Local and mayoral elections

[pap]

Today is election day. I have already been out and done my democratic duty, and got to vote for a local councillor and the directly elected Mayor of Liverpool. Anyone else voting today? Any predictions?

[keithd]

Democratic duty? Or democratic right?

 

I predict a low turn out. I predict Bozza Johnners will regain the Mayor of London position.

 

And I predict I will cast a vote on the way to the pub.

[Thedelldays]

Boris for London

[Saintandy666]

No election in my ward today. But promised I would go with my girlfriend to vote, which I shall be doing in a minute.

 

Labour will sweep councils. Lib Dems will hold up in south and be decimated in the north, but not as bad as last year. Tories to be whipped badly. As for London, I think it will be closely than people anticipate.

[dune]

[dune]

No election in my ward today. But promised I would go with my girlfriend to vote, which I shall be doing in a minute.

 

Labour will sweep councils. Lib Dems will hold up in south and be decimated in the north, but not as bad as last year. Tories to be whipped badly. As for London, I think it will be closely than people anticipate.

 

I doubt that very much. Portsmouth and Milton Keynes will go back to the Tories. The interesting aspect is going to be the performance of the UKIP. If they gain 30+ seats they'll get some good publicity and it'll provide a springboard for future growth.

[pap]

It's going to be interesting to see who comes away with what, but I'm looking forward to seeing the popular vote. I think both Lib Dems and Tories are going to get a bloody nose, with the Labour/UKIP vote share increasing significantly.

[dune]

It's going to be interesting to see who comes away with what, but I'm looking forward to seeing the popular vote. I think both Lib Dems and Tories are going to get a bloody nose, with the Labour/UKIP vote share increasing significantly.

 

500 gains for Labour is a bad night for them given the circumstances. I can't see them making the 900 gains required to make it a good night for them.

[Saintandy666]

500 gains for Labour is a bad night for them given the circumstances. I can't see them making the 900 gains required to make it a good night for them.

 

Most independent analysts have been saying 700 is a good night. I suspect the 900 figure from your paper is biased.

[pap]

500 gains for Labour is a bad night for them given the circumstances. I can't see them making the 900 gains required to make it a good night for them.

 

Dunno. You may be right, but a lot has changed on the electoral landscape since we last went to the polls. Crap budget, government riven with corruption, rising unemployment and still in recession.

[Yeovil Saint]

Surprised that no-ones mentioned Southampton yet. Currently the council consists of 26 Conservatives, 19 Labour and 3 Lib Dems, but the Conservatives will be defending 15 seats and Labour merely 2 as the Tory landslide of 2008 all complete their terms. A repeat of the 2011 results* would see Richard Williams become the new leader of Southampton City Council with a decent majority. But will the Tory councillors first elected in 2008 have built up enough of a personal vote to overcome the national swing against them.

 

* 2011 results were Labour won 10 wards (Bargate, Bevois, Bitterne, Coxford, Millbrook, Redbridge, Peartree, Shirley, Sholing, Woolston), Conservatives won 6 wards (Bassett, Bitterne Park, Freemantle, Harefield, Portswood, Swaythling)

[Whitey Grandad]

Of course, Pap, I have done my little bit this morning. It's just as well that we live in different constituencies or your vote and mine might cancel each other out.

[SuperMikey]

I've taken the decision not to vote today. It'll be interesting to see how the results turn out though, especially in terms of gains for the smaller parties like UKIP, Greens, Respect etc.

[dune]

Surprised that no-ones mentioned Southampton yet. Currently the council consists of 26 Conservatives, 19 Labour and 3 Lib Dems, but the Conservatives will be defending 15 seats and Labour merely 2 as the Tory landslide of 2008 all complete their terms. A repeat of the 2011 results* would see Richard Williams become the new leader of Southampton City Council with a decent majority. But will the Tory councillors first elected in 2008 have built up enough of a personal vote to overcome the national swing against them.

 

* 2011 results were Labour won 10 wards (Bargate, Bevois, Bitterne, Coxford, Millbrook, Redbridge, Peartree, Shirley, Sholing, Woolston), Conservatives won 6 wards (Bassett, Bitterne Park, Freemantle, Harefield, Portswood, Swaythling)

 

The Tories will ship votes not only to Labour but also to UKIP. It's gonna be a bleak night in Con v Lab areas, but in Con v Lib areas it will be a better night as no-one likes the wishy washy Liberals.

