2015 UK Politics Megathread

[Vyvland]

Maybe newspapers will reveal exit polls later in the day (if they do these in United Kingdom).

After the voting, possibly. Not during.

I'm not UK citizen but I wouldn't know who to vote right now. I would support Conservatives but I'm not against EU - I think there might be people in UK with this dilemma. Or people who would support Labour but don't want to be part of EU.

Pro-EU Tories tend to vote Lib Dem. Anti-EU Labourites tend to vote UKIP.

I'd imagine it's not enough to fundamentally put people off a party.

EU membership's usually pretty low on most people's priorities, unless they're UKIP supporters. Anyway, if there's a referendum, you can vote however you want so it shouldn't really put people off.

[Steamtopia]

After the voting, possibly. Not during.


Pro-EU Tories tend to vote Lib Dem. Anti-EU Labourites tend to vote UKIP.

I'd imagine it's not enough to fundamentally put people off a party.

EU membership's usually pretty low on most people's priorities, unless they're UKIP supporters. Anyway, if there's a referendum, you can vote however you want so it shouldn't really put people off.

I hope we don't waste our time with a referendum.

[Vyvland]

I'd imagine it's not enough to fundamentally put people off a party.

EU membership's usually pretty low on most people's priorities, unless they're UKIP supporters. Anyway, if there's a referendum, you can vote however you want so it shouldn't really put people off.

I hope we don't waste our time with a referendum.

Agreed. Fortunately it's fairly unlikely David Cameron will be able to form a majority government after the election.

[Steamtopia]

I hope we don't waste our time with a referendum.

Agreed. Fortunately it's fairly unlikely David Cameron will be able to form a majority government after the election.

It's impossible unless the polls are way off. I see five possibilities. In decreasing order of likelihood:
1. Labour+Lib Dem coalition with a deal for the SNP to abstain, essentially creating a majority government for most bills
2. Labour+SNP(+Green if needed) coalition
3. Labour+SNP+Lib Dem coalition
4. No government. Re-election
5. Grand coalition

[Teemant]

Agreed. Fortunately it's fairly unlikely David Cameron will be able to form a majority government after the election.

It's impossible unless the polls are way off. I see five possibilities. In decreasing order of likelihood:
1. Labour+Lib Dem coalition with a deal for the SNP to abstain, essentially creating a majority government for most bills
2. Labour+SNP(+Green if needed) coalition
3. Labour+SNP+Lib Dem coalition
4. No government. Re-election
5. Grand coalition

5. would be the best. (in my opinion)

[Steamtopia]

It's impossible unless the polls are way off. I see five possibilities. In decreasing order of likelihood:
1. Labour+Lib Dem coalition with a deal for the SNP to abstain, essentially creating a majority government for most bills
2. Labour+SNP(+Green if needed) coalition
3. Labour+SNP+Lib Dem coalition
4. No government. Re-election
5. Grand coalition

5. would be the best. (in my opinion)

I'm hoping for a re-election just for the sake of drama. Might be a good incentive for people to complain about electoral reform again.

[The Archregimancy]

5. would be the best. (in my opinion)

I'm hoping for a re-election just for the sake of drama. Might be a good incentive for people to complain about electoral reform again.

We're a rum lot in this country...

Scotland votes against independence; support for the SNP in Westminster elections subsequently soars.

The entire country votes against electoral reform; with the sudden realisation of the mess FPTP is about to hand us, support for electoral reform subsequently soars.

[Steamtopia]

I'm hoping for a re-election just for the sake of drama. Might be a good incentive for people to complain about electoral reform again.

We're a rum lot in this country...

Scotland votes against independence; support for the SNP in Westminster elections subsequently soars.

The entire country votes against electoral reform; with the sudden realisation of the mess FPTP is about to hand us, support for electoral reform subsequently soars.

We vote then think instead of the other way around.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

I'd imagine it's not enough to fundamentally put people off a party.

EU membership's usually pretty low on most people's priorities, unless they're UKIP supporters. Anyway, if there's a referendum, you can vote however you want so it shouldn't really put people off.

I hope we don't waste our time with a referendum.

Because having a proper debate, and a public vote would be so undemocratic, obviously.

Anyway, voted!

[Teemant]

Watched Vice news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsg5fnifdY - it has to do with UK elections.

Is this really like this in UK? Or this video makes it look like this?

