Vote 2005!

[Robie]

Labour

Tax

Pledges not to raise income tax and promises cuts for families. Other rises not ruled out, notably national insurance.

Spending

Promises to implement savings in the Gershon review - to cut more than 80,000 civil service jobs and save £21bn.

Education

Big expansion of city academies and specialist schools. University top-up fees capped at £3,000 over next parliament.

Health

Maximum waiting time of 18 weeks from referral to treatment by 2008. More choice over hospital and elderly care.

Pensioners

Incentives to work beyond retirement age. Will wait until the review of pensions then formulate a strategy for 'pensions crisis'.

Local Government

Reform council tax after review, but go ahead with revaluation and may introduce supertax bands for costliest homes.

Civil Liberties

A points system for skilled migrants and a pledge to continue cutting asylum numbers. Strongly in favour of ID cards.

Iraq

Defends the war and attempts to draw a line under it, preferring people to move on, pointing to Iraqi interim elections.

Europe

Referendum on EU constitution, but no date set, and to campaign for 'yes' vote. Would back Euro if economic tests met.

Environment

Apply international pressure on climate change, reduce CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. Support emissions trading.

Conservative

Tax

Promises £4bn of cuts but that will not happen for a year. £1.3bn cut from council tax, the rest has yet to be announced.

Spending

Spend £12bn less than Labour by 2007-08. Abolish 150 public bodies, reform immigration and scrap New Deal.

Education

Overhaul school admissions, with more choice for parents. Abolish university fees, but charge interest on student loans.

Health

Choice of any NHS or private hospital, with subsidy for patients who go private. Guarantee a crackdown on MRSA.

Pensioners

Increase basic state pension in line with earnings, not prices - about £7 a week for single pensioners and £11 for couples.

Local Government

Offer pensioners (65 and over) up to £500 off council tax. Oppose local income tax. Action against illegal traveller camps.

Civil Liberties

Reform of asylum and a points system for economic migrants. Sceptical about ID cards. Reform or scrap Human Rights Act.

Iraq

Backed the war but now say Blair misled the public. Using the war to raise concerns about trust in the Government.

Europe

Would set date of referendum on EU constitution on 6 May. Would repatriate control over fishing and quit social chapter.

Environment

Incentives to make homes more efficient. Cut vehicle tax for 'greener' cars. Increase recycling and clearly label British food.

Lib Dem

Tax

Would create a 50 per cent top rate for earners on more than £100,000. Say they do not need further tax rises.

Spending

Scrap the Department of Trade and Industry to save £8.2bn in five years and make savings from other departments.

Education

Cut primary class sizes to 20 using £1bn saved by abolishing the child trust fund. Abolish university tuition fees. They are also abolishing the GCSE and A level system in favour of a Diploma system.

Health

Free long-term care for the elderly, cut "hidden" waiting lists for diagnosis. Free prescriptions and eye tests. They are also going to introduce medical "MOT" like regular health tests much like used to happen with the Dentist.

Pensioners

£100 on the state pension for over-75s. All given the right to a citizen's pension based on where they live, not their contributions.

Local Government

Would replace council tax with a local income tax, with cuts for most pensioners. Devolve more power to local communities.

Civil Liberties

Quotas for economic migrants but allow asylum-seekers to work. Scrap ID cards, and spend the money on 10,000 police.

Iraq

Strongly opposed the war on a "flawed prospectus" and made a "never again" pledge one of 10 main commitments.

Europe

Ardently pro-European, would hold early referendum on the Euro, and will campaign for a 'yes' on the EU constitution.

Environment

Freeze on GM crops. New target on carbon emissions. 20 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Adapted from The Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/...sp?story=629150

My Analysis

Tax

Lib Dems have it on this issue for me. 50% tax on taxable income over 100,000 is a great policy. Firstly, no one needs that sort of money and don't say David Beckham earned a 20,000 wendy house for his kids. The money could be used in a much more productive and fair way throughout the Uk.

Spending

Definitely not the conservatives! The new deal has to be the best incentive for people to get into work this country has seen imo. I remain Neutral on this one.

Education

IMO the student loan is over hyped in the media.. you only pay it back when you have the money and you don't even see the money. However, the Tories policy of charging interest is a tad unfair and I would prefer to see the Lib Dems cut class sizes to 20... The child trust fund however is something I am in favour of and would prefer to see stay... So again I will stay neutral on this issue.

Health

Nice policy from the Tories for people to choose which hospitals to go to but I think free prescriptions and check ups will be better in the long term as illnesses are better diagnosed earlier. So Lib Dems here.

Pensioners

Cant go wrong being 100 quid richer :P Lib Dems win here :)

Local Government

I would prefer an income based tax here so again Lib Dems have the best policy.

Civil Liberties

Labour & Tories- Points system! More red tape, have they not learnt anything here. I'm having to fill in forms asking if its alright to push a child in the stomach until they are physically sick just so I can Referee local football! Quotas are easy to manage and still allowing Asylum seekers a safe place, allowing them to work and produce for the country. Libe Dems take this again.

Iraq

I agree with Labour here, Tories are just jumping on the bandwagon and the Lib Dems are simply wrong So Labour win this one.

Europe

Have to agree with Labour here. The economic tests are currently not being met but if they were (and they probably will in the future) The European union would be very beneficial to us economically allowing us to compete with USA a bit more :)

Environment

I can't disagree with Tories here as I drive a cleaner car (I would imagine anyway!) Also I don't agree with Chelsea tractors being needlessly owned just for images sake.

