Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not understand why "normal" people vote Tory?

999 replies

olddogsnewtricks · 18/04/2017 15:37

OK, so I'll probably get flamed for this but am genuinely interested! All the people I know who vote Tory are pretty well off so use private schools and healthcare. As a family we need the NHS and we need a good education system - and I can't see them getting any better under the Tories. Are these just not priorities for Tory voters or do they really believe they will improve even with a Conservative government?

OP posts:
alltouchedout · 18/04/2017 17:34

Oh, and the Tories are just better at being ruthless and coming together to gain power. And better at PR.

PinkCrystal · 18/04/2017 17:34

I agree that many people don't understand true ideologis of parties.

Also many people swallow Daily Mail myths.

Friday999 · 18/04/2017 17:36

There's nothing wrong with benefits as a safety net. But a lot of us object to benefits as an alternative to working. If you need benefits, then fine, but too many people choose them.

Devilishpyjamas · 18/04/2017 17:37

Oh gameandwatch - I hear you. My parents don't seem to understand that Tory policy has sent my business down the pan. They just cannot get their heads around it. Even though I told them in advance it would happen.

WankingMonkey · 18/04/2017 17:37

In this country nothing seems to rile some people as much as the idea that someone else gets something they don't, or that anyone gets something 'for nothing'. I think a lot of Tory voters genuinely believe that the existence of a welfare state encourages people to be idle.

Yes yes yes. The people I spoke about (low paid, going on about taxes going to benefits) were very much like this. Believed that it was the life of Riley on benefits. Until they lost their jobs. Now they moan that they don't have enough money for anything and are treat like shit. Well...this is what you wanted, these are the people you envied.

I understand those in established well paid jobs voting Tory. Afterall, people vote for whatever is going to be best for them personally generally. But those a stones throw away from poverty themselves? Seems pretty crazy.

TinselTwins · 18/04/2017 17:38

I think a lot of Tory voters genuinely believe that the existence of a welfare state encourages people to be idle

I believe in welfare but I also know that a free for all isn't sustainable or fair!
E.g. When I was a student, the "Beer degree" took up a large % of students in any given class (or not as the case may be, unless they came to mess about and take the piss)
We need sensible criteria
I am a supporter of free education, but when we had it, it was a mess, it wasnt well managed, and yes I benefited from it but it was hugely abused.

Now I do not believe that the Tory party offers a welfare state with sensible restrictions". I believe they just strip it away and throw the baby out with the bath water, however, no left wing party offers welfare that's fair and sustainable^ and well controlled either

OhGodWhatTheHellNow · 18/04/2017 17:39

I never thought I would wake up to Brexit, or Trump, and now I get a cold sweat at the thought of Corbyn PM. I have voted Tory previously for reasons articulated by Tinsel after voting Labour, campaigning even, and seeing through them when it all went tits. I would give up my vote before voting for JC, and I believe voting should be compulsory.

WankingMonkey · 18/04/2017 17:42

Maybe op you should be asking who the hell should people vote for when Corbyn is a joke and the lib Dems worse than ineffective?

Indeed.

Though hell would freeze over before I voted Tory. My family are ok for money but not loaded. I myself am disabled and currently going through the process that involves the miraculous healing centre where I will be told yet again that I am not ill and my consultants are wrong and my pain is in my head..and so on. A lot of my friends are on minimum wage (or 'living wage' as its stupidly called, even though they need tax credits to pay the fucking rent). I use the NHS a lot and will be fucked when its gone as I cannot afford private, will have to crawl away and die in a gutter somewhere. Which some people would be happy about as its one less scrounger and less tax money paid out I guess. So yeah. labour is a mess. No alternative. But I have to vote. I will go either Labour or Lib Dem I think even though they are both a bit of a joke at the moment. I cannot vote for a party that seemingly would like people like me and my friends to just disappear as we don't happen to be millionaires.

The 30 hours childcare thing though I think is brilliant. Have to admit that.

