Reasons *not* to vote conservative today

well done imogengladheart. Great news that the people are out in force, same in my area. Everyone was so happy, there were smiles all around, the queue stretched outside the polling station. Everyone is relieved and knows that it's not long now before Brown and his brigade of brigands and buccaneers will be packing their bags and no one will shed a tear.

In answer to that, I'd say that labour has done good things (wrt child poverty, wrt equality, wrt minimum wage etc - things that don't get as much publicity as they should, and things which labour themselves have failed to shout loudly about during this campaign). They've also done some awful things. I'm a lifelong labour supporter and even I have struggled to stick with them, so I do totally understand why others don't want to vote for them.

This time my vote is guided much more by not wanting the conservatives in power. It's not that I'm so convinced by labour; it's that I'm 100% convinced that a tory government will be a bad thing for our country.

I just don't get that.

The majority of us are now better off, absolutely not relatively. With far better public services - and astonishingly little civil unrest. We are a more tolerant, peacable society than under la Thatch.

The global economic crisis is that - global. And it didn't turn into a recession.

And Britian is equipped for a global market. Not lagging behind, trying to compete at the very bottom. And we no longer sell arms to dodgy countries under the pretense of foreign aid.

It's like a mania - everyone voting for what might happen.

no they won't. I don't think the Tories are great, just far better than Labour for all the country's people. In 1997 I voted for Labour, I wanted the Tory rascals out. But having seen what Labour have done to the country, how they fine struggling pensioners because their bin lids aren't closed and don't give a damn about the ordinary people, I think it's time for a change. In 5 years time, it may well be time for another change, but next time it will be for the Liberals. After what Labour have done and how they have let the people down, it will be decades before they ever get back in.

Imogen - please read the letter Molesworth posted.

If you care about poverty - don't vote Conservative.

The message hasn't been put out there, goodness knows why not, but the poverty gap has been a global thing. We have been running to just ... not go backwards very fast. Britain has done better than other first world countries. It is going to get a lot worse under a Conservaitve government + cutbacks.

Imogen, I too opposed the Iraq war, and I've been thinking about voting LibDem too, but on balance am sticking with Labour, though with a heavy heart. Just wanted to pick up your point about increasing inequality - what you say is true, but only slightly. The huge increase in inequality in this country was under Thatcher and it's been wobbling up and down ever since. If you haven't read it, I really recommend Wilkinson and Pickett's book on equality - The Spirit Level. I heard Kate Pickett talk at an event recently and I've been evangelical about it ever since. More equal societies do better according to every marker - lower rates of drug addiction, crime, infant mortality, teenage pregnancy. It's not about being richer as a society, it's about having a smaller gap between the richest and the poorest. Voting Tory definitely isn't going to help achieve that.

Claig, will the tories reform the electoral system if they win today?

Some fair points re: concern about the economy here. And look, I'm not telling anyone to vote labour, just giving reasons not to vote tory.

Imogen, take a look at that letter posted near the beginning of the thread re: the reduction in child poverty during labour's tenure.

The rich/poor gap will grow massively under the tories. That frightens me.

flockwallpaper, I've been down the polling station. Unlike all previous years there was a queue of us lined up to vote. I said "blimey, a queue, we must all be desperate to vote the rascals out", and everyone agreed with me. Be prepared to stand in line, the citizens are out in mumbers, taking the only chance they have to send Labour packing. Our voting system is a farce, our democracy is not perfect, but you could see how pleased the people are that at least we have some small say in things. Make your voice heard, "vote the rascals out".

Litchick, I could have written your post. Labour don't seem to care much about the deficit do they. My brother in law is an economist and he reckons that it is better that we rein in spending now and we all take whatever pain that entails because the UK will recover quicker and then life will improve

The alternative of defaulting on the debt and losing our credit rating is worse and will result in poor long term prospects for the UK. I am really worried about whether my children will be able to get jobs and enjoy the quality of life as adults that we do now if Labour get back in. Also, my family have a successful business that would be welcomed by other countries if we decided to emigrate, but I recognise that not everyone has the option open to them if things go pear shaped for the UK. Feel quite depressed typing this actually

I normally vote green, but for this election I'm voting tory because I think they have the best track record for managing the economy well and that's the single most important thing that needs to be sorted out over the next few years.

Anyway, off to go and cast my vote now...

