to be genuinely confused as to why anybody who isn't rich would vote tory?

[StuckinTheMiddlewithYou]

Seriously, I don't get it. Unless you're earning at least £40K, why would you?

Enlighten me!

i voted tory because i thought (maybe mistakenly) that labour weren't going to make the cuts needed to change the financial situation.

Because if you have any ambition or aspiration they would be the party for you. The labour party destroy entrepreneurial spirit and bog everything down in red tape. Social mobility was severely reduced under Labour whereas the Conservatives actively encourage it.

One word... education.

Despite that, whilst they are in favour of hunting they'll never get my vote.

I always have. Besides, the £40k-ers are going to be hit by them too.

The only suggestion I could offer is that there's not much alternative - the differences between the three 'main' parties are negligable and they seem to be as bad as each other. I've often wondered who on earth I would vote for if I lived in England and think I would likely spoil my paper saying none of them represented me. I'm lucky I'm in Scotland and have the SNP who seem to actually care about the country and the people. Can't enlighten you I'm afraid but don't think you are unreasonable to be confused as to why anybody who isn't rich woudl vote Tory.

Ah... it's in case you become rich...

Snobbery and a lack of a proper understanding of their policies - Labour is traditionally seen as a 'working class' party.

I earn over £40k and would never ever ever vote Tory because I disagree with their policies and consider them to be morally bankrupt and I know for a fact that many people who earn over the national average don't and wouldn't ever vote Tory - so salary has little to do with it.

The problem with "rich" is it is subjective. Are you rich if you pay hr tax? Is that the same as being Roman Abramovich?

Because if you have any ambition or aspiration they would be the party for you

And can I add that whilst £40k is a decent salary it most certainly doesn't make you rich...

I'm neither a snob nor lack understanding of their policies.

It depends whether you think you should vote in your own financial reasons or for moral or other reasons. I would not dream of voting for them no matter what my circumstances.

Maybe not to you Choclatesanta, it would be like winning the bleedin lottery to me!

It all just seems a bit turkeys voting for Christmas...

I was wondering if there was some kind of reasoning I was unaware of.

I suppose that party politics can be seen in various ways.

1. You vote for the party that epitomises your class/upbringing, irrespective of the policies of that party and their manifesto. So, Labour traditionally associated with trade unions and working classes. Tories associated with landed gentry. Etc.

1. You vote according to policy at the time in the hope that said policies will be implemented and things might change.

1. You are adamant that you will never vote for a political party because of what you perceive them to represent, whether or not their policies reflect this sentiment.

So, for those on the thread that are adamant they would never vote Conservative, would this be the case even if they changed their policies and beliefs to such an extent that you actually agreed with them? Or would their image and history continue to put you off?

My Grandma (working class, lived on council estate in Sunderland) voted Conservative because they always wore a nice suit and tie and spoke nicely.

there are quite alot of working class tories, i listened to a radio 4 programme about it. think they're delusional myself

and you can be aspirational and still care for the greater populus unlike the majority of tories

i reckon anyways

All parties tend to rubbish after the leader has served two terms. If we made a two term only rule for the leader of the party then the parties would be more reliant on policy rather than personality.

NinkyNonker, why do you vote Conservative, though? Why

I think people vote tory because the are unable to see the bigger picture.

I agree, Alouise.

All sorts of people voted the Tories in. Largely because they're thickos, and they like Samantha Cameron's hairdo.

I voted tory because labour spend money they haven't got and in the end thats not sustainable.

People voted Conservative because they can see what Labour has done the economy and the country.