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Original poster

If you wouldn’t usually vote Tory, Reform or any right of centre party, what could they do…

57 replies

CurlewKate · 08/06/2026 06:44

to change your mind?

OP posts:
Persephonia1966 · 09/06/2026 08:50

Squirrel001 · 09/06/2026 08:48

I think in most cases the answer is to change your family and social network.

An individuals political stance is almost entirely a product of their environment rather than of any independent thought.

That applies to both sides of the political spectrum.

Really? There's a wide variety of views on my family. I actually think that's healthier.

Squirrel001 · 09/06/2026 09:01

Persephonia1966 · 09/06/2026 08:50

Really? There's a wide variety of views on my family. I actually think that's healthier.

Show quote history

I agree that’s a healthier situation however it isn’t typical though. The biggest single predictor of a persons voting choices is how their parents voted.

I also think UK politics is in a bad place at the moment as huge swathes of people vote against things they don’t like rather than being heavily in favour of the alternative.

Imagine being in a position to vote in an election where you thought 2 or 3 parties all promised a decent approach to government rather than feeling you have to vote to exclude the party you fear. That feels so far away at the moment.

chaosmaker · 09/06/2026 11:10

CurlewKate · 09/06/2026 08:26

Anyone wondering why I asked-see my post
of 6.31.

I asked what your answer is to your own question.

Frequency · 09/06/2026 11:12

Grow a conscience.

Original poster
CurlewKate · 09/06/2026 11:14

chaosmaker · 09/06/2026 11:10

I asked what your answer is to your own question.

Show quote history

I have no idea. As I said-nothing would induce me to vote for a right of centre party.

OP posts:
MrsKeats · 09/06/2026 11:16

Nothing.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 09/06/2026 11:38

bosqueverde · 08/06/2026 15:10

(Full disclosure: I am male and not even a UK voter)
What it would take:

  • Value competence. UK "right of centre" parties chose loyalty and outward signs of belonging to a chosen class (and in the case of reform, worse criteria, e.g. name, "race", skin colour, religion...) over ability. A good example is how Boris Johnson handed PPE contracts on trust, to "the right sort", rather than through objective criteria.
  • Focus on unity. Current conservative and reform parties exploit division -- age, social class, ethnic (migrant vs. UK born, and English vs. minority nations) while talking about union. There is a need to act to maintain the country's unity in deed, not in words. A good example of this is shown in Ireland, where unionist parties control decisions for a small minority (minority within NI and within the UK) while claiming to act for the country as a whole.
  • Act in the long term. The above two stem from a mistaken belief that the political system will remain stable when a rent (in positions, money, or influence) is extracted from it. A good example is how the Brexit vote was triggered by MPs and ministers who believed it would provide them a political advantage, but did not factor the institutional changes that would result.
  • Protect the institutions. the rule of law, the elected parliament, or the Union of the Kingdom are not God-given, physical laws of the universe that will remain however much they are undermined by poor government. Good examples are supporting a press that accuses judges to be enemies of the people, or underfunding police services while claiming to support law and order.

In other words, for me to vote for UK right-of-centre parties, they would have to be conservative, rather than the sick bunch of incompetent louts that plunder the country every time they can. Disraeli must be spinning in his grave like a propeller if he can hear parliament speeches.

I could downright cry at such a sensible and measured post (except that would be far too emotional and that post doesn't deserve emotionalism).

THIS is what I long for for the UK.

Valuing competence, thinking long term, working towards unity.

I'd also say working to better conditions for everyone in the UK. Education, decent living standards, a working NHS. In my view, the NHS should be on a public health insurance model as with many other countries whose systems work incomparably better.

I don't care about the name of the party, I'd vote for it.

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