Labour - 2

Conservative - 1

Lib Dems - 5

Needless to say, I will be voting Lib Dems this election

[Chappers]

Unfortunately, I don't believe any of them.. :(

[GIDDLEPIN]

Unfortunately, I don't believe any of them..  :(

←

Same here

[Robie]

In that case guys, I put it to you that you should vote Lib Dems. They don't have much (any) chance of winning it and it would be a massive kick in the teeth for the Tories and Labour.

[GIDDLEPIN]

In that case guys, I put it to you that you should vote Lib Dems. They don't have much (any) chance of winning it and it would be a massive kick in the teeth for the Tories and Labour.

←

So would a size 14 Doc Martin

[Fidgits]

I was going to vote Lib dems - but its not just over 100k that will pay more tax, anyone on an average salary or above will be paying more

Plus they want to accelerate europe, and open our borders to immigrants..

its a shame, but i cant vote for them on that...

so im voting torys, just to get Tony out.

(oh and how can you say an illegal war is just wrong? - no wmd's, no legal reason for invading Iraq and removing the current leader....)

[Fmrl]

I'm going to vote for the anarchy party!

I think its got to the point where no one believes what any of them say any more (same *****, different colour) - no wonder there's such a low turn out on voting day.

[Fidgits]

this is how Tony got in last time - because people couldnt be bothered to vote him out, or wasted votes on parties like the BNP or Green...

[Fmrl]

I'd vote if there was an alternative - Howard just comes across as a slimey liar, all the other parties is just a waste of a vote anyway.

[~Rach~]

I was going to vote Lib dems - but its not just over 100k that will pay more tax, anyone on an average salary or above will be paying more

←

Its apparently couples earning over £40k a year that will get the higher rate of tax.

Labour and torys are full of tripe, no matter what they promise it wont happen. Have to give Lib dems a go see if they can do any better than blair and major.....

[Fidgits]

I was going to vote Lib dems - but its not just over 100k that will pay more tax, anyone on an average salary or above will be paying more

←

Its apparently couples earning over £40k a year that will get the higher rate of tax.

Labour and torys are full of tripe, no matter what they promise it wont happen. Have to give Lib dems a go see if they can do any better than blair and major.....

←

As I said, i was going to vote Lib dems..

But, if me and missues both earn 20K a year or more, then we will be worse of..

Immigration will accelerate, and we will give more power to Brussels..

As much as i dislike the Torys, compared to the policies above, i'll take them...

[jaxx]

Unfortunately, I don't believe any of them..  :(

←

neither do i

all a bunch of lying messed up wasters who are going to ruin this country even more than it already is :ffs:

[Robie]

The Lib Dems want to free up the policy for those seeking asylum (ie fleeing for their lives) and give them the chance to work in this country ( Low skilled jobs none of us will do like cockel picking!). However it is putting a quota on the amount of economic migrants which imo is a good idea :)

The tax for over 38k pays for local services.. My parents will be worse off with this as well but imo we can manage fine and our local services will be minted because of it

[Fidgits]

yes, but its for 'joint income' so a majority of hard working people will be worse off... in fact, by the sounds of it, under the Lib Dems the only people that wont be are those that 'live off the state' or single people on minimum wage...

[Moffmo]

Unfortunately, I don't believe any of them..  :(

←

neither do i

all a bunch of lying messed up wasters who are going to ruin this country even more than it already is :ffs:

←

yep

the government should be called rip of britain, and any policies they make should be called "rip off mk3" etc

[Robie]

yes, but its for 'joint income' so a majority of hard working people will be worse off... in fact, by the sounds of it, under the Lib Dems the only people that wont be are those that 'live off the state' or single people on minimum wage...

...And those that; use public services like the NHS, are pensioners, use other local services (Roads anyone?).........

[jaxx]

im all for any party stopping the scum sucking crap immigrants who come in and then pawn off the tax system and end up living off benefit and in a 3 bed semi

while we have honest people out on the streets

not that im all against it, some people are inas qualified docotrs and other proffesions and add vital resource to the country being as most our students pawn off the tax system on crap media courses

[Robie]

http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com

Fill in form as to whether you agree with the policies and hit submit:

I got Lib Dems +40 with the next being UKIP at -2

[Demonic Angel]

Arent the Lib Dems also aboloshing council tax in favour of an income tax? Council tax rates are just absurd at the moment - I think we need a fairer system.....

I think Tony has done an ok job of running the country - I'd happily see him in office again actually - however I'm not keen on a few of their prospective policies!

I wont say who I'm voting for - I never tell! However it will not be Michael "Monotone" Howard or the BNP!

[dj_davo]

ultimately every government is there to collect taxes from us.

bring back robin hood, flower power and guy fawkes!

[Fidgits]

http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com

Fill in form as to whether you agree with the policies and hit submit:

I got Lib Dems +40 with the next being UKIP at -2

←

Thats utter tripe!

I should vote for the Green party, followed by Ukip...

but lib dems and labour were both minuses - labour being well ahead though...

[Robie]

[Boro Sera]

I think Tony has done an ok job of running the country

←

When????

all he has done for the past few years is ignore everyone, act like a dictator and try to pave the way for himself to become the first president of Europe.

Lying, grinning *****.

[Robie]

How are you worse off since Labour came to power?

[Fidgits]

I can give you several examples of how I'm worse off since labour came to power....

lets see - student fee's

NI DOUBLED (did you miss that - thats a TAX INCREASE from 1% to 2%)

Fuel prices hit an all time high last year, and again this year

Council Taxes increasing at nearly twice the rate of inflation

the list goes on...