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Fintan
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Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 6105
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 Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: Two in Five Shun Three Main UK Political Parties |
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A new poll shows serious shifts in traditional
levels of support for the main parties in the UK.
Ethics versus Power anybody?
This could have implications for the NWO's EU Superstate project.
And if the anti-Superstate UK Independence Party does as well as
this poll indicates in the upcoming June EU elections then it could
send a sign to Irish voters who will ballot on the EU Lisbon Treaty
later this year.
| Quote: | Two in Five Shun Three Main Political Parties
After 10 days of headlines that have devastated Parliament, The IoS
reveals the strength of the public revolt against mainstream politics
By Jane Merrick and Brian Brady - Sunday, 17 May 2009
Disenchantment among the British electorate with the three main
parties is at a record high after 10 days of revelations about the
expenses claims of the nation's MPs.
Two in five say they will refuse to vote or select one of the minor parties,
such as the Greens or Ukip, rather than support the Tories, Labour or the
Liberal Democrats, a ComRes poll shows.
The figures presented on the front page today are percentages for the
entire electorate, and so include the 23 per cent who say they will not
vote in the Westminster elections. They also include 17 per cent who will
consider voting for a minor party – and that could prove a big opportunity
for the Greens and Ukip at the forthcoming European polls, where they
would be expected to do much better than in the first-past-the-post
system.
The 40 per cent for "none of the above" is compared with 31 per cent for
the Tories, 16 per cent for Labour and 13 per cent for the Lib Dems.
Among those absolutely certain to vote, the figures are even more stark
– 64 per cent back "none of the above". Of these, 54 per cent are unlikely
to vote and 10 per cent back other parties. This would leave the
Conservatives on 18 per cent, Labour on 10 per cent and the Lib Dems
on 8 per cent, suggesting there may be a record low turnout at the next election.
On the traditional state of the parties measure, Labour slides five points
on last month to another record low – 21 per cent – with the Tories also
slipping five, though well out in front on 41 per cent. The Lib Dems remain
at 18 per cent. In an election, this would give David Cameron a majority
of 152.
The slump of Labour and the Tories since the ComRes poll for The
Independent last month underscores how the main parties are being
punished for the expenses scandal. And a supplementary question asked
of voters suggests that 43 per cent will consider voting for a minor party
in the European elections next month. Other polls suggest that the Greens
are set to double their 6 per cent of last time round.
Andrew Hawkins, chief executive of ComRes, said: "I can't remember any
time when the minor parties were at anything like this level."
In an attempt to regain the initiative and restore trust, Gordon Brown will
today issue a veiled threat to ministers whose expenses are under
investigation that they could be sacked. The Prime Minister warns that
any minister who is found to have "morally" or technically broken the
rules "will not serve" with his government. He adds that Labour MPs
found to be cheating will be deselected.
The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will this week consider
launching criminal investigations into MPs' expenses claims. Downing
Street sources refused to comment on the "scoping" inquiries into several
MPs, including Chancellor Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
and the employment minister Tony McNulty.
The Speaker, Michael Martin, will also come under intense pressure to
carry the can for the scandal, with friends suggesting he might announce
his intention to stand down before the next election to try to appease
critics. A motion of no confidence is expected to be tabled by MPs as early
as tomorrow. His former media adviser, John Stonborough, told The
Sunday Times last night that Mr Martin ruled with a "reign of terror" that
allegedly held up a solution to the expenses crisis.
Yesterday Martin Bell, the anti-sleaze campaigner, suggested he might
stand for election against an MP hit by the scandal, possibly the Speaker.
There were reports last night that even the Queen has made clear to Mr
Brown her unhappiness at the crisis. And an investigation by the IoS has
discovered that Britain's MPs are taking advantage of another allowances
"loophole" that lets them channel taxpayers' money into the network of
local constituency associations around the country. More than 100 MPs
are using expenses to pay their often impoverished constituency parties
thousands of pounds a year for facilities and services such as rent and
secretarial help. The MPs, who include Mr Cameron and nine members of
his Shadow Cabinet, say they are paying for legitimate business services
and that the arrangements have the blessing of House of Commons
authorities.
In the ComRes poll, 50 per cent disagree with the statement that "most
MPs are honest and have been let down by the greed of a minority", while
46 per cent agree. Six out of 10 voters believe Mr Cameron has dealt
with the expenses issue better than Mr Brown.
Yet there is bad news for Labour MPs hoping for a fresh start under a
candidate such as Alan Johnson, with just 32 per cent of people agreeing
that the Health Secretary would be a better Prime Minister than Mr Brown.
The Sunday Telegraph today printed more revelations, including the
expenses of the Tory MP Julian Lewis, who claimed more than £7,000 for
redecorating his second home and installing new kitchen appliances. The
MP for New Forest East denied any wrongdoing and said he would be
"astonished" if an internal party audit ordered by Mr Cameron would
judge any of his claims unreasonable and demand he return the cash.
Labour MP David Chaytor became the second in his party to be
suspended, following Elliot Morley's downfall last week, after he admitted
claiming £13,000 in mortgage interest payments for a mortgage that had
been repaid. Mr Chaytor said he had made an "unforgivable error" and
apologised unreservedly.
A ComRes poll of European voting intentions for the Sunday Express,
commissioned by Ukip, put the Tories on 28 per cent, Labour on 20 and
the Lib Dems on 14. Ukip were on 15, the Greens on 11 and the BNP on 4
per cent. And a BPIX/Mail on Sunday survey of general election voting
intentions put the Tories on 42 per cent and Labour down at 20 per cent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/two-in-five-shun-three-main-political-parties-1686268.html |
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virtuoso
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| A serious shift? or something which has always existed. I guess it depends on the class, I think the typical message you hear from most working class people is "all party's are the same, no point in voting" |
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