I think UK Christians have enough special treatment to make any criticism null and void.

I can't remember where I heard it but one party (could be the Tories?) were looking at the possibility of having greater religious diversity in the HoL by introducing exclusive peerages for people of different faiths. Again, I can't remember if this was just bluster but it was obviously a concern.

Sorry Rob I will respond in more detail to questions in due course. Just on a break at work at the moment so not enough time to go into it all ^_^

@Rob - Indeed, the intent to label any disagreement as hate speech looks like a very dangerous route to follow. If I was British I would lose some appreciation for this party. I'm not even in favour of stereotyping all muslims or discriminating against them, but I believe we should be able to rationally discuss something without creating hostility between social groups - Muslims against terrorism have special interest (I presume) in criticizing terrorism and specific Islamic sects/denominations

Since this is going to be an election I smell a technique to attract voters - It's something that happens on all democratic nations... The complicated part is pleasing both the majority and minority demographics

I sense there is no free speech in Europe. You are only allowed to say what's convenient and hate speech written laws are often ambiguous and permit that anything minimally offensive can be considered hate speech

I'll be voting Conservative. If I wasn't voting for them I'd probably go LibDem.

I'm not a massive fan of Cameron. I don't agree with Bishops/Religious schools etc. I'm 50:50 on the EU. I think the 2017 referendum will cause a lot of harm in the short term to business confidence.

Mass Immigration is an issue on which I'm not sure where I stand. Economically, from the studies there is a slight benefit. However the net increase in population per year due to births/deaths is +100,000 people and due to net immigration is +300,000 people. This does put pressure on housing and infrastructure. We need a new city the size of Bristol every year to cope with the combined figure. This will see building on greenbelt etc. What can be done about this, I'm not sure...

However, as someone with a decent income and trying to build up a pension that will allow me some sort of life after retirement, the Tories are the party that are going to take the least from this. All the parties see private pensions as the only source of money left to fund things. I think this is outrageous, as being frugal and saving for retirement seems to me to be the responsible thing to do. I also see the Tories as the most responsible party in terms of national debt.

Ed Miliband is a hypocrite. He inherited a lot of wealth, has a household income of nearly £400,000 and a 3million pound house. Most of the other party leaders are well off too, but for one to point to the other as rich and out of touch, when he himself has millions, seems a bit unfair. Also, pointing at the Tories and saying they've reduced the highest rate of tax, when it was lower when Labout were in power is also unfair. I won't have to pay it myself, but the unfair pointscoring does annoy me.

Nick Clegg I actually like, and think he did a good job in difficult circumstances. Regarding the tuition fees issue, despite the increase the changes actually benefit the poorer student as you only pay the debt if you go on to get a decent income in the future. University applications from students from poor backgrounds has increased since 2010.

@Pand: No problem, I appreciate it

@Dyst: Yes, I am worried we have the illusion of free speech, with dodgily written stuff ready to snatch people saying stuff that ruffles feathers. For god's sake religious people (the ones wishing to silence free speech), grow up! Learn to laugh at yourselves, and to either debate criticism of your religion or just ignore it. For people who claim to have omnipotent gods on their side, their faith sure seems fickle.

@Tony: I would be considering Conservative if it wasn't for the fucking fox hunting. As for Europe, I don't know whether a referendum is just something to keep everyone happy rather than having any chance of leading to something happening. It's not a decision that can be made lightly or quickly. I remember when Scotland were voting on leaving the UK and the effect it had on the stock market. What would the referendum do to it?

Faith schools are horse shit, as is having Bishops involved in politics. I don't think I knew about that last thing... what the hell? I suppose since we are technically a theocracy we're doing pretty good! But still. Stop that. Maybe Milliband wants us to be a Muslim theocracy instead.

I admit to being pretty ignorant in general about politics, but I feel I know a little more about it this time around.

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PS: I wonder if Labour are going to lose the racist voters as well with this move. Have they done the maths? Probably UKIP will pick those up.

Tbh, I don't even know the parties policies on fox hunting, but I've just read:

In the Conservative manifesto they want to have a "free vote" on fox hunting. This is where every MP votes, but apparently no pressure is put on them by party Whips.

Yeah, and last I heard the UK public is over 90% against it, so holding a vote amongst MPs over a toff-only decision of animal torture seems fucked beyond belief. UKIP are pro fox hunt. Lib dem, Labour and Green against it.

They aren't talking about culling, they are talking about extended torture instead of culling.

I had a tory representative come to my door, and I brought this up. He had no idea what fox hunting actually was, or pretended to have no idea. He thought it was just culling. I put him straight (politely) and he went away rather shocked.

PS: I'm not trying to judge you for voting Tory, I understand there are many more issues at stake than fox hunting. It's just of huge personal importance to me.

Rob, off topic question but how do you feel on vivisection? I've had some Green activists telling me I'm wrong for supporting vivisection in medical research

My opinions, and if my information is up to date (please anyone correct me if I'm mistaken)

I'm against all forms of animal testing, I consider them cruel and outdated. I highly suspect it has become a business of its own and the "benefits" are now just a rationalization. To the best of my knowledge It's long been known that whatever result you get testing on animals, you still have no idea how it will affect humans. Even when testing on primates. So you still have to test it on humans whatever, and it may give a false result when it would have been safe on humans.

There are many more accurate and ethical alternatives now. I go to great efforts to avoid buying anything tested on animals, where possible.

Sadly some new versions of research such as stem cell and growing live (but not sentient) tissue to experiment on have been blocked in America at least because they are "unethical". What they really mean is "ungodly and icky" as they are actually completely ethical, and would replace a dubious-at-best testing on animals system. I'm not sure what the latest is in the UK, but I think things are going pretty well. More and more places are making most of their own brands BUAV approved (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) making shopping much easier. M&S have done it, Superdrug, even Tescos! You can get stuff like bleach now that isn't tested on animals. The biggest problem is indeed in the medical department, where this is lagging behind and animals are still being used an awful lot. I want to see an end to all animal testing.

I'm (pleasantly) surprised Green are coming out tops. I've already voted (by postal vote) for them and I like their policies. I'd never really considered them before this election either.

Conservatives and Labour have both fucked the public over too many times, which I guess is why they're losing so much support.

Anyone who votes for UKIP I want nothing to do with. Banish yourselves from my life.

I really don't know who I'll be voting for and only a week to go. Usually I'd vote Labour every time but not so sure now. I think Miliband came across as a complete dick in the election debate: spent the entire time talking to the camera rather than facing the questioners... it looked really false. And then there's this business with the SNP. I thought the most sincere looking candidate was the one for the Green Party, and I liked what she said, so am tempted to go for that. But at the same time I really don't want UKIP to get in so I'm tempted to vote Conservative based on the (probably wrong) thinking that this SNP business is going to be the last nail in the coffin for Labour and that many people will vote Tory just to stop it happening. Plus I don't think they've done that bad a job these last few years. It's a tough one.