Not wanting to vote Tory but best local candidate is Tory

[MarshmallowPink]

I'm not sure what to do! We have a very good local Tory MP - young, advocating for change within the party etc, hard working, quick to respond. Was going to do a tactical Lib Dem vote but the LD candidate is bad. Previously I said I'd rather skin myself than vote Tory so I'm surprised I'm even in this position. On a national scale I do not want a Tory govt; on the local scale he's the best. What would you do?

if you want to support a party that keeps voting to allow water companies to dump sewage in our rivers and sea and that haven’t managed to agree deals with public sector workers (who needs trains and healthcare to run efficiently anyway?) then go for it!

Vote for the person who's the best candidate for your constituency, unless it would be anathema to you to vote for that party.

The best candidate by far where I am is the Labour candidate.

Thanks all for clarifying my thinking. I just can't do it so my vote will go to Labour

They make zero decisions about any area.

Think of the good of the country and vote him out.

You should vote for what's best in your area - yours being conservative.

Vote for what you support for your own area, not for what everyone else in the country is shouting for.

Our electoral system is party political and it is disingenuous to try and ignore that. If someone stands for a particular party their are representing its policies and record as well as making use of party resources. If they is so keen to be elected solely on the basis of their personal views and character, they should stand as an independent.

Is there any chance he will be elected?

If no, then I think you should vote for him.

If yes, it's a harder decision for you, but you might think he will help move the Tories very fractionally in a direction you like.

I voted Labour under Corbyn (despite absolutely not wanting a Corbyn government) because our Labour candidate had no hope of being elected yet was an excellent, moderate, candidate. I wanted him to have a good result to show Labour HQ when going for his next seat, and to give the moderates some support.

I was in a similar position only without the Tory being a good local MP. I considered voting Tory because I don't want the Lib Dems to get in but I couldn't bring myself to do it and spoiled my ballot.

In your situation I'd vote Tory on the grounds that Labour are going to win overall and the Lib Dems are fucking woeful, and I think a Tory opposition will do a better job of holding Labour to account. I don't think it will be good for the country for the Tories to be completely wiped out. It wasn't good for the country when the Lib Dems were almost wiped out because they became a tiny fringe party of complete nutters.

Vote for the MP.

Our Conservative MP is great, I am very upset with the party nationally but not upset enough to vote for anyone else.

Sunak is an absolute shit and it pains me to vote for him by voting for our MP, but I want the MP and I don’t want Starmer.

I am not a staunch Conservative and this decision hasn’t been one taken lightly.