UK election day, Dec 12th - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK, today is the day we vote in a General Election. For the first time in nearly 100 years this is being held in December with dark evenings. Many in the UK are bored with BREXIT and leaving the EU.

The election outcome is very unpredictable. If the ruling Conservatives win an outright majority, they will press ahead with their BREXIT deal. As likely is a hung parliament with minor parties holding the balance of power.

UPDATE 1104z: I have voted. Deciding where to put my cross was not easy.

UK General Election, December 12th - NOT amateur radio

On December 12th 2019, the UK has a General Election.

The ruling government is campaigning mostly on BREXIT. The outcome is anyone's guess. The opinion polls show the ruling Conservatives consistently in front, but whether they get a clear majority is far from certain. A hung parliament might get us a softer EU exit eventually,  but many in the UK are now sick and tired of delay, with many wanting this over and done with. The trouble is all major parties promise a lot, but rarely deliver. The UK Prime Minister is not trusted by many.

With just a few days to go, I have no idea who to vote for and I am sure very many others are also confused.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49798197

Election crappery - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have a General Election on December 12th.

It would appear that all major parties are telling lies or are involved in dirty tricks. Facebook has banned a Conservative advert and today we got a LibDem leaflet than looked like a free local paper. Last week we had a Conservative video that had been doctored to show an opposition MP looking stupid.

We lack politicians with backbone and integrity. Most seem to want the best for them rather than the common good.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50624086

UK General Election 2019 - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, there is a General Election on December 12th. I quite like some Labour Party policies but they have swung too far left for me. I want BREXIT done, but I prefer a softer BREXIT than the Conservatives want. I think the Conservatives have moved to the right, which I do not like.

In the 2016 EU referendum I voted (narrowly) to remain in the EU. The Lib Dems are openly "remain", but I don't want yet more delay and indecision caused by a hung parliament. My brother-in-law who voted leave may spoil his ballot paper. I should vote Labour, but in this constituency they have little chance.

I really do not know how to vote.

Poor Mrs May - NOT amateur radio

For a start, I was one of the many millions in the UK who did not vote for Mrs May (UK Prime minister) and the Conservatives. It looks like the rich are richer and the poor poorer under her party. This is wrong. If we are to have austerity let us all share the pain. As for a working alliance with the Democratic Unionists (DUP) in Northern Ireland, I am sure this will go down in history as a mistake.

To be fair, many expected a landslide with the Conservatives winning a big, clear, majority.  Instead, we ended up with a hung parliament and Mrs May hanging on by a whisker.  Most people rejected her autocratic style.

In some way I feel sorry for her. A week ago she could do no wrong, whereas now she is vilified.

Who knows what the future holds? It will be several years before the dust settles,  but beware any party that ignores the people it serves.

Oh, we still await a true charismatic leader in any UK party.

UK General Election today: VOTE - NOT amateur radio

This is your chance to back the candidate of your choice. Whatever your political persuasion, I urge you to use your vote. Voting is private, so only you know the person for whom you voted.

General Election in the UK tomorrow - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your political views you have a democratic right to vote for the candidate of your choice. A vote not used is just wasted. Use it, please.

Even if your choice does not get elected, it tells the others of your support.

Close run? - NOT amateur radio

The UK General Election could be much closer than was expected. Of course, pollsters may be very wrong, but Labour seem to be doing much better than was expected. On the day what matters is who decides to vote.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39856354 .

General Election in the UK - NOT amateur radio

We have a General Election in the UK next week. At the beginning of the campaign, the pundits were talking of a landslide victory for the ruling Conservative Party. Now, in the last week, things are much closer. Last time the experts were wrong. It will be interesting to see who is right.

Personally, I think we have a real lack of good leaders in all main parties. What we need is a "centre ground" party with strong, charismatic leadership. There is little to chose between the three main parties: the right of the Labour Party is very similar to the left of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are somewhere there too. Not one of these parties has what I'd call a good leader.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

OK, if I was Theresa May I guess I would have been persuaded to hold a General Election on June 8th. The opposition parties are in a mess and there is a good chance the ruling Conservative Party will win a few more (or a lot more?) seats.

