Edith Said:

Are You Sick To Death Of The UK Elections?

We Answered:

Yes I am but not just the election. The media do everything to death. They analyse and scrutinise everything until I am at screaming point. The problem that television stations have to provide hours and hours of programmng every day and there aren't that many interesting things in the world. When television only operated for a few hours a day in the 1950s, we weren't driven mad in this way.

Lillie Said:

The UK elections 2010?

We Answered:

The election happens and we get 650 MPs - and as far as the written law goes, that's that. What happens after that is a matter of constitutional convention (as the UK doesn't HAVE a written constitution) and almost anything is possible as long as it ends up actually working.

In that scenario, there would no doubt be some horse-trading and negotiation. If Labour and the Liberal Democrats can reach an agreement to form a government together, and with their combined numbers of MPs can always out-vote the Conservatives, they could do that and the UK would have a coalition government. They would decide between themselves who is to be Prime Minister and the Queen would appoint whoever they suggest (Prime Minister is a Royal appointment and in theory the Queen could appoint anyone, as the post doesn't even exist in any written law and has no formal powers whatsoever, but in practice she couldn't get away with appointing anyone but who is suggested to her as the most likely person to be able to lead a stable government).

But the UK parties aren't used to working together like that - we've only ever had coalition governments during the two World Wars and that was because unity against a common enemy mattered more than anything else. Continental Europe and Ireland are somewhat different as all those countries use proportional representation voting, which results in no outright majority every single time, so this kind of coalition government is a permanent feature.

Eva Said:

Y'know, I really enjoyed the UK 2010 Elections, it proved that the voting system works?

We Answered:

I like the bit where the party that came last get to govern and then demand a referendum on voting reform.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia…

Vanessa Said:

question about the 2010 uk elections.?

We Answered:

This depends on a lot of things. What are your aspirations, your qualifications, your views? Where do you live? Where you live is very important in our electoral system. Where I live, votes for anyone other than Labour may as well be thrown in the bin. There are places were votes for anyone other than the Tories may as well be thrown in the bin.

Perhaps the minimum wage is important to you. All three main parties propose to keep it, but one of them, the Tories, will make no pledge to increase it, so I am not sure what their backing of the minimum wage is worth.

Perhaps you are entitled to a working tax credit. Again, expect the Tories to scrap it or cut it. The Liberal Democrats would increase your income tax threshold to £10,000, so you would only pay tax on earnings over that amount.

Check your local result in 2005, and see who was elected then, and where the other parties came. Take into account the current swing to both the Tories and the Lib Dems and consider how your vote can be cast effectively. Are you happy to let whoever won in your area in 2005 win again? Then vote for them again. Does your preferred party have a realistic chance of winning the seat? If not, think about voting tactically. You prefer Party A to win, but they have no chance, so you will settle for seeing party B lose, and will vote for Party C to make sure it happens.

Katrina Said:

who is most likely to win the 2010 uk election?

We Answered:

Opinion polls are not all they are cracked up to be - the 1992 election being a good example.

I tend to look at what the bookies are offering as a good indicator :-

http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/poli…

In 1992 it was the silent Tory voters who swung it. This time I suspect that the stay-at-homes combined with a fairly significant number of votes going to parties such as UKIP and the BNP may well be the factor that influences the outcome.

Consequently I would not be at all surprised if Labour remain the largest party by (literally) a seat or two. The 6.9% swing required by Mr Cameron could well prove insurmountable.

Obviously then we get a "Hung" parliament just like 1974. Human nature being what it is mean that any "Pacts" between parties to form a coalition will probably go the way of the ill fated "Lib/Lab pact" of Jim Callaghan's government (sooner or later).

My prediction is that the largest party will have only 2 or 3 seats more than its closest rival.

So an "each way" bet on Labour or the Conservatives is likely to yield a dividend (but not much !)

Trevor

Alexander Said:

what are your views on the 2010 uk election?

We Answered:

After watching the debates I find myself much more inclined towards trusting Gordon Brown over the other two. The fact that he's not as good on stage and when he's talking as Clegg and Cameron makes me feel more like I'm not being manipulated. Or maybe acting as a babbling oaf on stage is all part of Brown's genius plan! No, of course if I though he was an oaf, I wouldn't support him. I think after so long in politics, he is our man and his public speaking skills shouldn't make anyone think otherwise. Sure, he got off to a rough start but he has a lot on his plate and I think changing the government is a bad idea at such a fragile point in British history.

As to accusations that it's being treated like a 'game show', I agree. However I think that is good. It encourages those who would not have been so inclined before, to vote. What could be better than that? Also, I am ashamed to say that I feel more informed after watching the two debates than I have before any other election, so clearly it's done good for me too.

At the end of the day, I think all 3 of them would make good leaders, none of them could severely ruin our country as the system is very fool proof and all 3 of them are very intelligent men. Regardless, I would be happiest seeing Gordon remain in power.

Have a good day.

Byron Said:

During the 2010 UK election, who was the chubby man who appeared in the background of most of the TV coverage?

We Answered:

Haha, yes. The Unite one was his best one so far. Then again I do watch Russel Howard so couldn't miss him. It was quite funny when the coalition was formed, Hague walking down the street, this chap not far behind.

I don't know who he is and what he wants but, whatever it is I think we should give it too him :P