They're not voting because...
- the party I would vote for (the Green...
the party I would vote for (the Green party) is not standing in my constituency (Ipswich). They cannot afford the £500 minimum cost. If it was free to stand (as it is in council elections), at least every person who believed in Green party policies could show their view at the ballot box. I feel incredibly frustrated!
written 12th Apr 2005
Responses
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Gavin replies: Why not have raise some money for them? £500 may take a while to raise, especially as I imagine the more wealthy residents of the area would not vote Green (most people like >1 policy), but it should be possible.
Unless, of course, there is no local support for them - in which case, it's tough luck - that's democracy.
written 12th Apr 2005 -
Kevin Ward replies: This is actually the first genuine reason I have encountered on this site for not casting a vote! Still you should write to whoever does win your seat and raise this issue with them. I'm sure you are not alone in your frustration.
written 12th Apr 2005 -
Mattus replies: If the £500 fee was abolished then we would have all forms of fake 'politicians' entering elections because they feel like it.
written 12th Apr 2005 -
jb replies: I find it hard to believe that they can't raise £500??
surely there are 20 like minded people Ipswich who can afford to chuck in £25 each !!!!Or has the North / South divide really got that bad?
written 12th Apr 2005 -
David replies: Probably a tacit admission that they wouldn't win - but that's more a reflection of the diabolical electoral system than anything else. Parties with minority support spread thinly across the country have no chance of winning a seat; if we introduced proportional representation we'd instantly have at least five Green MPs. (And possibly a BNP member or two, but the Tories are becoming so extremist that they should steal those votes.)
written 12th Apr 2005 -
Luther Blissett replies: Gavin trying being informed about things first before talking utter cock-nonsense; actually read the Greens manifesto, for example. More policies that the party members/activist/supporters actually believe in than you've had intelligent thoughts. And more policies than the one policy of "whatever will give me power" followed by certain parties.
Policies which are generally engineered towards the greater good, I might add.
written 14th Apr 2005