Apparently we were Labour in '96 ;-)
But very annoying trying to vote yesterday. Someone had pinned up a 'No to AV' leaflet by the instructions on how to vote IN THE POLLING STATION. I didn't think that was allowed?
Add to that, that my only choices for councillors on one of the sheets was Conservative, Labour, or BNP - what sort of choice is that??!
Can someone explain why local council election results are considered some sort of indictment of the national party leaders? Are Miliband, Clegg, Cameron also leaders of the local council variations of their respective parties?
I know next to nothing about local councils and how they work - but aren't they basically just the equivalent of municipal elections here in Canada? We don't use parties at the municipal level in Canada, so the closest comparison i'd have here would be provincial elections, and no one would ever consider the success or failure of, say the New Brunswick NDP party as a reflection of the federal NDP party. They're separate entities that campaign on different platforms - one geared to federal issues, the other addressing provincial issues.
I just find it really bizarre that losing council seats would somehow be seen as a measure of success or failure of the national leaders. I mean, do council candidates campaign on the national party's manifesto or something? It's just rather confusing.
What 'Drew said really.
People tend to still support one party irrelevant of whether it's local or national. And unless you're a hardcore constant supporter of that party then you'll vote based on your current opinion of the performance of the parties.
So currently any floating voters that voted LibDem or Con during the General Election will probably decide they're shit now and vote for another party.
I voted LibDem at the General last year for various reasons but I went back to voting Labour this time in the locals and will most likely vote Labour in anything over the next few years.