I won't vote Tory because they do not believe in helping the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

I won't vote Tory because their plans for the Big Society will benefit the sharp-elbowed middle classes much more than those in most need.

I won't vote Tory because of their tax plans and their offensive rhetoric about those who have "worked hard all their lives" being able to pass their earnings on to their children. Worked hard all their lives, eh? And what about all those nurses, teachers, bin men, supermarket checkout people who have also worked hard all their lives but haven't made a million?

And - finally - I won't vote Tory because I grew up in Bradford in the 1980s and I saw Thatcherism in action. The rub is, I take no pleasure in voting Labour either, since this government has wasted so many opportunities to change society for the better.

Molly I'm undecided too.

Been Labour all my life but am very worried about the economy. I just don't believe that borrowing more money is a safe way to proceed.

And yes, bailing out the banks increased the national debt hugely ( I pray to God we get that back), but it does not account for all of it.

Labour don't seem to be worried at all. They are still proposing more spending. That must mean more borrowing. How will we pay it back? When will we pay it back?

I don't want to vote tory...seriously don't think I can, but why won't anyone in Labour explian cogently why borrowing and the possiblity of down grading our credit rating, is not a problem?

"...whilst the Labour bigwigs swish by in their gas-guzzling limos and jet off to international conferences..." and whilst the Tories buy duck houses.

Inheritance tax cuts for the rich are indefensible under these economic circumstances. Those of you on this thread who are voting tory: explain to me how this policy can be justified?

Right there is the single policy that tells us what the tories are about.

I am still a floating voter (believe it or not although I'd better hurry up and decide!)

But I won't be voting Tory because

1. Murdoch - especially James - implications for BBC
2. Inheritance tax breaks to millionaires
3. marriage tax allowance / transfer
4. Thatcher - dh's family was personally affected by her
5. Their schools policy - allowing VI parents to set up schools

other reasons too but they are my main ones.

Molesworth - thank you for posting that letter.

Those economists are right. I just don't get why that hasn't been out there in the mainstream when people have talked about Labour's record on child poverty.

They have done well. We need more.

And and and cutting back too much, too quickly is the way to end up in depression, not recession.

Folks - there have been ridiculous posts on here, channelling "economists" saying this, and that, well, here are some real, proper, serious economists. If that sort of thing sways you.

If you want a double dip recession vote Tory (they plan to cut early and cut hard...it's the early bit that will screw us particularly badly).

UM, yes peppa. it is a global recession and the banks played a huge part in that. ergo the Tories like Labour owuld not let them fail. the wealthy (banks, corporations, big businesess) are the biggest props of the Tories.

they would not let them fail hence we would be int he same shit we are in now, despite who was in charge.

except, they would have never invested in the people like labour has done in the last 12 or so yrs so the poor would be in deeper shit.

like someone already said they won't reform the electoral process.

I voted for the party that is the only one willing to talk about reform. 2 weeks ago.

the crux of the problem in the electoral process.

ArcticRoll, you are right, they were wrong about the minimum wage. But they have now changed and changed on Section 28. You are right they will give tax breaks to the rich, but I'm not sure they will penalise single parents. They are not perfect, but they are better than the alternative.

ChocolateMoose, taxing the struggling middle-classes "until the pips squeak" has been Labour's policy since time immemorial. The current crop of Labour politicians are too slick to say it in public, it's when they get into their chauffeur driven cars that they let it all out and gleefully talk about taxing the bigots until the pips squeak. Some of the jumped-up apparatchiks have been overheard screaming "let them eat cake" as they speed past the bigots on their way back to their all-expenses paid flipped homes.

I won't get into climate change here, as it is a huge subject, and can become very emotive when people find out they have been deceived. But try explaining to our children in 30 years' time, why they are living in poverty, unable to afford to drive or fly, scratching a living from the land, as industry has been decimated and progress set back centuries, whilst the Labour bigwigs swish by in their gas-guzzling limos and jet off to international conferences to impoverish people even further. How will we answer our children when they say why didn't you stand up, why have you bequeathed us only misery? Will our only answer be, we're sorry, we were stupid, we believed the liars, just as we believed Blair's 45 minutes dossier.

I won't vote Tory because they want to penalise single parents.

I won't vote Tory because they want to give tax breaks to the rich.

I won't vote Tory because they introduded Section 28 and David Cameron backs the Tory candidate in Stroud who thinks that gay people can be ' cured'.

I won't vote Tory because they opposed the minimum wage.