General Election - what would decide the vote for you?

Foreign aid is admirable, provided it goes where it is supposed to go, i.e. the programmes mentioned above by GrannySquare, AND providing everything is being done by the Governments of these countries to help their own people. But my understanding is that we are sending foreign aid to countries where corruption is rife, and some of our donations are being siphoned off by corrupt officials. We are also, I believe, donating to countries with armament programmes and even space programmes! If they can find money for these programmes, why do they need ours?

‘bring back hanging’ oooh let’s have a referendum, soz indicative vote...

It’s late...?

Foreign aid - not such a huge chunk of our national spend but massive impact on stability & recovery in disaster zones & communities where it is needed. Again, I will not defend abuses of the system & the cramming of cash into the pockets of the corrupt & despotic, let alone massive armament programmes.

But, funding & supporting basic programmes to sustain health, education, sanitation & skills that allow the population to stay put & rebuild on known lands, restore farming, keep traditions & maintain extending family groups is a far most cost efficient & humanitarian to manage massive uncontrolled refugee or economic migration into neighbouring countries where communities stagnate & loose hope.

So imagine in 1945 at the end of WW2 if people in this country who had lost loved ones, their children sent away, their homes bombed out, their communities dispersed & their pre-war jobs gone, did not receive help (or foreign aid as it was then) to rebuild their lives - no NHS, no state education in local schools, no new houses built, no jobs or churches for community activity. Just stay put & put up, or you can just over that little bit of sea there to refugee camps in the USA somewhere or other, rather than have the US Govt send aid directly to the UK.

This country had foreign aid to rebuild after WW2 & it was effective (enough) to overcome the destruction of the war.

newnanny; did you forget to say 'bring back hanging' by any chance?

Cut back legal aid ?
That pot of dosh has been ringing empty for years.
Why should access to justice be only for those who have money. I won’t defend abuses of the system but to cut the legal aid budget even further makes for a more unjust society.

I forgot my second most important one, cut back legal aid and absolutely give none to terrorist.

Leave EU
Tougher prison sentencing - life mean life not out on 5 years.
Each child get equal education funding no matter where they live in UK.
A Tax/NIC cut would be nice.
Cut back on foreign aid programme to pay towards social care.

That is why you should vote Liberal Democrat

NHS
Social Care
Housing
I would gladly pay more tax if it truly helped those people who need housing, benefits, and care.

I am going to vote for the policies I like the most. Those that look after the elderly, sick, homeless and poor and those that support public services like schools and the NHS. I won’t be voting for for a leader. I am going to listen to what politicians actually say not read right wing newspapers and listen to the BBC to make my mind up. I am a remainer but this election should not just be about Brexit.

Stop the retirement age rises. Maybe let it stand at 65 for both sexes and get some help for those of us who planned to retire at 60.
Also pretty much that has already been said 're the nhs and universal credit

The top priority must be to stop brexit and in most constituencies that means voting Liberal Democrat.

I just want to remain in the EU - but would be ok to come out IF we had a vote on it and I was outnumbered by people wanting to leave.
This is my number 1 issue as all other things only last till the next election.
I can just “hold my nose” on absolutely everything else.

Those who say they 'often see people walking out of court .... with a grin' etc - do you work in the criminal justice system? If not do you hang around outside Courts, to make sure you do see these things?

If we were to introduce longer sentences and treat 'the perpetrators of violence with no compassion, no tv's nothing, we'd need to increase the number of prison officers dramatically. Prisons only function because prisoners generally cooperate with officers to keep the place as safe as it can be. As we all know, they aren't safe places for prisoners or officers. We need to reduce the number of petty criminals in jail alongside investing in our criminal justice system. That doesn't mean not being 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". It means following the research that should underpin what we do, rather than pretending government ministers care and know more about criminal justice than those who work in it.

I agree with Jennifer Eccles, you often see people walking out of court because they have got off with a slapped wrist,or minor fines for something really they should have been locked up for,
Also agree with longer tougher sentences for certain crimes, life should mean life for murder etc, and perpetrators of violence should be treated with no compassion, no TVs nothing,
The people who are the victims or family of victims suffer for the rest of their lives

.....but the Conservatives are the nearest, so vote for them!

The party doesn't exist that's my election dilemma

Tooting29 Sat 02-Nov-19 14:43:58 good luck with finding a party then! Tempted to go through that line by line but will resist. When you have found the perfect party do let us all know

Who ever promises to Remain.
The NHS and social equality will be promised by them all.

I will vote for the party that has integrity and can unite the country.

Issues. Good management of NHS which for me means right amount of money invested in right places, to have sufficient staff to do the jobs needed and sufficient resources to meet local needs. But I want the investment to be properly managed so that the tax payers money delivers best service.

Fair tax system so that businesses that make their profits in UK pay UK tax no loop holes.

Strong environment policies to make UK world leader on environment.

Strong economy that creates job opportunities for our young people.

Affordable housing

Good transport links.

Tough on the causes of crime.
Investment in all our emergency services and well managed

That should say I have just been seen your excellently posed question Iam

I have just been seen posed question Iam. This may help www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/a1268557-Is-our-criminal-justice-system-working?msgid=27533401#27533401

It's "is our criminal justice system working'

Hetty58 I lack technical skills but, could you post that link onto the discussion I started about prisons?

Prisons don't work, they're just an expensive failure:

littleatoms.com/society/how-britain-created-insane-prison-system