# BritDopers (and nosy foreigners) - The general election 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 6, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133 "2010-04-06T11:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/281 "2010-04-15T14:29:18Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > When Mrs Thatcher privatised the state industries (BT, British Gas, etc), anyone could buy shares. And lots of people did. And boy did those industries improve. I remember buying my first flat in the early 80s and having to wait three weeks to get the phone line connected. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/282 "2010-04-15T14:57:34Z")
> [@ColdPhoenix](#): > > The Lib Dems say that every election. To be fair, there’s a possible - if relatively unlikely - chance that they could have a point this go around. Certainly not as the party in power, but at least be able to make some demands of a weak Labour/Conservatives. So, who’s planning on watching the debate tonight? Any predictions? Suggestions as to how the candiates might do well? ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/283 "2010-04-15T15:20:46Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > To be fair, there’s a possible - if relatively unlikely - chance that they could have a point this go around. Certainly not as the party in power, but at least be able to make some demands of a weak Labour/Conservatives. > > So, who’s planning on watching the debate tonight? Any predictions? Suggestions as to how the candiates might do well? Here’s hoping. It’d be great if they gained a lot of seats. I’ll be recording it to watch tomorrow. Not expecting much though. As far as I can tell they’re just responding to questions that they heard in advance and have prepared answers to. We get more actual back and forth at PM’s question time and that’s live on BBC parliament every week. It’s be good if something surprising happens but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/284 "2010-04-15T15:30:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Doubtful. More likely they’d use surveys of registered voters than randomly selected people. This is not how polling goes anywhere, and to be honest, I’m not even sure that such lists of registered voters exist in Britain. The US is quite unique in this respect, most places just consider all adults as registered to vote and send them the ballot in the mail - but I’m not positive that it is like this in GB. > [@Ximenean](#): > > I’m thinking of the infamous polling in 1992, which badly underestimated Tory support. Because, the theory goes, people were reluctant to publicly admit that they were going to vote Tory. The pollsters probably claim they have addressed that issue, but who knows? I do. There is no way of legitimately addressing this issue because you never know whether people are lying or not. You just have to hope that people from all sides lie equally frequently, but if they don’t you’re shit out of luck. Clearly, as I’ve said, polling has tremendous weaknesses, especially for a system like in Britain, where a marginal change in the popular votes can cause large changes in the distribution of seats. Still, even given the obvious imperfections of polling, I don’t see how bookies have a better way of assessing the outcome in advance, and if they do I’d like to know. There’s a reason why nobody in the world of the press, academia, or politics relies on bookies for their political information, though, so I’m not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/285 "2010-04-15T15:35:08Z")
It’s not like that in Britain. Registering to vote is theoretically compulsory but as far as I recall there are no criminal penalties. Anyway, there are electoral rolls, and if you aren’t on them you can’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/286 "2010-04-15T15:37:16Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > This is not how polling goes anywhere, and to be honest, I’m not even sure that such lists of registered voters exist in Britain. The US is quite unique in this respect, most places just consider all adults as registered to vote and send them the ballot in the mail - but I’m not positive that it is like this in GB. You do have to register to vote in the UK. I don’t know how freely available the electoral roll is but I do know that being registered improves your credit rating and so it’s not completely confidential. ---
**Author:** ![Dick\_Dastardly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@Dick\_Dastardly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dick_Dastardly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/287 "2010-04-15T16:37:16Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > In the 70s, Britain was the Sick Man of Europe. Denis Haley had had to call in the IMF. Strikes here, there, and everywhere. The state running many sclerotic industries. Remember having to wait for weeks or months to get a telephone installed? When she left, Britain was vibrant and prosperous. Major muffed it, then Brown & Blair fritterred it away. This is spot on. She didn’t get everything right but shedid a marvellous job of fixing Britain. And persistent high unemploymnent wasn’t done to break any unions, it was an inevitable consequence of so many people employed by unproductive inefficient nationalised industries and businesses that supplied those industries. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/288 "2010-04-15T16:56:14Z")
> [@ColdPhoenix](#): > > You do have to register to vote in the UK. I don’t know how freely available the electoral roll is but I do know that being registered improves your credit rating and so it’s not completely confidential. There are two versions of the roll - the full version which is the one used for elections and credit applications, and the edited version which is available for commercial sale. You automatically appear on the full register, but can opt out of the edited version, when you register. [Cite](http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/faq/voting-and-registration/what-is-the-electoral-register) or [here](http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/why_should_i_register_to_vot1/common_voting__registering_my.aspx). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/289 "2010-04-15T17:04:42Z")
> [@ColdPhoenix](#): > > You do have to register to vote in the UK. I don’t know how freely available the electoral roll is but I do know that being registered improves your credit rating and so it’s not completely confidential. I don’t believe it improves your credit rating so much as it makes it easier to verify your identity. Complete nonsense of course. As I think I’ve mentioned in this thread all you do is register at as many addresses you like and put your previous address as an address from a long time back. As far as I know you could probably make up fictional people as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/290 "2010-04-15T22:29:17Z")
Anyone see the three-way debate? I missed it, am trying to get ITV Player to work so I can watch it online. The Beeb in the meantime has an overview of the main points here: > **[BBC News - Election TV debate: The key moments](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8622562.stm)** > > The key moments from Britain's first ever prime ministerial television debate. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/291 "2010-04-15T22:55:11Z")
