UK general election poll

[Nadkor]

None of the parties in the poll.

Because none of them stand in my constituency.

Democracy!

Gotta love it. But in all seriousness, you from Northern Ireland then?

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

[Olivaero]

I'll be voting green. And throwing my vote away in a constituency that has been Labour since the seats creation.

[Napkiraly]

Gotta love it. But in all seriousness, you from Northern Ireland then?

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

I've always wondered why none of the big three parties run in NI...

[The Nihilistic view]

Gotta love it. But in all seriousness, you from Northern Ireland then?

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

Don't the Tories and DUP have some kind of deal not to stand for the same seats?

[Homosexual Love Puppet]

UKIP all the way, though they would have to improve their stance on LGBT rights.

[Afalia]

Can't say I'm content with any of the parties at the minute but will probably tilt towards the Tories. It really depends on where I am in 2015 however. I'm assuming I'll be going to university so that'll change my constituency and my outlook. I tend to consider both local and national considerations before I choose who to support. This will also be my first ever vote! Hooray!

[Nadkor]

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

I've always wondered why none of the big three parties run in NI...

Fuck knows.

How is Northern Ireland meant to ever get away from shitty tribal politics if actual political parties with a chance of doing something don't stand here? It's nonsense.

[Napkiraly]

I've always wondered why none of the big three parties run in NI...

Fuck knows.

How is Northern Ireland meant to ever get away from shitty tribal politics if actual political parties with a chance of doing something don't stand here? It's nonsense.

Bloody hell that's fucking ridiculous.

[Alf Landon]

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

Don't the Tories and DUP have some kind of deal not to stand for the same seats?

No. That would be the UUP, and even then it wasn't about the Tories not standing in the same seats. None of the major national parties compete in Northern Ireland because, in answer to Napki, they basically felt their intervention would not have been helpful to the tension during the Troubles, and they haven't yet seen fit to decide otherwise. The deal between the Tories and the UUP was only that they basically put up a kind of joint candidate - it was mainly more about the UUP getting the extra resources, and the Tories tiptoeing into Northern Irish politics. If memory serves, the deal has since fallen apart, but I'm not sure.

[Woodstead]

That's tough one. I don't think we'll have a Green candidate in my borough; the Lib Dems in my area seem to have disbanded somewhat, and didn't seem to even sign up to be local election candidates in time in 2012; the Labour guy here is a really nice guy, but then again, I don't mind my Tory MP. I think I'd vote Tory- not because I want a Tory government, but because my MP seems like he is in touch with what our town wants, and he tends to steer off the party line on certain issues. If he was an independent, it would be my preference, but if a Green popped up, with a good set of personal and local ideas, I may vote Green.

EDIT: Labour has apparently outlined 'Aldi mum' and 'Crawley man' as the key to 2015's success. I don't know what to say as a resident of Crawley, after this.

[Divair]

I plan on voting for Labour.

I didn't know you were an EU or commonwealth citizen?

UK, actually. And South African.

[Forsakia]

Yes.

When was the last time anybody in Northern Ireland had the chance to vote for a party that might actually form a government? When was the last time the governing party at Westminster had any votes from Northern Ireland? Never.

Democracy!

Don't the Tories and DUP have some kind of deal not to stand for the same seats?

That's the UUP, and I believe Nadkor is technically wrong since in 2010 UUP candidates were officially joint UUP and Conservative candidates. The agreements since broken up and the Conservatives are now back running on their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NI_Conservatives

(The Lib Dems have a looser agreement with the alliance party).

As to why they don't. You get the double whammy of it being hard to start a party from scratch, with the fact that if you are successful you're going to split the vote of the party you're currently closest to in NI and so put more hostile candidates into office.

[Angleter]

Don't the Tories and DUP have some kind of deal not to stand for the same seats?

No. That would be the UUP, and even then it wasn't about the Tories not standing in the same seats. None of the major national parties compete in Northern Ireland because, in answer to Napki, they basically felt their intervention would not have been helpful to the tension during the Troubles, and they haven't yet seen fit to decide otherwise. The deal between the Tories and the UUP was only that they basically put up a kind of joint candidate - it was mainly more about the UUP getting the extra resources, and the Tories tiptoeing into Northern Irish politics. If memory serves, the deal has since fallen apart, but I'm not sure.

