Local Elections dilemmas

Pleased to have a buzz on the door this evening from a Labour canvasser (actually a councillor from elsewhere in the borough supporting the Labour candidates in our newly created ward).

I told her I was a lifelong Labour voter unhappy about self-ID and AWS; she told me she’d benefitted from being on one and agreed the issue needs proper detailed discussion. I was encouraged that she took a reasonable position herself, but expressed my disappointment with that taken by the leadership and asked her to feed that back.

Candidates are Lab, Con, LD or Green, no independents.

Lefty - thank you. I am thinking of spoiling paper. Have always voted so staying away is not an option. Just noticed a thread has appeared on how to spoil ballot paper and make your point.

Chocolatecake - I'm in the opposite position. I thought our council ward wasn't up for election this time round so was going to escape having to make a decision.Then the voting card arrived .
Thank you for the ideas. Girl Guides is a good current example. On the doorstep I didn't talk about the 80% retaining penises - thought the bloke might to a runner!

Flinty - Fair Play is an excellent one to share. Also, this article notthenewsinbriefs.wordpress.com/2017/11/26/when-womens-rights-are-notadebate/.

And this. fairplayforwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/EA2010_womensrights_-factsheet.pdf

Be sure to mention that 80% of TIMs RETAIN their penises.

You could also mention the Girlguiding policy.

Few other things to think about:

Why aren't men's spaces being invaded? Why aren't men being told they're transphobic or bigoted for talking about their penises? Why isn't their language being changed? Why is the meaning of woman being changed but the meaning of man remains adult human male? Why is it ok to have men-only and transwomen-only groups and spaces but women-only is bigotry? Ask about sports. Does he think it's fair that males are allowed to compete in women's sports? Doesn't the fact that transwomen are famous for achievements in entertainment, business etc whilst transmen are famous for giving birth tell us something? We're not smashing gender roles but actually reinforcing them.

Until I found out there isn't an election in my constituency (grr!!) I was going to spoil my ballot. I just don't think there is anyone to vote for. I'm appalled and angry with the way that all the parties are treating women.

I was going to write "Women don't have dicks. No to self-ID".

Flinty - very well done it sounds perfect what you said to the Cllr and great examples to use to link the national issue to local ones! I agree that self id is v relevant to the local elections.

Any spoilt ballots get shown to all candidates to read - I will most likely be spoiling mine with a comment like "no to self id, protect women only spaces"
I think this will be a really effective way of getting the message across (especially if like me it is a safe seat and won't matter either way if you vote)

Labour Councillor came canvassing yesterday. I'm a Labour supporter and voter but, like others, am really conflicted on voting for them because of Self-Id stance and general piss poor attitude to womens' concerns. This a Labour council (held by one seat) but my Ward is v. safe Labour so how I decide to vote unlikely to make any difference.
Anyway, I decided to have a chat . Once he'd done the speil on all the good things they've done in the Ward (which I agreed with), then asked if they could count on my vote and if I had any concerns I wished to raised. So I talked to him about my concerns about GRA, Self-ID & how it would impact on Equalities Act - single-sex spaces and services, plus Labour's stance on this. Talked about the potential impact this would have on local services. Good local example was new swimming pool. What changing facilities will be provided? Answer - they will be single sex. Me: but that won't be the case if anyone can identify as a woman. Also talked about Adult Social Care - my LLDD SiL needs 1:1 support and this should be someone female. How will this be affected by Self-Id?
Think he was a bit taken aback at first but did listen and engage. He went on to say that Labour had best policies for woman/austerity, which I agree with but also said that would count for nothing if Labour throwing women under the bus on this issue, & also mentioned the mass resignations by Labour women.
I will do follow up email to all three councillors (only one up for re-election), with some handy links.
Am pretty chuffed with myself as it's the first time I have talked about this issue with anyone other that DH & v.close friends. DH was listening in and said he thought I'd put my points across very well.
Any ideas for useful links to share? I'm thinking of Fair Play for Women, Article by Debbie Hayton.

I'm aware of what the Tories are doing in this country and getting rid of them is my priority. They are in favour of self ID too.

I usually vote Labour but can't vote them at the moment due to not only the self-ID policy itself but all the surrounding behaviour e.g. the witch hunts, the vile misogyny within the party which is not addressed. The Lib Dems seem just as bad with their crazy LGBT Twitter account - and, from what I've heard, the Greens are similar.