I saw it, and while I agree with the general opinion that Clegg did well, I do think these TV debates naturally advantage his party, because it makes them look more like equals to the other two. All he has to say is “we’re not them”, which he did at every opportunity. Brown did better than I expected, and seemed the most relaxed of the three. Cameron struggled a bit, I thought, and seemed the most obviously scripted. In the healthcare segment, for example, he kept mentioning cancer, like it’s the only health problem that matters. It seemed a bit tabloid-headliney, to me. Like some focus group has discovered that the word “cancer” presses people’s buttons. But will these debates make any difference? I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/292 "2010-04-16T10:01:57Z")
Best internet gag about the debate: > [@](#): > > Worst Kraftwerk gig ever Clegg wins for the reason **Ximenean** cites: he showed that he could hit at the same level as Brown and Cameron. All he needs to do is to show that the LibDems are a valid choice, even as a protest vote, and they’ll gain seats (probably not a lot, but some). ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/293 "2010-04-16T10:50:52Z")
Clegg won, with Cameron second. Brown’s idea of debate was to consistently accuse the Torys of wanting to cut spending. Is there anybody with a brain who doesn’t believe that government spending will have to be cut radically after this election? It’s only political maneuvering before the election that has prevented a massive series of cuts already. Has Brown even mentioned what he’ll be cutting? He claimed he was protecting Education, Health and Police last night. So is defence spending being cut after he embroiled us in two costly wars, or some other department? Where is Brown’s planned reduction in spending? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/294 "2010-04-16T11:06:49Z")
Another interesting website: [http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/](http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/) Allows you to view party’s platforms blindly and select your prefered choice. I got 40% Conservative, 40% Lib Dem and 20% Green (?). ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/295 "2010-04-16T11:16:32Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Clegg won, with Cameron second. Brown’s idea of debate was to consistently accuse the Torys of wanting to cut spending. Is there anybody with a brain who doesn’t believe that government spending will have to be cut radically after this election? It’s only political maneuvering before the election that has prevented a massive series of cuts already. Has Brown even mentioned what he’ll be cutting? He claimed he was protecting Education, Health and Police last night. So is defence spending being cut after he embroiled us in two costly wars, or some other department? Where is Brown’s planned reduction in spending? Health is certainly subject to cuts, regardless of what Brown says and at the front line. Firstly my wife is a speach therapist and in her dept anyone who leaves is not replaced, this is leaving a gap in services that needs to be covered by already overburdened therapists. So much for only cutting the useless middle management. Secondly my father in law is wheelchair bound due to a stroke, he lives at home but a few times a year spends time at a nursing home so that my mother in law (73) can have some respite. She has to pay for his place at the home so this is not charity and yet we understand that both nursing homes in their area will close as part of government cuts, leaving her unable to have a break. The Labour party make a big deal of respite care in their election campaign, but the reality is that it is being cut and that the supposed removal of middle management deadwood is not happening. Needless to say I will not be voting Labour or Tory this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Elvis\_Chimney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/50afbb/32.png) [@Elvis\_Chimney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis_Chimney)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/296 "2010-04-16T11:18:30Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Another interesting website: [http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/](http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/) > > Allows you to view party’s platforms blindly and select your prefered choice. I got 40% Conservative, 40% Lib Dem and 20% Green (?). I got some surprising results from that - 44% Green, 22% Lib Dem, and 11% each for Labour, Tory and UKIP. Interestingly, I didn’t side with the Greens on the environment (that was the one where I agreed with UKIP) ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/297 "2010-04-16T11:50:45Z")
Yeah I’m surprised I got any Green, and I’m surprised I was evenly split Tory and Lib Dem, seeing as I absolutely will not vote in favour of removing the nuclear deterrent. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/298 "2010-04-16T12:12:34Z")
Again interesting! I got Tory 55%, Lib Dem 33%, 11% UKIP (like \*\*Elvis Chimney \*\*this was on the environment). Not what I expected but as words on paper I suppose the Tory policies often seem to me to be the least worst of the options! I just do not have any great confidence they either mean it or would deliver it. ---
**Author:** ![Baboonanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/299 "2010-04-16T12:20:53Z")
When I did that survey I got 56% LibDem and 56% Labour, but I would never vote for the current Labour party. I don’t necessarily disagree with their stated principles but the current lot are as worthless a collection of incompetant twits as you’re likely to find outside a Banana Republic. I could live with Brown, it’s the rest of the cabinet - people like Jack Straw (whose main skill seems to be passing the buck and avoiding having to resign) - that I have issue with along with their general authoritatian bent. Living in a a pretty safe seat it doesn’t really make much difference what I do, but I certainly won’t vote for the sitting Labour MP. He’s voted against the party in just 0.6% of votes, and against things like the Freedom of Information Act. He also voted for the recent Digital Economy Bill which I specifically contacted him about. Personally if I’m voting for someone to represent me I’d like them to be more than just a _yes_ man. I hope he comes round so I can have a proper go at him 🙂 I just checked ukpollingreport for the other candidates and amusingly this guy is running for UKIP: > [@](#): > > Winston Mckenzie (UKIP) born 1953, Jamacia. Former amateur boxer and hairdresser. Formerly ran a bar and gym in Thornton Heath. **Serial party member, having been a member of the Labour party, the Liberal Democrats, Veritas, Conservatives, his own Unity party and UKIP**. Contested Brent East by-election 2003 as an Independent, Croydon North for Veritas in 2005. Resigned from Veritas before rejoining to unsucessfully contest the party leadership. **Unsucessfully auditioned for the X Factor in 2005.** Unsuccessfully sought Conservative mayoral nomination in 2007 before leaving to stand as an independent. (bolding mine) Sound like just the sort of principled, trust-worthy candidate this borough needs. X-Factor for christs sake! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/300 "2010-04-16T12:27:30Z")
[CNN.com](http://CNN.com)’s coverage of the debate: [British party leaders clash in first debate - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/16/uk.election.debate/index.html?hpt=Sbin) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=16)