Upcoming PM elections...

[Justine+David 218]

Anyone following that? When I was in London last week, I got the book British Politics for Dummies and have been thumbing through it--pretty fascinating.

I found it most striking that the campaigning is very short (a few weeks) and there's no set time for the elections; just has to be done by a certain date (according to wikipedia, by June 3rd, 2010). Of course, that probably means that we Americans spend way too much money on our own election campaigns that last for a good 6 months.

David's of the mind that the UK will end up with a hung Parliament (nobody has 51% majority) at best case-scenario and at worst, a Conservative majority (well, depending on your political views ) Although David says that the good thing about having the Conservatives in control would be that the pound will probably go up and we'll have mor emoney for our wedding when he transfers his money over

What are other people's thoughts on the upcoming election? Are you a Lib Democrat, Labour, Conservative, Independent, etc? For those of you here in the U.S., how does the overseas balloting work for you? Is it fairly painless? Does Gordon Brown have a chance at all?

May I also venture to say that I think it's highly entertaining to watch the MPs debate? David showed me a couple of youtube vidoes and it was like watching a wrestling match without the physical contact! Complete with jeers and cheers from the audience On the other hand, he found our Congress to be hilarious when we made a huge deal out of one of the house representatives call out, "You lie!" to Obama during one of the health care debates and we even made a formal rebuke of the rep for bad behavior.

[nickm 1]

I dont follow politics.. i have a dim view of the government, after all the recent things i am convinced they are all just pretty much liscensed criminals. All that will happen in the next election is we will be trading one inssuferable busy body and money grabbing liar for the next.

I remember when blair quit and brown took over, i was in America and one of the Americans i was working with said "so what do you think of your new prime minister". To which i answered "we have a new prime minister".

[Pooky 3,795]

I found it most striking that the campaigning is very short (a few weeks) and there's no set time for the elections; just has to be done by a certain date (according to wikipedia, by June 3rd, 2010). Of course, that probably means that we Americans spend way too much money on our own election campaigns that last for a good 6 months.

It's rather telling that there is no election date yet in the UK. If we kept to the same schedule as the USA, we'd have been campaigning for the last 21 months and would be ramping up for the final stretch, a 3 month media blast with paid messages everywhere.

Whereas in the UK, campaigning last at most 6 weeks, with the entire country bored with it and back to watching Eastenders and/or Corrie after the first couple of weeks, terminal apathy setting in with 2 weeks to go and a voter turnout that means even if the total number of voters voted for the same party it would still represent a distinct minority of the country.

Then, 5 minutes after it was all over, everything would go back to normal for another 4-5 years.

[thesnowman 1]

I have been trying to keep up with it on the bbc website, dont know if I will do an overseas vote. I dont like Brown (even though I am Scottish, he comes off as a miserable git), but since I am not in the UK I haven't formulated an opinion on whether I could vote Tory. I voted twice for Blair, but wouldn't describe myself as a Labour supporter. I will keep an eye on it.

I must say I enjoyed the presidential election last year even though I couldn't vote in it, I just seemed that everyone gets hyped up for it and more involved. Although it goes on for far to long and the amount of money being spent is ridiculous. I was actually in Chicago on business on election day and made my way up to Grant park where Obama had his celebration, the place was electric.

I do wish they would do a presidential style debate in the UK, I found them engrossing.

[SunDrop 59]

made my way up to Grant park where Obama had his celebration, the place was electric.

I was a student in London when Tony Blair won in '97. His celebrations were just over the road from my halls of residence and although I didn't vote Labour (I'm Lib Dem) it was a truly amazing experience witnessing what can only be described as a general feeling of 'liberation' from nearly 20 years of Tory governing.

I don't think the approaches to elections are remotely comparable because we don't vote for an individual, but rather the local party representative (Member of Parliament).

I honestly doubt Labour will win this election. But if they do, I don't think Gordon Brown will last long as leader of the party. I dread to think that the Tories will be back again but can't really see any alternative. I vote Lib Dem, not because I believe they have a hope in hell of ever winning a general election but because my local Lib Dem MPs are very good at what they do on a local level.

In terms of corruption and scandal, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but give me a Tory scandal any day. At least they were all about the moral fabric of their MPs (cottaging in London parks, or dangerous liaisons between Cabinet Ministers and the PM) rather than leeching money from their own people in the guise of 'expenses' and whatever the hell they're all resigning for at the moment.

If there was one radical change I would make, I'd force the party to institute a maximum term to leadership. No more Mrs. Thatchers, thanks. I'll never forgive that woman for putting sales tax (VAT) on women's sanitary products - applied to items that are considered a 'luxury'. Oh, and building all those hideous concrete slab high rise tower blocks that blight our social housing stock and skylines.

[Gemmie 142]

Whereas in the UK, campaigning last at most 6 weeks, with the entire country bored with it and back to watching Eastenders and/or Corrie after the first couple of weeks, terminal apathy setting in with 2 weeks to go and a voter turnout that means even if the total number of voters voted for the same party it would still represent a distinct minority of the country.

I know, I have to admit, even though I wish more people cared about the UK elections (only one of my friends knows about politics which I think is a tragedy), I found the Presidential election irritating after a while. I was just like "why are we getting so much advertising for American politics when people here barely know enough of our own?" Towards the end, I just wanted it to be over.

I'm going to keep my eye on it. At the moment, I don't know who I would vote for. My instincts say do NOT elect the Torys but I read an interview with David Cameron the other day and he described a lot of things that actually weren't that awful - under his "compassionate Conservative" union - while other parts of it was just way too idealistic. I know that Gordon Brown has done a lot of damage but saying that, I know people that ###### non-stop about Labour, but will still vote them in because they don't research the opposing sides.

