There is an interesting debate going on in the Guardian about the local elections, basically everyone wants to know whether the Muslim vote will swing against Labour totally or tactically or not at all as a consequence of the Iraq war. What say the rest of you?
Realistically the Conservatives would have fallen in with the war as well so the only other possibility is the Lib Dems who are so wet it's pointless voting for them. I would disregard the war and vote on other issues.
In last years local council elections the muslim vote in Birmingham swung away from Labour to Liberals in a big way. In some constitutencies the swing from Labour to Liberals was around 60%. As labour had relied heavily on ethnic minority votes it was a big blow for them and for the first time in 19 years they lost the local council elections. I hope the voters of Birmingham and indeed the whole of UK use their vote to let Labour know of their feelings and vote them out of power in local councils and also on the MEP seats. I personally would only vote for Labour once Blair is gone.
For european elections, the RESPECT- unity coalition (Galloway's) party is striking a chord with the muslim community in brum. locally they're with the PJP, people justice party. The candidate for west midlands is John Rees, co-founder of stop the war coalition. So vote Respect peeps, cuz lib dem aren't worth it.
These elections in UK we hear about them every few years, but i don`t see the point of muslims focusing on them.
If you support labour party they will bomb and attack iraq and afghanistan
If you support conservative party they will bomb and attack iraq and afghanistan with more zeal than labour
If you support Liberal democrat party they will bomb and attack iraq and afghanistan but they will be sympathetic and issue food parcels while doing this ethical bombing
Green all the way?
Any of the above are better than the BNP, forget the muslim minority, what will the white middle class feel like? Will there be more gains?
My understanding is that the Lib Dems did not actually vote against the war in Iraq, they abstained, it was the labour rebels who voted against it.
Anyway guys keep posting updates:
i have always voted for the liberal democrats and charles kennedy will :insha: one day make a inspirational leader provided his health gives him support, the labour and conservative part can continue to debate daily in the commons and reach no settlement whilst the libs’ can do all the hard work, bring on the lib’ 
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*Originally posted by Zakk: *
My understanding is that the Lib Dems did not actually vote against the war in Iraq, they abstained, it was the labour rebels who voted against it.
Anyway guys keep posting updates:
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Lib Dems voted against the war. All their MP's voted against the war.
Why don't the Muslims form their own party and then use that to win some seats. This way they will have a voice and can ally with whoever needs them to form a government. In any case, their voice will be better heard.
Consider the Muslim swing vote decided a big part of the Indian election. And while those million people did not change much, but come next election they will make a difference if they consolidate their vote.
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*Originally posted by humhaipakistani: *
For european elections, the RESPECT- unity coalition (Galloway's) party is striking a chord with the muslim community in brum. locally they're with the PJP, people justice party. The candidate for west midlands is John Rees, co-founder of stop the war coalition. So vote Respect peeps, cuz lib dem aren't worth it.
www.respectcoalition.org
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The Respect Party dropped their campaign brochure through my letter flap this week.
All I can say is that they are just Communists with a new name. Apart from their foreign policy which i could wholeheartedly support, their domestic policies are hard-core leftist and would bring the country to ruin.
I can't find a party to vote for that represent my views, which are generally strongly conservative on domestic policies and strongly liberal on foreign policy.
I'm therefore going to abstain. I cannot support any of the parties contesting the elections.
Anything but Labour.
I am not as familiar with UK elections scene as I should be but here in Canada Rhino party has promised a free case of beer for every elector if they won. That for me is a good incentive. May be some protest marches could be held in UK to have two cases of beers instead just one.
Just my 2 bits.
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*Originally posted by mAd_ScIeNtIsT: *I'm therefore going to abstain. I cannot support any of the parties contesting the elections.
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Changed my mind. Voted Liberal Democrats for European Parliament, Lib Dems for Local Area London Constituency, Lib Dems for London-wide assembly, Lib Dems as primary mayoral choice (they probably won't get it) and Conservatives are secondary mayoral choice (hopefully Steve Norris will win).
I ended up doing a protest vote for Lib Dems against Labour. Realistically, I live in a safe Labour stronghold, so my vote will make bugger-all difference and my protest vote won't be notice at all.
The only serious vote I cast, the only one that met something to me, was the secondary mayoral vote for Steve Norris of the Conservatives. Hope he wins!
(The way it works is that if your primary mayoral choice is not one of the top two candiates, then they count your secondary choice. So the Lib Dem candidate for mayor is so far behind in polls that he certainly won't win, which means my vote for Steve Norris, currently in the No 2 position, will hopefully help tip the balance in his favour....)
I can't find a party that's communist enough!
Vote Respect - They’re packed full of Leninist ideologues… 
Thap bhai,
Move to Cuba. You will get all the communism you want.
Looks like the minnows (UKIP etc) are going to soak up the swinging votes and leave lib, lab, cons pretty much where they were, maybe labour a little weaker and libs a little stronger.
Arvind, Cuba?
Nah me an ‘old’ labour voter all the way, Tony Ben , Cook and the good old boys for me, hope Blair bows out and gives labour a chance for the general election. Besides why should I move anywhere! I'll vote for what I want, might not get it but I'll vote all the same. See that's how democracy works bhaijaan, you don't run away if things don't go your way.
Maddy,
Respect are a one idea party like the rest of the minnows, a wasted vote but then again better than sitting at home and not taking part they say, are they right though. I here the BNP are getting their act together of late :D
Anyway Trafford looks like a tory gain.
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