How do you decide how to vote?

This is a really good resource, and very interesting.
It asks you lots of questions about policies and your priorities, and then tells you what party / parties you lean to.
I haven’t done it for a while.
I’m going to do it now… uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz

I choose a government that isn’t racist and cares for the poor hence never voting for a Tory

How on earth can you say the Conservatives are racist BlueBelle?

Just look at all the Cabinet ministers who are non white.
I think this government is the most diverse ever.

BlueBelle Do you really think that no one in the Labour party is racist??!!

How about people answering the question instead of questioning what other posters say?

I look at a party's manifesto and their past history in office. Which rules out any tory government since 1979.

What they do rather than what they say.

Which leaves me with nobody to vote for☹️

JenniferEccles

How on earth can you say the Conservatives are racist BlueBelle?

Just look at all the Cabinet ministers who are non white.
I think this government is the most diverse ever.

JenniferEccles to some extent it doesn't matter if the Conservatives are or are not racist. Nor LilyoftheValley does it matter if you believe their are racists in the Labour Party. BlueBelle is entitled to form an opinion of any party and vote accordingly and the question was "how do you decide".

*BlueBelle has been open enough to answer it. How about both of you doing the same thing.

Party manifesto and past history. My constituent MP is excellent, but if his party manifest did not “fit” with my world view he couldn’t possibly get my vote as votes affect more than local politics, I know my vote will also affect the entire U.K. and I can’t live with myself knowing that I voted against what I consider the greatest good. That of course would include corruption, criminal record and risk to the UKs security.

I support a welfare state and the NHS together with fair taxation. I am also keen to see a healthy business community that is free to trade with its nearest neighbours with as little friction as possible.

I would also look at the foreign policy as I now think it is extremely important after recent events.

Not looking good for the Tories ?????

I study each manifesto and assume only one third of it might ever be realised. I attend all local public meetings but they are few and far between (even before Covid). I read every bit of canvassing paper that comes through the door and pursue candidate if I have questions. They're usually approachable before election. I think of past performances. I assess current goings on. After all this I lie in a very darkened room.

In an ideal world all political parties should be legally bound to implement their manifestos, cannot see that happening anytime soon.

I have just done Fanny’s questionnaire. Quite interesting, with varied questions. Result confirmed what I already know, which is that I am quite some distance from our current government. Other than once, many years ago, when I supported a woman, yes, MrsT, I have never voted conservative, so sadly my vote rarely counts where I live. Which is interesting as I remember reading about ‘ The working man’s Tory vote ‘ as an unexplained issue much debated at the time.

I do my due diligence. I look not only at what the party manifesto says but what the party leader says and does. When its local elections (parish and council) I also take into account what the local candidates are like in themselves and what they say they will do.

GrannyGravy13

In an ideal world all political parties should be legally bound to implement their manifestos, cannot see that happening anytime soon.

That would be difficult because stuff happens...like covid.

Yes GG am still waiting fir the 40 new hospitals, 50,000 new nurses and 40,000 new doctors as well as the 357 million £ saved every day/week/who knows....I am sure there are more examples of broken promises that I have forgotten but you get the gist I am sure.

greenlady102

GrannyGravy13

In an ideal world all political parties should be legally bound to implement their manifestos, cannot see that happening anytime soon.

That would be difficult because stuff happens...like covid.

Difficult yes impossible I don’t think so.

For instance this Government had no increase to taxes in their manifesto, they are raising NI next month.

silverlining48

Yes GG am still waiting fir the 40 new hospitals, 50,000 new nurses and 40,000 new doctors as well as the 357 million £ saved every day/week/who knows....I am sure there are more examples of broken promises that I have forgotten but you get the gist I am sure.

Cannot disagree.

I would vote for party that would look after our NHS.
That would give education the priority it deserves.
One that would do something about poverty.
Not one that is only interested in lining it's own pockets.
That's probably why I am politically homeless now.

I don't usually have a problem with deciding who to vote for. I am so grateful for the NHS and the welfare state that it has been an easy choice to vote for the Labour party. I like common ownership and people getting together rather than the individualism of the Conservative ideology. It is only when the Labour party starts to look almost indistinguishable from the Tories that I start looking for a different box for my cross.

I look at the issues, the parties past performance and also their attitudes and intentions towards the vulnerable in society. I vote for the party most likely to help the poor, the needy, the vulnerable. .

The policies, the belief systems that underpin them. The way the party, it’s ministers and leader have responded to the needs of the country.
A genuine commitment to nhs, education, social care, police -

I start with the fact that both the larger parties are influenced by outside groups. That concerns me. An extreme of either of the big two would not get my vote because of this.

I want to vote for a party whose economic beliefs includes a mixed economy. That rules out the Conservatives and makes me double check the Labour Party.

So, it whittles down to a Labour candidate in a Labour party which I can believe has enough centrists to support a mixed economy or a centrist party. I don't see the Greens as 'centrist'. I have difficulty understanding what they would do other than their green arguments but I feel any party I voted for should be supporting those.

That's my bias dealt with. Then I would be looking at the manifestoes of the Lib Dems and Labour. I have to say I'd look at them with jaundiced eyes these days. I very much read the little they tend to say with the histories of the parties in mind. I would also (my bias again) be influenced by which party could get out, what I consider to be, the worst government that has existed since I was born.

This does seem a very negative process and I see quite a few of us are in very much the same position. How to turn a negative into a positive. It needs thinking about.

Thanks for the link Fanny. Interesting questions, result reassuring!

Ilovecheese

I don't usually have a problem with deciding who to vote for. I am so grateful for the NHS and the welfare state that it has been an easy choice to vote for the Labour party. I like common ownership and people getting together rather than the individualism of the Conservative ideology. It is only when the Labour party starts to look almost indistinguishable from the Tories that I start looking for a different box for my cross.

Interesting - about the common ownership. I find it too extreme but I do like the idea that a party is working for the common good. "Community", I like that too.

I read political comment and philosophy and decide which party is most likely in my view to reflect what I think is important for the good of society in general.