I'm 33 and I have never voted in my life...In the past its been because i had no interest in politics whatsoever... However, over the last few years i have developed an interest in politics.

I try to keep abreast of the issues and where the parties stand on them.... I have even found myself sky+ing question time

After much deliberation I have come to the conclusion that none of the parties are worth voting for.

parties like UKIP & Green can say whatever the hell they like... they are not going to become elected (although interestingly enough a friend of mine, who is heavily into politics believes that Green party will get in power one day. This is on the basis of the fact that he believes the Green issue will one day become the biggest vote swayer.. and they own the issue).. so back to UKIP & Green - a vote for them is about as meaningful as their 'agendas'.

BNP - You wouldn't have thought that there was much scope for Racist Nazi's in todays society... but there appears to be... I'm pretty sure that 9/10 people that vote for these are doing so because of a misguided understanding of what the BNP party actually is. I think most want to make a stand against the immigration problem (voting BNP is NOT the way to do this).

LibDem - When you listen to them, a lot of what they say makes sense.... but then you realise that they are pretty much safe in the knowledge that they will never have to implement their policies... LibDems are like the creepy kid at school that tells everyone what they want to hear just to make friends.

and finally labour and the tories... 'new labour' simply carried on from the 'old conservatives'.... its appearing that the conservatives could win this general election.. and if they do, no one will notice any difference... it will just be a different liar in a sy suit spinning us the same old evasive durge... yes there will be a few small token changes.. but the main infrastructure will remain the same... tories/labour - red tomato/blue tomato.

So for those reasons... I'm out.

having said that I am looking forward to this head to head live debate between Cameron & Brown... politics both interests & disgusts me at the same time... Bit like rugby union in that respect.

Too many people fall for the big myth of the political elites (eg the big 2 parties), that you have to either vote for them, or not vote at all, because any vote for an alternative is a "wasted vote". No wonder Thatcher and Blair kept getting re-elected, on a small turn out, with little enthusiasm from the public, but got huge parliamentary majorities. It's like saying you have to support Leeds and Saints this year because anybody supporting someone else is wasting their time.

Look how much publicity the BNP get on the back of winning a few more votes, they aren't going to get in power but they've succeeded in one of their aims, which is to push race politics up the political agenda, and have the other main parties trying to outdo each other for who will be "toughest on immigration".

Obviously the SLP, Respect party etc aren't going to win power but if parties like that started to get a bigger share of the vote, then it would start getting Labour to think about their heritage and move back to the left. There's loads of people in the country who support that type of politics but these days they just don't vote, because they don't like individuals like Scargill and Galloway.

I bet you Labour don't win Warrington South. And I'd be surprised if they get 40% of the vote in Warrington North too.

I agree with all this.

I'm bemused by the original poster being torn between a party that's more Tory than the Tories and a party that is naturally socialist though.

For the record I voted Green in the European elections and would rather chop my hands off than put my X in Ukip's box. The General Election though is a straight choice between Labour and Conservative and there's only one option for me.

got to be labour they are the best of a bad bunch, and Cameron is a cocky arrogant joke

Is this debt conveniently ignoring the inevitable return on the investments made in propping up the banks? ASuch as the impending sale of the RBS investment arm, Sempra?

What happens to your vote, if dont vote.?

all parties are capable of making good and bad policies in equal measure. I don't firmly sit anywhere on the political line. So for me i look at what i think will benefit me the most socially and economically. In europe not run by europe will save this country millions that we are paying to prop up dodgy eastern european economies as well spain and portugals.
The Greens policies will actually increase my earning potential by 50% so if that helps you, there you go

Would a hung parliament be a bad thing??....It seems to me that neither Labour or Conservatives have the talents within their own ranks to sort out the various woes this country has at present, so wouldn't some type of coalition be the ideal scenario??

Interrsting that in this time of ecomomic hardship, Vince Cable, the politician who is most highly regarded when it comes to money matters, has seemingly little chance of ever having a go in any significant role.....I honestly believe that if either of the 2 main parties guaranteed Cable the Chancellor's job, then that party would sew up the election big time.

If ukip won, did what they say they would and gained complete uk self governance then i'd be happy with that. The more you fragment control the more chaotic it is. France and germany ignore a lot of directives given to them by the EU anyway. I'm not a full on little Englander that agrees with all their policies but they are the party with a core issue i agree with with the best chance of being elected.

I'm very well off, extremely selfish and dont give a damn about anybody else. I will vote Tory. All we need is the usual 30% of selfish idiots who mistakenly think they are well off to join us and David will get in.

you sound like a great guy,hope your life continues to get better,you deserve it.

I think you are bang on the button.

i think the main question is 'does it really matter which party wins the election?'

both will behave in the same way.

what are we actually voting for?