Sorry I've come to this very late and am nursing a Magaluf hangover from hell (1 Euro a pint for god's sake).
Like many people in the UK I tend to switch my vote depending on the nature of the election and what I think is good for the country at the time. I've voted Tory, Lib and Labour in my time. I think dogmatically voting for one party because of upbringing, background and so on is not for me. The time was right for Blair, for example. **** I got that one wrong didn't I?
My current take is that Labour left this country in a hell of a mess, some of which (though not all) was of their own doing. I still want to smack Ed Balls in the face every time I see him though. I also think the Coalition are actually doing a decent job if you look at the figures and the UK is growing remarkably fast compared to other powerhouse economies. This has definitely pulled the rug from under Labour whether you like it or not.
I find UKIP quite fascinating really. Amongst other things they've tapped in to public concerns (some say fears) over mass immigration and how it affects this country and those concerns are justified there is little doubt. Recent years have seen big increases in immigration and that will continue as the EU inevitably and inexorably expands. With a rapidly growing economy this country will be a massive magnet for a huge influx of labour from the old Eastern Bloc and beyond. It's inevitable. The countries that lie between them and us are mainly in the Euro Zone with all the problems that has brought. If I was a Romanian labourer it's a no brainer.
The cultural erosion of national identity is a worry. Most of the population of Leicester is now non-white. Schools in some areas of England have to cope with 23 languages in a class. Some schools are madrasas where the starting point of learning is the Q'Uran and we've recenty seen how attempts have been made to push white anglos off governors' boards. If anyone thinks that's a good thing I'd love to see your argument.
But I'm more concerned with our country's infrastructure. We've seen how hospital waiting lists are struggling to come down. In England there's been some progress but only the pretty useless AMs in Cardiff are ****ing that one up for Wales. In Education, school resources are pushed to the limit - I used to be a governor - so how on earth are they going to cope with another massive influx of mainly non-English speaking children? Our roads are packed to capacity and are falling apart. This country could become extremely crowded indeed over the next 20 years if we don't do something about it.
We keep hearing arguments about the skills these workers bring in. Really? So skilled that we couldn't do without them? I don't think so. My wife works in a low paid job and was recently told by one of her bosses when she complained about something that if she didn't like it she should get out because "there are 100 people who will take your job at the drop of a hat". Sad thing is he was right and immigration will only add to that sad, sorry state of affairs.
UKIP is therefore an appealing option. Farage is impressive but I was less than impressed with the local candidate when I spoke to him in town recently. Nice guy, but he's no Farage, though interestingly he did tell me his daughter was married to a black guy so there goes the racism argument though I'm sure they've also attracted the wrong sort of candidate too. I do have some reservations about their 'other' policies though. At the moment they're at serious risk of being a one-issue party and that worries me. They're against gay marriage and until they reverse that I may have a problem with them.
Bottom line I think is that the EU has become something it was never intended to be, where a giant beurocracy passes laws and elects his own heads without any reference to the 500 million people it represents.
But whatever you vote, take a look at Farage in full flow in the European Parlaiment. Quite rightly he was making the point that when Herman Van Rompuy was elected as President of Europe (OK it's called President of the European Council) he was selected not by voters across Europe but by the Council itself. Completely undemocratic but so typical of the EU. It's cringeworthy but hilarious at the same time. Between the hyperbole the points he makes are valid imo. Happy voting!
[video=youtube;lqovTGjYjM4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqovTGjYjM4[/video]
If you've got a bit more time this is an epic rant showing that he's VERY clued up and predicted much of the disaster the Euro would bring. Music is too dramatic but bloody hell they guy was spot on. I thought he was full of ****. He wasn't:
[video=youtube;ez-88_hIrLY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez-88_hIrLY[/video]
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