At the moment, I'm 90% decided that I'm going to spoil my ballot paper. My only other option is to vote Tory which is basically the opposite of my political views and a party I never thought in my lifetime that I would even consider voting for. They would never win in my ward so it would definitely just be a protest vote. If they came out against self-ID I would definitely vote for them (even if I was living somewhere where they could win) as this is the most important issue to me.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the government having cold feet on this following Amber Rudd's article in the Penis News where she didn't mention the government introducing gender self-ID: www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/20/home-secretary-amber-rudd-commonwealth-anti-gay-lgbt-laws-opinion/

Tbh, I probably spend too much time thinking about who to vote for when it probably makes little difference - but I am someone who always does vote and it's the first time I've ever considered spoiling my ballot paper. I usually go for the least worst option but they are all proposing something which is absolutely abhorrent and total deal-breaker to me.

I will be voting labour and have also been out leafletting as a party member. The candidates for both my ward and the neighbouring ward are hard working and admirable women. Despite my discomfort with the party I believe these women will do a good job.

I'm spoiling my ballot. I'm planning on putting XY in all the boxes cos they're the only votes those fuckers seem to care about. Won't make any difference cos I'm in one of the safest Labour areas in the country, but I'll feel better.

I've quite literally never had any party knock on my door. I'd love it, don't mind which party I have lots to say and dont mind who I say it to. Perhaps my house gives off that aura so no one dares to risk it.

It's worth mentioning to councillors, with specific examples they will understand. Lots of people don't know about the real world impact and implications.

If enough people mention it when canvassing, it will likely be reported back. It also raises individual awareness.

So for example asking if they believe women and girls should have the right to single sex changing and sleeping spaces. Then explaining the issues.

Hi, I'm under 45 and a woman with children. I'm standing as an Independent. If you asked me on the doorstep or otherwise, I'd tell you my views and full support.

I'm possibly the most clued up candidate out there on this stuff, so please do ask if you're considering not voting. Cheers.

Got doorstepped last night by labour. Was in the middle of the children's tea so I didn't go into much detail.

I told them I always voted for them but not this time. Reasons I gave was anti semitism and misogyny in the party and also the leaders inability to inspire confidence (for me).

I have raised Self ID with both the LD and Labour candidates when they've come to the four recently. They were both really shocked about it and got what I was saying and particularly realised the issue re safeguarding.

Honestly slog of local parties and activists have no idea what the parties are saying on Twitter & TV re Self ID in their name.

So, I think it's worth bringing up. Plus, local
Councils do have an impact on these things cf Brighton and their pronoun badges!

Worth pointing out the gross unrepresentation of women under 45 in local government. (Particularly women with children).

If you gave a candidate who fits this, it might be worth considering them.

Well, I’ve been out canvassing and leafleting for WEP, but our candidate is standing in a different ward so I can’t actually vote for her. Doorstep issues have been funding for local women’s refuge, implementation of local VAWG plan, childcare and social care funding, supporting local businesses and town centre economy, and generally getting a dedicated feminist voice on the council.

In my own ward, I’ve voted independent, green and (winced whilst checking the box) LD. I can’t support the tories and labour have lost me completely at the moment. I think we need different voices on the council to focus the majority on considering other points of view.

Bye bye Labour, LDs and Greens, we had a good couple of decades.

GTFO WEP, not a chance.

I dunno [shrug]

I will be spoiling my ballot and feel sick about it. I can’t bring myself to vote for any of the main parties and we have no independents standing.

I have resigned the LP and have had them asking why I’m not helping to campaign. Leaflet dropper extraordinaire: withdrawn.

I've read the lbgt libdem twitter page but I haven't read any of those Orwellian style interviews from the lib dems like I have with labour in regards to kicking people out....i found them unerving.
Also brexit, I don't understand Labour's hard stance on no people's vote and sacking the shadow minister for Northen Ireland for saying something reasonable. An MP can say a penis is a female penis but northern Ireland shadow can't say brexit effects northen Ireland? And I meant to agree with the former and be condeming of the latter

They are local elections and so I will be voting on local issues. I loath the Tories and would never vote for them and I haven't forgiven the Lib Dems and so will voting Labour. I'm not happy with any of the political parties at the moment but I recently read Jenni Murray's book The History of Britain in 21 Women several chapters of which were about suffragettes and suffragists. Not voting is unthinkable to me.

I'll be avoiding Lib Dem because their sexism.

Really struggled with this one.

Locally, our Labour councillors do a really good job, and I want to keep them. I can’t stand the thought of not voting. I’ve resigned my Labour Party membership, but will vote in the local
Elections. It feels like a compromise I can live with.

I've really struggled over this. I only have the option of labour, lib dem, tory or ukip. I can't not vote. I may yet spoil my ballot but at the moment I'm going to vote lib dem. All of the parties are a shit show with regards to self ID and a whole host of other issues. So in that regard they are equal. However I still feel that brexit is the major issue underpinning a lot of other things I am worried about. Last election I was told that my vote for labour was a vote for brexit so I won't make that mistake this time.