MaisyPops · 18/04/2017 17:45

Friday999
Wasnt much of a choice when I was turned away from jobseekers.
Turns out finishing the last few weeks of a part time (already paid) course I started before I was made unemployed (because funding had ran out for my contract) meant I couldnt actually need or want a job. Not really sure how they thoughy i was meant to live and what i was meant to do beyond tje 4-6 hours of studying.

No money for 2 months!

So i survived on handouts from family. Not everyone has family close who can help.

Got a job after 2 months thankfully but god knows how the government thought I should survive.

Believeitornot · 18/04/2017 17:46

In this country nothing seems to rile some people as much as the idea that someone else gets something they don't, or that anyone gets something 'for nothing'. I think a lot of Tory voters genuinely believe that the existence of a welfare state encourages people to be idle

Completely agree.

As someone who benefitted from the welfare state, and is now doing very well in life, I do not believe that most people are idle.

The logical extension of that is that they think people on welfare are somehow "different". Unless, of course, Tory voters are themselves out to get everything for their own selfish means 🤔 Which is quite possible.

I also believe that we should all have a civic duty to contribute to society. And that includes voting. People should feel responsible for their fate and be encouraged and supported to do the best that they can. If they need help then so be it.

Something is very very wrong when people who are working need tax credits and benefits to survive. It demonstrates that capitalism just doesn't work without a strong state to balance society and make it fairer. Unfortunately the Tories will never create a fair society.

They make cuts to welfare yet do nothing to ensure that the private sector treats workers fairly.

Believeitornot · 18/04/2017 17:49

As for JC being a joke - well what would you prefer?
Our choices:
A Tory government who will continue to rip up the NHS and education
A labour government with a shit leader but he is just one man. We are not the USA - the prime minister doesn't have individual power
Or
A coalition with the lib dems. I don't think the lib dems would be stupid enough to make the same mistakes they did last time with the Tories.

So I might vote lib dem or labour. Either way I'm voting because I'm not standing by and letting Theresa May fuck us over.

Walkingtowork · 18/04/2017 17:49

Remember Corbyn won't be leader long. Either through a disastrous loss or age, he'll be gone well before the election after this one. Please think longer-term about what's best. The old-school (pre 2015) Labour party and its many sensible MPs understand the problem and they aren't going to abandon ship just because of him.

Cubtrouble · 18/04/2017 17:52

I vote tory. Mainly because labour are incapable, Lib dems - erm well get real!

Tories are not perfect but I feel they steer the ship well enough, I pay my way, don't claim benefits but don't have private schools, private healthcare either, I work full time as does my husband and we own our own home.

Corbyn would be a terrible prime minister. I hated that cock Blair and I didn't like Dave's limp wristed approach. But conservatives get my vote

TinselTwins · 18/04/2017 17:54

I'm just so angry at labour, who, when they were in power and we had a more intact NHS, better welfare, free education…., as the party who is supposed to be all for all of things, didn't fucking look after it and prove it could run well and efficiently so it was harder for incoming governments to pick apart - they did the exact fucking opposite!

SO angry. I find that unforgivable.

I don't know if labour can ever really win me back. I might vote for them but only because I feel that I have to vote, my heart isn't in it.

WankingMonkey · 18/04/2017 17:54

Also those talking about Labours irresponsible spending, hasn't the National Debt keeps rising and rising after the Tories got into power? Yes Labour could be blamed for the first few years of it, but its still going now, even with the draconian cuts. I don't understand it Confused Labour cannot be blamed forever. They handled the global banking crash badly yes. No denying it. What is the excuse for continuing rising debt now?

Wish we could just scrap the lot and start again tbh. Or just vote on individual policies. As I tend to agree with some of each parties p0olicies but others I disagree with strongly.

HelenaDove · 18/04/2017 17:55

I usually vote Labour Never voted Tory and never will.

For people with no children all they had to protect them were the Wages Councils which were abolished by the Tories in 1993. When i was signing on in the late 90s there were frequently jobs advertised that were £50 a week (full time office admin) £1.50 an hour etc, My rent then was £48 a week and NO HELP at all for those without kids. Working Tax Credit brought in by Labour changed this for the better for many childless poorer people. They were at last, treated like they mattered.

maisyanddaisy · 18/04/2017 17:57

No one I know votes Tory or ever would except my inlaws, who are Daily Mail types. I live in Scotland though, where there is (rightly, in my opinion) a stigma attached to being Tory. I realise in some parts of the UK it is socially acceptable and normal, and therefore nice people may vote for them on economic grounds despite their wicked social policies, but it is very alien to me.

