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Original poster

Who would you vote for in a General Election?

371 replies

Helmlover · 13/01/2019 21:11

If there was a GE tomorrow, which political party would you vote for?

Personally I would vote Labour as I want to see an end to austerity, more money invested in public services and less inequality.

OP posts:
Treats · 14/01/2019 21:28

They are counted, but since they aren’t cast for any particular candidate, they don’t impact the result. There could be more spoiled ballots than votes cast for all the other candidates but the candidate with the most valid vote will still win.

Ta1kinPeace · 14/01/2019 21:35

In the 2015 election, an MP was elected with less than 25% of the votes actually cast.

First Past the Post is no longer fit for purpose.
I will support whichever party commits to bring in electoral reform.

HainaultViaNewburyPark · 14/01/2019 21:38

My parents ended up with a UKIP councillor. He’s absolutely useless. He won by 2 votes. There were 8 spoiled ballot papers.

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Politics
Treats · 14/01/2019 21:38

Not sure what point you’re making Boneyback. I’m just saying that all any of us can do is cast our vote (unless you actually stand for election yourself) and I’m just illustrating how much of a difference it can make with an example from my own constituency. It’s not guilt tripping anyone. Obviously your first point is equally true and I agree about proportional representation.

But as for the rest..... if you don’t like what your MP does, vote for someone else next time.

Hen2018 · 14/01/2019 21:40

Spoiled vote papers are counted as the results for each party have to equal (when added together) the number of people who voted, which is known before the counting takes place!

The spoiled papers are then plonked in a tray. Technically, someone might just about be able to read what the top one in the pile says. Only election staff can handle them - by law - at ANY POINT in the proceedings. Then they’re bagged up and sealed with the rest of the votes.

So you can spoil your paper if you want. No one can pick it up. No one will read it. No one has the time on election night and no one will care.

Yes, a huge amount of spoiled votes might make political analysts ponder for a minute. The winner in each constituency will still be the winner.

You might as well start a petition, a letter writing campaign or go to the papers.

tobee · 14/01/2019 21:41

My Tory MP is remain (in the government) and seems reasonable on adult human female criteria. But I still couldn't.

I'm an ex Labour member/activist but can't support this leadership. Appalled by Corbyn as leader since forever. And he's just getting worse and worse. Angry

All the rest; no way either.

So nothing.

somewhereovertherain · 14/01/2019 21:49

There all a bunch of tossers. Currently live in a Lib Dem safe seat that voted remain. Which is great but he’s a tosser. And it’s only a two way vote the Tory is also a tosser. Labour only get about 12 votes but couldn’t vote for a party run by a communist.

Will be spoiling my ballot.

somewhereovertherain · 14/01/2019 21:51

Would love if there was a none of the above option.

I also believe any one who wants to be a politician should be automatically barred from standing.

Would also love to see all parties abolished and people just standing for real issues. Like the Isle of Man system.

blibbka · 14/01/2019 21:53

Living in a solid Labour area, where only realistic second choice is Conservatives, and being left-leaning, then I'd have to vote Labour.

If we had a PR electoral system I'd be voting Green though.

BoneyBackJefferson · 14/01/2019 21:54

Treats

My point is that there are many "what ifs", you might as well say 'if only these people didn't vote tory' its a fallacy.

But as for the rest..... if you don’t like what your MP does, vote for someone else next time.

But I'm not voting for a person I/we am voting for a party, by putting an X in there box I/we are validating their policies, their practices and what they stand for.

I vote (spoil my ballot) because I support democracy, I will not support or ratify beliefs that I don't believe in.

Just as an FYI, if any of the parties actually gave a shit about how I vote they would campaign in my area.

Treats · 14/01/2019 22:34

Of course there are lots of “what ifs”. My point was directed to those people who think they can have an impact by spoiling their ballot paper. If you want to affect the outcome, you have to vote for one of the candidates on the ballot paper. Even if it’s the least worst option rather than one you wholeheartedly endorse.

Just to be clear - you’re not voting if you’re spoiling your ballot paper. You’re opting out of the responsibility of making a decision. You can’t complain if you then don’t like the decision that others make on your behalf.

somewhereovertherain · 14/01/2019 22:48

@joystir59

Eye cause they did such an awesome job last time. And now they’ve got a total tosser as a leader.

