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No one to vote for if a General Election was called now

(204 Posts)
MamaCaz Fri 29-Mar-19 09:46:10

I am sure that I am not alone in feeling that if a General Election was called right now, I would be totally stumped.

Despite what some will have deduced from my posts on the political threads, I am not a dyed-in-the-wool socialist, and have been known to vote both Labour and Conservative in past elections. I suppose that makes me a floating voter, though I am more swayed by how the party in power has behaved over the last term of office than I am by any unrealistic promises of what wonderful things they 'will' do after the election.
That is why,based on what I saw in Cameron's first term in office, I certainly wasn't prepared to vote Tory in 2015, or in 2017 when May called the election.

But who to vote for?

Labour would almost certainly get my vote now if it had a half-decent leader, but it has become increasingly obvious that under Corbyn, Labour stands little or no chance of winning an election, and even if they did, I think that chaos would ensue. It would be a disaster.
In fact, if they had a decent leader, I think that there is a strong chance that they would already be back in power.

Yet in my area (Leadsom's constituency), Labour is the only party that stands any chance whatsoever (with a miracle) of getting even close to challenging the Conservatives, who got over 62% of the vote in 2017.

The Lib Dems are showing little sign of recovery (is this their own failing, or are the media to blame for not allowing them enough coverage?)

In the absence of a system of PR, a vote for the smaller parties just feels like a totally wasted vote, in my region, anyway!

Everything considered, right now, if pushed, I would probably vote Lib Dem, for the simple reason that they have been against Brexit all along - it really angers me when (mostly) Tory brexiteers claim that all votes for both Labour and Conservative in 2017 count as support for Brexit, as if that was the only policy on their manifestos.

At least voting Lib Dem would remove my vote from that count, which has to be better than nothing.
Without even that option, I would feel totally disenfranchised!

Does anyone else feel the same?

KatyK Fri 29-Mar-19 09:49:00

Yes.

mcem Fri 29-Mar-19 10:07:51

I'd vote (again) for SNP.
However I am well aware that WM will continue to disparage and disrespect our elected mp's in the HoC.
Ian Blackford has proved to be an excellent parliamentarian and my constituency mp has represented my views - and not focussed only on independence as our critics imply, but on overseas aid, immigration, disability rights and more.

Look also at how Mhairi Black has stood up for WASPI women.

I won't be scrabbling around looking for the best of a bad bunch as many others will.

MaizieD Fri 29-Mar-19 10:49:41

I feel disenfranchised, too, but then, it's happened to me in all the years that I've been voting..

Lib Dem or Green. Even if it's for a minority party your vote for them tells them that they do have some support. You cannot just 'not vote'. Our forebears (particularly the women) endured all sorts to get universal franchise.

Another thing to consider is that the two main parties are so split over Brexit, as are the floating or tribal voters they depend on, that it's possible that the smaller parties, or independents, may pick up a big protest vote.

Of course PR would be far more representative and lead to more consensual governments but I can't see either of the main parties legislating for it. Maybe if Lib Dems were in a coalition they might have another go, but look what happened last time.

NotSpaghetti Fri 29-Mar-19 10:52:48

Yes

gillybob Fri 29-Mar-19 10:52:57

It doesn’t matter who I vote for as here on Tyneside a monkey would win as long as it was wearing a red rosette!

varian Fri 29-Mar-19 10:58:00

LibDem without a doubt. We will always be up against two problems - our undemocratic FPTP voting system and a very partisan press, but we must continue to vote for an open, tolerant, inclusive and outward looking party which is representing the views of the majority of British voters who want us to remain in the EU.

Vince Cable has announced his intention to stand down as leader soon and I hope that a new younger leader might help to revive the party's fortunes.

annodomini Fri 29-Mar-19 11:07:45

Our MP, originally a remainer is (allegedly) minister for food supplies although he seems to keep a low profile and I've never seen him quoted in the press. I did not, and never would, vote for him anyway. Lib Dem for me. I too hope for a refreshing change of leadership after Vince steps down. A woman, perhaps.

EllanVannin Fri 29-Mar-19 11:09:13

Labour for local elections, Conservatives for a GE, which is how I've voted.
I won't be bothering about either with a GE this time, I've had enough. They can all take a running jump. None of them stand for the people of this country, I don't care what anyone says. It's all about their own self-serving greed.

Anniebach Fri 29-Mar-19 11:10:33

Be interesting g here, a Tory seat, Libs 2nd. Our Tory MP has been found guilty of cooking the books so perhaps this constituency will go back to the Libs.

