Tomorrow, we have in the UK our general election, which to outsiders is where we choose our local MPs and thus our new Prime Minister. Obviously, Tony Blair has been the PM for the last 8 years, and is going for his last term at this election.

Now, Labour have really c**ked things up here over the time they've been in Office- the only nice thing anyone can say about them is this family tax credit scheme they've introduced, and that "the economy is doing well," which to be fair isn't really their doing (we've actually dropped a lot in productivity, and have a huge trade deficit). Our population isn't increasing or becoming more ill yet hospital waiting times are up and there are ridiculous "targets" imposed on them and GPs (anyone see Question Time last week on TV?), and crap about privatisation. They have utterly f**ked up education: see the whole AS-level scandal and increased exams for all, that they pay A-level students a 'wage' just to turn up to school yet University students now have to pay back a massive loan to get a degree (and it's even worse for post-graduates), and this nonsense about "academies" where anyone can donate some money towards getting a new school built, and be able to dictate some of the curriculum taught. The trains aren't any better, streets no safer, the blatantly corrupt European Parliament is seeping power away, there are blatant problems with the postal ballot system; yet they blame the last government for all these problems, 8 years ago. They've had scandals with MPs (Keith Vaz and Peter Mandelson are still going, and David Blunkett is set to make a come back), take one of the highest tax cuts from petrol in the world (we must pay about 5 times as much for petrol as in the USA), making the world unsafer with this war in Iraq, and the foot and mouth scandal was just a... scandal.

Recently they've been hit with a number of 'scandals' of sorts- a defecting MP, published legal advice saying that the war in Iraq really needed another UN resolution (and that it appeared that there was something dodgy going on between the government/attorney general), a solider being killed in Iraq and the parents "personally blaming Tony Blair" for it, and a huge MG Rover factory shutting down after telling the government for years that it's unsustainable and that the Chinese owners were only ever after the brand name for themselves. Yet, all the polls show Labour increasing in popularity. Thanks to Blair, government spin over the last 8 years has made people lose a lot of trust in our politicians- and it seems the more wrong he does, the more people dislike him, but most of it rubs off on the opposition leaders.

So, in conclusion, Blair is a m0ng and for god's sake don't vote for him tomorrow, or else we're going to be in a world of hurt " SRC="images/smiles/icon_redface.gif"> /end canvassing

Not being in Britain, I wouldnt know exactly how it is, but it cant be as bad as you say... youre obviously emphasising the bad points about the government, and avoiding mentioning the good theyve done (which they must have since, as you say, the polls show them increasing in popularity).

Of course that education thing sounds like it sucks... you have to pay back your loan before you get the degree? Or is it just that theyre making you pay it back at some point? Here it gets added onto income tax (if you earn above a certain amount, you effectively pay more income tax until the loan is repaid), and has been afaik since the 80s.

Productivity as in GDP growth I take it... theyre not really long-term bad things technically, but still, the people saying that are probably stupid and dont understand the issues...

omg i didnt mean to make this post that long...

That's half of my point, I can't say anything good about what they've done- they let the Bank of England decide interest rates or some such 8 years ago, this family tax credit scheme, and that we haven't had some horrific stock market crash or somesuch. Anything else? Er, not that I can think of, really; yes of course the world isn't about to end, but the region I live in is going to pot, thanks to foot and mouth, ridiculously priced petrol, a ban on hunting, and thousands of new houses being built with minimal/no community infrastructure such as schools or shops to go with (plus, the economy doing well means that all the city people are buying local houses which puts up prices, and prevents locals from buying any!)

It seems a lot of people are disliking our Mr Blair so they are even voting for the other parties :S

I am not going to say who I am voting for because it might cause anger!

I just hope our Country is sorted out!