UK ELECTIONS

Everyone here has an opinion in the US politics, but what of UK politics? They're the other country that went to Iraq, and they are holding elections tomorrow, May 5th. So, what does the swarm think of this? For the uneducated, I present you the candidates:

Labour - Headed by Tony Blair. Their big promise seems to be that Tony Blair will step down. Excellent. Otherwise they are like America's Democrats... except that they were in favor of the war.

Conservatives - Headed by Michael Howard, and usually called Tories. Something like Republicans, except (like everyone in this race except Labour) they were against the war. They're campaign is built on largely cutting down immigration.

Liberal Democrats - Headed by Charles Kennedy, who is the grown up version of that guy who everyone used to mercilessly wedgie on the playground. They're the party that's closest to Labour, without actually being Labour. They're against the war, but their platform seems to be, "hey, check it out, we're not Tony Blair!"

Those are the 3 biggest parties nationwide. Then there are the fringe parties:

UK Independence Party - I have no idea who heads this, and I don't care to know. I saw their candidate out on Princes Street today with a bullhorn and a dream... They want to withdraw from the European Union, I think.

British National Party - Similar to the UKIP, but these guys go even further right-wing. They think everyone should own an assault rifle. Most importantly to their campaign though, is their policy of ethnically cleansing the UK, by kicking out all immigrants.

Green Party - Same as in the US, except without Nader.

Then there are the parties that are specific to one country or another:

Scottish Nationalist Party - Headed by Alex Salmond. These guys are essentially an anti-war Labour party clone who also wants an independent Scotland. They've historically been the #2 party in Scotland after Labour. Oh, and Connery is on their side.

Plaid Cymru - Same as the Scottish Nationalists, except for Wales.

Sinn Fin - Who don't matter because they won't take their seats in Parliament anyway. Catholics. Sometimes they are also the IRA. They want N. Ireland to be part of the Irish Republic.

Northern Ireland Unionist Party, Progressive Unionist Party, Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionist Party - Protestants. Hate everything to do with Sinn Fin, but they take their seats, so they matter more.

Then of course, there are all 30 of the various Communist and Socialist Parties, both nationally and within the various parts of the UK.

And we can't forget my favorite, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.