Walkingtowork · 18/04/2017 17:59

Damn right HelenaDove My mum was in your position. This is why I would never fanny about with a smaller party, even if I preferred its ideology or thought it could do a better job (which I don't)

Jng1 · 18/04/2017 18:00

Think we're pretty normal. Grew up in working class family in North East.
I've also voted Tory in the past.
Why?

  • I believe in limited state intervention and regional, rather than national, government
I believe broadly in an economic model which is based on market forces and I'm in favour of low taxation to stimulate economic activity. (However I accept that some industries e.g. trains, healthcare should be state-run)
  • in my own career I have witnessed firsthand the squandering of public money on numerous dubious, unnecessary projects by Labour councils and on Labour-founded initiatives.
  • Although I support the idea of a safety-net, welfare system for those that desperately need it, I think socialism has gradually made the system too generous and there are too many people playing the system/never working/living on benefits. One of these is a member of my own extended family so I know how it can happen - I'm not basing this on Daily Mail sensationalist headlines.
I genuinely think the Tories have the best reputation for managing the economy. You can't spend money you don't have, and Labour have a history of creating debt and general economic mismanagement. I've never agreed with the principles of socialism and the way that Labour are so 'in bed' with trade unions. My grandmother died in the back of an army truck (ambulance strike..) during the 'Winter of Discontent' under a Labour government. I will always associate her death with Labour incompetence.

At the end of the day I believe in hard work, self-responsibility and community values. In the past the Tories have been the party which most closely aligned with my values and beliefs.
That doesn't mean that I agree with everything they say or do, just that they are the closest fit.
However I have a fundamental issue with a 'hard brexit' so this GE I may change my voting habit!

cathf · 18/04/2017 18:01

Does anyone vote Conservative on MN? How come they won the last election as everyone seems to hate them??
Still, the Daily Mail is the UK's best-selling paper and no-one on MN reads that either!

scaryteacher · 18/04/2017 18:01

walkingtowork I won't list the entire epic rundown of their achievements (105 that I know of) What, like Iraq and Afghanistan? I can't think of any Labour achievements. I couldn't really give a shit what happened in the urban areas where lots of the Labour money was invested. Labour did not and still doesn't understand the concerns of rural areas. Furthermore, they would have to go to the ends of the earth and back to convince me that they are any different au fond from the party of the 70s. What I saw growing up then was enough to convince me never, ever to vote Labour, and I never, ever have.

Walkingtowork · 18/04/2017 18:03

I'm so sorry everyone.

