I might vote Tory but that doesn't make me a bad person

trisher - true, those peaceful marches were ignored.

Are you of an opinion that a bit of disruption helps a cause? I dont know, I am just asking.

I suppose I always have in my mind the largely peaceful marches of Ghandi. Which did work eventually.

I think people who go on marches should dress 'respectably' if possible, e.g. in suits / smart coats etc.
Obviously, not everyone can do that but if those who can, were to do it, the march would give a whole different impression.

Well actually it would. And I am not kidding. But some people are not going to get that.

I haven't worn a suit since I retired!

If I was marching I might wear trainers. Does that mark me out as a trouble-maker?

On reflection, my last post might be a bit silly! Time for bed.

Yes, balaclavers and combat jackets don't really cut it, do they FarNorth?

just heard that there is a very tall SNP MP who promises he will wear only tweed from now on.Probably a tongue in cheek remark I know, but would like to think he was serious, good stuff tweed, lasts forever according to my very old next door neighbour!Besides, there isn't enough eccentricity around these days.

I have hiccups now!

balaclavers! I can't believe I spelled that wrong...

FarNorth you are hilarious!

Farnorth, if marchers dressed as you suggest, in London, it would just seem like rush hour.

pomp
But some of them do wear trainers with suits because they walk to work and then change footwear at work.
So I wouldn't look too out of place would I?
Oh I forgot, I sent my suits to the charity shop when I retired.

sorry pompa

Freudian slip there - thinking of the pomp and circumstance march

[groan]

I've just read this thread right through - some good arguments.
Being a socialist, my views coincide with those brought up by Pogs and Trisher in the last few pages - all that postwar idealist planning and legislation gradually being eroded and sold off.
But as the saying goes, some of my best friends vote Conservative.
What hasn't been explained fully yet though is why the final result was so different from the predictions. There must have been many who changed their mind at the last minute.

Rosequartz, I agree with you entirely, the [groan] that is

I think the last march that I took interest was the CND Aldermaston march.

TriciaF wrote: What hasn't been explained fully yet though is why the final result was so different from the predictions.

The exit polls got it very wrong, didn't they?

I think it highlights the fact that there were lots of quiet or secret Conservatives about, too scared to speak up because....well, if you vote Conservative you must be heartless, greedy, rich, lacking in compassion, and selfish etc, etc, etc.

There have been so many very vocal, far left supporters ready to damn anyone not voting Labour and paint them as uncaring, and of course that isn't the case.

Just as Labourites fear the implication of Tory policies, doesn't it follow that those voting Conservative worried about the implications of left-wing policies?

I certainly did, and I am far from wealthy. I have faced many struggles in my life and come from a working class background. I value the NHS and education. I couldn't afford private education for my children or pay for health care, yet I voted Conservative for the first time in my life. I don't see a future of doom and gloom under the Tories, but I really did fear what would happen if Ed Miliband's Labour won and managed the country for the next four years. The rise of the SNP also affected my choice, I must admit.

Those who remained quiet cast their votes, and as I wrote before, I am so glad we live in a democracy.

Day6 - so someone from a polling organisation contacts you about voting intention and you daren't tell the which way you intend to vote? And then someone stops you outside a polling station after you've voted and you tell them the truth about which way you voted? Quite how does this stack up? It doesn't make sense does it? A much more likely explanation is that it was reported by the opinion polls that a quarter of people hadn't made their minds up by the time of the last poll. This would then explain quite a lot of the discrepancy plus the fact that an exit poll ( which got it right) is based on what people did whereas an opinion poll which got it wrong is based on intention. The world I live in you get quite a lot of flack for voting Labour

And good luck with the NHS

I agree Day6, and having just listened to the Channel 5 news, the Labour Party spokesman (didn't get his name) said it is going to take Labour at least 10 years to sort out the unholy mess it's got itself into - they've also lost one of their biggest supporter, Lord Sugar. Lord Sugar said that the party has to move away from its far left wing stance if it is to regain any credibility.

And apparently Nigel Farage's resignation has been rejected because there is no one 'capable' of replacing him.

pompA the [groan] was for my terrible cheesy joke
but yes, I agree!

I would have marched against the Iraq war if I had been able to (in my suit and trainers!)

No-one has ever asked me which way I voted for a poll, either by phone or outside the polling station.

I saw that Liam Byrne says that not a day goes by where he doesn't regret leaving 'that note'.
Liam you meant it as a joke (albeit very poor taste) which backfired. It may have contributed to the result but it wasn't the only reason, so please forgive yourself. What's done is done and cannot be undone.

You do have to feel a bit sorry for Ed, don't you? So many of his party have got their knives out for him now - never had any trust in him or his campaign apparently, although they didn't think to tell him so at the time! What a mess...

I don't think Liam Byrne is on GN!

I do feel sorry for Ed (it's not just left-wingers who feel compassion is it!).

And Nick.
He should have gone into acting instead, very goodlooking imo.

Ana - that's a nice post ( I'm not being sarcastic). I'm quite shocked at how quickly they are rounding on him as though it was all down to him. Of course he has to ( and he has) taken responsibility but I just thought they could have given him a bit of a breather for a few days.