[dune]

I've taken the decision not to vote today. It'll be interesting to see how the results turn out though, especially in terms of gains for the smaller parties like UKIP, Greens, Respect etc.

 

You lazy little runt.

[hypochondriac]

I voted Labour for the first time in years and it was for specific and selfish reasons. In most other circumstances I would be voting UKIP or Tory. Won't be affecting me for a while anyway after next week

[hypochondriac]

But I got my girlfriend in London to vote for Boris

[Jillyanne]

Not sure if the Liberal massive in Beastleigh will win agin with My Huhne's situation?

[SuperMikey]

You lazy little runt.

 

There's nobody that I want to vote for at this moment in time. When that changes, I will cast my vote.

 

Tories - Highly unlikeable, alienating.

Labour - Leadership not convincing and more austere measures than Tories for the economy.

Lib Dems - No explanation needed really.

UKIP - One-trick ponies.

Greens - Probably the party I would be most likely to vote for atm, but they lack strong characters and I don't agree with their policy on nuclear power.

[pap]

Of course, Pap, I have done my little bit this morning. It's just as well that we live in different constituencies or your vote and mine might cancel each other out.

 

I change my vote all the time, so perhaps not.

 

Anyway, the mayoral election wasn't FPTP

[Whitey Grandad]

I change my vote all the time, so perhaps not.

 

Anyway, the mayoral election wasn't FPTP

Fit and Proper Tested Person?

[Whitey Grandad]

Not sure if the Liberal massive in Beastleigh will win agin with My Huhne's situation?

 

More likely to be the idiotic decision to move the Council Offices back into the Town Centre.

[pedg]

At least here in Cambridge the tories are at no risk of losing any seats, on the grounds they don't have any at the moment.

[hypochondriac]

There's nobody that I want to vote for at this moment in time. When that changes, I will cast my vote.

 

Tories - Highly unlikeable, alienating.

Labour - Leadership not convincing and more austere measures than Tories for the economy.

Lib Dems - No explanation needed really.

UKIP - One-trick ponies.

Greens - Probably the party I would be most likely to vote for atm, but they lack strong characters and I don't agree with their policy on nuclear power.

 

Not voting is poor.

[solentstars]

I predict a poor turnout and anyway the voting system we have is encourages it only good for Tory or labour diehards.

 

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[trousers]

Not voting is poor.

 

I disagree. Voting for someone for the sake of voting....now that's poor.

[hypochondriac]

I disagree. Voting for someone for the sake of voting....now that's poor.

 

My view is that you vote for the person most closely aligned to your beliefs (or if there are certain policies you believe in over other) or you do something yourself like stand as a candidate or put someone forward to affect change. Not voting doesn't actually achieve anything.

[trousers]

My view is that you vote for the person most closely aligned to your beliefs (or if there are certain policies you believe in over other) or you do something yourself like stand as a candidate or put someone forward to affect change. Not voting doesn't actually achieve anything.

 

I disagree. A decision not to vote for any of the candidates (based on measured consideration of the options) sends out a clear message to those who solicit our vote.

 

As it happens, I think voting should be compulsory but with a 'none of the above' option on the ballot paper.

 

And the good thing about having different opinions on this is than neither of us is right or wrong :-)

[Saintandy666]

There's nobody that I want to vote for at this moment in time. When that changes, I will cast my vote.

 

Tories - Highly unlikeable, alienating.

Labour - Leadership not convincing and more austere measures than Tories for the economy.

Lib Dems - No explanation needed really.

UKIP - One-trick ponies.

Greens - Probably the party I would be most likely to vote for atm, but they lack strong characters and I don't agree with their policy on nuclear power.

 

Go spoil your ballot then!

[CB Saint]

I disagree. A decision not to vote for any of the candidates (based on measured consideration of the options) sends out a clear message to those who solicit our vote.

 

As it happens, I think voting should be compulsory but with a 'none of the above' option on the ballot paper.

 

And the good thing about having different opinions on this is than neither of us is right or wrong :-)

 

You been watching brewsters millions again?

[hypochondriac]

I disagree. A decision not to vote for any of the candidates (based on measured consideration of the options) sends out a clear message to those who solicit our vote.

