Election Update 4
I've just had my lunch and watched some news, which is quite funny at the moment because they have nothing to report yet. Someone in the studio just says "Voting is under way all over the UK, blah blah", then they cut to some reporter ourside a polling station who says "People are coming to the polling station to cast their vote, blah blah" and then they interview an old person and a young person (extra points if either is from an ethnic minority) who both say that they've voted and that everyone else should too.
Quite encouragingly, despite the fact that they're predicting a very low turnout, I just got a text from a friend who isn't at all political reminding me to vote. Hopefully most of my friends will manage to drag themselves to a polling station before 10, otherwise I'll be having words.
Just thought I'd better give all of you who aren't from the UK (that's pretty much everyone, right? ) a general summary of parites who are expected to win seats and where the leaders' constituancies are so my updates later will make more sense.
Tony Blair (Labour) - Sedgefield (in Co. Durham, which is in the North of England).
Michael Howard (Conservative - he's the one who looks like a balding vampire) - Folkstone and Hythe (which is in Kent, in the South East)
Charles Kennedy (Liberal Democrat) - Ross, Skye and Lochaber (That's the northwest of Scotland)
The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru (Wales' national party) usually win several seats in their respective countries, but are usually fairly quiet in the Uk Parliament unless speaking up about devolution or issues that particularly concern their country. Since I'm English, as opposed to Scottish or Welsh, I'll mainly be focussing on English politics. MPs are also being elected in Northern Ireland, but since the situation over there is quite complicated because some parties field candidates who then snub the british Parliament if they are elected and never turn up (and I think Sinn Fein might still be banned from the House of Commons after the IRA tried to blow up Maggie Thatcher's government when they were in Brighton?) I might give general updates but I won't go into it in depth because I don't fully understand it.
Anyway. Other parties who don't currently hold any seats but are hoping to or expected to win at least one (in order of number of candidates fielded):
The UK Independence Party (around 500 seats) basicaly want Britain to leave the EU and go it alone. A stupid idea, in my view. Similar immigration policies to the Conservatives. Only obvious use in most areas is to split Tory vote allowing Lib Dem candidate to win. They have several Euro MEPs, who basically run the party, but their chairperson, Petrina Holdsworth, is contesting Folkstone and Hythe. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The Green Party (around 200) Often dismissed as a one issue party, I have to agree with their worries that climate change is the biggest long term issue that will be affecting our country, and none of the other parties have addressed this. Keith taylor is the party's main spokesperson, and he's contesting Brighton Pavillion, which is the constituancy in which I went to school. Would be nice if they got a seat, but I won't be holding my breath.
The British National Party (around 100) Obnoxious, racist, fascict organisation. Their leader, Nick Griffin, who's contesting Keighley (which I presume is up North somewhere) has been arrested several times and charged with inciting racial hatred and various violent offences. He is of the opinion that Britain is 'full' and accuses MPs from other parties of being murderers and paedophiles. Basically a party for jobs and football hooligans, I am appalled that there are 100 people who support this organisation at all, let alone that there are 100 people prepared to stand as MPs in its name. It will be a very bad day for britain if any of them are elected, as it will probably lead to civil unrest and race riots.
Veritas (65) basically a huge ego-stroking excersise for odious perma-tanned former talkshow presenter Robert Kilroy Silk. He was elected as a Euro MP when he was a member of UKIP, but when they didn't want to make him their leader he threw a huge wobbly and walked out, quitting his job as an mEp and setting up a new party. He's standing as a candidate in Erewash (no, I have no idea where that is either) and that should be quite amusing to watch because whenever he makes a public appearance his smarminess becomes too much for some people to bear and someone ends up throwing a bucket of shit over him. Fingers crossed it happens again tonight.
Respect (26) Set up with the help of the anti war coalition when former Labour MP george Galloway was kicked out of the Labour Party, Respect is mainly appealing to ethnic minority voters who feel thay have been sidelined by Labour. they're only contesting a few seats, but I reckon they could easily win more than one if the turnout is high. A nice lady from respect came to my door yesterday and chatted for a while about the party, and gave me a leaflet which I read thoroughly. I'm not actually registered in london, but if I was I'd probably vote for Respect; no other party has a chance of taking over a Labour seat here in the East End, and all of their policies would benefit the people who live in this area.
So there you have it. Hope it's clear (which it probably isn't). I'll post some links to some proper sites (like the BBC!) a bit later on. Must go and do some work!