general election

[jeff]

Just after I powered down my computer I picked up a copy of the New Yorker, which had a 13 page article on Blair (mostly) and the elections. Major thrust (but not John Major) was that Blair's not as liked and trusted as much as before, largely because of the Iraq war and his relationship (portrayed as "poodle") with Bush, yet the LibDems and Conservatives haven't been able to much capitalise on it with a better candidate or message. Part of the difference between US and UK is that there aren't a lot of the divisive issues that exist in the US: positions on social issues like abortion, evolution, etc are not hot buttons (eg: there is no radical right or religious fundamentalism) so the party differences are less clear-cut.

Very good reporting, and vignettes of Blair trying to look comfortable, friendly and competent during tacky interviews no US President would subject himself too. Funny thing is that when the reporter interviewed Blair at length, he came off as intelligent, informed, reasonable and articulate. Boy, do I which I could say that about our Chief Executive

I guess you're in the throes of it now - so we'll soon see if he's reelected and by how much. One nice thing about the UK system is that it isn't dragged on forever like in the US.

[Gav]

I think I will be voting for Lib Dems. This shocks me more than it will other people. I come from a good socialist family. Both my father and mother are ex-union officials and we come from traditional Labour strongholds.

However, New Labour is not Labour. It is not the party I voted in and it is not making the changes to the UK I want to see. I would vote SNP but at the next election I want to make a statement against New Labour AND the Tories. An SNP vote at present is wasted. I'd much rather not see New Labour or Consevatives in power. I think it's time for change and I think that I want to see major tax and electoral reform, neither of which seem to be coming from New Labour or Tory.

[the doc]

and out of curiosity, gav, what would be the radical tax changes you would make?

[mrbiggs]

Hmm.
a) I'm not sure why George III qualifies as a politician any more than any of the other monarchs.

b) I thought you had two houses as well. Or are the Senate and Congress the same thing?

c) The Prime Minister is the leader of the party elected to power and is asked to be Prime Minister by the Queen (which is really a formality).

d) Your analysis of the monarchy is about right

e) to say that all brits are liberal is of course a sweeping generalisation of the most flagrant kind. For one thing, ever heard of the British National Party? Look them up on google...

a) he was king during our revolution, and is therefore mentioned in American History classes.

b) we do have two houses, I just don't know how yours work. I know there used to be a House of Lords and a House of Commons, and that originally, the house of lords was more powerful, but that's changed now, or something...

e) Well, the tendancy is for British people to be more liberal than average Americans, just as Northerners are in general much more liberal than Southerners over here. It's not a RULE, it's just that as a country, we would consider you liberal, compared to ours. Especially when we have a Republican president.

[Schiavona]

Hmm.
b) I thought you had two houses as well. Or are the Senate and Congress the same thing?

Congress is the collective term for both the Senate and House of Representives. Often referred to in the singular as the Senate and the House.

Does the House of Lords have any real power? Our Senate certainly does!

[Schiavona]

Takes the focus off that pesky escalation of bombings and casualties in Iraq. Hey look over there, a ditzy bride who kicked up her heels in Vegas, let's go stalk her home and family!

I am so glad I don't watch Network news anymore!

I guess we'd (America) be more informed/concerned about elections in the UK if the British government were to turn anti-American. Look how much coverage the Spainish election got! It all depends whose ox is being gored. If America was unimportant internationally who would care who was President?

[Gav]

and out of curiosity, gav, what would be the radical tax changes you would make?

Well that post was made some time ago on the UK forum.

I'd like to see a major overhaul made to local taxation, in principle I am in favour of replacing the council tax with something else. A review of VAT is overdue. A proper ring fencing of funds for education, research and health would also be good.

I don't know if radical is the right word. What's your opinion?

[Have At You]

Doesn't sound too radical to me.

[Bayou Bum]

I just love your election map. Makes our red/blue states look plain. Very colorful.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2...html/map05.stm

[Gav]

Cool isn't it? BBC used the same tech' for the US election.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I watched the elections unfold on CSpan 2. I didn't know different districts ( or w/e they're called) race to get their votes counted.

[mrbiggs]

I just love your election map. Makes our red/blue states look plain. Very colorful.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2...html/map05.stm

That's interesting...

Are the colors clustered for the same reason they are in the U.S.? (That different regions have evolved different cultures and are therefore likely to vote in different ways?)

[Have At You]

Not much of a victory for the Very Silly party this time, I see.

[VELISARIOS]

Yes I know that Britain had general election. Here in Greece some days before all media said about it.
We interest all and some news paper has this matter in front page.cu

[Louweasel]

districts ( or w/e they're called)

They're called constituencies. The Member of Parliament (MP) for that constituency is logically also known as their constituent.