I voted Lib Dem too.

Lib Dem. Voted by post in Woodspring.


Lib Dems take Cambridge from Anne Campbell. w00t etc.

Not wanting to sound like i was on some form of bandwagon...but i vote Lib Dem too

Labour held my ward im sad to say but by a major drop, which is good. But id rather Labour is back in than the hate monger Torries.

Saying that, my friend the MP got back in and he's a Torrie...but a nice one.

My first ever general election, and i went for Lib Dem too...

Labour

Didn't vote but prolly would have gone for Lib Dem

Didn't vote; wasn't registered - ain't it a pain when no-one sends you any of the relevant paperwork in the post?

I suppose I could've registered another way but I know sweet FA about the sacred voting rituals and as a (would-be) first-timer, it's all a tad, um, scary...

I get the difference between Labour and Torries/Conservatives. But what's the difference between Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Are they farther to the left than Labour? Do they have some particular issue (the war in Iraq maybe) that got them so much support in this election? I'm about to listen to the BBC on the radio (the public radio station in New York airs a one-hour BBC news broadcast each morning) to get the latest on the election. But I don't know how to sort out the positions of these parties.

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by Sandia
I get the difference between Labour and Torries/Conservatives. But what's the difference between Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Are they farther to the left than Labour? Do they have some particular issue (the war in Iraq maybe) that got them so much support in this election?

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It's difficult to classify the parties in this country in terms of 'left' and 'right' these days (Labour are not far off dead centre now - which is traditional Tory territory - as they realised a few years back that sticking to their ideals wasn't going to win them votes).

The Lib Dems' main policies are to scrap student tuition fees, oppose the war in Iraq and to raise income tax for people earning over £100,000.

The voting has been pretty tactical this year, with many people basically turning to the party which has the best chance of toppling Labour in their particular constituency. It's worked in nearly 50 seats. The main issue is probably Iraq, but there are other local issues such as crime, the NHS, immigration and higher education which will have played a part in some constituencies too.

Labour will still have a majority, but Blair (if he stays as leader) will not be able to be anywhere near as gung ho as he has been, because he knows that Labour could well be out in 4/5 years if they mess up again this term.

I voted on Monday, for Plaid Cymru. Unfortunately, mine was the seat that Plaid lost to the Lib Dems :'(

After umming and ahhing every day throughout the election I finally decided I could not with could concious vote for a party that invades countries without provocation and without the invitation of the people of that country. Nor one that does not believe in the right to trial by jury, presumption of innocence, that is comfortable about telling lies in manifestos, and believes the ability to pay should affect whether an individual goes onto to higher education and that student debt is a good thing. And that councils should not be mandated to set aside land for the traveller community. Despite those being the policies of the party I am a member of.

So I votes Lib Dem.

Unfortunately, the impact was that in my Ward it was just about a three horse race, with the Tories just edging it: CON 15557, LAB 15082 and LIB 10619. With Labour losing the seat. Though local politics and the sheer insanity of the previous Labout MP (who was deselected anyway) probably not helping things. At least we don't have a Tory government though, the only outcome that would have been worse than a Labour landslide.

Highlight of the night: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Paxman. Lowlight of today: Howard resigning as leader - means the Tories might actually stand a chance next time.

As for parties, I'd disagree with the centre being Tory ground. With the exeption of the MacMillan (Centre) and Thatcher (Right) governments, Tories are Centre Right. Traditionally, the Liberals/Liberal Democrats are dead Centre, and Labour varies from Centre Left to Left.

What has thrown all of that out of kilter is that New Labour hasn't just moved into the Centre, but is actually on the Centre Right (free market with minor constraints, partial privatisation, social authoritarianism, etc). The tories have failed to move back to the Centre Right and therefore have been frozen at about 32% of the vote in the last three elections. The Lib Dems have an identity crisis because they are used to being between the two and now find themselves as the most left wing party. Consequently those who can see mileage in being Centre Left (or who are in Labour - Liberal marginal constituancies) advocate taxing the higher earners, increase public spending, scrapping tuition fees and opposition to the Iraq Invasion. While others (usally in Liberal-Conservative marginal) feel they need to keep their Central position, and posibly move slightly to the right and set themselves up as the Real Alternative - so policies on increasing Bobbies on the beat, fiscal prudence and immigration quotas.

Which all leaves aside the internal crisis within the labour party, trying to justify policies they would have opposed in opposition...

Lib Dem partially because they are the only major party who oppose ID Cards.

lib dem. Though the conservative guy got in here. That was no surprise, he's been doing it for 18years now. People round my area don't like much change lol

I always suspected a lot of T21'ers were a bunch of Lib Dem supporters Good on you all.

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by DJ Billy
(quotes)

The main issue is probably Iraq, but there are other local issues such as crime, the NHS, immigration and higher education which will have played a part in some constituencies too.

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Despite Iraq, which I wasn't too happy about, I'm a general Lib Dem supporter for the simple reason they seem to be the most straight talking party. They didn't choose negative tactics for their campaigning and they don't seem to go for the popularist angle. They've always struck me as trust worthy and level headed. I like that.

Green Party.

I would have voted Lib Dem but I have MAJOR issues with a couple of Lib Dem individuals so would never vote for them.

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by JtB
Lib Dem partially because they are the only major party who oppose ID Cards.

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Oh yeah, and that too! Good point. I would fairly seriously consider not living in the UK if they bring in compulsory ID cards. I find the idea of owning a supermarket loyalty card disgusting enough as it is, and at least I get a choice.

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by Kneon Light
Green Party.

I would have voted Lib Dem but I have MAJOR issues with a couple of Lib Dem individuals so would never vote for them.

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Oh do tell.

I'm not usually a Lib Dem supporter. (I vote Green in council elections.) Lib Dems got my cross partly because it was a Lib-Lab marginal, and I really wanted to play my miniscule part in upsetting the Teflon One, and partly because I'm not quite convinced on the Greens as a national party yet. They recently had their drugs spokesman busted for growing pot: talk about living your work.