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.

I find the OP’s contention that the circumstances of your birth shouldn’t determine the outcome of your life puzzling. For good or bad it is inevitable that to a varying degree the family and circumstances you are born into will shape your life. Isn’t that why so many of us strive to provide a stable and loving home for our children and educate them to be good and responsible citizens? This in turn is quite obviously benefits everyone.

Isn’t it obvious that we should encourage and motivate everyone to take decisions that are in the long term interests of their offspring. This means a focus on personal responsibility and self discipline.

To live in a society where your upbringing has no impact on the outcomes of your life would necessitate a horrible degree of government overreach.

I just like to go to the Polling and nick the pencils.

Generally vote for the least-worst option at each election, and on the rare occasions when my vote makes a difference under FPTP (which isn’t very often, as I have mainly lived in safe Labour or Conservative seats - with majorities of 20k+) I have voted tactically to try and achieve the least-worst governing party.

Socially-liberal, free-market, EU supporting, pro-NHS, small/efficient government, etc.

It’s better for 95% of people to have a happy life and 5% to have an unhappy life, than it is for everyone to live a life which is somewhere in the middle.

Polling Station that should say.

I don't always vote for the same party!

There you go - one sentence

Im more concerned with what people need than judging what they deserve.

Life's never going to be fair but we should try our best to make it fairer.

So how do we ensure personal responsibility and self discipline? What does that look like in reality? More education, or tougher punishments? (Which would both be state interventions).

I take your point and in an ideal world all the things you say should be happening, but that isn’t the reality for many reasons and factors - not all of them due to a lack of responsibility or discipline, might I add. Whatever parents do or don’t do, it’s never the responsibility of the children. Ensuring vulnerable children are well fed, in stable housing and receiving a sound education improves their life chances considerably, and that benefits us all in the long-term.

Surely, we have a social responsibility to help children in need, whatever their circumstances?

Because the main parties in Westminster couldn’t give a shit about Wales. (I don’t vote turquoise by the way).

I vote for whichever party provides more support for vulnerable people, and also takes climate change seriously. In the past that was Labour, but I’m wavering towards Green. I would vote Tory/Reform over my dead body.

@Sherbs12 I agree of course that the state needs to be there as a support if children are at risk but the primary responsibility should lie with parents IMO.

You could just go to Argos.

I agree with what you say. I am a socialist and at the moment Labour best represents what I stand for . The current government frustrates me with its U turns and reluctance to target the wealthy but I support their policies and principles, compassion and support for the most disadvantaged in our society

Which vulnerable people? More people seem
vulnerable now than not

Though they are more likely to do their research and apply critical thinking skills. Where I live, you could stick a blue rosette on a baboon and it would get elected.

Not been the same since Sainsbury’s took them over.

We should all have equal chances no matter where we came from.

Not really as I am not loyal to any political party. I am running out of options though as I am not convinced any of them are capable of running a government.

I will always vote for the candidate whose party seem to do the most for disadvantaged people

The country closest to achieving that is North Korea.

Despising people who don’t vote as you do is odd. There’s always someone who will return the favour.

Bizarre to despise a floating voter; the Greens and Labour of today and to a large extent the Tories bear limited resemblance to their former iterations.

Women's rights that don't include men however they identify

Reality based common sense not naive ideology.

Politicians are bureaucrats with minimal abilities to solve individuals problems not a higher caste with abilities or solutions to solve the problems of humanity.

Basing your morality on politics and who you vote is a fools road to hell.