Investment Forum - Opinions on the coming elections

I would love to hear peoples opinion on the coming elections. I am struggling to make a decision on who to vote for- I find all the parties and similar and I'm not sure one party would do better than another.

It's easy for each party to point out the flaws of the others, but I think every party has it's positives and negatives.

The only swaying point I have at the moment is that labour have been in for a long time so maybe we need a change...??

Would love to hear some other views on this subject...

I suppose there are several reasons why we vote. To change the country? Or maybe just how we think it will affect ourselves personally. In black and white (or at least traditionally) the vote is split between Labour and Tory depending on your financial situation. If you are on benefit or rely on social service or possibly just on low income then you would think Labour policies would benefit you. If however you are self-sufficient, entrepreneurial, high tax-payer etc. then you would think that Tory poloicies would favour you.
Take the minimum wage. If you think that everyone should get a minimum wage then you vote for the party that seems to favour that. You may feel however that a low wage is just a starting point to  a higher wage (through promotion). Or taxation. Why have no tax for wages below £10000? Surely if we have a tax system we should all pay it? I think you may find them similar because you listen to what they say they are doing, or going to do rather than what they actually do. Personally I beleive Mr Blair did a hell of a lot of damage to this country (whilst lining his own pocket handsomly). By 'papering over the cracks' he convinced a lot of the electorate that he actually improved Britain. Although I am traditionally a Tory voter I did not vote in the last two elections (for reasons I won't go into now) but this time I will definitely vote, and vote Tory because I just want Labour out. And I think this will be the case with a lot of Tory voters.

Ok that's quite interesting - it gives me a bit more confidence in the system - your right about getting labour out though - did you see what happened with Gordon brown Calling Gillian Duffy a bigot? He is definately stuffed now!! But if the tory's get in will they do any better?  

For anyone who is interested in the parties policies there is a good summary over at redmayne bentleys website - http://www.redmayne.co.uk/election/

I think if the Tories get in then the City will like it (shares will go up, Sterling might go better, or at least confidence in the pound might strengthen). This will help our borrowing costs.
But as you say they are all as bad as each other (or the system is). We need another Maggie (love her or hate her she did what she thought was right with coonviction)
And make no doubt about it, it is going to be tough post election: there is a £40bn+ (apparently) hole in the UK's accounts that has to come form taxation or cuts.

Ok your getting me interested now! So are the tories conservative?

Aye!

IMO Labour has to go due to their reckless spending - otherwise we'll end up in the same mess as Greece. Like it or not there's a time of austerity coming. I'm also a great believer in the adage that politicians are like nappies. They need changing regularly and for the same reason. :o)

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Sounds about right - conservatives should be a good bet then.

I think we need a proper leader - not someone who will completely revoke what he said because someone heard him say it, and not someone who will plead desperately to be voted in because of this and that...

We need someone firm who will get the job done and stick to his guns.