politicians sniping at each other

Having just heard 'our' useless MP supporting a discredited West Country MP I quite frankly neither believe a word any of them say nor do I intend to vote for him.....or anyone else.

Because they are worried about their jobs?
Or maybe because they really do not like each other.

It's much easier to slag off the other parties or the opposing candidates than it is to present a sensible, reasoned argument about why your own policies are the best. UK politicians are by no means the only ones who do this but the system is such that simply winning hearts and minds is not enough; actively defeating the rest is essential.

Surely I am not alone in thinking it is really bad manners to insult each other like this, especially on tv.
I work for a polling company and so I meet many excited voters in my work, they all try to convince me to vote for one or the other, which is quite reasonable and if they wish to be nasty about anyone that is normal for the man in the street, but its the candidates or the party leaders that annoy me, on tv, slagging the opposition off.

It really is not very edifying and extremely tiresome - I am sure they know that we would rather listen to positive policies, but they seem unable to resist the temptation to sniping and rudeness.

Children in the playground comes to mind and I am another one not at a
all impressed by "it wasn't me miss, he did it and I had to make it right".
I have voted since the 1950's and don't know what to do this time. Our present MP, a Lib Dem is retiring so a new decision.

I loathe listening to parliament on tv but DH has it on more or less every day. I hate the shouting and snide remarks. Reasoned measured debate . Where is it?

I think they're often encouraged to be rude and antagonistic by the interviewer, if there is one - most of us will have witnessed slanging matches where the supposed 'impartial' presenter joined in and actually made matters worse.

No one seems to let anyone finish a point, they all shout over each other and dignity goes out of the window.

would love to bang their heads together especially on tv.

I agree with all of your comments especially what annsixty said about children in the playground. Why do they think their silly behaviour will make us want to vote for them ?

I always use my vote but am finding it increasingly difficult to not just spoil the ballot paper. I would like to vote for the party which removes it's litter from the countryside immediately after the election (or not put it there in the first place). Too often it is only removed by the weather.

And another thing, when did you last have a party member come to the door,ask your opinion and answer the points you have raised? It is many years since even local candidates came to our door.

It is all very childish and does nothing to encourage voters to consider their policies and parties.

I did read somewhere that, even though some of them can have a real slanging match, they are sometimes good friends away from Parliament or the camera.

Perhaps they should imagine that they are in a sixth form debating society.

Just Grow Up and behave like 18 year olds!

So do I Ethelbags in fact the more I hear the less I wish to listen! They clearly don't know just how puerile and unedifying a spectacle they make (or don't care!)
I sometimes think it's because they totally lack the intelligence and ability to debate in a civilised manner, preferring to behave like an arrogant rabble.
Certainly spoiling my ballot paper is becoming more and more likely, for the first time in 43 years, sadly.

Is the monster raving loony party still in existence ?
maybe Ill vote for them.
its interesting to know its not just me who doesn't like the fighting and silliness.

I don't think it's that they lack the intelligence, or ability come to that.

It seems to be that civilised debate is out of fashion, and the media, especially tv, think that controversy and Big Brother-style confrontation will pull in viewers.

Is the monster raving loony party still in existence ?
maybe Ill vote for them.
its interesting to know its not just me who doesn't like the fighting and silliness.

Your opponents are in the opposition parties; your enemies are in your own.

Our legal system and our parliamentary system are antagonistic: to win is more important than to establish what is the truth, or what is the best way forward for the country. I'm not sure whether this is the right or wrong way to go about things, but perhaps it's what suits us.

It is all a big turn-off and in the end most people can't be bothered to listen to them and just vote how they have usually done.

No way am I voting for local MP! His arrogance is breathtaking.....

rosequartz Not so bad if most people can't be bothered to listen and just vote how they have usually done but it is worse if people can't be bothered to listen and can't be bothered to vote.

my local MP is an arrogant slob, he was horrible when I approached him for a matter unconnected to politics, where he should have been polite, thinking I might be a possible voter.
Goodness knows who are the representatives of the other local parties.

Living in a very safe Tory seat, our complacent MP does not knock on doors or even appear in the constituency as far as I can see. Would love to see the smug bastard chap lose his seat.

don't they say nowadays that its not considered safe to knock on doors even in pairs. Think about market researchers doing the same they work alone in the dark. No-one knocks on our doors, maybe cos even the staffies answer the doors in pairs.

There are a lot worse in other countries, some of them come to blows!However, amongst all the point scoring that goes on, there are often some relevent points as well.It's all part of the cut and thrust of parliament.