Yeah. I think the Tories have gone off on their own, now. They may or may not have a handful of Councillors, I forget.

[Nadkor]

Don't the Tories and DUP have some kind of deal not to stand for the same seats?

That's the UUP, and I believe Nadkor is technically wrong since in 2010 UUP candidates were officially joint UUP and Conservative candidates. The agreements since broken up and the Conservatives are now back running on their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NI_Conservatives

Let's be realistic: the NI Conservatives are about as serious an effort as the Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket party (hint: they wanted to rename Belfast "Best" and make it self-governing), and in any case they do their own thing outside of the rest of the Conservative Party. I absolutely do not count them as the Conservatives actually standing in Northern Ireland.

[Quintium]

Northern Ireland? Vote Ulster Unionist Party; they had the support of Enoch Powell.

[Forsakia]

That's the UUP, and I believe Nadkor is technically wrong since in 2010 UUP candidates were officially joint UUP and Conservative candidates. The agreements since broken up and the Conservatives are now back running on their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NI_Conservatives

Let's be realistic: the NI Conservatives are about as serious an effort as the Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket party. I absolutely do not count them as the Conservatives actually standing in Northern Ireland.

UUP candidates in 2010 were joint conservative candidates, a vote for them was a vote for the Conservatives. As for NI conservatives as they are now back to being. Parties have to start somewhere. Sure they'll probably do very badly in 2015, but if they run candidates then you have the opportunity to vote for them.

They have a semi-autonomous relationship with the main party. Which is how the Lib Dems are set up throughout the UK.

[Peterovia]

I'm not British,but i think conservative is the best

[Glasgia]

Agh...

Labour, TUSC, SNP, Labour, TUSC, SNP, Labour, TUSC, SNP, Greens, Labour, TUSC, SNP, Labour, TUSC, SNP, Labour, TUSC, SNP, Greens... I honestly have no idea. Well, I'll choose Labour in the poll - But only due to the fact that neither the SNP, TUSC or Greens are likely to run a candidate in the constituency where I'm currently living. Hell, the TUSC aren't even represented. Labour's a wasted vote too, in the Tory stronghold of East Hants it would be equivalent to a blue vote in my home constituency of Glasgow South West, but at least they'll be a choice on the ballot (if I was old enough to choose). Back in Glasgow, I'd probably vote TUSC.

I've always wondered why none of the big three parties run in NI...

Fuck knows.

How is Northern Ireland meant to ever get away from shitty tribal politics if actual political parties with a chance of doing something don't stand here? It's nonsense.

You think the big three have a chance of doing something?... Even if they do manage to form a government.

I didn't know you were an EU or commonwealth citizen?

UK, actually. And South African.

Where were you born? I thought you were Israeli because you were living there, but then you moved to the UK and now you're saying you're a South African citizen?

[Divair]

Where were you born? I thought you were Israeli because you were living there, but then you moved to the UK and now you're saying you're a South African citizen?

I was born in Cape Town. I hold citizenship in all three countries.

[ShadowDragons]

I would vote conservative if I lived in the UK.

[Dundee Derry]

SNP as ever. But, I'm worried by the number of UKIP voters apparently on NS. On the other hand a upsurge in the UKIP vote means the Right wing vote splits two ways.

[Nadkor]

Let's be realistic: the NI Conservatives are about as serious an effort as the Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket party. I absolutely do not count them as the Conservatives actually standing in Northern Ireland.

UUP candidates in 2010 were joint conservative candidates, a vote for them was a vote for the Conservatives.

That was nothing more than Reg Empey being desperate and trying to use a bigger name that he thought would resonate with his largely rural farming base to rescue his ailing party and his leadership (this was, in fact, confirmed to me by his then press officer who may or may not have had a few too many at a party I was at - I, clearly, go to the coolest parties, and one of the advantages of being a young woman who knows how to flirt is being able to get middle aged men who want to make you think they're vaguely important to tell you things they probably shouldn't), and was not, in any way shape or form, the Conservatives standing in Northern Ireland.

