Will you vote Tory next time?

Insider knowledge?

I've just had a Tory candidate for the County Council elections delivering a leaflet. He said he did not support Boris Johnson and when questioned about our Tory MP, who has been accused of sexual harrassment by three different women, takes a lot of class A drugs and borrowed money from a dodgy Russian, he said "All political parties have people like that"!

Really?

Surely it's better to vote for the best one, or least worst.

We've got local elections in our London borough. Not for the GLA/Mayor, just for our council.

For the first time, in 13 years, I had two Tory canvassers knock, asking me to please ignore what goes on Downing Street, and just vote for them because Tories had always ran this borough..

I'm not sure their past and current track record would convince me though lol ?

Hmm. On the other hand, presenting a good image is not just about cardigans is it?

Macron would never attend a public platform wearing a cardigan.

True but that’s not quite the same as spoiling it deliberately to make a point. Writing on it “none of the above”.
Better than voter apathy.

Urmstongran

It sends a message nadadeturbe that we can be bothered to vote. Better than completely abstaining. It says “none of the above” thank you very much.

It doesn’t send a message Urms. Some people try to vote for more than one candidate and that is also ‘spoiling’ their paper.

mumofmadboys

I will never vote Tory. I see them as a joke.
What is wrong with a humble cardigan??

Love this. I remember the furore over JC's non Savill Row suit. It said it all about politics IMO. Not who you are or what you represent, but the image you portray as all.

Possibly Boris might look better in a cardy?

It sends a message nadadeturbe that we can be bothered to vote. Better than completely abstaining. It says “none of the above” thank you very much.

Another ballot paper spoiler! What is the point?!

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

I will not adopt the anyone but a Conservative mindset just to oust what could be a perfectly good and honest councillor just because they are sporting a blue rosette.

But what if they supported Johnson and this terrible government, GG13?

I was referring to the forthcoming local council elections MaizieD , I will look at the details of what our Conservative Councillor has done, what the council proposes to do on several contentious local planning issues, and who is standing as an Independent against them.

I just cannot see the point of and I will not through my ward under the bus of an unknown quantity of a new councillor just because they are not Conservative.

I knew that you were talking about local council elections.

What I asked still applies. What if the conservative candidate supports Johnson and this dreadful government?

No,no, a thousand times no! Until we adopt proportional represntation we shall never have fair elections. Living in rural Suffolk since 1965, I have been virtually disenfranchised

The suits v cardigans comment reminded me of the old joke by Ben Elton.

Two men are out on the town. After a couple of drinks they go to their favourite night club. The first man approaches the door and the bouncer greets him, "Evening Hitler, looking smart as usual, nice shiny boots. Come on in."

The bouncer turns to the second man and says, "Now look here Jesus, I've told you before, you're not coming wearing those sandals."

GillT57
Funny you should say that. Our Labour council is doing exactly that at the moment-except for the ones at the T-junction near our house which has got progressively worse since before lockdown and now resembles a patchwork quilt, as they fill in the worst holes one at a time, with a promise that they’ll be back to sort the rest.
Do I think Tories would do better? Well they haven’t filled in the potholes by where I work (different local council).

volver

If someone is standing for elections under the Conservative banner, they are associated with the party as it is today. And I could never in any way support a person or party that is so seriously out of kilter with my values.

Don't care how good they are at getting the potholes filled in.

Funny you should say that! We have local elections next month, and the place stinks of tar, can't move for bloody potholes being filled in. Oh, and the local incumbent, a young Tory, spends a lot of time on FB telling everyone how things are going with sorting out trip hazards on pavements, resurfacing country lanes......all of which were unaffordable (don't you know there's a war on) but suddenly are being sorted. He must think we are stupid, but then again, I live in a farming area where they would vote for one of their own donkeys if it wore a blue rosette.

gsm I'm sure my granny was a gobby woman in a cardigan ,we prefer to remember she was a suffragette...sometimes you need to be loud to be heard!

I will never vote Tory. I see them as a joke.
What is wrong with a humble cardigan??

Casdon

I thought unitary authorities were councils growstuff, combining the functions of both county and district councils - have I misunderstood?

No you haven't. And Southend and Thurrock are still within the geographical county of Essex.

I think in many circumstances people do vote against, rather than for, Rosina

Because of FPTP, there is often a two horse race in your constituency. If you dislike the frontrunner and see that your preferred party is very unlikely to win, you vote for the strongest challenger, ie against the one you dislike the most. This is called tactical voting and is only needed because FPTP does not give a fair result.

If we became a true democracy and adopted a system of proportional representation, each vote would count and we could all vote positively for the party we like best, rather than negatively against the one we despise the most.

Rosina

I read years ago that people tend to vote against rather than for - so the Conservative party might well get in again as there is no credible alternative and they will be seen as the only choice, not necessarily the preferred choice.

I disagree. I think there's a very credible alternative.

So if Nick Clegg supported Cameron to delay the state pension age (for men and women), what about the person whose idea it was in the first place? Confused by the logic.

I read years ago that people tend to vote against rather than for - so the Conservative party might well get in again as there is no credible alternative and they will be seen as the only choice, not necessarily the preferred choice.

Not sure yet as a GE is ages off.
I only voted Conservative (for the first time in my life) at the last election because Boris was the only politician promising to Get Brexit Done.

I’m reserving judgement.
Must say though I’m not keen on the Labour opposition. And Keir Starmer won’t come out and say what a woman is. So huge ✅ to Boris for that.

Lib Dems always seem a waste of a vote over the years and Nick Clegg in the coalition was a liability regards us WASPI women. He funnelled the fast changes through to please Cameron.

Greens? Nope.

I might just spoil my ballot paper. I’ll decide nearer the time.

GrannyGravy13

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

We have local Council elections in May in this party of Essex, I have received my polling card.

How odd! Southend and Thurrock have elections because they're unitary authorities and no longer part of Essex. The elections are for councillors for the unitary authority, not the council.

Definitely got local council elections, I can assure you I am not imagining my polling card or the placards in peoples front gardens.

I'm not disputing that, but you haven't got County Council elections, which is what I thought you meant. My mistake obviously.