UK general election (May 5th)

Alright, here goes...by popular demand (well two people)As there were a number of threads up and running around the time the US was electing a President, I thought I'd start one on the UK General Election which is just around the corner.I don't really know how to focus this but I suppose we could start off on a general note, and then spin off into new threads if one or two specific issues get people's goat. I suppose it could also be a place for people to ask questions about how it all works over here - I'm sure they'll be someone around who can help Here are a few questions to start the ball rolling:What do you think the outcome will be?Are there any differences between the two main parties?How does the political process differ from that in the US? Does that make it better or worse?Will the result have any significant effect on US/world politics?Do you think the Liberal Democrats will have much of an impact this time?Who are the Liberal Democrats?Ooops, a fair few questions there! Plenty to hopefully get your teeth into.From a personal point of view I think it'll either end as a small Labour majority, or a hung parliament. The other alternative doesn't bear thinking about!

Hi Contra,Somehow I thought I'd see you in this thread .
There's one or two things that interest me in the exchange you've been having with Tusko.The first is to voice an agreement on the "immigration" issue, and to underline what I see as the worrying Jingoism in the Tory campaign. It might just be me, but a chill ran down my spine when I heard cuddly Mr Howard talk of speaking for the "ignored majority" the other day. It is the kind of inaccurate, misleading phrase that I normally hear spewing from Mr Griffin's lips, and it made me shout at the telly - Grrr!As an addition to your comments about the white poster campaigns, there was something in the Indy a while back when one of the offending posters was unveiled right opposite a school in a very multicultural area declaring to the world IT'S NOT RACIST TO IMPOSE LIMITS ON IMMIGRATION. By the end of the first day it was up someone had helpfully painted over the "NOT".The other thing that you probably won't agree with me on is that the Labour party should be campaigning on more than a economic stability platform. The changes they have brought about are broadly based on redistribution and an increased role for the public sector and I think they should be proud of that. Compare this to the Tory policy of "small government" and it's consequences and I think you have a real choice. As someone else put it in the Indy "Do you want a country like Texas...or Sweden"Oh dear did I just write that - sorry to all you Texans out there, but I like my national health service Nice brief summary of the issues BTW.

Alright, alright I get the hint I don't think this is true, at least not officially. Candidates are chosen by their local constituency party members and they tend to stick to campaigning in the same seat if elected, so it doesn't equate directly with "you've been a good MP have a nice, defendable seat". Some of the most vocal Labour 'rebels' are in nice safe seats, and the most gratifying moments during the 1997 election night were when two prominent Tories got elected out of their seats (I'm hoping the opposite isn't true this time).Of course there is a lot of blurring of lines (as I would image there is in the States). Mr "Cuddly" Howard effectively sacked a selected candidate because he hinted that public spending might have to cut even further than officially stated.How does candidate selection happen across the pond then?

Hello again Monk, Of course my immediate counter-question would be to ask what you think the benefits/disadvatages of having a choice between Centre Right and Further Right would be? If you think Schraf is Left-wing, take a look at the R.E.S.E.C.T. link that Mick posted earlier!I don't actually think there is much of a difference between having a majority in congress and the senate and having control over the House of Commons. 'Consensus' only stretches so far surely, otherwise you wouldn't have to designate someone as Democrat or Republican. The main difference in this country I can see is that there is actually a viable third party - the liberal democrats.If no overall majority is acheived or if Labour gets in with a severely reduced majority then you will see a real role for them in the next parliament. Can you really say that about the Libertarians?

Just as a piece of light relief:have a look at the The Official Monster Raving Loony Party website.Take special note to their "Manicfesto"My favorite policy is the creation of a 99p coin to save on change.

My analytical side is going to predict a Labour majority of 50-70. I think the marginal seats are going to be swinging all over the shop, and will definitely spring a few surprises. The Lib Dems will make some significant gains.My pessimistic side is going to predict a freakish Tory victory. I know the polls weren't much different last time, but there's just something odd going on this year. Lucky I made use of that box of postal votes I found lying around eh?