I'm tempted by Nigel Farage !

durhamjen perhaps a lot of people voted UKIP and that's why a Ukipper got in the North East or is that too simplistic for you to understand.

I agree, HollyDaze, the media will be full of it. That doesn't mean Gransnet has to follow suit.

What! And take away the opportunity for a good knee-jerk shout-fest

I live in the same area. I voted Green, simply because, as Gillybob said, the Labour party no longer represent my views. No local elections in Durham. But because a lot of people did not vote, a Ukipper got in for the North East.

None of the parties do represent my principles though durhamjen. There was a time when I thought the Labour party stood for everything I believed in, but sadly no longer. I think they are just tories in a very poor disguise.

Locally we did have an Independant who seemed quite reasonable, he lives local and vowed not to take a penny in expenses (impressive) but he didn't have a snowball in hell's chance of taking on the Labour Council here in Tyneside.

Sadly this is the first time in my life that I could have voted for the very reasons Gillybob said and haven't. It is pointless and I have been publicly berated because I signed support for someone to stand in local elections. My answer as Gillybob noted about monkeys that I would support anyone other than a monkey who was prepared to take on the thankless task of opposing the heavy hand of the Labour Party in this neck of the woods. Just make it marginal I cry and the stampede of money and jobs into this area would be heartwarming.

As I said before, Ana, don't read the politics thread if you do not want political disagreement.
So Gillybob, why did you not vote according to your principles? There must have been one party that you support more than most, although it was hard to find anyone's manifesto.
The only party that put any literature through my door was the Libdems, but that would definitely have been a wasted vote.
Are there any figures to show how many people lost their deposits?

I am ashamed to say I did not vote. I simply couldn't bring myself to put a X in any of the boxes. I was tempted to vote UKIP as a protest but was worried that a lot of people might do the same and they might actually get in. I needn't have worried in our local elections as a monkey could stand for the Labour party and get voted in here!

I agree, HollyDaze, the media will be full of it. That doesn't mean Gransnet has to follow suit.

We do not need to do anti-ukip lobbying. They are doing it themselves quickly enough. One councillor gone in a week.
Farage got rid of his manifesto, so he did not have one for the elections.
Lots of people voted for ukip because they were anti everyone else.
How many people actually voted for ukip positively? Not many I should think.

Ana

I do hope we're not going to be subjected to relentless anti-UKIP lobbying from now until the next general election...

Of course there will be relentless anti-UKIP lobbying - it's what they do to each other anyway and one of the biggest turn-offs in politics: too busy trying to backstab and bad-mouth one another instead of just simply putting their case forward and granting the electorate the intelligence to see through the rubbish. It's all a big game to them anyway.

David Cameron (I think it was him) said on tv a couple of days ago that they 'had tried ignoring them, then we tried insulting them and it didn't work' - says it all really doesn't it ...

I'll read what I like, durhamjen. I'm allowed to express an opinion.

Do not read the politics threads if you do not want politics, Ana.

It certainly was rather , well... atqui I agree with you there.

Ivanhoe
Also, due to your chosen political affiliation, I take it you dont use the NHS,because the NHS was born of a Labour Government in 1945-1948. The Conservatives of the day fought hard against its core values.

I don't think NanKate will have had the option to opt out of contributing to the NHS, even if she disagreed with its inception. Should we say that people who have voted labour for 50 years should not be buying their own houses?Nothing to do with UKIP I know , but I just thought the above comment was rather ,well........

I'm sure the two will could be combined, Lona!

Makes a change from the DM Ana!

Well, you're not likely to be voting for them anyway then.

Why not? I'm still waiting to hear what they actually stand for

I do hope we're not going to be subjected to relentless anti-UKIP lobbying from now until the next general election...

All those people who voted for Ukip voted for a party that had no manifesto. Farage ditched the last one in January and will launch the new one in September. He hasn't yet decided what to do about the NHS or the economy.

Thanks for that little postcard nonu
UKIP councillor expelled from party yesterday for racist remarks etc
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-27611960

Sunseeker if you come from outside the EU immigration is not easy. Even if you marry a UK resident it is tough. Neither is it at all easy for companies to employ non-EU citizens even when they have skills for which that company might be desperate. Very similar to Aus and NZ really - only there they have more limited free movement - NZ citizens entitled to work in Aus etc

Have read in"USA Today" that UKIP have done rather better than expected.
I don"t know whethere to be sad or glad !!
and to you all

touch not tough

That's true - old conservatism had at least a tough of paternalism that stopped them going too far right. The old Liberals were the ones with a laissez-faire, devil- take- the- hindmost attitudes.

NanKate.l If you have always voted Conservative, then you wouldnt have voted at all this past 30 odd years. Since Thatcher, decent one nation left wing Conservatism has gone, only to be replaced by harsh ultra right wing Tory.

Also, due to your chosen political affiliation, I take it you dont use the NHS,because the NHS was born of a Labour Government in 1945-1948. The Conservatives of the day fought hard against its core values.