Poll: General election voting intentions poll

[elmarko]

It would be fantastically short-sighted to get rid of our nuclear capability. It's not something you can just whip up again in an emergency.

It's easy to say "we don't need it" in these (relatively) peaceful times....being reliant on the US for protection is not a desirable situation long term.

I don't even see how they are a deterrent.

If a person invades you with a conventional army you are not going to retaliate with a nuclear strike, this will result in self-annihilation - which is worse than occupation.

Neither would it act as a deterrent for another nation nuking you, as the dust created from detonating nukes on a large industrial nation such as ours would result in global starvation, crop death & global instability. That's ignoring the very high prospect of nuclear escalation which would yield the same impact. You don't really need to nuke somebody back to cause escalation or global annihilation.

I don't get what it's preventing, as it's a bluff you can't use if you want any of your own people to live.

 

[Mynight]

Better to have and not need than need and not have surely? Then again I have no idea at what point nukes would be a viable 'need'.

Must admit unless I'm reading it wrong I don't know why it isn't staggered renewal. Spread the cost over years so it's not such a huge hit.

 

[elmarko]

The other problem with having a nuclear deterrent is that it's vastly more likely that nuclear way will occur between others nations, in which our capabilities are essentially meaningless.

Having a nuclear weapons arsenal will not prevent nation A & B causing a global winter & killing nation C, the perceived benefit is based off a flawed assumption we will be the primary target - the chances are it will be in the middle east, USA, multi national or one of the developing economics.

If you look at the proportionate cost of the deterrent with very little practical value (for the reasons mentioned earlier) it seems an undue waste. If we could spend the same money on a real defence system which actually prevented any nukes from hitting our nation then I'd be more inclined to support it.

 

[Dr Who]

41% Tory scares the life out of me

 

[McBain]

In my eyes, the idea of scrapping Trident is incredibly short sighted. Who knows what the situation of the world will be like in 25-30 years? I'd rather we have the capability than getting rid of it, and saving what is essentially peanuts. £100bn is often touted, but that's the cost over the lifespan of Trident, say 30 years? We spend 3-4 times that per year on foreign aid, I know which i'd rather our money was going towards.

We have countries like Iran that would give their left nut to have nuclear weapons, and yet we have separatist political parties wanting to scrap ours. The ridiculous thing is, by the time Tridents replacement comes in Scotland will have probably already done one.

 

[scorza]

Let's not forget about the Eds' plans for changing the rules about non-dom status

 

[Delvis]

Right, someone explain to.me why I specifically cannot vote for another party other than Tories because of where I live? I understand all the speakers constituency carp but seriously? Why? Surely we should be allowed?

 

[Dave]

The Green Party allows anyone to join. They allow non nationals who can't vote to join. They also allow people who don't live in the UK to join.

Hence the Australian person in charge

 

[McBain]

Right, someone explain to.me why I specifically cannot vote for another party other than Tories because of where I live? I understand all the speakers constituency carp but seriously? Why? Surely we should be allowed?

Sorry, I don't follow, why can't you vote for anyone else?

Hence the Australian person in charge

The Greens are a joke of the highest order.

 

[scorza]

Sorry, I don't follow, why can't you vote for anyone else?

Parliamentary convention is that none of the main political parties contest the Speaker's constituency. Surely you'll have independents and minor parties standing though?

 

[koolpc]

Greens are a joke. I agree

 

[Delvis]

Parliamentary convention is that none of the main political parties contest the Speaker's constituency. Surely you'll have independents and minor parties standing though?

And what if we want to vote for one of the 'main partys'? Just tough luck? Its a load of tripe.

 

[scorza]

And what if we want to vote for one of the 'main partys'? Just tough luck? Its a load of tripe.

Yeah it's tough luck for the people of Buckingham. Let's be honest, it's not the only issue that makes no sense in the British version of democracy.

 

[McBain]

And what if we want to vote for one of the 'main partys'? Just tough luck? Its a load of tripe.

Yeah that's garbage to be fair.

 

[estebanrey]

How did he stab his brother in the back, are you supporting the notion of primogeniture when it comes to job applications?

He said Labour were wrong to invade Iraq and that it should never have happened. Basically declaring to the whole party and anyone watching on TV that his brother made a colossal mistake and calling him out on it.

Surprised you didn't know about it, was a big news thing at the time.

It was such a surprise at the time that his brother (who is normally very calm/contorlled) was unable to hide his surprise/disgust and just sat there giving him a "you *******" stare

As has already been said, disagreeing with a former Labour policy that his brother had a very minor part in is not 'stabbing him in the back'.

The Tory accusation about Ed stabbing David 'in the back' refers to the outdated idea of primogeniture (That the older sibling has first dibs on inheritance and opportunities) and every time I hear it I feel it reflects very badly on the Conservatives. This isn't Game of Thrones and in the 21st century there should be no custom that privileges should be reserved in families based on birth date.

If he'd made a promise not to run if David did, and then ran anyway that would figuratively count as stabbing David in the back but he didn't.

 

[Delvis]

Yeah it's tough luck for the people of Buckingham. Let's be honest, it's not the only issue that makes no sense in the British version of democracy.

Its ridiculous, and shouldn't be the case

 

[Tunney]

Let's not forget about the Eds' plans for changing the rules about non-dom status

I think new non-dom tax rules and a mansion tax is the only way to cool the London property market.

 

[arc@css]

I'm voting for these folk :

 

[MrMoonX]

I'm voting for these folk :

UKIP then?

 

[D.P.]

Sorry, let me clarify. The other parties only allow British subjects or Irish nationals resident in the UK to become members. These are the only people allowed to vote in UK General Elections.

The Green Party allows anyone to join. They allow non nationals who can't vote to join. They also allow people who don't live in the UK to join.

You don't have to live in the UK to be able to vote in the UK general Election, I will be voting form abroad.