 

As it happens, I think voting should be compulsory but with a 'none of the above' option on the ballot paper.

 

And the good thing about having different opinions on this is than neither of us is right or wrong :-)

 

But how do you then differentiate between someone who has made a conscious decision not to vote and someone who cannot be bothered or who forgets?

[CB Saint]

You could purposely spoil the ballot paper, I.e. tick them all

[Saintandy666]

You could purposely spoil the ballot paper, I.e. tick them all

 

Or write in an extra box 'None of the above' and tick that.

[dune]

Are you getting excited Andy? QT special on in a bit.

[pedg]

So if there was a "None of the above" and lots of people ticked it would anything change?

[Saintandy666]

Are you getting excited Andy? QT special on in a bit.

 

I'm stoked. Staying up all night.

[Saintandy666]

So if there was a "None of the above" and lots of people ticked it would anything change?

 

I've always wondered how many people would tick it if it was there.

[solentstars]

Or write in an extra box 'None of the above' and tick that.

 

I think they say its a spoilt ballot but I think most people have given up on politics has its not representive of how the nation votes in reality with a outdated voting system and no real power for local councils.

 

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[Saintandy666]

I think they say its a spoilt ballot but I think most people have given up on politics has its not representive of how the nation votes in reality with a outdated voting system and no real power for local councils.

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

 

Yep, what I said does count as a spoilt ballot, but I just thought it was a better way of doing it than ticking all the boxes

 

And I agree with you. FPTP needs to go. I think AMS, STV and SV all need to be looked at for the national system.

[JPTCount]

there wasn't an independent standing in my ward so i couldn't be bothered

 

the coalition government have only created apathy at the polls, as three party politics have been whittled down to two party politics

[Saintandy666]

Warsi first gaff of the night saying there is an overlap between UKIP and the BNP, and then Dimbleby pointing out many ex-Tories are now UKIP. Woops.

[SuperMikey]

Not voting is poor.

 

I voted in the general election, and also in the local elections last year. However nobody has persuaded me to vote for them this year, so why should I bother?

 

Like Trousers said, voting just for the sake of voting is poor. Each vote cast should be a vote earned by politicians who have pretty much screwed over most people in my age bracket in the last few years anyway. Going to be a low turnout this year.

[Saintandy666]

Not good for Lib Dems, and first indications for Ken in London not very good either. Early days though.

[Yeovil Saint]

Southampton City Council's gone red, Labour needed six gains on the 2008 elections, at the moment they have gained Bargate, Bitterne, Coxford, Freemantle, Peartree, Sholing and picked up the Peartree by-election (caused by a Lib Dem elected in 2010 resigning). That gives Labour 25 seats, Tories 15 seats, Lib Dems 2 seats with 6 results still to come.

[Saintandy666]

Lib Dems doing well in Eastleigh:

 

http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/the-council/elections-and-voting/borough-elections/2012-borough-election-results.aspx

[pap]

Listening to the Today Programme. It has not been a great night for the Coalition. Worst election results ever for the Lib Dems, apparently. Fewer than 3000 councillors left nationally.

[trousers]

But how do you then differentiate between someone who has made a conscious decision not to vote and someone who cannot be bothered or who forgets?

 

Fair point. There's no perfect solution I guess. The same question applies the other way around....when you count the votes currently, how do you differentiate between those who really really liked each candidate versus those who voted through a sense of civil duty for the person they disliked least?

[Joesaint]

Labour in;

 

Guess this this means way more tax to help them pay for stuff that I could not care about. Boo

[solentstars]

Southampton City Council's gone red, Labour needed six gains on the 2008 elections, at the moment they have gained Bargate, Bitterne, Coxford, Freemantle, Peartree, Sholing and picked up the Peartree by-election (caused by a Lib Dem elected in 2010 resigning). That gives Labour 25 seats, Tories 15 seats, Lib Dems 2 seats with 6 results still to come.

 

Not suprised its always been a labour city most of the time a.d always when saints get promted.

 

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[Scummer]

Worst election results ever for the Lib Dems, apparently. Fewer than 3000 councillors left nationally.

 

They've done really well in Portsmouth though. Held 8 seats and gained 3, Conservatives lost 5 and held 3, Labour won a couple.