British 2015 general election poll

[Settrah]

Considering how many white people love to apparently describe their heritage in European fractions, there's probably even less 'ethnic Brits' than people thought.

This isn't the USA.

I know people over here that do that though, the less said the better.

[Aquillus]

I also did I side with quiz.
The first party was UKIP and than the Conservatives.
What are the main differences expect the EU pint of view of UKIP?

You are a moderate libertarian, right?

You can't match up libertarian views with the British version that well. Mostly because it is British, but also because there are a lot of answers which seem like half assed compromises, or whatever.

Besides the immigration and some domestic policies, UKIP isn't too bad on some on social policies. They want to decriminalize drugs, make marriage a non-government oriented decision, and allow euthanasia. That being said, I do not support their xenophobic Tea-Party style/border state stance on immigration, banning the burka, increasing military spending, support for "free" schools, and deporting of anyone who is not the same skin color of them. This alone would make them seem like fascist lite. Yet due to all the compromises I have to make in the test, it makes it seem like I (and you) are closest to UKIP.

I think that it is rather hard for a Libertarian to find a party to identify with in the UK, few are fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I can see why UKIP might be considers the closest to Libertarianism, based on their economic policy, but really, they have a rather incoherent set of policies and are trying to appeal to too many groups at once (e.g ex-Tories, Labour strongholds in the North etc).

[Settrah]

I never saw Ukip as particularly libertarian, since it seems in favour of keeping the welfare state and a public healthcare. These don't exactly strike me as libertarian things.

The Conservatives, with their intent on tax reduction, are more libertarian than Ukip are. I think they fell back on their plans to privatize the NHS, otherwise that would probably count too.

[Southern Hampshire]

I never saw Ukip as particularly libertarian, since it seems in favour of keeping the welfare state and a public healthcare. These don't exactly strike me as libertarian things.

The Conservatives, with their intent on tax reduction, are more libertarian than Ukip are. I think they fell back on their plans to privatize the NHS, otherwise that would probably count too.

As I said in a post earlier, UKIP are ready to sell their nan for votes.

Basically, smartie Nigel noticed that Labour is fragmented and he can get votes from the working class so he drastically changed his social and economic policies.

Before (-2012), UKIP was in favour of

• Total privatization of NHS
• Further privatization of pensions
• Private housing (not in favour of - but never announced intentions of building council houses)
• Removal of minimum wage for apprenticeships and halving of minimum wage for non-resident European citizens
• Making sure all allowances and benefits do not exceed 90% of the total of a minimum wage to not encourage nonproductivity
• A flat rate of income tax to encourage rich people and remove all tax loopholes
• Lowering of the Corporation tax
• Removal of environmental taxes, including the London Emissions

They were very libertarian, until they were struck by benefit voters who think UKIP is good for them, so they temporarily changed their policies to look nicer.

[Atlanticatia]

I really hope that Labour will repair the welfare state if they win in 2015. The Tories are going too far with their cuts.

[Second Russian Federation]

If I were a Brit, I would vote for the Liberal Democrats. Their party has a balance of actually being able to hold power and supporting most of my opinions. It would be nicer to have an actual left-wing alternative, but hey, you can't have everything.

[Nadkor]

I really hope that Labour will repair the welfare state if they win in 2015. The Tories are going too far with their cuts.

They won't.

Because instead of sticking by whatever principles Miliband may or may not have and making the case for the welfare state he'll stick with the neo-liberal shit since welfare is unpopular and defending it gets you nowhere.

It's all incredibly depressing. Bevin, Attlee, and the rest would be ashamed of him.

[Atlanticatia]

I really hope that Labour will repair the welfare state if they win in 2015. The Tories are going too far with their cuts.

They won't.

Because instead of sticking by whatever principles Miliband may or may not have and making the case for the welfare state he'll stick with the neo-liberal shit since welfare is unpopular and defending it gets you nowhere.

It's all incredibly depressing. Bevin, Attlee, and the rest would be ashamed of him.

You're probably right. Although, at least Miliband is to the left of the Blairites, so that's something.

I just read an interesting article written by a 91-year old WWII veteran about the welfare state & NHS, and it really struck a chord with me. The welfare state is so important and I hope that Miliband will realise that if Labour win. (I think that Ed does have some credible left-wing views that could be seen as 'Old Labour'-ish, but it will come down to whether or not he would actually bring those views into policy.)

[The Nihilistic view]

I really hope that Labour will repair the welfare state if they win in 2015. The Tories are going too far with their cuts.

They won't.

Because instead of sticking by whatever principles Miliband may or may not have and making the case for the welfare state he'll stick with the neo-liberal shit since welfare is unpopular and defending it gets you nowhere.

It's all incredibly depressing. Bevin, Attlee, and the rest would be ashamed of him.

