General Election - what would decide the vote for you?

Foreign aid is admirable, provided it goes where it is supposed to go, i.e. the programmes mentioned above by GrannySquare, AND providing everything is being done by the Governments of these countries to help their own people. But my understanding is that we are sending foreign aid to countries where corruption is rife, and some of our donations are being siphoned off by corrupt officials. We are also, I believe, donating to countries with armament programmes and even space programmes! If they can find money for these programmes, why do they need ours?

Opal I am cynical about the aid and think we give it where it helps our own self interest. We probably sell weapons to some of them.

I think giving aid to charities in needy countries is far better than giving it to governments although that could already be the case,

Does anything know how many MPs are standing down? Preferably by party.

I wasn't on Twitter at the last election so cannot compare buy there seem to be an awful lot tweeting thanks to their constituents and goodbye.

Peston asking if Conservatives are 'losing' the election. www.itv.com/news/2019-11-06/is-johnson-already-mucking-up-the-election-he-desperately-wanted/

Twitter thread here with a chart showing MPs standing down as at 30th October. There have been more announced since. e.g. I've seen today that Ed Vaizey has stood down

twitter.com/GavinFreeguard/status/1189473745255223296

Just scrolled further down the twitter thread. There's a chart comparing with previous General Elections. 2010 was a veritable bloodbath, 140+

Thanks Maizie It would be good to have the info when all the candidates are announced. Seems a lot to me but apparently it has been worse. Hard to believe politics could ever have been worse!

Ohh Gransnet are we being used as an anonymous Poll or Survey? ?

I asked this on page one but haven.t had an answer. Which is why I'm not prepared to say what I want to see in the party manifesto's. Let the parties scour the threads to find out; I'm not prepared to make it easy for them ...

...actually it was page 2....

'I just want to remain in the EU - but would be ok to come out IF we had a vote on it and I was outnumbered by people wanting to leave' . Actually @Not Spagetti that is exactly what happened in the referendum, the majority of those who voted wanted and voted to leave the EU.

Too right I would vote to bring back hanging in a heart beat for those who murder lots of people or repeated child sex abusers. When the evidence is overwhelming such as there is a full confession, witnesses and DNA evidence. Why should they be allowed to live and enjoy their life when they have taken the life of others? There have been instances where released murders or child abusers are released and then go on to murder again. Why should tax payers fund them to stay in prison. There won't be a referendum on bringing back hanging as MP's are afraid the public would want it and vote for it.

As for Legal Aid, It is awarded to terrorist who have plotted to murder and often succeeded in murdering many people. Jihadi John was awarded over 100k in Legal Aid and I don't think he should get it.

NHS AND MORE POLICE ON THE STREETS .BRING BACVK THE COMMUNITY POLICE.

oopps capitals sorry.

I don't mind Foreign Aid being used to vaccinate children or to help to install water pumps and things like this but sadly it is abused. I would prefer Foreign Aid to be given directly to those who provide the vaccines etc rather than to government departments who abuse it. I still think it should be cut and more spent on social care and education in our own country.

It is in the Kent area where we lived. Councillors children got three of five new local authority houses built on a high end housing estate!

In a neighbouring council the cousin of a housing authority employee was jumped up the list for sheltered accommodation.

Which party is in control of these councils?

NHS AND MORE POLICE ON THE STREETS .BRING BACVK THE COMMUNITY POLICE.

So who took them away Moggie?

Lib dems and labour

Were you responding to GGMK3's question, Sussexborn?

If she was I ... doubt something about her posts but not sure if it's simple lack of knowledge, her veracity, or what!

It looks like a response to varian's question about which parties were in control of the local council, MaizieD

I want to remain in the EU but, crucially, I want to remain in the UK so its got to be LibDems for me even though I don't like the LibDem candidate in our area.

That makes mores sense Callistamon.

Jane10 I agree, it is no longer about parties or their bribes it is about the long term. It is clear that the UK will be worse off and will split if we leave the EU, long term damage. If we get a government we don't like we can grin and bear it until we vote them out. That will be a shorter time than Brexit which will last a lifetime and quite probably many deals will not be done in my lifetime.

I’m with you Jane10 - but I find myself increasingly resigned to the idea of neither happening. We can but hope though.