If a general election was called, who would you vote for?

@CheeseMmmm

Sorry I have to pick up on this -

For me your posts stand out not for the political views you express but how you express them.

I mean saying ooh reform what about them? That was pointed, at who, just any and all other posters on thread? And it was unwarranted. And tbh just a nasty thing to post.

WTF? There was nothing nasty about it. It wasn't pointed at anyone in particular. People all over the thread have been saying they want a party that opposes identity politics, and it occurred to me they would be the most likely to do so, that's all.

It was completely open-minded, and not intended to imply anything. I even said that I actively agree with some of their policies.

In one breath you accuse me of being too narrow and putting down anyone whose politics don't align with my own. And then when I open the conversation up with something from outside of my own, you assume I've got some agenda or something.

So voting Tory is unacceptable, but you have no problems with posters who are voting communist?

This. My jaw dropped when I saw people saying they voted communist! Read a book, maybe?

Dunno wtf I'd do since I'm in Scotland. I'd be happy to vote SDP if they were standing. Otherwise, Tory.

I can't imagine ever voting Labour again.

I spent most of my adult life hating them. Now I'm more pissed off with Labour for throwing the poor under the bus for woke points. I expected more from Labour, I don't expect much from the Conservatives.
Yes, same here. These days I'm much more angry with Labour because I feel so let down by them, because I feel they took me for a fool through 40-odd years of voting, and because they have the fucking nerve to behave as if they're still entitled to my vote.

Whereas I find that opposition tends to portray any immigrant background people of whatever colour as life's victims, and as not really British.

Yes, I think that's quite telling.

My resistance to voting Tory is more visceral than it is rational

I totally get that. I spent most of my adult life hating them. Now I'm more pissed off with Labour for throwing the poor under the bus for woke points. I expected more from Labour, I don't expect much from the Conservatives.

One thing I do like about Boris's government is the number of black and brown ministers he has, and they're all the civic nationalist type - that appeals to me. Whereas I find that opposition tends to portray any immigrant background people of whatever colour as life's victims, and as not really British.

My resistance to voting Tory is more visceral than it is rational, I recognise that. If the left of centre parties don't find their spine soon, and the SDP don't field a candidate round here, then there may come a point when I may have to have a conversation with myself about it.

However that is not going to happen while Boris Johnson remains leader, because quite frankly I don't believe a word he says and as long as his party leave him in charge then I don't trust them to deliver on any promises either.

Boris is an unconscionable liar and the Tory party have lost their way but I would vote for them anyway because every single other party including WEP would fling away women's rights on their first day in office.

We simply cannot trust any of them with the safety and well-being of our children. The Tories are not perfect on the gender cult but they are the only game in town for safeguarding our children.

Tory. I just can't bring myself to trust Labour on the economy. I am convinced they would increase all benefits and raise taxes.

Yes, sure. A sort of mild terrorism, I suppose, if one looks at it in a certain light.

It kinda is. Mild definitely because there's no intent to kill, but the effect of blockading the roads to ensure Bluewater is empty (for example) has the same financial effect as phoning in a bomb threat and having the place evacuated. One is more socially acceptable than the other though.

Truss for PM? Hmm ...

'terrorism' is the wrong word. 'Coercion', maybe.

It's no longer about bringing awareness that lots of people want something done, it's about pressuring the state to do something or you will disrupt civic life

Yes, sure. A sort of mild terrorism, I suppose, if one looks at it in a certain light.

I agree that I don't think protests are generally all that effective. I think they're a channel for emotion, perhaps, and a signal to those taking part. Seems to be more effect in getting involved in media, speaking to representatives directly, etc.

Most people support the right to protest, but understand there are limits. Protesting on private property in some cases, safety, etc.

When you start to see a lot of protests focused it seems on screwing things up for people who may actually support your cause, people start to ask what's really going on with that, they don't see the connection between the act and the cause. They become cynical. It's no longer about bringing awareness that lots of people want something done, it's about pressuring the state to do something or you will disrupt civic life. Which can be anti-democratic when you come down to it.

I don't think protests in general are very effective. Occasionally they may be, but I think they have to have specific policy demands, and very widespread support that's well articulated elsewhere.

Tory. Unless they bring in vaccine mandates in which case I won't be able to vote for anyone.

I feel confident that either Liz Truss or Kemi Badenoch would do a much better job than the current leader.

I like Kemi Badenoch. She couldn't do a worse job than the current fuckwit, and the chances are she'd do a much better job.

Kemi Badenoch would be a great choice for Conservative party leader too in my opinion. She speaks with authority and confidence, she appears to be intelligent and capable.

I would vote for Peppa Pig

" Two female prime ministers Vs labour none. Obvious thing to mention "

And I think we about to see a third.

Boris is toast and Liz Truss can win a leadership election, not least because she has got a lot of support from Tory women on the trans issue.

We've got a choice, we vote A, B, C or one of the many lower case d parties.
If I was a bookie, I'd say A is likely to win. B is in a slow death spiral (sadly). C will continue to influence at the margins and in local government, and may influence A. All the lower case ddddddd's won't get anywhere because of the voting system.

On top of that, we have women's rights. A almost gave them away but stopped for whatever reason. B wants to destroy them. C likewise. All the ddddd's have different views on it but have little influence.

On general politics, A seem to care less about people who are struggling, and they have a tendency to be financially corrupt. B occasionally do something to help people who are struggling, but don't think through the consequences of their really quite surface-level changes. C I don't know, I haven't seen them do anything for anyone really. And the little parties, again, it doesn't matter what they say they'll do because they'll never get a chance to do it .

I agree with whoever said the US is a red herring, because their Democrats are more like the Tories and their Republicans are further right than any party we have. Our system is more like other European countries than the US, they're a totally different kettle of fish.

Who to vote for? It is a tricky one definitely. Ultimately it depends on whether women's rights are your primary motivator. It doesn't necessarily mean that voters don't like and deeply care about aspects of a potential Labour manifesto.

I mean, if they were offering better schools, better funding for the NHS, Sure Start centres and massive job creation that'd be great, but if they tied that to (for example) a return to conscription to support a full scale land invasion of Iran, I wouldn't vote for them. Doesn't mean I wouldn't vote for them if they didn't have a ticking time bomb policy on the table. Personally I'm pissed off because my personal belief is that if they really cared about schools and the NHS etc, they wouldn't even have the massively off-putting policy on the table at all. They'd recognise that it was someone hardly anyone wants and that it was preventing them from achieving anything else.

If there is a candidate in my constituency I'll be voting for the Social Democrats.

I agree with them on 80%, which for me is enough, and they know what a woman is.

FifteenToes - mutually exclusive in that if Amnesty and Liberty are willing to sacrifice women's rights I will no longer support them, whatever else they do.

significant reason this sort of measure is getting support in the population is due to idiotic people who believe themselves to be progressive protesting in ways that the public finds problematic.

Is it getting support? Or are people just not aware? I think we have an increasingly pressured and self driven society where people are enraged at inconvenience. Yes. But I don't know the populace support the police bill etc, do they?

My other question is whether it makes any difference anymore. I can't forget the anger at the Iraq war declaration, the massive spontaneous protests, everyone furious. They brought Glasgow to a halt. Millions marched. Remember?

I can't imagine a larger peaceful protest in my lifetime. It had no effect.