If you're undecided who to vote for

Frank the tank

At the forthcoming general election (If you're British).

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

i.e. while a promise of full employment would be great, is it a policy a party could deliver (doubt it), whereas if a party were to say we'll guarantee that in criminal cases where a "life" sentance is passed by a judge it will mean life. That may well be enough to sway my vote.

Your thoughts appreciated,

rick_chasey

That they're not Tory.


Next!

guinea

Frank the tank wrote:

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

I'd vote for the party who promised to stop ramping ithe over inflated asset class that is the UK's housing market.

High prices are bad for everyone. A big crash is needed.

As a saver, I'd like to see higher interest rates and affordable housing for all.

rick_chasey

guinea wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

I'd vote for the party who promised to stop ramping ithe over inflated asset class that is the UK's housing market.

High prices are bad for everyone. A big crash is needed.

As a saver, I'd like to see higher interest rates and affordable housing for all.

Interest rates are governed by the bank of England...

guinea

Rick Chasey wrote:

guinea wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

I'd vote for the party who promised to stop ramping ithe over inflated asset class that is the UK's housing market.

High prices are bad for everyone. A big crash is needed.

As a saver, I'd like to see higher interest rates and affordable housing for all.

Interest rates are governed by the bank of England...

To meet an inflation target set by the government.

rick_chasey

guinea wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

guinea wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

I'd vote for the party who promised to stop ramping ithe over inflated asset class that is the UK's housing market.

High prices are bad for everyone. A big crash is needed.

As a saver, I'd like to see higher interest rates and affordable housing for all.

Interest rates are governed by the bank of England...

To meet an inflation target set by the government.

That target won't change depending on who is in power.

Seriously, between 0.5% and 2.5% is pretty much the universal aim.

Anonymous

Cool, lets increase interest rates loads and make loads of people get their homes repossessed!

Frank the tank

Rick Chasey wrote:

That they're not Tory.


Next!

I feel deserted by the labour party (new labour=old tory) never voted tory in my life and this is one of the reasons I'm in such a quandry and am looking for some party to come up with a reason to vote for them; rather than I'll vote for you because you're not them, if you get my meaning.

rick_chasey

Frank the tank wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

That they're not Tory.


Next!

I feel deserted by the labour party (new labour=old tory) never voted tory in my life and this is one of the reasons I'm in such a quandry and am looking for some party to come up with a reason to vote for them; rather than I'll vote for you because you're not them, if you get my meaning.

One issue doesn't swing it for me.

It's the entire, moralistic, nimby problem I have with the Tories. I can't support a party who fundamentally helps those who can already help themselves, and has an obsession with predisposed ideas of what people need. (must be a family, must not be gay, blah)

I'm fundamentally too left-wing for the Tories.

Frank the tank

NapoleonD wrote:

Cool, lets increase interest rates loads and make loads of people get their homes repossessed!

Interest rates are always a double edged sword, low ones hurt savers and people living on fixed incomes (which is becoming a larger portion of society) high ones as you've said have the potential for crippling mortgage holders. I remember under tory rule having to pay mortgage interest of 15%, not nice.

guinea

NapoleonD wrote:

Cool, lets increase interest rates loads and make loads of people get their homes repossessed!

I just want house prices to be affordable to all and for people who have been prudent their whole lives to be able to live off the income from their savings. Maybe we should make a law that says you can't borrow more than 3 times your income like the banks used to enforce.

Cheap borrowng and escalating house prices are what got us in the trouble we're in.

House prices can't go up for ever, nothing can.

rick_chasey

guinea wrote:

House prices can't go up for ever, nothing can.

You've never seen me have an erection then :twisted:

Frank the tank

Rick Chasey wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

That they're not Tory.


Next!

I feel deserted by the labour party (new labour=old tory) never voted tory in my life and this is one of the reasons I'm in such a quandry and am looking for some party to come up with a reason to vote for them; rather than I'll vote for you because you're not them, if you get my meaning.

One issue doesn't swing it for me.

It's the entire, moralistic, nimby problem I have with the Tories. I can't support a party who fundamentally helps those who can already help themselves, and has an obsession with predisposed ideas of what people need. (must be a family, must not be gay, blah)

I'm fundamentally too left-wing for the Tories.

TBH I don't think a one off policy will swing it for me, I just thought it would make for an interesting thread.

Bunneh

I was brought up Tory as my Grandparents were big Maggie supporters. The Labour Government has improved support for mental health sufferers, and they are proposing more improvements in that area. I've seen nothing from the Tories in that aspect; that's not to say there aren't any but I just have seen any mention.

I am at odds, but I don't want to waste a vote on one of the fringe parties, unless it's the Kitty Cat Party, but their policy on Cat Nip for All is a little short sighted.

guinea

Frank the tank wrote:

TBH I don't think a one off policy will swing it for me, I just thought it would make for an interesting thread.

+1

I can't vote Tory, I grew up in Scotland under Thatcher.

I can't vote Labour due to ID cards.

There's nobody in my area got a chance of beating those two and since we don't have PR my vote is wasted.

