If you're not voting Labour because of Palestine or gender nonsense ...

[CheesyJacketPotato]

Are you really ok with having another Tory government? Because in all honesty that is what you'll get.

Perhaps Labour should have thought of that before alienating their voters.

i probably still will vote Labour mind you as marginally less worst option

The language ‘they don’t know what a woman is’ usually indicates low priority

You’re dismissing those concerns you?

Maybe it’s just something you’ve picked up and repeat, all the same it’s to minimise. I only see it by those who want to downplay the issue and hope to stop women talking about it.

And no you haven’t correctly summed up what I care about.

I spoke up for women and children during the pandemic too. To huge attack from many who wanted that rode over and ignored.

I’m fine with what battles I raise.

No party is going to align with your views 100% on every single issue. I suppose its about working out what your deal breakers are, and what the alternative looks like.

Both main parties have their headbangers, but its about foreseeing what the party will look like in government. I don't want to dismiss Labour (under Sir Keir) because of Corbyn, McDonnell, Sultana, Whittmore et al, but if they're getting too much influence, or I see them getting into the shadow cabinet then they won't get my vote as I see the status quo as preferable. Happy to have them having their little rants from the backbenches so long as the adults in the room are running things.

I agree with Ever that no party will ever fully align. People have strong views sometimes on one issue only and vote accordingly. Most people vote because of how much money they will then have based on that party's views.

(I only mentioned the 20% of sixth formers in private schools as it was raised above and that is quite a lot of parents who might otherwise vote Labour who might vote other than Labour on that issue).

I agree no party will ever full align with your views. I don't necessarily agree that most people vote because of how much money they will then have based on that party's views. That is not my priority, although I accept it is for others.

As I indicated up thread, my priorities are health, housing and education - I am pretty secure in all those areas but deeply concerned about the young and vulnerable in relation to education and housing and the vulnerable in relation to health. I happen to think Labour will be an improvement in these areas. I am not interested in culture wars as I don't think they are particularly relevant and are generally used as a divisive and diversionary tactic. Others think differently and will vote accordingly, as is their right.

‘Culture wars’ is another one to downplay and dismiss, it can only be worse for women to buy into that phrasing

That is how I perceive it - as I mentioned up thread, I work in a sector where a vocal minority make a great deal of noise on both sides of the debate. I do not think either of their positions represent the views of the silent majority and I think the issue is whipped up by social media to become unnecessarily polarising, creating bogey men that distract from issues that are of great concern to me - ie housing, health and education - where I think the current government has performed abysmally.

It’s down to women speaking up that we see any shift at all.

Are you pro self ID? Are you ok with males in women’s sports and spaces?

Keir gets the party in because he’s more moderate, then you can’t stop them replacing him (and the other adults) with a hard left anti semite like Corbyn.

maybe that’s the plan?

@GetTheWinterQuiltOut that is a concern, but I would balance that risk against what I see the risk of another party winning.

Fair enough.

I ve a daughter, she enjoys running, she tells me the misogynistic comments she has to put up with, from men, not Trans Women.

So whilst i want womens spaces to be sacrosanct i also want womens overall safety to be improved, thats not done by cutting public services, not addressing maternity, not sorting out the issues in schools, not least teacher shortages & class ratios.
I'd be fairly certain that education plays a big party in how boys and then men treat women, not a magic pill but it helps.

I look at a range of issues, across all parties and as said, we can't have everything in party, as i ve repeatedly said, if Labour have a shit manifesto, they wont get my vote.

I just don't get way you never criticise the Tories, apologies if you do but i ve missed these.

I believe the same gov was in power when I spent time raising concerns over harms from lockdowns, although harsher restrictions were put in place in Scotland and Wales.

Repeatedly and to little effect, although I see those increased harms have been recognised at last by some recently.

More successful along with others on shifting on women’s rights tg. So I won’t stop and hope other women who do the same do not stop either despite ‘zealots’ ‘culture wars’ etc lobbed in their direction.

And you have missed others yes, not that I need to change how I post just because it’s not as pro Labour as you’d like.

I also see expectation on improvement and to that I look to funding. There is no case for extra funding beyond very gimmicky vote pullers as the VAT one. The realistic level of funding is key for me.

Vote for Labour (or don’t) I’m not trying to stop you or convince you what to do. I just post what I think and care about. Others can do the same.

Or Sunak gets the party in, then you can't stop them replacing him with a hard right extremist like Braverman - or would that plan be OK?

I look at all damage done by Govt policy to all citizens of the UK, we are interrelated, most of us have male partners, male children, harms to womens rights affect us all.
I don't focus on one issue.

I don't care whether your pro Tory or anti Labour nor am i pro Labour, i'm pro whats good for the UK, if thats another Tory, i'd vote for this but atm (for exampe) i don't put cutting inheritance tax above a decent pay rise for HCP and for Social Care workers

I don’t think Braverman is a hard right extremist. I think she’s just more right wing than Rishi who is slightly right of centre.

She’s more right wing than Thatcher was. And way more racist.

Thatcher was the best PM of my lifetime so far. Braverman would be fantastic as would Badenoch. Both will have strong claims to the party leadership once Sunak is ousted after the next GE.

Were you a Yuppy?

Thatcher was evil.

"Thatcher was the best PM of my lifetime so far. Braverman would be fantastic as would Badenoch. Both will have strong claims to the party leadership once Sunak is ousted after the next GE."

😬😬😬

Thatcher was the complete antithesis of all the nonsense we suffer with today. She was an incredible leader who we were fortunate to have in charge for over a decade.

Personal accountability was celebrated. In today’s world people are almost encouraged not to do the best they can. I appreciate why some may prefer that but the fact is that when they do others have to fund them.

If everyone did the best they could the country would be prosperous beyond belief. Sadly as time passes the situation will get worse and worse because many are happy not to subscribe to this.

God help us when Labour get in. It’ll be a disaster.

The current housing crisis can be laid at her feet

The current divide, with everyone for themselves can be laid at her feet

The lack of social care, the destruction of the NHS, the downgrading of education - all this started on her watch because she was a grocers daughter with severe lack of imagination and foresight and thought that showed if she could manage anyone could

Save us from super effective but sadly misguided politicians

Excellent. Either of those in charge will see your party annihilated for ever. Bring it on.

Agreed.

That won’t happen. Labour will be on borrowed time primarily because a huge chunk of their vote is reliant on support from people who weren’t adults when they were last in government so can’t recall how awful they always are.

The other issue Labour will have in the long run is that the Muslim vote will eventually destroy their party. The cracks are already beginning to show and once the number of Muslim MP’s reaches a critical mass the party will be unable to govern effectively. That will create a huge opportunity for an alternative party whether that be Conservatives or someone else.