However, General Elections often result in surprises. 52% voted OUT in the recent EU referendum, but most wanted a return to "good old England" with control over our laws and borders. I suspect most would prefer us to still be in the single EU market without tariffs.

It would not totally surprise me if this General Election threw up a few surprises. This is a chance for the Lib Dems to start a comeback. Personally I think Labour is committing suicide.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

The Conservatives are back in UK government with a small overall majority. Unless they lose this majority in by-elections in the coming years (people do die) they will be in power for around 5 years to come. Of course, if they lose this slim majority and lose a confidence vote there could be another general election sooner.  The people of the UK voted in a "first past the post" election, so what will follow is largely due to us entrusting them with power.  We can expect more cuts to welfare benefits but, arguably, this is what the majority wanted.

The Labour party failed to explain why they should be entrusted with power and our money. Instead the nation chose a majority Conservative government.  We will have an EU referendum in 2017. I personally expect we will vote to stay in, but the UK expects more common market and less federalism in return.  A lose common market, i.e.a big free trade area, is what we joined, not a United States of Europe. I like France, Spain and Italy etc because they are unique and special in their own ways. Long may this continue.

Well, that was a surprise - NOT amateur radio

With all the UK General Election results in we have a majority government with no coalitions needed.  All opposition has been crushed with leaderships up for grabs in all opposition parties apart from the SNP. Honestly this was a total surprise to most if, if not all, of us.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

Please, if you have not done so already and you are in the UK, get out and vote. We live in a free country and this is our democratic right. The MP we choose, irrespective of party politics, represents us. Although I have not voted for his party for over 40 years, our local MP and his team have always researched my questions and got back to me with a considered reply.

The result of the UK General Election is too close to call and I expect we will be ruled by another coalition government, although it could be some weeks before we know the mix and flavour.

UK General election - NOT amateur radio

The UK General Election next week still looks far too close to call. Some opinion polls show the Conservatives ahead and others show Labour.  UKIP seem to be gradually losing support.

At the moment my intention is to vote Lib Dem as they do have a chance of winning here in East Cambs. Labour really have no chance at all having won just 6.5% of the vote last time. UKIP could well split the Conservative vote, so the Lib Dems have a decent chance.

Personally, I think the moderating influence of the Lib Dems on either the Conservatives or Labour would be a good thing. I supported the Greens in the European elections but in a "first past the post" General Election they (sadly) have no chance here. Elsewhere, who knows?

I believe in living within our means both personally and nationally, but austerity measures should be toughest on those who caused the problems in the first place and NOT those who really have very little. Bank bonuses should be stopped or very heavily taxed until we live within our means. In almost 40 years of work I never got a bonus for working hard and neither do most workers. Why should a few "wide boys" get millions in bonuses for gambling with OUR money?

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

A reminder than the UK General Election, which is only a few weeks away, is "first past the post" so if you are just one vote behind you lose everything. In the European elections I voted Green, but fear this will be a wasted vote in a "first past the post" contest.  Tactical voting will be needed.

For example, in my constituency Labour really have no chance of winning as they only got 6.5% of the vote last time. The Lib Dems (currently in coalition with the majority Conservative government) have a real chance of winning - they came a good second last time - especially as we have UKIP nowadays and the Conservatives could lose some votes to them. The most probable outcome is a Conservative win again in this constituency.

Nationally, the outcome is almost certainly another coalition government as the polls show Labour and Conservatives neck and neck nationally. UKIP support nationally is fading, although I always suspected this would be the case.

Elections in UK - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the FTSE 100 share index is over 7100 - giddy heights! With the UK General Election not many weeks away and a very close run contest, I expect the markets to tumble with the uncertainty of the outcome.

The last poll I saw showed Conservatives and Labour neck and neck. The UKIP vote could lose Conservative votes.  I am definitely not voting UKIP who seem to want us out of Europe only. To me, they are not a credible party, more of a protest vote party.

We live in a democracy, so we vote for the party of our choosing.

I shall probably vote Lib Dem again. In a coalition government they could (again) be a good moderating influence whether the major party is Conservative or Labour.