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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for help who to vote for?

102 replies

GaryShitpeas · 09/02/2015 16:01

I had no interest in politics before it started affecting me when the last lot of dickheads came into power

And never voted cos it bored me reading about it and I never thought it would affect my life. I realise it's this kind of apathy that is partly to blame for the situation we are in now and I'm really embarrassed.

Anyway I genuinely don't know who to vote for other than I'm not voting for the current lot.

Basically to give an idea of what matters most to me. I'm 35 mum of 3 (working but skint) and live in a rented council house. I care about the poor, the disabled and the elderly being looked after and tbh I have no qualms claiming tax credits in fact we need them and don't want to lose out there. The cost of living is a big worry (Hence the need for tax credits) and I care about housing and it being affordable, and think there should be way more social housing. And also better regulation of the private rental market. I also want some hope of being able to afford to buy my own home before I'm too old to get a mortgage! And want my kids to have the same chance. I also care deeply about the nhs and want it to be looked after (or at least saved?)

So. Any ideas? Or all they all full of bullshit? (I suspect the latter tbh)

OP posts:

WrappedInABlankie · 15/02/2015 21:59

According to this i should vote UKip? Are good people to vote for?

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 22:11

erm, UKIP: if you don't like women, rights at work, maternity leave, human rights, and do like smoking in pubs and restaurants then go for it.

WrappedInABlankie · 15/02/2015 22:18

None of them sound great, so if I don't like any of them then there isn't a point in my voting surely?

I don't smoke or drink so, don't like some woman but hey.

troubleinstore · 15/02/2015 22:20

Sickoffrozen
Tories sold of council houses 35 years ago and people are now selling them to make a profit...
Labour sold all of our gold and now it would have been worth more ...
What's the difference?
There are good and bad policies in all depending on your circumstances at the time of voting.. if 35 years ago you were in a council house, bought it, then sold it for £1.9m you might be voting Tory this time..

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 22:20

Wrapped you have to vote with your conscience. Try and find the party closest to your beliefs, but preferably not one that is anti women, foreigners, people with disabilities.

WrappedInABlankie · 15/02/2015 22:25

This is why I've never voted, I don't understand half of it they say and ideal everyone would just get along and be happy i know how unreasonable that is of me to expect haha

nooddsocksforme · 15/02/2015 22:31

I will vote SNP because they will cause all sorts of problems for whoever gets in and wont let them away with right wing policies. David Cameron is an arrogant privileged schoolboy who appoints like minded people to help him, but unfortunately labour is not strong enough in opposition and there is not enough difference between the 2 parties. UKIP is full of misogynist, racist candidates and I would never vote for them

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 22:42

Oh dear Wrapped. You're going to have to take a look at policies and the like. Try this
Nobody should tell you who to vote for, asking isn't a great idea, everyone has their own perspective. Anyone who categorically tells you who to choose is dishonest.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 22:44

here is another

and one more

Sallyingforth · 17/02/2015 11:32

This thread, like the others running in parallel, is so thoroughly depressing.
It seems everyone is looking for a governing party that is honest and competent. And failing to find one.
How on earth did politics fall to this low standard?

(this is a rhetorical question BTW. I don't really expect a fully worked answer)

Original poster

GaryShitpeas · 18/02/2015 09:26

Is it true that if you don't vote, your "non vote" automatically goes to those already in power?

OP posts:

Sallyingforth · 18/02/2015 10:04

Original poster

GaryShitpeas · 18/02/2015 10:08

OP posts:

Original poster

GaryShitpeas · 18/02/2015 10:08

Oops posted too soon. I heard that somewhere, glad isn't true

OP posts:

AlpacaLypse · 18/02/2015 10:18

Spoilt votes will be totted up along with all the others, and listed under 'spoilt'. The candidates are entitled to look at the voting slips that are set aside as 'spoilt', and in a close election they probably will, as they have the right to ask the Returning Officer (the person in charge of the mechanics of the election) to explain why the ballot paper isn't acceptable. So if you write something like 'All the candidates are self serving shiteheads' they'll get your message.

Quite often spoiled ballot papers are because the voter marked it with something other than an 'x' in one box. A tick instead might be enough to ruin your vote. So read the instructions and follow them! If you do accidentally mark the ballot paper with something wrong, you can go back to the desk and ask for a new one, they won't mind. Just don't attempt to scribble out your accidental x in the wrong box and replace it with the right one.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 10:40

Alpaca is right. All votes, including spoiled papers are added up. All ballot papers have to tally with ballot papers issued, so spoiled votes are counted and set aside. They do not go toward any candidate, just the overall tally. As Alpaca has pointed out, there may be a dispute over whether or not a paper is spoiled if the count is close.

bringonyourwreckingball · 18/02/2015 11:00

If you value your rights at work don't vote for the Tories. They have systematically dismantled most employment rights over the last 4 years and virtually without people noticing. Sure, you still have the right not to be sacked just because you're pregnant, but it'll cost you over £1000 to enforce that right at tribunal, which even if you win you may not get back. We now have one of the least regulated labour markets in the world.