[Steamtopia]

I hope we don't waste our time with a referendum.

Because having a proper debate, and a public vote would be so undemocratic, obviously.

Anyway, voted!

There's a proper debate. It's in the House of Commons.

[Steamtopia]

Watched Vice news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsg5fnifdY - it has to do with UK elections.

Is this really like this in UK? Or this video makes it look like this?

What do you mean "like this"? Are there Muslim extremists? Yes, there are a few.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Because having a proper debate, and a public vote would be so undemocratic, obviously.

Anyway, voted!

There's a proper debate. It's in the House of Commons.

Without party whip systems. Are you really so elitest you think the British people aren't responsible enough to decide this?

[Steamtopia]

There's a proper debate. It's in the House of Commons.

Without party whip systems. Are you really so elitest you think the British people aren't responsible enough to decide this?

I generally don't like letting the public vote on policy, no. That's why we're a representative, and not a direct, democracy.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Without party whip systems. Are you really so elitest you think the British people aren't responsible enough to decide this?

I generally don't like letting the public vote on policy, no. That's why we're a representative, and not a direct, democracy.

And why are the people so unable to make the correct decision?

[Steamtopia]

I generally don't like letting the public vote on policy, no. That's why we're a representative, and not a direct, democracy.

And why are the people so unable to make the correct decision?

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

And why are the people so unable to make the correct decision?

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

However, the people are a very large group, and politicians do not represent that group demographicly very well. As the politicians are being elected by people based on what they claim, they should accept popular requests for a referendum.

[Teemant]

And why are the people so unable to make the correct decision?

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

Parliament members actually work through hundreds or thousands of pages documents every week so I doubt ordinary people can put so much effort into making right decision.

But my biggest fear is media as you mentioned. It is easy to fearmonger or when someone gets wrong impression it may have a snowball effect in public.

[Steamtopia]

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

However, the people are a very large group, and politicians do not represent that group demographicly very well. As the politicians are being elected by people based on what they claim, they should accept popular requests for a referendum.

I'd rather have electoral reform instead of resorting to referendums on every single thing people want a referendum for.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

Parliament members actually work through hundreds or thousands of pages documents every week so I doubt ordinary people can put so much effort into making right decision.

But my biggest fear is media as you mentioned. It is easy to fearmonger or when someone gets wrong impression it may have a snowball effect in public.

Whether you think the decision is right or not has nothing to do with it. It's the peoples right to choose if their country rules itself or not.

[Steamtopia]

People are easily swayed by the media and by fear-mongering. People also don't spend all day being advised by professionals and experts so they can understand the full ramifications of policy-making, unlike the government.

Parliament members actually work through hundreds or thousands of pages documents every week so I doubt ordinary people can put so much effort into making right decision.

But my biggest fear is media as you mentioned. It is easy to fearmonger or when someone gets wrong impression it may have a snowball effect in public.

Exactly. And this applies to both sides of the EU debate. It wouldn't be a matter of actual policy-making, but who can throw more money at the media to get mass hysteria and panic going.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

However, the people are a very large group, and politicians do not represent that group demographicly very well. As the politicians are being elected by people based on what they claim, they should accept popular requests for a referendum.

I'd rather have electoral reform instead of resorting to referendums on every single thing people want a referendum for.

What about issues the commons refuse to deal with? Like Europe, euthanasia, marijuana...

[Steamtopia]

I'd rather have electoral reform instead of resorting to referendums on every single thing people want a referendum for.

What about issues the commons refuse to deal with? Like Europe, euthanasia, marijuana...

Vote in new parties that want to deal with those issues, it's not that difficult. If people choose to keep voting in the same parties, they should expect the same results.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

What about issues the commons refuse to deal with? Like Europe, euthanasia, marijuana...

Vote in new parties that want to deal with those issues, it's not that difficult. If people choose to keep voting in the same parties, they should expect the same results.

Around 14 % of people will be voting for one, but with FPTP, UKIP won't get the number of seats that the votes should get them.

And voting reform won't ever happen in the commons, because both major parties have a vested interest in keeping fptp.

[Shamhnan Insir]

I'd rather have electoral reform instead of resorting to referendums on every single thing people want a referendum for.

What about issues the commons refuse to deal with? Like Europe, euthanasia, marijuana...

I think a referendum in the next year or so would too much, at least for Scotland anyways, we've had more than enough politics for a while....