To what extent do pre-election promises influence voting intentions?

[Hibbyradge]

It's conference season and the general election is only 18 months or so away.

Last week we heard, or should I say ignored?, the Liberal Democrats promise some stuff they won't have to do.

This week, Labour are reversing the bedroom tax, reducing the tax burden on small business and building houses.

Next week the Tories will let us in on their vision of a utopian future.

But how many people does this impress sufficiently to change their vote?

[IndieHibby]

It's conference season and the general election is only 18 months or so away.

Last week we heard, or should I say ignored?, the Liberal Democrats promise some stuff they won't have to do.

This week, Labour are reversing the bedroom tax, reducing the tax burden on small business and building houses.

Next week the Tories will let us in on their vision of a utopian future.

But how many people does this impress sufficiently to change their vote?

In this election I will be the very definition of a swing-voter - have voted for all three major parties in the past, centre-right on some issues, centre-left on others (a la Chris Rock), thoroughly hacked off with all three of them but fairly certain I will vote for one of them.
Issues which concern me most are (in no particular order):

a) housing and house prices (worries that no matter when I buy the future could/should see a crash in prices)
b) education policy in England
c) interest rate policy and the apparent will of Carney to maintain low rates until employment gets below 7% despite the market (i.e. banks) pushing them up earlier

It would seem that when I buy a house I have to factor in a rate rise of at least ~4% but this means buying a house which is more susceptible to price falls. So any party that can promise action/allay fears on these will get my vote. ***or indeed any .netter - HINT HINT***

Not asking for much....:greengrin ?

[Hibs Class]

In this election I will be the very definition of a swing-voter - have voted for all three major parties in the past, centre-right on some issues, centre-left on others (a la Chris Rock), thoroughly hacked off with all three of them but fairly certain I will vote for one of them. Issues which concern me most are (in no particular order): a) housing and house prices (worries that no matter when I buy the future could/should see a crash in prices) b) education policy in England c) interest rate policy and the apparent will of Carney to maintain low rates until employment gets below 7% despite the market (i.e. banks) pushing them up earlier - it would seem that when I buy a house I have to factor in a rate rise of at least ~4% but this means buying a house which is more susceptible to price falls. So any party that can promise action/allay fears on these will get my vote. Not asking for much....:greengrin P.S - does anyone know why my browser won't allow me to put paragraphs where I would like to?

Clicking on one of the a/A icons above the reply text box should enable paragraphs. (Cannot remember which one it is, but on my work PC - which I'm using now, the browser is so old that the icons don't appear at all).

[Beefster]

I won't be voting in the next General Election. I'm thoroughly fed up of party politics, I think they're all lying charlatans and East Lothian will return a Labour MP, irrespective of whether I vote or not. If it's not Balls and the lesser Miliband pretending that they get on very well and didn't know anything about McBride whilst opposing everything, it's Cameron and Osbourne taking credit for everything that happens (even although it would have happened anyway). I've ignored Clegg, Beaker and Cable as they're pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

So no, nothing they say will make any difference.

[Pretty Boy]

I won't be voting in the next General Election. I'm thoroughly fed up of party politics, I think they're all lying charlatans and East Lothian will return a Labour MP, irrespective of whether I vote or not. If it's not Balls and the lesser Miliband pretending that they get on very well and didn't know anything about McBride whilst opposing everything, it's Cameron and Osbourne taking credit for everything that happens (even although it would have happened anyway). I've ignored Clegg, Beaker and Cable as they're pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

So no, nothing they say will make any difference.

Pretty much where i am at.

I've voted Labour, Greens and SSP in the last 3 elections that i've voted in. However the next general election I have no intention of voting for any of the major parties and my constituency will inevitably return a Labour MP whether i vote or not.

[SHODAN]

Having grown up in a lifelong Labour voting unionist family, I'll more than likely be voting SNP and don't see that changing any time soon. Very disillusioned with it all right now.

[Just_Jimmy]

I'm almost 28. I'll be 29 by the next election. I've voted in every election since I turned 18.

I consider my vote and I don't always vote the same way. I'm not stupid. I know they promise the world and rarely deliver.

I believe politics should have brave ambitions and should attempt to raise the level of debate.

Divide and rule has went on too long.

[IndieHibby]

Clicking on one of the a/A icons above the reply text box should enable paragraphs. (Cannot remember which one it is, but on my work PC - which I'm using now, the browser is so old that the icons don't appear at all).
Thanks! :aok:

It's scary how much better this makes me feel...

[Speedy]

Don't know who I'll vote. It'll make absolutely no difference anyway, might not bother. :duck:

[steakbake]

I've voted Labour, LD, SNP and Green in my time. Tend to vote tactically as opposed to promises.

The fact is that regardless who you get in power, it'll be just a variation on a theme rather than something genuinely different.

Scottish elections are pretty much a choice between two centre-left parties with the LibDems propping Labour up if needed. Instinctively I'm centre right but I wouldn't give the Tories the steam off my pish let alone a vote.

[RyeSloan]

It's conference season and the general election is only 18 months or so away.

Last week we heard, or should I say ignored?, the Liberal Democrats promise some stuff they won't have to do.

This week, Labour are reversing the bedroom tax, reducing the tax burden on small business and building houses.

Next week the Tories will let us in on their vision of a utopian future.

But how many people does this impress sufficiently to change their vote?

And the daftest of all? Labour setting the price of energy while pretending its all the big bad energy companies fault and nothing to do with years of dithering over energy policy or governments hell bent on making the uk consumer pay for subsidies on expensive 'green' energy ....really, seriously wtf?

[IndieHibby]

And the daftest of all? Labour setting the price of energy while pretending its all the big bad energy companies fault and nothing to do with years of dithering over energy policy or governments hell bent on making the uk consumer pay for subsidies on expensive 'green' energy ....really, seriously wtf?

I actually laughed when I heard that one.

Wtf, indeed.:blah:

Labour don't stand a chance with him as "the leader".

[cabbageandribs1875]

imagine ed miliband being the next prime minister of the british government :no way: scary or what

[yeezus.]

I'll be voting Labour next time round but I hope by then Ed Balls has stopped the "too far too fast" line, it's getting annoying and I think the Coalition are winning the economic argument.

[steakbake]

imagine ed miliband being the next prime minister of the british government :no way: scary or what

He's like a Student Union politician.

He's also seemingly well coached in NLP and assumptive arguments. "Everybody knows that..." followed by a 'fact' that cannot be substantiated either way.

To be honest, I'd rather have 5 more years of Cameron than allowing the two Eds a shot at the steering wheel. Can you imagine Miliband meeting Putin for example?