MrsDoylesTea · 14/01/2019 22:50

May is awful, narcissistic, obtuse and untrustworthy. Corbyn and Abbott are even worse.

Conservatives are no longer true Conservatives - for me to be able to vote for any party I need one that refuses to throw money at a failing NHS and treat it as sacred, and doesn't refer to a non-existent "housing crisis" - where are all of these people living now that suddenly need houses??

I agree with other posters - I am unable to vote for any party right now.

BoneyBackJefferson · 14/01/2019 23:05

Treats

My point was directed to those people who think they can have an impact by spoiling their ballot paper.

the only people that are saying that people are doing it for "impact" are those saying that spoiling a ballot is wrong.

If you want to affect the outcome, you have to vote for one of the candidates on the ballot paper.

completely incorrect if you want to make a difference you become politically active and create campaigns, write letters and try and change peoples minds, you don't do it by being a sheep and voting for the lease bad option.

Just to be clear - you’re not voting if you’re spoiling your ballot paper. You’re opting out of the responsibility of making a decision. You can’t complain if you then don’t like the decision that others make on your behalf.

In your opinion. and FYI you are not making a decision on anyone's behalf but your own. Just because you are happy with the system that we have doesn't mean that I and others have to be nor do we have to validate others piss poor views that are of no benefit to those that really need change.

Ucangourownwoo · 14/01/2019 23:55

@BoneyBackJefferson so voting for the DUP in the last election was pointless as it didn’t influence things since they were a small party?Hmm

It’s not just about who has overall power.

ginghambox · 15/01/2019 00:34

Tories every day of he week.
My MP is total pro Brexit, the harder the better.

robrobinson · 15/01/2019 05:29

Conservative

TokyoSushi · 15/01/2019 05:33

Difficult, they are all utter shite at the moment. However, our local MP is labour and by some miracle is excellent with local issues so I'd probably have to vote for him.

borntobequiet · 15/01/2019 05:39

Occasionally I consider standing myself as an Independent Against All This Shite.

Helmetbymidnight · 15/01/2019 06:28

I’d vote for that!

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/01/2019 06:48

Ucangourownwoo

There would be much more point in voting for a small party if we had a different voting system.

Pointing to an occasional occurrence and saying but this happens sometimes is somewhat pointless.

poshme · 15/01/2019 07:59

If you vote for a smaller party, or a party that won't win as you're in a safe seat for the other side, it still has some use:
The non-government parties get money to help run their party in Westminster- it's called 'short' money. The amount they get depends on how many votes they got in the election.

So if you vote eg green, thinking it won't actually help the greens- it does. They get more money for any MPs they get. I know it's not as big as getting them elected in your area, but it will help them.

Ucangourownwoo · 15/01/2019 07:59

It’s better than a wasted vote is my point.it night not help those in power, but helping vote in some list mps is more useful than spoiling a vote.

Kazzyhoward · 15/01/2019 08:15

I will support whichever party commits to bring in electoral reform.

The libdems have wanted electoral reform for years. They got the chance when they were in coalition government, but, if I remember correctly, there was a referendum 2011 for an alternative voting system which wasn't agreed by the people, so it seems that the general public don't want the current voting system to change.

Proportional representation or alternative vote isn't the answer people seem to think it will be. It was proportional representation that led to Hitler's and ultimately the second world war. All because PR spread the vote so there was no "controlling" party, enabling Hitler and his cronies (a minority) to take control simply because no other individual party was stronger.

Be careful what you wish for.

Kazzyhoward · 15/01/2019 08:21

Would also love to see all parties abolished and people just standing for real issues. Like the Isle of Man system.

IOM system is absolutely brilliant, but the IOM is a tiny, irrelevant island in the big scheme of things and doesn't have the same kind of issue of bigger countries in the UK. It may be independent in theory, but in reality, it is dependent on other countries for healthcare, defence, EU open market, and even adopts the UK VAT rules/system despite not being in the UK nor EU. Like Gibraltar, it's an anomaly that's allowed because it's tiny, rather than a system that can be copied and used in larger countries.