The next election, and YOU...

[sp1814]

This question is NOT based on any current news story - but as the News section has more politically aware posters (AOG, New Judge, Youngmafbog, modeller, bazwillrun, Gromit, em10, naomi24, Zeuhl, Jake-the-Peg etc), I think this forum fits...

On current performance, who do you think is likely to win the next election?

This question comes from a conversation I had a work earlier today...I've never voted for the conservative party, and probably never would - but if you said 'David or Ed' to me - David wins hands down.

I accept that this makes me shallow, but am I unique? Is anyone else swayed by leadership as opposed to the detail if policy?

Feel free to bash Labour and or the coalition - I'm genuinely interested to see whether personal traits have become as important in British politics as they obviously have in the US.

[Mick-Talbot]

Want

[Duncer]

My problem weren't with Prescotts' job, it was with the fact he was a hypocrite with his nose in the trough every bit as much as everyone else. I'd prefer not to have psoh boys, just erudite ones that I feel I can trust.

[Mick-Talbot]

And. ...off lol. (football distraction)

[DaisyNonna]

Don't know, don't care. Anyone who puts themself up to govern should not be put in a position to dominate the rest of us. Self-seeking, self- aggrandising, selfish money grubbers.

[Duncer]

....but apart from that......

[jno]

so anyone who wants the job shouldn't get it? That sounds like a recipe for good government.

[Duncer]

As decreed by Billy Connolly many moons ago jno.

I would lean more towards anyone who wants it as badly as some of the present incumbents should be debarred.

[China Doll]

I have absolutely no idea how I will vote in the next election. I'd never have thought I would say that. I think they are all utterly dreadful at the moment, I'm completely disillusioned, and agree that there are no strong leaders in any camp. It's actually a rather sorry state of affairs.

[Gromit]

I would never vote Conservative. I haven't voted Labour for 30 years. I have mainly voted LibDem or the Greens. I shall abandon the LibDems like I imagine millions of other voters will at the next election.

I think the next election will be hung. Labour will get more seats but will probably need a few LibDem votes to function effectively. It will probably work out worse than the present shower.

[Zeuhl]

I will vote for Number 6

[ABerrant]

How long a period of holding down a 'real job' to qualify?

I certainly think it should be longer than Baron Prescott's 2 years as a trainee chef and 8 years as a steward in the Merchant Navy. This initial 10 year period is swamped by his political career - 5 years union rep. (militant agitator), NUS; 2 years fulltime official, NUS; 40 years Labour MP; 2 years Peer of the Realm.

[emmie]

would not currently vote Labour, in fact ever, they are good at spending money we don't have, and then having the bear faced cheek to crib everytime the opposition try and get us back on track. I don't care much for politicians as a whole. We had men and women of real backbone once, not any more.

[emmie]

as to Scotland's independence it isn't really anything other than a bit more power devolved to Scotland. It isn't a total annexation of England. If Scotland want Independence then it should be the whole hog. Separate tax, NI, VAT, and so forth. Trouble is where does Scotland end and England begin. I believe we are better together than apart before any one moans it's another bash at Scotland.

[DTCwordfan]

"Centrists can be Communist Party" or Cornish Independence and, yes, we do have a party, "Mebyon Kernow."

[mushroom25]

if scotland were to secede from the union, they would have to apply to join the EU in their own right. at this time, the likelihood is that this would fail, simply because it would be seen to set a precedent for a number of rather trickier secessions, such as Euskadi and Catalunya.

[DTCwordfan]

Dont see why, mushroom; there is a model for the breakdown of Europe states to occur and to move to a neo-Machivellian style state system, with separation of Catalunya, the Basques (from both Spain and France), the division of Belgium, - indeed many predict the break up of Italy and even Germany, maybe not in our time, but that of our children.

[vodkancoke]

I would hate for us (Scotland) to get Independance. Alex Salmond scares me and he would be frightening with that much power.He is frightening enough at the moment. He is a walking Ego. And his Sturgeon side-kick is just as bad.I would be on the first flight to London!
As for the UK as a whole, David gets my vote every time.

[DTCwordfan]

He was a bit of a loon at University, vodka.......(St A)

[vodkancoke]

Well he obviously hasn't changed much! He is a complete plonker.

[emmie]

Alex Salmond a loon, surely not.