# 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:** 20
**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 29, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/381 "2010-04-29T21:27:09Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Another debate coming up, supposedly on the economy. I’d wager Brown isn’t looking forward to this one as the others… > > The amusing thing is one gaffe like this could cost Labour a constituency, Rotherham is a very marginal constituency where Labour has a majority of only a hundred or so votes. Brown’s probably cost him a fair few votes with that little blunder, the lifelong Labour voter he insulted said she’d not vote at all. Good news for the Lib Dems, though. Rupert Allason (Nigel West) lost his seat by 12 votes in 1997 because he didn’t tip a waitress at a restaurant. On such things are elections won and lost. ---
**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 30, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/382 "2010-04-30T09:24:17Z")
Nick Clegg is speaking at the University I work at as I write, sadly the PA system was so poor that I could see him but not hear a word he said. So I came back inside to check out the SDMB. This kind of thing does not work in his favour, whether it was the fault of his team or the university, I’m not sure. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/383 "2010-05-01T04:26:28Z")
A collection of UK campaign posters from years past - some very funny ones: > **[Memorable Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat posters from previous...](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/7582239/Memorable-Conservative-Labour-and-Liberal-Democrat-posters-from-previous-election-campaigns.html)** > > Memorable Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat posters from previous election campaigns. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/384 "2010-05-01T06:58:28Z")
Speaking of which, a number of Tory billboards have been…altered to make them more humorous, Google ‘vandalised Conservative billboards’ for the Facebook group. My favourite is [this one.](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs460.ash1/25272_117674734916809_117203521630597_286256_6082836_n.jpg) _Note I am not condoning vandalism._ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/385 "2010-05-04T03:47:13Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Speaking of which, a number of Tory billboards have been…altered to make them more humorous, Google ‘vandalised Conservative billboards’ for the Facebook group. My favourite is [this one.](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs460.ash1/25272_117674734916809_117203521630597_286256_6082836_n.jpg) > > _Note I am not condoning vandalism._ But thank Og we all can still **appreciate** 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:** [May 4, 2010, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/386 "2010-05-04T09:41:55Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Watching the debate right now. I missed the opening statements, but nobody’s mentioning Gordon’s gaffe right now. Gordon made a self-deprecating reference to the incident in his opening remarks; there was no value in anyone else mentioning it again. It looks like the Conservatives are inching up in the polls, dammit. The former LibDem supporters are getting cold feet. Again. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/387 "2010-05-05T03:00:47Z")
Last chance to place your bets! ---
**Author:** ![yastobaal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/258eb7/32.png) [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/388 "2010-05-05T13:55:39Z")
Just wondering if anybody has, over the period of the campaign, changed their mind about which party to vote for? > [@yastobaal](#): > > Anyways, to answer the question. I’m in the Henley area (which was Boris Johnson’s). Labour have no chance in this area and I’m fairly sure it is considered to be a Conservative safe seat. That said, I’ve no confidence in the Tory’s to do a good job so I’m leaning towards Lib Dems or spoiling my vote. That was on the 6th April. The debates seem to have made the Lib Dems a real option. From the little quizes that others have put up and listening to the debates and trying to absorb all other sorces of information I can whilst studying I’ve decided to vote Lib Dem. It’ll probably have no affect in my area but at least I’ve voted how I best feel. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/389 "2010-05-05T14:01:18Z")
I was undecided, then decided to vote anti-Labour, almost deciding on the Lib Dems. But while I’m still voting anti-Labour, I may yet vote Tory, because some of the Lib Dem policies are so numpty. Like road pricing. But really, though, I think that neither the Tories nor the Lib Dems can do worse than Labour, and Labour need a spell in opposition to refresh themselves. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/390 "2010-05-05T15:47:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Last chance to place your bets! My US$20 says the Tories cobble together a government without allying with the LibDems. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/391 "2010-05-05T17:27:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > My US$20 says the Tories cobble together a government without allying with the LibDems. If they’re only just short, they can ally with the Ulster Unionists. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/392 "2010-05-05T17:28:47Z")
Mebbe, but that’s not my bet. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/393 "2010-05-05T17:41:08Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > If they’re only just short, they can ally with the Ulster Unionists. I think you are much more likely to see a minority government (probably with the behind-the-scenes arranged tacit support of the Unionists) than the Unionists actually brought into an alliance. The political risks to both the Tories and the Unionists are way too great for anything else. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/394 "2010-05-05T18:20:47Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > But really, though, I think that neither the Tories nor the Lib Dems can do worse than Labour, and Labour need a spell in opposition to refresh themselves. Careful. That kind of thinking may have played a role in swinging the U.S. presidential election to Bush in 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/395 "2010-05-05T20:08:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Careful. That kind of thinking may have played a role in swinging the U.S. presidential election to Bush in 2000. Brown is a bottler, a bungler, a bullshitter, a bully, a spendthrift, and an imprudent hypocrite. He needs to go. When he’s gone, the Labour party will rejuvenate itself with a fresh leader and fresh ideas. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/396 "2010-05-05T22:18:27Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Brown is a bottler, a bungler, a bullshitter, a bully, a spendthrift, and an imprudent hypocrite. He needs to go. When he’s gone, the Labour party will rejuvenate itself with a fresh leader and fresh ideas. Like “Red Ken” Livingstone? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/397 "2010-05-05T22:36:54Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Brown is a bottler, a bungler, a bullshitter, a bully, […] Fantastic alliteration, there. I hear that Brown is also a joker, a smoker, and a midnight toker. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/398 "2010-05-05T23:15:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Like “Red Ken” Livingstone? 😉 Oh dear God no. Ken had some value as Mayor of London but in any other political role the man needs to be shunned. I’m thinking about putting money on a hung Parliament with Alan Johnson as PM and Vince Cable as Chancellor in a Lib-Lab coalition. It’s a long shot - I wonder what kind of odds I can get? ---
**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:** [May 6, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/399 "2010-05-06T00:24:28Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > …I’m thinking about putting money on a hung Parliament with Alan Johnson as PM and Vince Cable as Chancellor in a Lib-Lab coalition. It’s a long shot - I wonder what kind of odds I can get? I’ll bet you US$20 that DOESN’T happen. Deal? ---
**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:** [May 6, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/400 "2010-05-06T05:18:36Z")
The big day’s finally here. I’ll be off to vote later on, hopefully turnout will be better than usual given the increased coverage and importance, it’s not good when the Xfactor gets more votes than the winning part. Vote or die! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=21)