Quiero · 18/02/2015 11:21

Sadly, until they overhaul the political system in this country you will always have a Labour or a Tory government. Has anyone been watching the BBC2 doc on the Houses of Parliament? That place is designed to serve the establishment an no one else. Certainly not you or me.

We could never have a Syriza. The system would mean they would never get anything through parliament.

If you don't want to spoil your ballot you have to vote for the least worst sadly. My personal opinion is that is the Labour Party. A vote for the Greens might just keep the Tories in

cricketballs · 18/02/2015 11:54

Used one of the links above and I was very surprised with the results I got in terms of whose policies I selected for each of the main areas - according to the results there is no clear winner for my vote which I knew anyway.

To be honest, I don't trust any of them, don't believe any of them and watching the BBC 2 documentary that Quiero has referred to (I think this should be required viewing for all eligible voters) has only backed up this view

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 12:08

If you don't want to spoil your ballot you have to vote for the least worst sadly. My personal opinion is that is the Labour Party
Unfortunately, this sort of scaremongering is exactly what keeps the status quo. If those who wanted to vote for a.n. other did so, then things may well change.

You are absolutely right though with regard to your thoughts on the documentary series. Fascinating, but very definitely not set up to serve the needs of the people.

Quiero · 18/02/2015 12:44

Sorry Dawndonna the last thing I want to do is scaremonger. I should have been clearer that that is how I feel, not fact.

I think what I was trying to get across is ideally, I would vote green. If I voted for policies then I would undoubtedly vote green. I just cannot see how even if by some miracle all left wingers made that leap (and there are enough of us) how could it possibly work?

Big corporations control the media and the big corporations and the media control the Government. I just don't see any way the Greens could operate within that without a complete overhaul of everything.

It's so, so wrong and it devastates me that I feel so powerless. That is very wrong in a so called democratic society.

I also worry that if the Tories stay in another term we are going lose the NHS, conditions for those at the poorer end of society will disintegrate to levels we just cannot fix and people are going to die .

I don't believe Labour will do enough and I worry that they are just as much in the pockets of the corporations but I like Ed (I know, I know) I think he is genuine. I will never forvgive myself if I vote green and alongside others take vital votes away from Labour meaning the Tories get back in.

I have stewed ands stewed over this, it isn't a decision I take lightly.

PunkHedgehog · 18/02/2015 18:25

The Tories have set out spending plans for after 2015 that the Office of Budget responsibility says will cut public spending to the level it was at in the 1930s.

What were public services like in the 1930s?

There was no NHS. At all.
There was no child benefit.
State pensions were tiny and means tested.

When couples got married their families frequently gave them the wedding present of having all their teeth removed, because there was no NHS dentistry and most people couldn't afford dental care.

Unemployment benefits did exist but were paid only if you passed the family means test (inspectors came to your home and made you sell anything they didn't deem necessary - you know, those extravagant luxuries like blankets, or more than 1 chair per person diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/1930s-means-test.html )

There wasn't universal free secondary education. If you couldn't pay and didn't win a bursary you most likely stayed in an all-ages elementary school until 14, instead of going to secondary school. Obviously college or university was out of the question for all but the very rich.

Sounds delightful, doesn't it? A return to that is definitely something to aspire to.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 20:17

Quiero as an ex labour councillor, I shall be voting green.

I'm sorry if I seemed a little short, it wasn't intentional, but voting has been, for many years a two horse race and until we stop the I can't vote for so and so because it'll let so and so in, the status quo really does remain the same. Unfortunately, it takes all of us, at the same time, to be brave!

With regard to your point about 'a complete overhaul', well, why not? Heaven knows we need it!

brimfullofasha · 18/02/2015 21:18

I do think this is the election to vote tactically. You sound more left than right wing. I too would automatically rule out the Tories and won't forgive them for what they've done to welfare, nhs, legal aid , education. I've always voted labour but am considering the Greens this time as i think they have a small chance of getting in in my area.

SarfEasticated · 20/02/2015 09:44

I think the stakes are too high to vote tactically - a said ^ I voted green last time and we got the Coalition nightmare. This time it's Labour all the way for me just to be 100% sure.

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