[Pooky 3,795]

I know, I have to admit, even though I wish more people cared about the UK elections (only one of my friends knows about politics which I think is a tragedy), I found the Presidential election irritating after a while. I was just like "why are we getting so much advertising for American politics when people here barely know enough of our own?" Towards the end, I just wanted it to be over.

I'm going to keep my eye on it. At the moment, I don't know who I would vote for. My instincts say do NOT elect the Torys but I read an interview with David Cameron the other day and he described a lot of things that actually weren't that awful - under his "compassionate Conservative" union - while other parts of it was just way too idealistic. I know that Gordon Brown has done a lot of damage but saying that, I know people that ###### non-stop about Labour, but will still vote them in because they don't research the opposing sides.

Vote MONSTER RAVING LOONY PARTY !!!!!

[Justine+David 218]

whoo!! Gordon Brown saw the Queen on April 6th and asked to dissolve the government and elections will take place in early May. I am so excited for this! It'll be really interesting to follow the media on campaigning...

[Gemmie 142]

I posted about the elections of Facebook to see who my Friends were voting for.. I got three joke responses. I then got into a debate about why it's important to know about politics, even just a little, and important to vote. Only one person on my list gave me agreement and a genuine answer. I hate that no one cares in my generation (and some of them were generations above).

[NotworkSte 19]

I think the Lib Dems will do well this time around, and although will not take number 2 place, by weight will end up being more of an influence. Not a LD supporter at all (though got a friend who has stood, and is standing as a candidate).

As a member of the Conservatives, I have to say, the Blair government was a breath of fresh air, but the handover to Brown and his subsequent handling (as well as some serious issues i have about the man himself) means I reckon the Tories will get in. The polls are suggesting it will be close, but I think Labour is going to get a pasting.

As mentioned above, and I think this would be the case if Labour get back in, Brown may not last too long, he's a disaster zone hated by a large part of his own party.

Might I just add as well, as good as Blair was, I loved the PMQ battles between him and William Hague where Hague used to sock it to him every time. Hague, misunderstood political genius

[Pooky 3,795]

I do wish they would do a presidential style debate in the UK, I found them engrossing.

Tony Blair completely chickened out of a one-on-one debate with William Hague in the run-up to the 2001 Election, because he knew that Hague would shred him in an open debate. Whether you like him, or not, William Hague is a seriously skilled debater, whereas Tony Blair was a soundbite politician who needed someone (Alistair Campbell) to prepare his lines.

Might I just add as well, as good as Blair was, I loved the PMQ battles between him and William Hague where Hague used to sock it to him every time. Hague, misunderstood political genius

No question about it - bald but brilliant

[Darnell 8,478]

The PM is not elected to be PM - ie - there's no 'race' for the PM seat.

There's a race for the MP seats, though. I think it's great that it's TIME for another run, you betcha.

Will there be a clear victor in the percentages, though, enough for a 'ruling party' to 'seat' a Prime Minister? Hard to say, with all of the noise coming in.

re: the open debates -

ya, I cut my teeth learning debate tactics whilst watching the PM questions on the telly. I can only imagine an open debate between two candidates to be at least 200 percent more vitriolic

GoGoGadget PodiumKnockers !

[Gemmie 142]

It's funny how Blair was seen as the devil when he was PM, and now Brown has taken over, he's seen as even worse - and people are wanting Blair back. I went many years not liking him at all (because of his policies on immigration, the lack of crime control, and the war) but I slowly changed my mind towards 2008.

Btw, does anyone know how we're able to vote from America?

[Justine+David 218]

The PM is not elected to be PM - ie - there's no 'race' for the PM seat.

There's a race for the MP seats, though. I think it's great that it's TIME for another run, you betcha.

Will there be a clear victor in the percentages, though, enough for a 'ruling party' to 'seat' a Prime Minister? Hard to say, with all of the noise coming in.

re: the open debates -

ya, I cut my teeth learning debate tactics whilst watching the PM questions on the telly. I can only imagine an open debate between two candidates to be at least 200 percent more vitriolic

GoGoGadget PodiumKnockers !

You're right, that's what I meant

What do you guys think about the SNP (Scottish national party) getting all upset about not being included in the debates over the next few days and threatening to not show them on Scottish TV? I was just there visiting David and we looked through a few of their local newspapers in Aviemore, they sounded pretty upset!

I'm a little torn on this one...I even think it might be too much to have a 3-way debate (Labour vs Conservative vs Lib Dems). In the presidential election, the third party candidate was refused by McCain and Obama to join the debate, largely I suspect because they didn't want to detract voters from their parties...and since it was obvious that no third party candidate would ever win, it seemed a little useless.

The lib dems seem to have quite a bigger footing though, so maybe it's not as bad. Also: David was talking about how many Scots (along with the SNP) are after independence and that it could be devastating to the Labour party because most of the Labour party votes are *in* Scotland, whereas England tends to be more Conservative...

Side note: David predicts that if Conservative wins, that the exchange rate for UK-US will go up favorably, although if they end up with a hung-party it will probably go down...making us anxious because he's transferring his savings over here for wedding expenses and even $0.20 on the dollar could cost us a few thousand pounds either way. eek!

I'm hoping that the debates will go on youtube although with our luck youtube won't let Americans view it...like we can't view the BBC

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

we did have a 3-way debate in this country back in 1992, when Ross Perot ran for president. I still have fond memories of that SNL parody sketch.

I believe analysts are predicting some volatility for the pound in the weeks coming up to the election, especially if there is a hung parliament but it's expected to settle in at about 1.60