Why did people prefer Boris?

[Meshy12]

I have been racking my brain on this and I can see that BOTH Corbyn and Boris have negative points of course. And I know that brexit played a key part in this election.

But I’ve heard that many in the ex Labour heartlands had Labour running through their blood but They didn’t want to vote for Corbyn and had to vote for someone.

What was it about Boris Johnson and his bandits that offered that alternative? It’s not as if Boris is exactly more trustworthy or moral than Corbyn is it?

Why didn’t they vote for LD for example? Or even Brexit party or Greens?

I don’t really understand it

Because he looks and acts like a cartoon character and people have a soft spot/get nostalgic for cartoons.

Every former Labour voter I've spoken regards Boris as an incompetent liar. But they regard Jeremy as simply out of touch, with a tin ear for the country's mood.

Oh, and they want the middle classes to suffer what they've been going through for decades.

I think he was the lesser of two evils, it wasn't that they actually liked him as such. I think people were scared of a labour government under Corbyn and thought it would be a disaster. I think people thought he would do a better job of Brexit. I think people thought it wouldn't necessarily be better under Corbyn. If labour had had a different leader and boris hadn't promised to 'get Brexit done' I think labour would have had a better chance. That's what I am hearing from people who voted Tory.

I don’t really understand it
And you don't really want to do you?

It’s not as if Boris is exactly more trustworthy or moral than Corbyn is it?
No but at least his policies weren’t insane Marxist drivel.

I was talking to someone this morning who works for the Labour party and her and her colleagues have been out canvassing heavily for Corbyn over recent weeks. But they actually really dislike him and say he's driven out some of the best and brightest talent Labour has purely because they weren't Corbynites and dared to disagree with him. I felt really sorry for her actually. You could see the pain in her eyes.

Probably because Corbyn is unelectable and they want the politicians to hurry up and get Brexit over and done with so we can concentrate on running the country.

I think it was did not prefer Jeremy Corbyn and could not vote Lib Dem or Green for fear of letting Labour in.

This explains a lot I think ...

I was scared about having to pay for all his free stuff.

Because they’re secretly bigoted racists perhaps?

@ginghambox yes I do want to understand it - that’s why I’ve asked

I have absolutely no fucking idea - apart from Brexit what he promised doesn't sound bad - extra money for nhs, education etc - but surely everyone knows he's a liar who's in politics for the power and ego.

A woman was interviewed in sedgefield saying she swapped to tory as she thought things had gone downhill in last 10 years and wanted to change things. Did she not realise the tories have been in government all that time???

I voted for my local constituent, not Boris himself.

he's a liar who's in politics for the power and ego

Isn't this the very definition of a politician?

Strategic voting to get Brexit over and done with and because Corbyns promises were full of shit..... and he's unelectable and arrogant. If he loves his party he needs to go

Why didn’t they vote for LD for example? Or even Brexit party or Greens?

Because all mainstream media have been painting this as a choice between two people, for the whole of the campaign. Many people don't bother doing any research / reading / finding out what the options are, just watch the News at Ten

@666onmyhead
quite true I live near Glasgow, if you wanted to go to london
westminister you got the train from glasgow to Euston or you fly to heathrow/gatwick then another train or tube or perhaps take the mega bus generally these were the 4 options at most elections all sort of got you there at different costs and times; except this time the choices were a canoe along the clyde then out to sea round cornwall along the south coast and down the thames or possibly a hot air balloon that could drift almost anywhere, or a zippy helicopter that's not allowed south of Carlisle; there were no trains or planes or buses choosing between Boris and Jeremy was like choosing between canoes and balloons

Because they wanted Brexit done

Because they wanted a strong government, not another hung parliament

Because although Boris is an untrustworthy idiot, he has people around him who will moderate him, whereas Corbyn had McDonnell, momentum et Al so no one to moderate him

Because Corbyn has associated with and made what could be considered sympathetic comments re terrorists

Because they don't trust Corbyn's ability around security, foreign policy and international relations

Because they don't believe that Corbyn could deliver what he promised anyway

Because they are sick of being patronised by (some of) the moralistic arrogant left, calling them stupid and racist

I didn't vote Conservative by the way. Didn't vote Labour either though.

It want bj or Jc

It was the manifestos.

HTH

Very well said @KatnissMellark

BJ was at least able to articulate in straight forward terms what his vision is.

Short succinct statements that people could identify with, not rambling inarticulate drivel and drip feeding manifesto headlines every day for the whole campaign. People just lost faith that Corbyn has any grip on reality. He got what he deserved.

He's a "nice guy", I'm sure, but as to being the Leader of our country, no way did he have the calibre and the vision needed, and voters knew that. Anyone who can do worse that Michael Foot when he received his almighty drubbing in 1983, must be really really baaaaaad.

Thornhill58

Really?? You were worried that you might have to contribute a bit more? How very fucking tight.

The Tories - Damian Green - have already come out and said that we should be prepared to take out insurance to pay for our healthcare. It's only going to get worse from here on in.

When did the Tories ever do anything to help the working classes ever? They didn't and haven't. But fair play to them for convincing people in working class and deprived communities that they were on their side. Thing is though is that now they have to deliver. But we all know that they won't.

Labour only planned a teeny bit more tax for those earning over £80k. DH and I are on a good joint wage, a bit below £80k but not that much. We'd happily pay more tax to support others less fortunate. We can afford to ride out the Tory shitshow but so many others can't. I am very worried for those who are homeless or those on benefits under this government.

They are cruel and judgmental. There is no compassion anymore.

@pastaparadise I think this is the point I don’t get - that they believe Boris will bring change (and not just Brexit related) despite them being in power for nine years already

But @KatnissMellark your have raised a lot of good points thanks

Because he did absolutely zilch to address the antisemitism in his Party.

And it took many many journalists and interviewer months and months to squeeze a politician's micro-apology out of him. Which was completely meaningless because he had to be forced to, and he didn't even mean it.