govern.

 

[Furiey]

Much to my surprise there were no Labour candidates in my area (mid Beds). They were for local elections and I vote for individuals prepared to do the most good locally rather than strictly along party lines, and have been known to vote for a mixture of candidates. This time there was little choice, only 3 Conservatives and 1 LD were standing with 3 positions to be elected. Other regions around me were worse and many were uncontested. You had to go down Luton way find a Labour candidate standing. Apparently they had decided that it was a lost cause and they weren't going to waste their money standing!

 

[amaterasu]

Durham went Lib dem again >_< yay fortnightly rubbish collections &#172;_&#172;

I don't support any of the parties anymore, the lib dems are too weak and wishy washy on real issues, dave tories are sittingon the fence and don't know what they would do if they were in power, and labour are too right wing for me now what with the privatising of the NHS.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Good to see the Lib Dems making the right move and turnign down an SNP deal!

the lib dems are too weak and wishy washy on real issues

Evidence?

They seem fine on the 'real issues' to me.

 

[amaterasu]

http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/05Employment.pdf

example provided, they say very little on what they will really do, and everyhting in now about global warming with them.

 

[ComradeDavo]

http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/05Employment.pdf

example provided, they say very little on what they will really do, and everyhting in now about global warming with them.

I disagree with you - that policy document clearly states the Lib Dems posistions on the mentioned issues. Those 2 pages are straight to the point and make their posistion clear.

As for global warming -well it's a major threat to teh world and needs to eb dealt with a.s.a.p...so good on them for realising this!

 

[amaterasu]

The only major policies were to raise retirment age, which is alredy being done by labour and is complained about.

this was quite good I thought http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/PP78 Crime.pdf

they outline some policies and show how thgey got there, but I don't agreee with all of them( but hey, I am not a high level anything ^^) and climbate change is important, but there are other issues that need adressing faster, and most pollution os caused by industries anyways, and I could not find a firm environment policy on their website, lots of page on the environment and eventually I found the policy, after 10 pages I got there. It basically just goes on carbon trading, and that they want more renewable energy, without laying down plans on how to get there.

But out of the 3 main parties I would go for them, I like them more after reading the website

 

[ComradeDavo]

But out of the 3 main parties I would go for them, I like them more after reading the website

It basically just goes on carbon trading, and that they want more renewable energy, without laying down plans on how to get there

I think a combination of methods is the idea. I know the Scottish Lib Dems want off shore wind farms....they are quite ambitious aiming for 100&#37; renewable energy by 2050 for Scotland, which I like!

edit - just to ad dyou mentioned crime, one of the things I always liek about the Lib Dems is that they talk alot more than Labour/Tories do about preventing crime in the first place!

 

[amaterasu]

My god you're right, the lib dems was amazingly thought out, through, and actually had some policies in it, look at the tories in comparison O_O http://povertydebate.typepad.com/

 

[ComradeDavo]

The Tories aren't doing to well with the whole 'policy' thing under Cameron!

 

[amaterasu]

I don't know why they did so well at the local elections, I know that it's not the national ones, but if they vote for them now they will probably go with them in '08.

How do they plan 100&#37; O_o tidal power everywhere? Wind farms aren't too cost efficent i've heard...

 

[ComradeDavo]

I don't know why they did so well at the local elections, I know that it's not the national ones, but if they vote for them now they will probably go with them in '08.

How do they plan 100&#37; O_o tidal power everywhere? Wind farms aren't too cost efficent i've heard...

Oh it's not 100% tidal power...I mean that would just be an important part in reaching the 100% figure.

As for the Tpries doing well...I can't help feel that it's for the same reason people don't like Labour...i.e spin and photo oppurunities!

 

[happy_Alex]

http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/05Employment.pdf

example provided, they say very little on what they will really do, and everyhting in now about global warming with them.

Gotta agree with you on this one. Intentions are all well and good, but unless theres a firm commitment to social action with a detailed agenda, polticians and parties can do what they want once they achieve power. And they do. For example LibDems have behaved just like Tories in some London Boroughs where they took power from Labour. For example in Camden they cut social services and privatised parking. It backfired on them though, because the privatised company was so facist in its enforcement the LibDems lost overall control of the Council in last years elections (despite the collapse in Labour vote) he he he.

 

[Fairy]

Liberal Democrats all the way for me

 

[nonconformist]

Once again, just to grow my e-penis again, i predicted the Lib Dem refusal of a coalition