# 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:** 22
**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 6, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/421 "2010-05-06T14:19:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > and lack of investment in public services (the NHS has improved dramatically in the last 13 years). Labour’s free spending on public services is one of the reasons we’re running such a huge deficit. ---
**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, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/422 "2010-05-06T14:30:01Z")
Do’s and don’ts when you vote today: [BBC News - What can you NOT do in a polling station?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8661984.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Baboonanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/423 "2010-05-06T14:34:43Z")
Interesting, thanks for the replies. Personally, had it not been for the prospect of a hung parliament giving the Lib. Dems. a chance at getting voting reform on the table I might have ended up voting Tory. Besides being time for a change this would be due to the economy. The current government has been unbelievably careless with the public purse, and frankly I just don’t believe they would have the ability to reduce the deficit due to their strong union ties. Labour doesn’t have the ability to say no to trade unions, and they know it, so we can look forward to years of strikes if they remain in charge. And while it’s true that the Tories represent some objectionable views New Labour have done some really stupid and scary shit too, especially regarding civil liberties. > [@Quartz](#): > > Labour’s free spending on public services is one of the reasons we’re running such a huge deficit. I agree with this. It’s true that pre-1997 there was gross under-investment, but equally we can’t afford the current spending. There must be some middleground between ‘bread and circuses’ and ‘no such thing as society’. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/424 "2010-05-06T14:35:45Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > they are basically homophobic, read their voting records - this affects me personally You don’t need to read their voting records when you have a [handy graphic](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/29/information-beautiful-gay-rights#zoomed-picture). ---
**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:** [May 6, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/425 "2010-05-06T14:53:49Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > He’s walking wounded according to the radio. Apparently he’s claiming it was a left-wing conspiracy. . . . sorry… ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/426 "2010-05-06T15:29:19Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > You don’t need to read their voting records when you have a [handy graphic](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/29/information-beautiful-gay-rights#zoomed-picture). And [www.mygayvote.co.uk](http://www.mygayvote.co.uk) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/427 "2010-05-06T15:31:17Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Voted Lib Dem this morning. There’s a chance the Liberal Democrats can take all three wards in Edinburgh. The ghost of William Ewart Gladstone is smiling today. “The Heart of Midlothan,” indeed! ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/428 "2010-05-06T15:49:29Z")
> [@Baboonanza](#): > > Could I please an honest question to those who are voting Labour: Why? It’s not irrational to fear the Tories plane to radically deflate the economy before recovery. And a lot of us remember what happened last time the tories were in power. Leopard. Spots. I’m not voting for any party - just against the Tories. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/429 "2010-05-06T15:56:42Z")
> [@Elvis\_Chimney](#): > > Apparently he’s claiming it was a left-wing conspiracy. It seems that it was a Polish-made plane. If he had been flying in a proper British aircraft, this would never have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Baboonanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/430 "2010-05-06T16:12:06Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > It seems that it was a Polish-made plane. If he had been flying in a proper British aircraft, this would never have happened. …because it wouldn’t have taken off. Badum-tsh! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/431 "2010-05-06T17:26:47Z")
Anyone know what time the declaration in Barking is expected? It might be a bit lairy: > **[BBC News - Asian men and BNP candidate Bob Bailey clash in Barking](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/england/8663681.stm)** > > A fight broke out between a British National Party parliamentary candidate and some Asian men as party members were out campaigning in east London. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/432 "2010-05-06T19:44:20Z")
Went labour in the end - though gave Lib-Dem some strong consideration. I suspect the seat (Edinburgh Sth) will go Lib-Dem quite handily, despite being very marginal last time out. The local Lib-Dem guy seems decent, so if he gets in good luck to him. At a national level, though, too many of their policies lack credibility for me so I had to swerve them. They’ll be in a powerful position indeed if it ends up a hung parliament. I’d like to be able to say I was a single issue voter - science policy - but given that this is about 43rd on the priority list for each party it’s not really a meaningful position to take. A hard rain is going to fall on science funding after tomorrow, which ever way it ends up. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/433 "2010-05-06T20:05:02Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > I’d like to be able to say I was a single issue voter - science policy - but given that this is about 43rd on the priority list for each party it’s not really a meaningful position to take. A hard rain is going to fall on science funding after tomorrow, which ever way it ends up. If I’d been in his constituency I’d have walked the streets endlessly for Evan Harris. Hope he keeps his seat. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/434 "2010-05-06T20:36:30Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > I have however arranged a Proxy for my wife . . . :mad: You know, when you need a Proxy for your wife, it is Dope etiquette to ask for volunteers **here** first. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/435 "2010-05-06T20:43:36Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > You don’t need to read their voting records when you have a [handy graphic](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/29/information-beautiful-gay-rights#zoomed-picture). Y’know, in the U.S., “lowering the age of consent for gay sex from 18 to 16” would not be considered a gay rights issue. At least, not by anybody willing to say so in public. ([NAMbLA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nambla) enjoyed a brief moment in the late 1970s but has been ostracized by the gay rights movement ever since.) ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/436 "2010-05-06T20:47:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Y’know, in the U.S., “lowering the age of consent for gay sex from 18 to 16” would not be considered a gay rights issue. It’s a gay rights issue in the UK because the age of consent for heterosexual sex was 16. It was an attempt to remove discrimination against homosexuals, and was therefore a gay rights issue. Not every country (or indeed every state in the U.S.) has 18 as an age of consent. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/437 "2010-05-06T21:19:10Z")
Polling has now closed, and the exit polls are suggesting a hung parliament with the Conservatives the largest party and the Libdems actually losing a few seats. Hope they’ve got it wrong… [The action as it happens](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/438 "2010-05-06T21:21:36Z")
> [@villa](#): > > It’s a gay rights issue in the UK because the age of consent for heterosexual sex was 16. Did not know that. How difficult is naturalization in the UK? 🙂 ---
**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, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/439 "2010-05-06T21:23:31Z")
Thanks for that link. From the live coverage blog: _The Labour candidate for Bootle on Merseyside has had the tip of his finger bitten off by a dog while out campaigning. Joe Benton, 77, was taken to hospital after the animal bit him as he pushed an election leaflet through a letter box. Mr Benton has been unable to vote for himself as a result and will not be able to attend tonight’s count._ Ouch! ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/440 "2010-05-06T21:49:23Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Thanks for that link. From the live coverage blog: > > _The Labour candidate for Bootle on Merseyside has had the tip of his finger bitten off by a dog while out campaigning. Joe Benton, 77, was taken to hospital after the animal bit him as he pushed an election leaflet through a letter box. Mr Benton has been unable to vote for himself as a result and will not be able to attend tonight’s count._ > > Ouch! Ouch indeed! More chance of a camel passing through the eye of a needle than Joe Benton losing his seat in Nth Liverpool, though, so I’m sure he’ll be alright. Exit polls look like a colossal disappointment for the Lib-Dems, but it’s early days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=23)