Coordinating spoilt ballots

I think the truth may well be that some are simply desperate for a Labour win and don't want that compromised. So much intense emotion is now invested in political tribes and other tribal identities. Labour are going to have a lot to live up to, though I suspect when things don't go as hoped it will still be blamed on the Tories.

So much of what is happening here is linked to international movements, events and patterns.......We might live on an island but we're not completely detached from the rest of the world. Ther EU is no longer what it was, either...with shifts and fractures now appearing. All countries/nations have their own individual pressing issues and characteristics to deal with too.

I wonder whether the people who are so vehemently anti spoiling engage in any political activity outside of voting? Maybe if that’s all you do then you are more likely to believe spoiling your one contact with politicians is ‘wasting’ it.

Or maybe they’re all just sad because Labour have failed to convince some of their natural supporters.

I've emailed him about this. Present MP gets the women issue. I've also contacted him about a couple of other things.

I've emailed two of our local candidates. I made my feelings known to the LibDems at the last district council election.

I'd quite like to be more politically active. As it is, I just shout from the sidelines about issues that bother me when I think I can make a difference.

You could but if people are spoiling as a protest they may as well do something relevant. Just in case, same effort to write Respect my Sex if you want my X as Uncle Bulgaria for President.

Maybe...but where I live there is a Flannels flagship designer clothing department store that sells such items. Designer clothing and expensive watches are a big thing in many working class neighbourhoods where I live, and I imagine everywhere else too. Also expensive beauty treatments/facials and so on. People in working class occupations are driving around very expensive and flash cars....I'm still driving a car I bought 20 years ago.

In that case you might as well write Uncle Bulgaria For President on the ballot

I see loads of people wearing those jackets with a little badge that says Canada on them. I'm sure they haven't all paid 1200 quid. Presumably rip-off copies are available?

Erm @Floatingvoternolandinsight thinks spoiling is wasting your vote, but whether voting for an independent with no chance of winning is wasted is apparently dependent on what the independent stands for. That isn’t logical.

I am aware of that. I'm not claiming to live in poverty. I'm challenging your assumptions that have been formed on the basis of a very narrow concept and definition of 'working class'. A form of identity politics whereby being 'working class' is supposed to say all sorts of things about what you think and believe, about how you act, your values and so on.

I said some children, not that it was the norm. I'd never spend that sort of money on a coat - but clearly some 'working class' people do.

Erm, because if you don't agree with any of their policy positions you aren't going to vote for them for the same reason that you wouldn't vote for a party whose policy positions you disagree with?

Unfortunately I'm an overseas voter so I can't. Should have voted by proxy.

Why does it depend what they stand for? Sounds like this has nothing to do with a supposed concern for ‘wasted votes’

£5 is a lot of money when you have none.

As for £1200 Canada Goose jackets on working class children being the norm...

You can hand deliver it to a polling station on the day. You don't need ID to do this and can take several at once. So one member of the household can take them all.

So?

The point isn't who looks at an individual ballot slip. The point is that you are being counted in the turnout figures.

Depends on what the independent stands for.

Not all working class people live in poverty. 'Working class' people even have holidays and cars you know. Plumbers and decorators and Joiners take long haul holidays in Florida and Dubai. Some of the children at my daughters inner city school in a very deprived area have Canada Goose coats that cost over £1k, and expensive mobile phones and contracts

I had the stickers made four years ago.....for a variety of purposes. They cost £5 to be made at a local print centre.

I think you real beef is that people are not going to vote Labour because they don't want to endorse the erosion of the protections and boundaries that signal the integrity of women and girls...including working class girls. Nor the way they have sidelined and patronised and closed down their voices.

Its hard not to judge behaviour like this. First world problems. Stickers cost money! It makes no sense that people in poverty would spend what little they had on custom made stickers especially for a ballot paper that will not be counted. It doesnt go food or heat or stickers. If they were going to spoil their ballot they would use what was in the polling booth.

Argument yet to hold any sway though @BackToLurk . Nothing has changed in that regard yet? i do think the individual constituency level range of spoilt % would be interesting to see. Peak spoil was at the overall level but I take your point around variability. The Speaker’s constituency also had I think quite a lot lower turnout - rather understandably - at the last election. And probably the one before, not sure what it was like when Bercow was Speaker.

In addition to spoiling your ballots to record your feelings of lack of representation on this single issue, what kinds of protest/engagement with your MP etc has everyone been engaged in before the election?

Oops remedial maths lessons for me.

unless we now have 6500 constituencies- the average last time was about 180 per constituency. Nearer 200 than 20.

apologies for the misleading number in the original post.

General Election ’peak spoil’ in the speakers constituencies (last 2 elections) was 3%, which has been commented on and used to support the argument that those constituents object to effectively having no choice in the elections.

Nothing at all. Just noting what some people think is acceptable and unacceptable forms of protest.

But yet you think you can judge someone; their background and 'class' on the basis that they have had stickers made for use when needed?

What's 'middle class' about stickers?