Should you vote tactically?

Unfortunately tegan, people from the old working class communities realised long ago that Labour no longer spoke for them, nor was it necessary for politicians to have any political ideologies (Tony Blair proved that). So I think many people are not necessarily looking out for number one but just casting about for someone to believe in, and unfortunately Nigel Farage has spotted that gap in the market. Dangerous times.

Another thing [I had an epiphany moment the other day]. I've always thought that people voted for parties because of personal ideologies eg I've always voted Labour because I'm quite happy to have less if others, more unfortunate than myself will have a better life [excluding bankers, that is]and I feel that they are the party that share my view. But I was talking to someone from a mining village the other day who said the people there were turning to UKIP in droves, and I realised that people vote for whichever party will give them the most and they don't think about the country as a whole ie people in general think of no1 first. It was a bit of a shcok to realise this [need to do a hashtag thingy saying 'I'vealwaysbeenabitnaive'].

I would vote tactically if I thought that it would keep the Tories out. For example Hove is a marginal seat with the last MP being Tory. Now if voting Lib or some other meant that it would keep the Tory out I would, otherwise I will vote for the one nearest to my beliefs.

A couple of questions [apologies if they have been answered on this thread but I haven't read it all]. We are constantly being told that no party will have an overall majority and that we should vote tactically considering which minority party we want to hold the balance of power. Shouldn't eveyone just vote for whichever party they feel should form the next government and is the whole concept now going to change the overall result. And [this is the main question] I thought the arguement against proportional representation was that it often resulted in coalition governments, which aren't particularly good for countries, so might we just as well now have proportional representation?

Sillyoldfool has nothing to apologise for, but it seems to me, that when somebody is magnamimous in this way, that apologies should be accepted with good grace.

DJ

Nope, I will stick with my original comment .

If every vote does not count in a four way marginal, then it will not count anywhere. So no votes ever count?
Everybody who lives in Redruth can influence the vote. However, after the election, three quarters of the population of Redruth will think that they are not represented.

DJ

Wasn't the point you were trying to make was, those who hadn't voted for the winning party would feel their vote hadn't counted?

That's how I read your post so I think my post makes perfect sense!

You are quite correct with your thoughts! I fully understand and do not need things 'spelling out' .

But actually, POGS, as it's a four way marginal, every vote does count in Redruth. I thought you would understand that without having it spelled out.

Yes I was referring obliquely to the fact that families voted with families although my facts were totally true. Those statements were made to me .

Annsixty

That's a phrase used to describe all partisan voters of any colour, but of course there was the vote for a monkey, was it for the Mayor of Hartlepool, can't remember.

Durhamjen

Re your last post it could be said that every single voter, in every constituency in the country could feel their vote was wasted when their chosen candidate loses surely.

It is how it is.

I worked with a woman who told me the whole of her family would vote for a pig if it wore a blue rosette and another who,when asked her views, said her husband hadn't told her yet. This was in the 70's, let us hope today's voters are more informed (and with their own opinions).

I agree, pogs. Unnecessary fuss.

My niece and her husband live in Redruth, which is a four way marginal, the most marginal in the country. So 74% of those who vote will probably think that their vote does not count, when the winner is announced.

For heavens sake this poster has gone a step further than most and he/she is still being shot at!

'Having a pop at Labour voters'. 'Having a pop at Tory voters'

It is hardly gone unnoticed by any GN this is par for the course by some and sillyoldfool's post was probably one of the weakest I have read! She/he apologised, I don't know what for to be honest! He/she posted in no more a fashion than most on the politics thread, perhaps even less vehemently.

Lord knows why I am sticking up for a poster I have only ever seen post on this thread but come on, fairs fair.

My father, way back, once voted Tory to keep the BNP out. Even his dad, a miner, who'd told him voting Tory was a mortal sin, understood that where the Labour candidate had no chance, even a Tory was better than the BNP. I tend to feel the same about the Tories in relation to UKIP.

So far we've had election blurb from the LibDem who has been our MP for quite some time and the Young Conservatives. Nothing else.

Sillyoldfool- I'm not a silly old fool and your aplology doesn't wash with me - you were not making that point at all in your post but having a pathetic pop at Labour voters

I am so sorry some of you thought I was rude and I apologise of course. My point was that it seems some people merely vote for the same party everytime regardless of their performance when in Government. Surely it is wiser to take this into account when casting a vote.

Another though is that if all those people who don't use their vote did,
then results everywhere could be very different. I wonder what difference it would make in a place that was, say a labour stronghold. Would a vote from those who don't vote because Labour always get in anyway, be able to change it?

Agreed gillybob it is no good for a town or a constituency when any one party has a stranglehold, all areas of governance need an effective opposition to keep extreme ideas from becoming practice.

We have the complete opposite problem where I live apricot . It wouldn't matter a jot how I voted the Labour Party have a complete strangle hold on our town and need do or say nothing to guarantee winning at the election.

Some may say that's great having a guaranteed Labour council but only healthy competition leads to improvement.

I know your point was in good humour GT but you do raise a point about tactical voting!

As previously mentioned in a post: vote Lib Dem to keep Tories out, Lib Dems stayed in power for 18 years ,keeping your chosen party out, Irony or what!

Vote Tory to keep UKIP out, Tories and UKIP do a supply and confidence deal, your vote would have been a waste of time if you were a green, NHA, LibDem, Labour voter and I would hazard a guess would make you angry with yourself for ever giving tactical voting a thought let alone doing it.

Likewise in a safe Labour seat vote Lib Dem to keep Labour out, they then go into coalition, why do it? It doesn't assure you of anything other than your party failing and you have aided and abetted the worst outcome possible for yourself.

What if all those who elected to vote tactically had stuck to their principles and voted for their candidate? You may have lost, that's democracy but the next time round you could be in a marginal seat with all to play for!

I am pondering if I would vote Conservative if it were to keep UKIP out .......

I will not vote tactically, never have. I shall vote according to my beliefs and conscience. This is a hard election to call even for expert political analysts and I for one am getting very interested in it all.