Local Election Thread

[ScottishJohn]

Because many places are going to the polls today, I thought a thread might be in order.

We are not voting, but I always take an interest.

How important do you think local elections are? What local issues are important to you?

 

[Allister]

I was going to vote but annoyingly my voting/polling card thingy has not arrived in time.

 

[cyberlizard]

what disgusted me about the london mayoral elections, is that the dominant christian candidate had his election broadcast selectively edited by bbc and itv for discussing the proposed london megamosque (he has now taken them to the hight court to make them show the full version)..... more power to him.


Steve

 

[non-religious]

Yeah I voted......

I'm not really expecting anything particularly significant to change. If I lived in London I would be slightly concerned about who would win the big job there. Boris, running London? The thought fills me with dread and I don't even live there.

I'm very glad to see the government take such a beating, perhaps it will make a few people re-evaluate the way they treat the voting public. The word arrogance springs to mind. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Tories win the next election. I get the impression that people are fed up with New Labour and Brown just seems out of place.

I would like to see stronger law and order legislation. I personally think life should mean life. Persistent offenders should be locked up for a substantial amount of time. I would also welcome a complete over-haul of the benefits system. People really are taking the pee and getting a whole bunch of money for doing absolutely nothing. More pay for nurses, teachers, police etc... and less red tape.

I'm not sure if anyone can deliver those things, but if someone can get close then I will seriously consider giving them my vote

 

[Pogue]

I voted, and the Lib Dems have taken control of our city council from Labour, which I'm reasonably happy about. The Greens have gained a couple of seats.
What worries me, and what makes this election quite important to me, is that the BNP did well overall, especially in Rotherham, which is close by. It makes me angry that they got more votes than the Green Party in basically every ward they stood in, and I'm seriously worried about the future of this country when we have so many people who would vote, and have voted, for this racist organisation. I've never felt genuinely scared for the future of my country like this before. Reading various internet comments, it seems like lots of people don't agree with everything on their manifestro, but still vote for them. It almost makes me wish that the Conservatives would take a strong stance on immigration. It wouldn't be a stance I'd agree with, but it might at least attract voters away from the BNP.

 

[non-religious]

I agree Pogue

I used to think that the BNP vote was merely a protest vote against the government and the other parties as opposed to really believing in their policies. Now, I tend to think that people genuingly are concerned about the way in which they see their communities changing. This underlying racism, has always been there and is now, once again, starting to rear it's ugly head.

Having said that, democracy entitles people to vote for who ever they want, even when it's a repugnant hate-filled organisation like the BNP. If we see what's currently happening in Zimbabwe at the moment and compare the way democracy works there, I'm sure we can agree that at least over here, we get our chance to voice our opinion without the risk of loss of life or torture.

The BNP will not gain mainstream, wide support. They will always be a fringe party attracting little Englanders. However in those places like Rotherham, they have my deepest sympathy and I pray that good, compassionate and tolerant people take a stand against this result and stay strong.

 

[Strong in Him]

I have to admit I didn't vote this year. The Lib Dems weren't standing in my area and the only person I could have voted for was the UKIP person.
But as I know nothing about the party, and probably wouldn't look twice at them if the Lib dems had had a candidate, my vote would still have been wasted whether I cast it or not.

Besides, with 36 councillors in the council, the Tories were never going to be routed.