I wasn’t going to vote but will wait to see who the new Lib leader will be, may then vote Lib.

gillybob Fri 29-Mar-19 11:13:19

None of them stand for the people of this country, I don't care what anyone says. It's all about their own self-serving greed

I completely agree with you EllanVannin

GillT57 Fri 29-Mar-19 11:15:48

I shall be voting LibDem too, and although I am in a Tory majority seat ( like you Gillybob, we always say that a goat with a blue rosette would be elected here), at least I would have a clear conscience that I have voted for a Remain party. We have local borough elections here soon, it will be interesting to see which of the two main parties gets the biggest kicking from a disgruntled electorate. My MP is one of the 'bastards' that John Major cursed, and he is still here, although no doubt he will soon retire to the House of Lords to collect his daily stipend. He is a hopeless constituency MP sitting in a safe seat, his complacency is breathtaking.

grannyactivist Fri 29-Mar-19 11:29:57

I am in the fortunate position of having an absolutely honest and dedicated Independent candidate ready to stand in the next election against our sitting Tory MP. Around here even the Tories say that if you put a blue rosette on a pig it would get more votes than anyone else, but at the last election our Independent candidate whittled down the lead considerably.

If she weren't in the running then I would vote for the Green Party if they were to field a candidate - and if they didn't, as happened in the last election, then, with regret, I would spoil my ballot paper. I just wish that instead of competing with our Independent Candidate the other (very minor) parties in my constituency would withdraw and leave her a clear field. She has come from nowhere to take 35% of the votes.

gillybob Fri 29-Mar-19 11:36:01

MP sitting in a safe seat, his complacency is breathtaking

Same here GillT . They need do nothing at all and still get voted in again and again .

gillybob Fri 29-Mar-19 11:37:35

So far we have a monkey ? , a goat ? and a ? pig ! grin

grannyactivist Fri 29-Mar-19 11:50:02

Sounds about right to me gilly. grin

grannyactivist Fri 29-Mar-19 11:56:25

Actually, I repent me of that last comment on behalf of all the MP's who do still have some integrity, blush I'm sure there must be many of them (of whatever political persuasion).

Can anyone name an MP they can really trust to be honest and who they believe has integrity? Sarah Wollaston and Frank Field are two that spring to mind. Let's give a mention to the good uns.

crystaltipps Fri 29-Mar-19 12:13:50

Anyone seen today’s Banksy painting of the House of Commons as chimps? Insult to chimps?
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/brexit/banksy-devolved-parliament-back-display-bristol-mark-brexit/amp/

MaizieD Fri 29-Mar-19 12:27:41

I think that my young Labour MP has honesty and integrity and is possibly a rising star (give it a few years).

Unfortunately, I don't feel I can vote for her party, much as I like a lot of what it stands for.

GillT57 Fri 29-Mar-19 12:32:42

Yes, you are right Grannya, there are many who are quietly doing their best to represent their constituents, these are the MPs who are being let down by their own party leadership too, just like the electorate. If we have a GE, there are a few candidates, of both major parties, who I would love to see lose their seats, to pay the price for putting their own career first. My list would include Boris J, Jacob R-M, Mark Francoise ( what a repellant, aggressive little man he is), Andrea Leadsom, Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, and that's just for starters. We could have a far better government without these people. Oh, and Michael Gove too, creep.

Anniebach Fri 29-Mar-19 12:32:53

Yes Sarah Wollaston , Frank Field, Yvette Cooper

B9exchange Fri 29-Mar-19 12:34:49

I admire our current MP, who has always stuck to her principles, even if it means defying the whip. But it seems as soon as an MP is awarded any level of responsibility, ambition takes over and any integrity goes to pot. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.....

Nonnie Fri 29-Mar-19 12:39:43

I will wait and see what the choice is but I do know I will not under any circumstances vote for my current MP. I may well write 'I abstain' on my paper.

GillT57 Fri 29-Mar-19 12:43:24

As I understand it B9exchange when an MP is promoted to a senior Cabinet position, they have to be 'as one' and toe the line, and follow the cabinet philosophy. This is why many principled MPs like Frank Field prefer to be on the back benches, they are more free to speak out, possibly against their party. This is also, I assume why May had kept goons like Boris and Gove close to hand within the cabinet where they are disciplined and managed by the whips. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong, but this is how I understand it.

JenniferEccles Fri 29-Mar-19 12:50:08

Although I can understand why some on here have said they won't bother voting next time, if enough Tory supporters feel like that (as they are understandably disgusted with how the MPs have handled the Brexit process) then horrifyingly that could be enough to let Corbyn in.

That scenario must surely be avoided at all costs.