Can you sum up in one sentence why you vote the way you do?

[CurlewKate]

I’ve been thinking about why, I am, and always will be a Labour voter, despite being angered and frustrated by some of their decisions. It’s because I believe that “the circumstances of your birth should not dictate the outcome of your life” And that seems to me to be fundamental to Labour philosophy in a way it isn’t to any other party.

Probably the economy, because that underpins everything (& doesn't necessarily mean that I vote for the same party every time, of course).

I vote for whichever party aligns best with what I feel is important at that time, and it's becoming harder and harder to find any party that demonstrates they can do so.

To stop the SNP getting in.

I'm exactly the same.

This and then more of this. It is comforting to know that I am not alone with my thoughts.

I always stick to this “When you’re not doing so well, vote for a better life for yourself. When you’re doing quite nicely, vote for a better life for others” aka never vote Tory

Op that dictum can relate to any party and indeed it could be said In society other then Labour you can make your own way despite your birth ?

However for me: flexible.

Because I care about other people.

I have the same belief as you OP, except that leads me to vote conservative. Looking at my own life (absent, alcoholic father, single mother, council house), all of the policies that have helped me do well for myself (grammar school, right to buy, a full grant to attend university) are either Tory policy or were made available to me under a Conservative government.

Labour encourages state dependency and discriminates against those who don’t belong to their socialist “client state” on the supposed grounds of disadvantage. That said, the recent conservative governments have also done too much of this for my liking. I vote for lowest possible tax, small state and encouraging self-sufficiency as far as possible.

The party I vote for is aligned with my values and closest to how I think we should be governed

I don't trust the Tories and Labour lose their deposit here.

So I vote Lib-Dem

I’ve always voted Labour as I believe everyone should have equal opportunity to progress in life. I don’t know who I’ll vote for next time unless Labour can tell me what a woman is and enforce the ECHR ruling .

I think that poverty is avoidable, huge wealth (and associated outcomes) inequality is abysmal, and that we as a society should be looking after each other, including those who cannot or do not financially contribute, because people are inherently worthy of living a decent dignified life.

No, but they provide a general direction of travel and it helps differentiate between them.

I think most of us do.

I believe everyone should have the same access to food, warmth, safety, educational options, healthcare and support for disabilities.

Beyond that I accept that people put in different levels of effort, have different priorities and make different choices, which result in different levels of wealth. Nothing will ever change that.

I can’t, in all conscience, vote Tory (brought up by staunch labour voters and in a public sector job, that might have a bearing?)

Best of a bad bunch

My sentence? I have critical thinking skills.

I'm a floating voter and despise people who only ever vote for 1 party "because"
"because my dad voted for them"
"Because they did something good 70 years ago"
"Because the leader is funny"
People who think so shallowly shouldn't have a vote.

Labour only ever cause harm to the economy and are never the best option meaning I always vote to keep them out of government.

For the last election I wrote to each of my MPs with my concerns and voted for the one who answered best.

Fairness, social justice, concern for the most vulnerable and a belief in equality of opportunity, the family you were born into should no determine what you go on to do.

I always vote for the same party as their values consistently align with mine.

I despise floating voters. No depth, no real
solidity about values

Broadly my approach to voting too - common sense.

That just increases the chance of the one you hate the most getting in.
I don't like any of them either but I will vote in whichever way it turns out is more likely to work against Reform!

I hear you, but I accept that not one party represents the majority of what I stand for, so will vote for the least worst option for me on the day. I feel the need to do it and not abstain because I think at least one political party will be hoping people don’t vote so they get significantly more seats than they should. I also then worry about what changes they will seek to make to democracy.