Election

[fibifooz]

When I saw Michael Howard do the ups and down on pmq, it really got me thinking about what the Labour government have put us through. Until then I really didn't give the election much thought and just thought, oh well better the devil you know, but now I'm not so sure and I may well vote for the Conservatives. What do other ABer's think please?

[flashpig]

I would congratulate yourself or getting interested, apathy is so appealing. If you agree with their ideas then vote for them. If you see the pros outweighing cons vote for them. Just beware the fact that politicians are despicable sophists and that pmq really just displays the arguing and persuasive capacity of the politician in question.

[Quizmonster]

The problem with the ups'n'downs pantomime, Fibifooz, is that several were false and several more half-truths at best.

Here's an example..."Take-home pay down!" referred to the findings of one financial institution - which has almost invariably got its sums wrong. They claimed that average pay had fallen from �409.00 per week to �408.00 per week over a specific period.  So, some people are about 1/3rd of a pint worse off a week.Big deal!

They also pointed out that incomes of the poorest in our society had risen over the same period. So, Howard could as easily have shouted "Incomes for the poorest up!" (The brain-dead on the benches behind him would doubtless have cheered him to the rafters, too! No doubt you noticed that he did no such thing.)

If a performance such as this influences your vote, good luck to you.

[Hippy]

Don't forget that Oppositions never win elections, Governments lose them.

The Tories are a pitiful rump now because when they were in Government they abused their power to such an extent that not only did some of their number get sent to prison, but also the scales fell from the eyes of even their most diehard supporters.

Tory governments have almost invariably been on the side of big business, lining their own pockets at the expense of the ordinary folk. Traditionally, the "Whigs" or liberally minded politicos have tried to reverse this and we have the Liberal Social Democratic (hic!) Party and the New Laborious (teeth, grin, meaingful pause)Party now fulfilling this function. You choose, but be not dazzled by their pyrotechnics, just keep in mind the leopard and its spots.

My support goes to the Let's Have a Party Party! (Hhaha!)

[Robinia]

I have to say that it caught my attention too fibifooz but only because I thought it was cringingly theatrical.

[fibifooz]

You're right Hippy, we're here in this position now because of what the previous Conservative government did to the country, but I can't vote for the Liberal democrats, they just don't "do it for me", and as for Tony Blaire - well - perhaps I'll just go back to being indifferent. They all say one thing and do the complete opposite when they get into power.

[Dom Tuk]

Just remembered QM the pmqs did not discuss the Tory sacking, or did it as i turned off after the Lib Dems were given the stage. However i guess these shenanigans have minimal effect on the election results as very few people actually see pmqs, someone here must have the figures for average viewing figures.

[Gaynorvj]

U must be a wee young person to think like that 'what the labour government has put us through'.

Check your facts and c what the tory government did when they were last in power.  You would soon change your style of thinking.

As they say, as they say a leopard  and their spots.

If you are earning big bucks, big big bucks, then got ahead do wot ure heart tels you.

But if you are working class, trying to earn a decent living, then think again.

Dont want to influence your decision like, but pray, pray and pray again that the country dont turn blue.

[Quizmonster]

Dom, almost the last of the questions was from an MP who said Howard had "something of the Flight about him". So, that disgraceful episode did not pass totally unnoticed!

[luckyboy]

A lot of the claims he made were based on dubious statistics by partisan thinktanks..take crime for instance he selectively quoted a official figure about clean up rates which show a slight fall...carefully omitting the more important one about the general rate of crime which showed a drop.. as well he knew.

Always beware of politicians of whichever party, banding about statistics and surveys to try and undermine the other..and if you are going to vote i'd advise you to avoid the rhetoric and tub thumping oratory and read their manifestos..and then if you agree with whatever one vote accordingly.

[mike1222]

They all use figures and statistics for their own ends. I think it was Churchill who said, "There are lies, damn lies and then there are statistics"  Personally I think that all politicians are liars and say whatever they think will get them into power and onto the gravy train.  Again, personally, I would not vote for any of them!

[secretspirit]

Personally I'm worse off since Labour came into power compared to what I would have had under the Conservatives so I know who I'm voting for. I hope the public aren't fooled by an inoffensive budget this year into forgetting all the rubbish, eg hike in NI payments, that Labour have thrown at us. Plus none of the promises about class sizes have been kept and the NHS is as bad as ever - where's the improvement for all this extra funding?