Why do people say ‘all the parties are as bad as each other’ ?

He could easily have said that he was ideologically opposed to it, but that the NHS was in such a state that he’d pay to avoid his kid suffering.

Personally I don’t think it’s made any significant difference to my life whether it’s been under a labour, Tory or coalition government, don’t forget things like the closure of local a/e departments and centralised resources, often much further away, started under Labour and , while I understand the argument for them, it was, quite frankly a terribly decision which has helped contribute to the waits in a/e

It’s a lazy way to not engage with politics and as someone on this thread said, only seems to go one way.

Because it's always the same shite in a different colour?

I think it's because Labour and the COnservatives tend to promise things, which sound great, then of course it doesn't happen because it just gets blocked/voted down, so they SAY they'll do xyz, but when does it ever actually come about? And in the meantime both sides just piss the money down the drain without ever actually acheiving anything/just make things worse.

My h has a degree in econ
he doesn’t know who to vote for

To be fair neither Labour or the Conservatives are without issues and pretty much everyone will agree there, and that is where the negativity comes from, because people feel trapped between two options which are not ideal.

But I do agree that the amount of cynicism doesn't always help.

I definitely feel more optimistic about a future with Labour, even though I know there are problems.

You have to have hope in this world or you will just go mad.

Starmer isn’t remotely sensible. He said that he’d let a loved one suffer on a waiting list and not go private, despite having millions. That blind adherence to ideology is extreme and not sensible at all.

Can you imagine the accusations of hypocrisy if he’d said he would use private healthcare? Just like Dianne Abbott sending her son to private school.

I say it because I. have seen cycles of different parties coming into power and nothing much changing.

I'm an average person outside of London, £30k a year, £200k house, never really use libraries, leisure centres, average health, etc...and they really have made no perceptible difference to my life.

And politicians basically all come from the same place. I'd be more likely to vote if there were enough MPs who'd had a real job and life for say, 20 years before going into politics or taking on a role in a union.

If there were an MP standing in my area who'd say, been a nurse for 20 years full time, then started with union or politics stuff, I'd probably vote for them

we did vote for brexit
of course we did
that’s what a referendum is!

it has a lot to do with tories, sure. The far right dogs who hounded Cameron. But Cameron told us to vote remain. But we didn’t. It also has to do with labour. Corbyn could have stood on a platform with Cameron and both could have united and said vote remain. Corbyn kept his gob shut and thereby contributed heavily to the fucking we got.

of course starmer didn’t mean emergency care 🤣

@Diefrausagtnein I agree completely. When you go down south they’ve still got amazing transport, the grass and weeds aren’t 5 feet high, they still have libraries, it’s like going back in time 15 years! The north is desperate for investment and no Conservative government will ever fund the north despite their ‘levelling up’ twaddle. New Labour were a breath of fresh air. We had great services and jobs and I’m praying that there will be similar investment this time.

My personal opinion was that Corbyn was unelectable... and as terrifying as it is, The Tories were marginally better in 2019. And that is absolutely terrifying.

Starmer is electable and people are completely fed up with Tories. He should win.

But I don't believe in either party. Or the Lib Dens or Greens, or Reform. I disagree with some Labour policies and agree with othets
I know people who do believe in their candidates and feel a bit jealous of them!

The only pause I've had this time round is the local Tory MP has been very proactive on local issues. There is a chance he may win here because of that.

Calling people thick just because they are disillusioned and fed up is unfair.

I remember life under the new labour government to have been a time of real optimism and tolerance and diversity. Maybe it's the daft things I remember like the Sure Start Centres and the lowering of pavements so that wheelchairs could use them and the move towards gay equality and the improvements to the health service.

People complaint about the PFI agreements under labour but they weren't a total disaster IME and got things built that otherwise would not have been built. We have incredible local facilities because of it - but people complain all the time about the fact that they have to pay hospital car parking because of it.

Mistakes were made but the alternative was what? Getting everything right first time or trying nothing new.

I think the main thing was a feeling that we had a government that genuinely cared for people and was there to serve. With the Tories it has really been about shoring up private wealth. Even with the coalition it was clear that the Lib Dems were trying to temper the Toy agenda wherever they could. I don't see how people can see it differently?

We used to have a Tory MP who was never here. Got done for expenses fiddling.

we now have a very popular Lib Dem MP who is so different. Is at every local event. Positive. Helps people. Campaigns on local issues. Works hard.

they are not all the same.

But there really are no good parties right now imo. I'm a floating voter and very central in my views. So I read the manifestos in detail and use 'fact checker' online before making a vote. This year their manifestos are all over the place and ill judged. Both parties are chucking in random things and both seem to lack clear vision. I like Kier Starmer, but he does seem to be a bit of a puppet. Labour have failed to support women imo, and have suddenly done a bit of a U turn following the Cass Report. Lowering the voting age to 16 seems a ploy to catch more votes for themselves as research has consistently shown younger voters to be more liberal in their views and more likely to vote for them. It seems rather self serving. Conservatives have had a tricky time in office re Covid, the economy and Brexit. But then Brexit was of their own making and Boris couldn't lie straight in bed. They have run the NHS further into the ground (although Labour increased costs through outsourcing under Tony Blair, which have continued). They don't seem to have made it a priority. And they have some deeply repugnant out of touch politicians. My personal view is that it's time for a change and that switching between parties every few years is a good thing as it refreshes and rebalances. I would absolutely love to see the NHS depoliticised and run by an independent non political body comprising medical staff with experience and with long term financial plans, in the same way as The Bank of England is more independent and has greater clout. I would also like to see the parties put forward and publish clear specific policies backed up by realistic strategies which can be properly interrogated. I do feel as though both parties could do a lot better. It's a shame that the lib dems have become a non entity and that The Green Party have become a woke infighting party, instead of having clear sensible and achievable policies. I feel that politics was better when there were 3 parties in the mix.

I think some people say this out of frustration - they struggle to choose due to so many information. So it’s a bit of a temporary emotional reaction.
However many people who are saying this just show themselves being selfish imo. They mean that they don’t agree with ALL and don’t like ALL that the party is saying. But that’s impossible, the point of democracy is that we adopt the approach which is the best possible for most people and no one suffers too much. Even between party members there are disagreements and differences. They don’t get decisions unanimously. You look at key issues and choose the most important priorities and you accept that there are other people’s interest and other restraints.

I'm Labour to the bone, but New Labour and Phoney Blair proved that they will promise you anything to get info government abd then do whatever they like once they are in.
The people at the top of all the main parties are career politicians, not like your local constituency MP

It’s said by the politically illiterate as a way of not having to engage with actual policies, or do any actual thinking.

Because they are thick and lazy

Because many people are poltically illiterate. They don't understand the differences in ideology, how social systems work, have little understanding of basic economics and no interest in social history. I suppose you can't force people to to educate themselves or take more of an interest, but I do wish they were less vocal during the run up to an election....

Because they all talk shit, say one thing and do the opposite - none of them actually care about us peasants as long as they're all ok and making money

Because it’s true?

I didn’t vote in 2019. Bojo or Corbyn. NO THANKS!

Starmer isn’t remotely sensible. He said that he’d let a loved one suffer on a waiting list and not go private, despite having millions. That blind adherence to ideology is extreme and not sensible at all.

Easy to blame conservatives for Brexit, but us turkeys were the ones who voted for it, despite Cameron urging us not to. Whilst Corbyn said nothing at all. Cameron was forced into calling a referendum he didn’t want. He even resigned after the electorate didn’t listen to his recommendation. I voted remain.