As for NI conservatives as they are now back to being. Parties have to start somewhere. Sure they'll probably do very badly in 2015, but if they run candidates then you have the opportunity to vote for them.

The NI Conservatives haven't stood in my constituency (one of the four Belfast ones) in 17 years, and even if they do in 2015 it very much will not be the Conservative Party actually standing to try to get elected. It's essentially a bunch of UUP-ers bailing as that party collapses in on itself who, not wanting to admit defeat and join the DUP, adopt the Conservative name to try and seem even vaguely relevant or important.

But, you know, keep mansplaining Northern Irish politics to me. I clearly know nothing.

[Nadkor]

Fuck knows.

How is Northern Ireland meant to ever get away from shitty tribal politics if actual political parties with a chance of doing something don't stand here? It's nonsense.

You think the big three have a chance of doing something?... Even if they do manage to form a government.

You're a fool if you think that parties in government don't do anything. They might not do much good, but that's not the same as doing nothing.

[Forsakia]

UUP candidates in 2010 were joint conservative candidates, a vote for them was a vote for the Conservatives.

That was nothing more than Tom Elliot being desperate and trying to use a bigger name that he thought would resonate with his largely rural farming base to rescue his ailing party and his leadership (this was, in fact, confirmed to me by his then press officer who may or may not have had a few too many at a party I was at - I, clearly, go to the coolest parties, and one of the advantages of being a young woman who knows how to flirt is being able to get middle aged men who want to make you think they're vaguely important to tell you things they probably shouldn't), and was not, in any way shape or form, the Conservatives standing in Northern Ireland.

As for NI conservatives as they are now back to being. Parties have to start somewhere. Sure they'll probably do very badly in 2015, but if they run candidates then you have the opportunity to vote for them.

The NI Conservatives haven't stood in my constituency (one of the four Belfast ones) in 17 years, and even if they do in 2015 it very much will not be the Conservative Party actually standing to try to get elected. It's essentially a bunch of UUP-ers bailing as that party collapses in on itself who, not wanting to admit defeat and join the DUP, adopt the Conservative name to try and seem even vaguely relevant or important.

But, you know, keep mansplaining Northern Irish politics to me. I clearly know nothing.

You know, me having a different opinion to you is not mansplaining.

I've seen you about UK politics threads on NSG for years now and you clearly know a lot about it, particularly around constitutional matters (Masters in that isn't it?) and believe me I respect your knowledge greatly.

I just disagree with you on this point.

In all 4 of the Belfast seats at GE2010 were contested by Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force (UCUNF) who were, by definition and as registered with the electoral commission, joint Conservative candidates. You clearly have better inside info than me (and go to cooler parties) about motivations etc but that's what they were.

The Lib Dems have a semi-autonomous set up throughout the UK, the MPs from the devolved parties remain Lib Dem MPs. If the Conservatives have such a set up in NI then they're still Conservative MPs.

Maybe the NI Conservatives won't stand in your seat, maybe they will. That they're semi-autonomous doesn't stop them being Conservative.

[Ariddia]

I'm a British national by descent living in France, so I won't be able to vote.

Had I been able to vote in 2010, I would probably have voted LibDem. No way would I vote Tory, and I dislike the essence of what Blair and Brown have done with Labour.

Of course, it's become difficult to support the LibDems now... If they've actually done anything useful within the coalition government, they've done quite a poor job of advertising it.

I would probably vote Green. Leaving aside their silly republicanism, they're the party I feel closest to, and environmental issues need to be recognised as important; we're doing far too little at present.

Were I in Wales or Scotland, I might be tempted by Plaid or the SNP, purely because they've replaced Labour as the party that defends public services and some of the old Labour values. Plaid also seems to grant some recognition to the importance of environmental problems.

Lastly, I might vote Labour if the candidate in my hypothetical constituency were part of that now rare breed within the party: a socialist.

Anyway, I ticked "Green" in the poll.