General Election 2015 explained using Game of Thrones and a little help from the real Jon Snow
Still umming and ahhing over who to vote for? Mashable is here to assist
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Your support makes all the difference.Polling day is finally here, but if you’re one of the reported quarter of voters who woke up this morning still not sure who to choose then have no fear, Game of Thrones and the real Jon Snow are here.
The Channel 4 News presenter joined forces with Mashable reporter Max Knoblauch to explain how the UK’s political system works and quickly found that using the hit fantasy TV series was the best way to help newbies understand.
Links between our political parties and the warring families of Westeros may seem tenuous but as it turns out, there are more parallels than you might think.
Here’s how the video reckons they match up:
Conservatives – Lannisters
Not “incestuous, alcoholic douchebags”, no. They have strong support in the south. Like the Lannisters, the Conservatives always pay their debts, which is why they’re so keen on reducing the deficit.
Labour – Starks
Used to be very popular in the north, they’re pro-Europe and supporters of the NHS. In power for 13 years before the Conservatives came along, and there’s a bit of dynasty aspect to them with brothers Ed and David Miliband who faced off for leader. No, they don’t have wolves.
Liberal Democrats – Tyrells
Currently in government with the Conservatives (like the Tyrells and the Lannisters), and they’ve managed to contain the Conservatives a bit and curtail some of their right-wing policies (Joffrey, Margaery…).
SNP – Wildlings
They ultimately want independence. The Wildlings are crazy hill people who wear jackets made of bones, the SNP are just Scottish people who want an independent Scotland. They are anti-austerity so very different to the current government.
Ukip - Walder Frey
Built around the leader Nigel Farage, your sort of neighbourhood, pub-going everyman. Nigel’s divisive, like Walder Frey. He’s hugely popular with a lot of people but some are very critical of his stance on immigration and accuse him of scaremongering.
Plaid Cymru – Night’s Watch
Preserving culture, pro-government support, sounds like the Night’s Watch. They have a weird name, they preserve languages and books…
Green Party – Dothraki
Natalie Bennett originally hails from Australia, a land across the sea, like Daenerys Targaryen. The Dothraki aren’t exactly environmentalists though, so there’s a snag there. Horse hearts are organic though, right?
One thing’s for sure, Russell Brand is not our “current president”. “Not true at all!” Snow promptly told his tutee.
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