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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to really dislike the Tories right now?

174 replies

Purpleflamingos · 15/02/2015 09:06

They're benefit bashing for votes.
They are MP's who for the main part have had a privileged upbringing. Why can't they talk about their plans for the UK's defence in light of ISIS and the Ukraine? Why don't they talk about foreign policy and/or their plans for the EU? Why don't they speak up on green issues? Why don't they discuss immigration levels or London house prices? Or even patiently explaining that benefits aren't that large a portion of expense.

Why, dear god, with their education do they lack empathy towards people already living on the lowest levels of income and have no innovative suggestions to make? Clearly original thought and critical thinking wasn't on their curriculum.

OP posts:
Golferman · 18/02/2015 15:37

I vote for whichever party will benefit my family and I. Has always been the Tories and probably will always be.

OnlyLovers · 18/02/2015 15:41

Genuine question, Golferman, do you consider benefits to wider society to be important too? Or solely you and your family?

LurkingHusband · 18/02/2015 15:49

I vote for whichever party will benefit my family and I. Has always been the Tories and probably will always be.

Unless side effects of Tory policies negate those benefits Hmm.

Justanotherlurker · 18/02/2015 16:00

Unless side effects of Tory policies negate those benefits

Pretty much true of every partisan voter, if you think Labour are going to do anything drastically different your going to be disappointed

Goodbetterbest · 18/02/2015 16:04

Sadly it's that mentality which fucks society up. Me, me, me.

LurkingHusband · 18/02/2015 16:06

if you think Labour are going to do anything drastically different your going to be disappointed

I have no illusions about how useless Labour are as an opposition, and how little will change should they gain power. As I pointed out in another thread, their silence over sanctioning 18-21 year old speaks volumes. It's tacit approval.

Golferman · 18/02/2015 16:14

Just to my own family which is my main concern.

OnlyLovers · 18/02/2015 16:37

So, thinking of some current or proposed government policies, what if someone in your family currently healthy were to (God forbid) become seriously injured or disabled and require care/funding/resources that were, due to policy, not forthcoming?

Or if a wage-earner in your family (again, God forbid) were to lose their job and be in need of state support?

I vote partly on the basis that at any point I or someone important to me could go under the proverbial bus or find our finances and lives threatened in some other way and be in sudden need of support of one kind or another. If there is a government in power that does not provide support of this kind, then my loved ones and/or I would be screwed.

I also vote partly on the basis that I am luckier than a lot of people, I can earn OK money and pay my taxes and I want them to go towards affordable health and public services, arts and leisure etc for myself but also for everyone.

I really struggle with the idea of voting only for me and my immediate loved ones, because a) I think everyone needs and deserves state help and b) at any point, I could go from being fairly affluent and able to afford the things I need to being neither of those things.

HappydaysArehere · 18/02/2015 17:27

UncleT. I do agree but then I remembers the shelters, bombs etc. Cut, cut, cut - the armed forces, the navy,the police force and to hell with the consequences. Churchill would turn in his grave. Anyone who feels this is not relevant to the present day is deluded.

HelenaDove · 18/02/2015 17:29

Atlee would turn in his grave before Churchill would.

Horseradishes · 18/02/2015 17:44

I dislike the tories but I dislike labour more atm, they are hopeless atm.

If they had effected more restrictions on benefits claimants, eg have to be a UK citizen for two years, cut the asylum allowance which no other country has and results in asylum seekers coming across,the world and gathering in camps at Calais etc then there would be more money to help UK citizens.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 18:38

Horse Did you read my links? The disabled are dying due to the cuts and you're talking nonsense about cutting benefits still further and the camps in Calais, something the UK has nothing to do with. Have you fallen for those doctored britain first posters?

Sallyingforth · 18/02/2015 18:43

the camps in Calais, something the UK has nothing to do with

Steady on Dawn. The camps are everything to do with the UK. They are there because we have the most favourable treatment of economic migrants.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 19:06

Thing is Sallying we don't have the best benefits in europe, so whilst some are waiting to come here, and it does seem we have offered to pay some policing cost, it's not for our benefits.

HelenaDove · 18/02/2015 19:29
Sad

www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-31312000

needmorespace · 18/02/2015 20:40

everything OnlyLovers says
there but, Golferman, there but...
I think the stats are that most of us are only two pay packets away from homelessness.
I am a bit better off than that, but I have an autistic child and I am truly scared for his future if this shower get back in.

Sallyingforth · 18/02/2015 21:33

Thing is Sallying we don't have the best benefits in europe

Then I suggest you pop over to Calais and let them know that they have
struggled all the way across Europe under false pretences. Where will you tell them they will be better off?

Dawndonnaagain · 18/02/2015 21:42

try here

Viviennemary · 18/02/2015 21:45

Labour will be hopeless. Please not a Labour government after the chaos they left last time. And still the same old rubbish. Give everyone more money spend more and we'll all be happy. they never change.

Sallyingforth · 18/02/2015 22:32

I'm sorry Dawn but I don't think all those migrants read that website.

Why do you think they risk their lives hanging under trucks to get into the UK, if they were better off in the countries they travelled through?

Like you I don't agree with reducing benefits for the disabled and their carers, but let's not deny that our system is still the envy of many others.

Coyoacan · 19/02/2015 03:09

Well, one would have to ask them, but from what I understand every European country has loads of immigrants, something to do with the immigrants countries being war-ravaged and/or having all their natural resources plundered, I would imagine.

Dawndonnaagain · 19/02/2015 07:55

Dawn, we are no different to many other countries in Europe, where do you think the rise of the far right has come from. Each european country has it's own difficulties with immigrants and ours is no greater or worse than many other countries. As I said, our benefits are not the best in Europe, so it isn't just that. Coyoacan has a valid point.

Sallyingforth · 19/02/2015 09:34

We all know why people want to come to Europe, and I can't blame anyone from somewhere like Syria seeking peace and security I'd be doing the same myself.
But that doesn't explain why so many refugees, having reached the safety of the EU, would then travel further across the continent to live in squalor at Calais and risk their lives to cross into the UK.

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