Author Topic: UK Parties (pls educate me) (Read 369 times)

1K3 · « **on:** May 05, 2005, 06:29:13 PM »

is this right?

UK then US equivalent

Conservatives ... mirrors the GOP (USA)

Liberals ... equivalent to 3rd party in the US

Labor (Labour) ... socialists

correct me if im wrong

Pei · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2005, 07:39:35 PM »

The Liberals these days are oftne more left wing than Labour: they were originally a centre party but with the Conservatives and Labour hogging the middle ground they have drifted left.

Seeker · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2005, 08:43:04 PM »

But roughly; you're right.

However; in some respects the UK is beginning to resemble the USA; in as much as there's a small but growing number of one man band and independant candidates; where the constituents vote for the candidates individual platform rather than party political ideology.

This is much more common in mainland Europe; where it's not uncommon for some independants to band together to form a voteing block. These tend to be single issue or single policy groupings.

It'll be interesting to see if this starts to develop more in the future.

Replicant · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2005, 03:41:44 AM »

'New Labour' are very much similar to the Conservatives (Tories) these days. Labour were a socialist party but they ditched a lot of what they believed in to oust the Tories back in 1997 (taking many Tory policies and branding them 'their own'). Labour used to be the party that fought for the working class and their unions. Labour pretty much screw unions these days.

So, both Labour and Conservatives are middle to right wing. Liberal are middle to left wing.

-tronski- · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2005, 04:13:45 AM »

whats the BNP?
Like a "nationalist" party like we have here?

Tronsky

Replicant · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2005, 04:55:10 AM »

Yes, British National Party (BNP). Far right wing political party.

beet1e · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2005, 06:16:00 AM »

Yes, Labour was forced to give up its old policies, which had become redundant anyway. They had relied on much of their support coming from the cloth cap voters. But all those loss making 19th century nationalised industries were either shut down or privatised, so the cloth cap culture disappeared. So Labour had to change. They still believe in "big government" and the nanny state, and high taxes...

Seeker · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2005, 06:45:23 AM »

No comment on the roles of Independants; Beetle?

Seems Galloway is a bit of a cause celebre....

214thCavalier · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2005, 08:05:05 AM »

Galloways constituency has over 45000 muslims.
Can you see any correlation between that and why he held such a strong antiwar footing ?
Anybody who expresses surprise that he got voted in is an idiot.

lazs2 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2005, 08:11:03 AM »

you guys have parties that claim to be more or less socialist than the other guy? What more can they do... tuck you in at night?

lazs

Schaden · « **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2005, 09:17:32 AM »

Here you go...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/default.stm

beet1e · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2005, 11:53:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Seeker
No comment on the roles of Independants; Beetle?

Seems Galloway is a bit of a cause celebre....

Well, the independent candidates are usually single issue parties. George Galloway is a good example. Another prime example is Kilroy-Silk of Veritas. He used to be Labour, and he used to have a TV programme I quite enjoyed. Now, he's just a banana.

I've just looked at the figures for George's seat - wow!

That's an incredible swing of 35.9% to his party, and 16.5% away from Labour. There can be little doubt that the voters in Bethnal Green were really, really pissed off at Blair over the war. And there can be little doubt that Blair is equally pissed off with George Galloway.

JB73 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2005, 12:06:32 PM »

someone named "oona" is on a ticket?

beet1e · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2005, 12:16:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by JB73
someone named "oona" is on a ticket?

Yes. Her husband's name is probably Wang.

thrila · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2005, 12:23:58 PM »

Coffee and kilroy? tea and trisha? It used tyo be so hard to decide.