Forget Ukip: why the Green Party could decide the election

[Pete]

Just read this on the Telegraph site:

"Away from the blokey rabble-rousing of Ukip, there is another quieter political revolution in going on. It’s younger, more female and left-wing – and almost the exact opposite of Nigel Farage’s party.

The Green Party is on the march (well, perhaps a leisurely stroll).   

While Ukip supporters are older, more male and more working class and the Greens’ disproportionately middle-class graduates, what unites them is their distrust and anger with Westminster.

The Green Party’s standing in the polls has trebled since the beginning of the year – from two to six per cent according to YouGov – and they have occasionally leap-frogged the Lib Dems."

Seems I'm supporting a party that is on the up.


http://bit.ly/1v4isDq

[Old Cruser]

Well now, if women are leading it - it has to be worth looking into.
The shower we have in now need turfing out that's for sure!

[Scimitar]

Saw her on Question Time t'other week, & she gave a good response to all that was discussed too.
Its a shame UKIP's getting the plaudits, I know who I'd sooner trust.
Mind you, Nick Griffins support of UKIP will do them the world of good (not)

[therealjr]

6% of the popular vote will get them nothing under our current electoral system.
It would get them 30-40 seats under a genuine PR system.
Such a system would also make people think twice about protest votes.
It would encourage people to come out and vote in so called safe seats.
And yes Slacker will tell you it will lead to more coalition governments which the big parties see as a diminishing of their powers which is why they are so vastly against it.

[Pete]

... and why I am in favour of it.

Sorry Andy, but there it is - some of us want a left wing government and your lot can't do that.

[Slacker]

The MEPs have lost local identity since EU changed to the PR system. I felt sorry for those outside the top 2 or 3 on each party's list who didn't have a cat in hell's chance pf being elected.
However my main objection to PR is that unlikely that any party will get 50% of MPs so the 3rd (or below) parties hold the balance of power having to sacrifice their own manifesto to go into an unholy alliance with one of the others

[therealjr]

Slacker you know darn well that if Clegg (plus others in this scenario) had kept Gordon Brown in power for 5 years you'd think coalition governments were perfectly acceptable. Mep's have no identity because frankly no one gives a stuff who they are.

[Slacker]

I knew who Ken Coates was when he was the local MEP

[therealjr]

A Labour party activist knew who his Labour MEP was
And in other shocking news this afternoon the sun set!!!

[Slacker]

A Labour party activist knew who his Labour MEP was
And in other shocking news this afternoon the sun set!!!

I couldn't name all 5 that represent East Midlands though