Interesting question.

Here in Canada, the Conservatives hold a minority government. They also hold ridiculous fistfuls of political cash. Every three months or so, whether an election looks imminent or not (I guess an election is always imminent in a minority parliament) the Conservatives pay for a barrage of attack ads against the Liberal party. The other parties dream of having enough money to pay for a full-power campaign next election, as short minorities between elections have bled their coffers dry, while the Conservatives spend as if the campaign lasts year round.

Every time the tories buy more ads, their polling numbers tick upward. Sometimes they even flirt with majority levels of support. Then they settle back into a small lead over their rival Liberal party.

I don't know if the Conservative's permanent campaign is hurting them, but it sure doesn't seem to be getting them anywhere.

My constituency is covered with Conservative posters. Nothing from the other two parties, though, and with good reason: every penny spent by Labour/Lib Dems in my constituency is a penny wasted.

Does that mean you'll go with UKIP come election time?

I definitely know what you're talking about. There's a fine line between campaigning and annoying your voters.

I thought your elections were solely funded by the government. How much you guys spending. Though I suppose the facebook stuff is free.

When it comes to campaigning too much... they only may lose my vote if they currently are in a government position. I'm not gonna vote for someone who spends half his time in elections unless the other guy REALLY sucks.

mrstickball said: Does that mean you'll go with UKIP come election time?

No, UKIP fail for so many reasons. If there was a libertarian party with a liberal social policies and economically conservative policies (only without just cutting out national services like they did in the Thatcher era), then I would probably go for them. In fact I may find and vote for a small independent party just like that, even though they wont win.

highwaystar101 said: mrstickball said: Does that mean you'll go with UKIP come election time? No, UKIP fail for so many reasons. If there was a libertarian party with a liberal social policies and economically conservative policies (only without just cutting out national services like they did in the Thatcher era), then I would probably go for them. In fact I may find and vote for a small independent party just like that, even though they wont win.

What do you mean by economically conservative policies?

Yeah, but you live in Essex. It's just Conservative country out there, I bet the other two parties don't even try. In fact, I would be surprised if they existed.

Oh, they try, and they do possess a couple of seats here and there, Lib Dems have a few councillors. I don't really mind, tbh, in this election I'm supporting the Tories, anyway. Does that make me a Tory? No. I just think that the Gov't deficit should be cut hard and fast, and that they will do it the fastest (still, not fast enough). Frankly, I see this as more important than any other policy coming into this election, as not sorting it out could cost the country, and the stability of some of its closest trading partners (the likes of Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, etc. - some of which are on the verge of collapse as it is), very dearly in the long run.

More worringly about the village(/town, I suppose) I live in, however, is that the BNP got the second highest amount of votes, with the Lib Dems at a semi-distant third during the last election. Not good. I, unlike most, believe that the BNP should be allowed to exist, but I sure as hell don't want them to be representing my interests.

SamuelRSmith said: highwaystar101 said: mrstickball said: Does that mean you'll go with UKIP come election time? No, UKIP fail for so many reasons. If there was a libertarian party with a liberal social policies and economically conservative policies (only without just cutting out national services like they did in the Thatcher era), then I would probably go for them. In fact I may find and vote for a small independent party just like that, even though they wont win. What do you mean by economically conservative policies?

Er, perhaps Libertarian is a more suitable word, actually no it isn't. I'm not good with politics, I can't think of the word, perhaps you can.

I just don't like how bloated and inefficient a lot of public services are in the UK, but I like having the actual services. I would consider voting for someone who is willing to cut areas of government spending that are just inefficient or a waste. Only I'm just plain fickle, because while I want them to cut spending, but not cut any services off totally (or at least most of them).

Yeah, I know I want something that's pretty unlikely to happen.