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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who to vote for in General Election?

456 replies

Pariswhenitdrizzles · 18/04/2017 12:20

Aargh.

Would normally vote for Lib Dems (feel like I should apologise for this!), and voted for them in the last two elections. In an ideal world, I'd vote for them or Labour, but I'm not keen on Jeremy Corbyn's (or Tim Farron's) leadership. Really don't want to vote Conservative.

Wondering perhaps about voting for the Women's Equality Party? They seem pretty good, but are still quite a small party.

What does everyone else think?

OP posts:
Ifailed · 18/04/2017 12:21

I think you vote for whichever candidate stands the best chance of winning who isn't a tory.

ButteredCrumpetNow · 18/04/2017 12:22

Tactical voting is what needs to happen rather than vote for x because you like them....

Thisisouting · 18/04/2017 12:26

Agree you look at the election results from last time and you vote for whoever can beat the Tories in your area.

May is relying on the vote being split across Labour and lib dem ensuring the Tories get a huge majority

AtrociousCircumstance · 18/04/2017 12:26

Exactly as Ifailed said.

Ceto · 18/04/2017 12:28

I'm definitely voting tactically for the party that stands the best chance of unseating our Conservative MP. Where I live, there's quite a good chance of achieving that.

Pariswhenitdrizzles · 18/04/2017 12:29

My local MP is Harriet Harman, so might vote for her. Is that a good idea from a tactical point of view?

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SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 18/04/2017 12:30

Vote for who you dislike least?
I don't mind my MP as a constituency MP, I believe that she does work for local issues. However, as a Conservative, I can't support their domestic policies for education and the NHS.
I've never yet voted Labour as it's never been the right moment. I'm not saying never, but certainly not now at a national level, but although irrelevant, I despise the local Labour council so can't bring myself to vote for that affiliation.
I'll probably go towards Lib Dem. I'll often vote that way, but not guaranteed. I think Brexit needs to go through now it's reached this stage, but a voice for a softer approach wouldn't go amiss. I'm happy with their general domestic stance.
I don't tend to get minority candidates like Greens in my constituency.

soapboxqueen · 18/04/2017 12:31

Look at your polling returns for the last few elections.

Who was the biggest threat to the tories? If lib dems are really small then go for labour.

Renaissance2017 · 18/04/2017 12:32

Don't vote tactically. You'll almost be subjecting yourself to a political version of the Prisoners Dilemma.

Vote for who's policies appeal to you.

glenthebattleostrich · 18/04/2017 12:33

The women's equality party refuse to define woman. The greens refer to us as non men.

Labour are a joke, lib Dems are awful.

IisaIambe · 18/04/2017 12:35

A lot of it comes down to where you live, tbh. I live in an area that I don't think has ever voted in a non-Tory MP :(

GlitterGlue · 18/04/2017 12:35

I think you vote for whichever candidate stands the best chance of winning who isn't a tory.

But what if that's ukip? How does one choose between the devil &a the deep blue sea?

Labour have a significant majority here and I think that's fairly unlikely to change.

ExplodedCloud · 18/04/2017 12:36

If Harriet Harman is your MP and you would prefer not to have a Tory MP vote for her.
I stand 0% chance of any tactical voting unseating our sitting MP.

Ifailed · 18/04/2017 12:37

Pariswhenitdrizzles
Harriet Harman used to be my MP. She had a 50% lead over the tories at the last election and I would be very surprised if Camberwell & Peckham didn't return her again, assuming she stands.

LemonRedwood · 18/04/2017 12:37

I live in a very safe Conservative seat; no one else stands a chance. Always feel my vote is wasted Sad

VladmirsPoutine · 18/04/2017 12:37

Vote tactically. As soap said, refer to previous poll results in your area and have a look to see who gave your Tory MP a run for their money. That is if you are in a Tory seat. If in a Labour seat then go for the Lib dems.
It's utterly bizarre how a bit of Tory infighting politicking has brought this country to its knees. Time to get tactical.

Pariswhenitdrizzles · 18/04/2017 12:38

Ooh just heard that Jeremy Corbyn's not standing for re-election.

Fair point about the Greens and Women's Equality Party.

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SexTrainGlue · 18/04/2017 12:39

Vote for whichever party has the policies you most like the look of.

Vote for what is nearest to your beliefs.

Yes, you might not overturn a strong majority in your constituency, but even the erosion of a majority matters a bit. And it matters rather more if the reasons can be traced to something other than tactical voting.

mamapants · 18/04/2017 12:40

My constituency is won by plaid cymru by a pretty big margin. Labour is the only party anywhere near. I'm thinking now it might be better to vote labour as that has more chance of making a difference to the outcome.
I'm Normally a lib dem voter too but they have no chance in my constituency

Pariswhenitdrizzles · 18/04/2017 12:41

Whoops sorry read that wrong. A Labour MP won't be standing - not Corbyn Blush Sorry.

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RainbowsAndUnicorn · 18/04/2017 12:43

Surely you vote for the party that matches your beliefs etc the most. No party is perfect.

Ifailed · 18/04/2017 12:43

But what if that's ukip? If ukip managed to unseat a sitting tory MP, then we really would be heading for hell in a handcart.

RockyBird · 18/04/2017 12:44

Easy SNP

Postagestamppat · 18/04/2017 12:44

Agree vote whoever is not tory. People are umiming and aring about who may not not be up to the job - LOOK AT WHAT THE TORIES HAVE DONE. It can't get any worse.

IisaIambe · 18/04/2017 12:46

Thing is though Postage, not long ago everyone was saying that about Labour. Then we elected the coalition and everyone changed their minds. I am no fan of TM, but I absolutely refuse to back the Corbyn fanclub.