Frank the tank

guinea wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Cool, lets increase interest rates loads and make loads of people get their homes repossessed!

I just want house prices to be affordable to all and for people who have been prudent their whole lives to be able to live off the income from their savings. Maybe we should make a law that says you can't borrow more than 3 times your income like the banks used to enforce.

Cheap borrowng and escalating house prices are what got us in the trouble we're in.

House prices can't go up for ever, nothing can.

Years ago I was espousing such a policy to mates at work/pub/cycling club/wherever and was met with indifference. Well the "free market" was given it's head and that's why we're now in the possition we are today.

Anonymous

I just don't want to lose my house. My wife and I work f*cking hard so our family can live here...

guinea

Frank the tank wrote:

Years ago I was espousing such a policy to mates at work/pub/cycling club/wherever and was met with indifference. Well the "free market" was given it's head and that's why we're now in the possition we are today.

Of course. People were only interested in telling how much extra money they made this year on their house. Not realising that all they were doing was going further down the property ladder as the next rung became more and more unaffordable.

Everyone got sucked in to this never ending money machine. Of course the machine was being funded by young first time buyers encouraged by the banks, friends and family. "Buy now or you'll miss the boat".

The banks have cleaned up here. Since you always need a mortgage to buy a house you're always going to pay interest. If house prices double, so will the interest you pay to the bank. So the banks just make it easier to borrow and help the bubble inflate. If you fail to pay, they just take the house and sell it at an inflated profit. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Unless someone turns off the money supply....

Frank the tank

NapoleonD wrote:

I just don't want to lose my house. My wife and I work f*cking hard so our family can live here...

You're not on your own there are you. I've fortunately now paid my mortgage but I still pay inflated council taxes to pay for copper bottomed pensions of public servants whilst being told I have to pay ever more into my own pension fund by my employer to get less on retirement.

Life just aint fair, is it.

zedders

I’d like to vote for a party that is tough on crime? Sadly none are.

I think most good folk are fed up of criminals not being punished. You see it in the papers daily. Drink drivers causing deaths, thugs beating the crap out of people just because, burglars, thefts, drug dealers, it goes on and on. And when they are caught? What happens to them! Fu@k all.
Cops are undervalued and have no respect. Prisons are easy street for most, and offer no incentive to behave. The Courts system is a joke. Magistrates continuously issue soft sentences. (Partly because of Government guidelines).
It ‘s become a utter joke. People don’t feel safe, or protected by the law, and it’s just one of many things ruining this country.
Rant over.
GET TOUGH ON CRIME!

Mettan

The current lot have wasted too much money on certain people - The Tory's, when they get in, in May, will clamp down on that. Not sure who Ill be voting for.

Fruit and Veg coordinator - Basildon - £ 72,000 pa - no thanks. (hypothetical)

rf6

zedders wrote:

I’d like to vote for a party that is tough on crime? Sadly none are.

I think most good folk are fed up of criminals not being punished. You see it in the papers daily. Drink drivers causing deaths, thugs beating the crap out of people just because, burglars, thefts, drug dealers, it goes on and on. And when they are caught? What happens to them! Fu@k all.
Cops are undervalued and have no respect. Prisons are easy street for most, and offer no incentive to behave. The Courts system is a joke. Magistrates continuously issue soft sentences. (Partly because of Government guidelines).
It ‘s become a utter joke. People don’t feel safe, or protected by the law, and it’s just one of many things ruining this country.
Rant over.
GET TOUGH ON CRIME!

+1. Voter zedders!

Smokin Joe

Frank the tank wrote:

At the forthcoming general election (If you're British).

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

i.e. while a promise of full employment would be great, is it a policy a party could deliver (doubt it), whereas if a party were to say we'll guarantee that in criminal cases where a "life" sentance is passed by a judge it will mean life. That may well be enough to sway my vote.

Your thoughts appreciated,

It already does. You are only released on licence and can be recalled at anytime should your behaviour warrant it and are constantly monitored. That does not nescesseraly mean comitting a criminal offence, mixing with known criminals can be enough.

If you want to reduce crime you need to make it unattractive for youngsters to go down that path in the first place, I am anti the death penalty but in favour of corporal punishment as we are presently breeding a generation of youths who are virtually untouchable because the means are no longer there to deal with the sort of anti social behaviour which is making the lives of many people unbearable. And they know it, hence the case of the guy who died recently after his life was blighted for thirty years by successive generations of local yobs.

garrynolan

Originally from Northern Ireland - really weird way of voting - used to be "Vote early - vote often". Caused problems. Then... voted to keep someone out, not to put someone in. More problems. Now people have the chance to vote for party's with actual policies. But... old habits die hard, so it will be very interesting to see how things pan out. What with MP's going ga-ga, others leaving their party because of certain alliances and some still entrenched in the old British/Irish-at-all-costs nonsense this will be the best and/or worst election in N.I. for a long time.

awallace

I think in my 30 odd posts ive bleated on about this a few times but i want a party in who will make strong decisions and not try to cater to everyone pleasing nobody.

Fix society that wants something for nothing, encourage people to be independant and not think everything is someone elses problem. Stop busy bodying in the worlds problems and we may not need to protect ourselves against those who want to attack us.