Not much one can do with no money to do it with.

[The Liberated Territories]

If I were a Brit, I would vote for the Liberal Democrats. Their party has a balance of actually being able to hold power and supporting most of my opinions. It would be nicer to have an actual left-wing alternative, but hey, you can't have everything.

...Labour?

One of the various Marxist parties?

[The Liberated Territories]

I never saw Ukip as particularly libertarian, since it seems in favour of keeping the welfare state and a public healthcare. These don't exactly strike me as libertarian things.

The Conservatives, with their intent on tax reduction, are more libertarian than Ukip are. I think they fell back on their plans to privatize the NHS, otherwise that would probably count too.

As I said in a post earlier, UKIP are ready to sell their nan for votes.

Basically, smartie Nigel noticed that Labour is fragmented and he can get votes from the working class so he drastically changed his social and economic policies.

Before (-2012), UKIP was in favour of

• Total privatization of NHS
• Further privatization of pensions
• Private housing (not in favour of - but never announced intentions of building council houses)
• Removal of minimum wage for apprenticeships and halving of minimum wage for non-resident European citizens
• Making sure all allowances and benefits do not exceed 90% of the total of a minimum wage to not encourage nonproductivity
• A flat rate of income tax to encourage rich people and remove all tax loopholes
• Lowering of the Corporation tax
• Removal of environmental taxes, including the London Emissions

They were very libertarian, until they were struck by benefit voters who think UKIP is good for them, so they temporarily changed their policies to look nicer.

Curious, what's the deal with the housing market in the UK?

[Alyakia]

If I were a Brit, I would vote for the Liberal Democrats. Their party has a balance of actually being able to hold power and supporting most of my opinions. It would be nicer to have an actual left-wing alternative, but hey, you can't have everything.

...Labour?

One of the various Marxist parties?

psst: labour is not a left-wing alternative

[Atlanticatia]

They won't.

Because instead of sticking by whatever principles Miliband may or may not have and making the case for the welfare state he'll stick with the neo-liberal shit since welfare is unpopular and defending it gets you nowhere.

It's all incredibly depressing. Bevin, Attlee, and the rest would be ashamed of him.

Not much one can do with no money to do it with.

The UK definitely has room to raise public spending and expand the public sector, and raise more taxes. Public spending is around 43-46% of GDP, and the tax burden is just 34-35% of GDP. So there is enough money. It's entirely a choice to cut spending. Austerity is unneeded, and welfare should be the last place where cuts should come from.

[The Liberated Territories]

...Labour?

One of the various Marxist parties?

psst: labour is not a left-wing alternative

I get my liberals confused.

[The Nihilistic view]

Not much one can do with no money to do it with.

The UK definitely has room to raise public spending and expand the public sector, and raise more taxes. Public spending is around 43-46% of GDP, and the tax burden is just 34-35% of GDP. So there is enough money. It's entirely a choice to cut spending. Austerity is unneeded, and welfare should be the last place where cuts should come from.

Good luck selling that to hardworking families currently struggling. "You're struggling with this cost of living crisis but we know we can squeeze a few more pounds out of you!" .

Anyway, more is currently spent on welfare than before 2010.

[Settrah]

I never saw Ukip as particularly libertarian, since it seems in favour of keeping the welfare state and a public healthcare. These don't exactly strike me as libertarian things.

The Conservatives, with their intent on tax reduction, are more libertarian than Ukip are. I think they fell back on their plans to privatize the NHS, otherwise that would probably count too.

As I said in a post earlier, UKIP are ready to sell their nan for votes.

Basically, smartie Nigel noticed that Labour is fragmented and he can get votes from the working class so he drastically changed his social and economic policies.

Before (-2012), UKIP was in favour of

• Total privatization of NHS
• Further privatization of pensions
• Private housing (not in favour of - but never announced intentions of building council houses)
• Removal of minimum wage for apprenticeships and halving of minimum wage for non-resident European citizens
• Making sure all allowances and benefits do not exceed 90% of the total of a minimum wage to not encourage nonproductivity
• A flat rate of income tax to encourage rich people and remove all tax loopholes
• Lowering of the Corporation tax
• Removal of environmental taxes, including the London Emissions

They were very libertarian, until they were struck by benefit voters who think UKIP is good for them, so they temporarily changed their policies to look nicer.

I guess, but then there was also a time Labour was actually democratic socialist, until it changed it's ideological platform into things like New Labour and Blue Labour, to steal Conservative votes. So it doesn't surprise me.

But yeah, I see what you mean.

[Britanno]

How will they pay for it? Labour are promising a balanced budget excluding capital project spend as opposed to the tory plan for a budget surplus in 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019. This gives them more room to play in spending.[/url]

But if they want spending cuts, then why have they opposed almost all the ones brought in by the Conservatives?