Also a party who when someone works and contributes is allowed some slack. Charging my partner 50% of next years tax that she hasnt even earnt is rediculous. Fine for a corporation or big business but not a beauty therapist trying to earn a wage.

crumbschief

Frank the tank wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

I just don't want to lose my house. My wife and I work f*cking hard so our family can live here...

You're not on your own there are you. I've fortunately now paid my mortgage but I still pay inflated council taxes to pay for copper bottomed pensions of public servants whilst being told I have to pay ever more into my own pension fund by my employer to get less on retirement.

Life just aint fair, is it.

In your response to NapD I found copper bottomed to be funny,you can see i lead a simple life.

oldwelshman

Well having grew up in Wales I never voted as a chimp could stand and still win the seat. Then following the wonderful union bashing era of Thatcher I lost my job in the mines (after studying 7 years to qualify) then had to rerain and move away so now live in a conservative safe seat where the same applies so no point in voting again as it makes absolutely no difference but deep dowm I am, more of a socialist than anything else and would never have an issue with contributing more to help others less fortunate and I do believe some services should never have been privatised.
If tghere was one policy that would convince me and to me its a glaringly obvious one, it would be to scrap the trident project and use the saving to clear some of our deficit and probably do the same with the ID card scheme at least for the time being.
WOuld not go as far as scrapping eurofighter project due to number of jobs that would be lost as a result.

Frank the tank

Smokin Joe wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

At the forthcoming general election (If you're British).

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

i.e. while a promise of full employment would be great, is it a policy a party could deliver (doubt it), whereas if a party were to say we'll guarantee that in criminal cases where a "life" sentance is passed by a judge it will mean life. That may well be enough to sway my vote.

Your thoughts appreciated,

It already does. You are only released on licence and can be recalled at anytime should your behaviour warrant it and are constantly monitored. That does not nescesseraly mean comitting a criminal offence, mixing with known criminals can be enough.

If you want to reduce crime you need to make it unattractive for youngsters to go down that path in the first place, I am anti the death penalty but in favour of corporal punishment as we are presently breeding a generation of youths who are virtually untouchable because the means are no longer there to deal with the sort of anti social behaviour which is making the lives of many people unbearable. And they know it, hence the case of the guy who died recently after his life was blighted for thirty years by successive generations of local yobs.

John Venables. I rest my case.

Smokin Joe

Frank the tank wrote:

Smokin Joe wrote:

Frank the tank wrote:

At the forthcoming general election (If you're British).

Is there any one (realistic) policy that one of the major parties could come out with that would nail your vote.

i.e. while a promise of full employment would be great, is it a policy a party could deliver (doubt it), whereas if a party were to say we'll guarantee that in criminal cases where a "life" sentance is passed by a judge it will mean life. That may well be enough to sway my vote.

Your thoughts appreciated,

It already does. You are only released on licence and can be recalled at anytime should your behaviour warrant it and are constantly monitored. That does not nescesseraly mean comitting a criminal offence, mixing with known criminals can be enough.

If you want to reduce crime you need to make it unattractive for youngsters to go down that path in the first place, I am anti the death penalty but in favour of corporal punishment as we are presently breeding a generation of youths who are virtually untouchable because the means are no longer there to deal with the sort of anti social behaviour which is making the lives of many people unbearable. And they know it, hence the case of the guy who died recently after his life was blighted for thirty years by successive generations of local yobs.

John Venables. I rest my case.

Mary Bell, I rest mine.

You will always get a percentage who re-offend, but people also deserve the chance to reform.

Frank the tank

I always believed that if you had a life sentence you were only ever released under license. Therefore why is there ANY issue over Venables and a possible trial etc. The bloke shoukld NEVER HAVE BEEN RELEASED in the first place.

Plus if your crime is serious enough (in these liberal times) to warrent a life sentence you don't deserve rehabilitation, just punishment.

rick_chasey

awallace wrote:

I think in my 30 odd posts ive bleated on about this a few times but i want a party in who will make strong decisions and not try to cater to everyone pleasing nobody.

Fix society that wants something for nothing, encourage people to be independant and not think everything is someone elses problem. Stop busy bodying in the worlds problems and we may not need to protect ourselves against those who want to attack us.

Also a party who when someone works and contributes is allowed some slack. Charging my partner 50% of next years tax that she hasnt even earnt is rediculous. Fine for a corporation or big business but not a beauty therapist trying to earn a wage.

This is all well.

However, d'ya not think it's parties responding to the public, rather than the other way around?

I understand it to be bottom up, not top down.

I often think people give the parties too much emphasis. The dissolussionment with politics, beyond specifics of the expenses scandal, as far as I am concerned at least, just highlights the fundamental contradiction that electorates have. e.g. They want them to be honest, and then pillor them and demand resignations when they admit mistakes. Or, they want quality healthcare and full employment, yet demand massive cuts in public spending and/or tax (and I don't just mean in the last 18 months, but for the last 20 years).

The public are the way they are because that is what they are, not because some middle aged grey in a suit has decided so.