[Settrah]

One of the various Marxist parties?

Oh you mean the far left parties no one actually takes seriously, apart from students?

[The Nihilistic view]

How will they pay for it? Labour are promising a balanced budget excluding capital project spend as opposed to the tory plan for a budget surplus in 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019. This gives them more room to play in spending.[/url]

But if they want spending cuts, then why have they opposed almost all the ones brought in by the Conservatives?

Opposition for the sake of opposition. It's just party politics playing out. They might have done the same but if they publicly oppose the cuts they might win votes. It's the cynical side of Westminster, they all do it to some degree.

[Second Russian Federation]

If I were a Brit, I would vote for the Liberal Democrats. Their party has a balance of actually being able to hold power and supporting most of my opinions. It would be nicer to have an actual left-wing alternative, but hey, you can't have everything.

...Labour?

One of the various Marxist parties?

I said left-wing, not left-of-tories.

[Atlanticatia]

The UK definitely has room to raise public spending and expand the public sector, and raise more taxes. Public spending is around 43-46% of GDP, and the tax burden is just 34-35% of GDP. So there is enough money. It's entirely a choice to cut spending. Austerity is unneeded, and welfare should be the last place where cuts should come from.

Good luck selling that to hardworking families currently struggling. "You're struggling with this cost of living crisis but we know we can squeeze a few more pounds out of you!" .

Anyway, more is currently spent on welfare than before 2010.

Not if taxation is done progressively and hardworking families would benefit from more spending on social security, health, and education. For example, working families would get a far better value for their taxes, and a massive boost to their incomes, from things like free child care. Things like the bedroom tax, benefit cap, cuts to tax credits etc, are hurting struggling families much more.

[Settrah]

How will they pay for it? Labour are promising a balanced budget excluding capital project spend as opposed to the tory plan for a budget surplus in 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019. This gives them more room to play in spending.[/url]

But if they want spending cuts, then why have they opposed almost all the ones brought in by the Conservatives?

Labour have been doing this for a long time. That's essentially been their entire platform since 1992. 'A little bit like Conservatives, but not totally, just different enough'. This is why I find it tough to take Labour seriously at all anymore. They copy the Conservatives, and then edit what they feel like just out of spite, and then argue. It's basically devil's advocate at this point. I admit the Conservatives aren't perfect, but at least they know what they want. I can't say the same for Labour.

[Britanno]

Opposition for the sake of opposition. It's just party politics playing out. They might have done the same but if they publicly oppose the cuts they might win votes. It's the cynical side of Westminster, they all do it to some degree.

Apart from UKIP of course.
*nods*

[Alyakia]

How will they pay for it? Labour are promising a balanced budget excluding capital project spend as opposed to the tory plan for a budget surplus in 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019. This gives them more room to play in spending.[/url]

But if they want spending cuts, then why have they opposed almost all the ones brought in by the Conservatives?

if reagan is going to raise taxes why does he say he's not???

[Southern Hampshire]

As I said in a post earlier, UKIP are ready to sell their nan for votes.

Basically, smartie Nigel noticed that Labour is fragmented and he can get votes from the working class so he drastically changed his social and economic policies.

Before (-2012), UKIP was in favour of

• Total privatization of NHS
• Further privatization of pensions
• Private housing (not in favour of - but never announced intentions of building council houses)
• Removal of minimum wage for apprenticeships and halving of minimum wage for non-resident European citizens
• Making sure all allowances and benefits do not exceed 90% of the total of a minimum wage to not encourage nonproductivity
• A flat rate of income tax to encourage rich people and remove all tax loopholes
• Lowering of the Corporation tax
• Removal of environmental taxes, including the London Emissions

They were very libertarian, until they were struck by benefit voters who think UKIP is good for them, so they temporarily changed their policies to look nicer.

Curious, what's the deal with the housing market in the UK?

Basically, London and South East England (most sought after areas, also most jobs and highest infrastructure) now has the highest ever average house prices ($560k dollars and $448k dollars respectively) while a new record of half a million homes are worth more than 1 million pounds ($1.4 mil / although now it's 560k homes) and house prices in London are increasing by an average of 1300 pounds per week.

House prices are now basically higher than the 2008 crash which caused it all and rising at it's highest rate ever (including the 70s property boom which caused a massive crash)

The affordability of those houses are drastically falling, with London house prices now being x8 above the average income, meaning people would need to stop spending for 8 years in order to buy a house. DEPOSITS have now passed the 100 thousand pounds mark ($140k) which is also the average house price in Belgium. An entire house =/= Deposit for mortgage.

http://www.newstatesman.com/sites/default/files/images/Ed%20Graph%204.jpg