  1. Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s.
  2. Low mortgage rates.
  3. Introduced the National Minimum Wage and raised it to £5.52 per hour.
  4. Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales.
  5. Cut overall crime by 32 per cent.
  6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.
  7. Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.
  8. Funding for every pupil in England has doubled.
  9. Employment is at its highest level ever.
10. 3,700 rebuilt and significantly refurbished schools; including new and improved classrooms, laboratories and kitchens. 11. 85,000 more nurses. 12. 32,000 more doctors. 13. Brought back matrons to hospital wards. 14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament. 15. Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly. 16. Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time. 17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice. 18. Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year. 19. Restored city-wide government to London. 20. Record number of students in higher education. 21. Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997. 22. Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres. 23. Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission. 24. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s. 25. On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 26. Restored devolved government to Northern Ireland. 27. Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants. 28. All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday. 29. A million pensioners lifted out of poverty. 30. The Child Poverty Act – 600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty. 31. Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents. 32. Scrapped Section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships. 33. Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard. 34. Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997: the shortest waiting times since NHS records began. 35. Banned fox hunting. 36. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution. 37. Free TV licences for over-75s. 38. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals. 39. Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70. 40. Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s and disabled people. 41. New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work. 42. Over 3 million child trust funds started. 43. Free eye test for over 60s. 44. More than doubled the number of apprenticeships. 45. Free entry to national museums and galleries. 46. Overseas aid budget more than doubled. 47. Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000. 48. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent. 49. Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds. 50. Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school. 51. Gender Recognition Act 2004/5 52. Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. 53. Walk-in Health Centres and GP out of hours Service. 54. Digital hearing aids, through the NHS. 55. Children’s Act 2004, 2008 – Every Child Matters. 56. Introduced Smoke–Free legislation, 2007 – child health improving continually since. 57. Retail Distribution Review – ending commission for financial advisers 58. Introduced legislation to make company ‘blacklisting’ unlawful. 59. The Equality Act. 60. Established the Disability Rights Commission in 1999. 61. The Human Rights Act. 62 Signed the European Social Chapter. 63. Launched £1.5 billion Housing Pledge of new affordable housing. 64. The Autism Act 2009. 65. New Deal for Communities Regeneration Programme. 66. All prescriptions free for people being treated for cancer or the effects of cancer. 67. Introduced vaccination to be offered to teenage girls to protect against cervical cancer. 68. Rough sleeping dropped by two thirds and homelessness at its lowest level since the early 1980s 69. 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act. 70. Increased Britain’s offshore wind capacity than any country in the world, to provide enough electricity to power 2 million homes . 71. Led the campaign to win the 2012 Olympics for London. 72. Introduced the first ever British Armed Forces and Veterans Day to honour past and present achievements of our armed forces. 73. Created a new right of pedestrian access, so that every family has equal opportunity to access the national coastline. 74. Led the campaign to agree a new international convention banning all cluster munitions. 75. Launched the Swimming Challenge Fund to support free swimming for over 60s and under 16s. 76. Sustainable Communities Act – created community safety partnerships. 77. Set up a dedicated Department for International Development. 78. Cancelled approximately 100 per cent of debt for the world’s poorest countries. 79. Helped lift 3 million people out of poverty each year, globally. 80. Helped to get 40 million more children into school, globally. 81. Polio is on the verge of being eradicated, globally. 82. 3 million people are now able to access life-preserving drugs for HIV and AIDS. 83. Improved water/sanitation services for over 1.5 million people. 84. Launched a Governance and Transparency Fund to improve governance and increase accountability in poor countries. 85. The Neighbourhood Renewal programme – introduced funding for neighbourhood improvements. 86. The Extending Schools Program – included Breakfast & Homework clubs to improved levels of educational achievement and the longer term life chances of disadvantaged children. 87. Launched the Connexions Service – provided valuable careers advice and support to young people seeking employment. 88. Working Family Tax credits to support low paid parents in work and to pay for childcare. 89. The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) 90. Established The Future Jobs Fund to provide all young people access to a job, training or education. 91. Introduced Warm Front – helped 2.3 million vulnerable households, those in fuel poverty with energy efficiency improvements. 92. Guaranteed paid holidays – introduced a law to ensure that everyone who works is entitled to a minimum paid holiday of 5.6 weeks, 93. The right to request flexible working. 94. Improved work hours – introduced a law so employers cannot force employees to work more than 48 hours a week. 95. Protection against unfair dismissal – introduced protections for workers and increased the maximum compensation from £12,000 to around £63,000. 96. Introduced Rights for Part-time workers – the right to equal pay rates, pension rights, pro-rata holidays and sick pay. 97. Introduced the Right to breaks at work 98. Introduced the Right to representation – every worker can be a member of a trade union and be represented in grievance and disciplinary hearings. 99. Rights for parents and carers – introduced the right to time off to deal with unexpected problems for their dependants, such as illness. 100. Introduced literacy and numeracy hours in schools and extended diversity to the curriculum. 101. Reduced class sizes to 30 for 5-7 year old children. 102. Introduced a public interest test, allowing governments to block international business takeovers on three specific grounds: media plurality, national security or financial stability. 103. The Bribery Act 2010 104. Established the Standards Board for England under Labour’s Local Government Act 2000 for promoting and ensuring high ethical standards and code of conduct in local government. 105. Climate Change Act 2008
RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 18/04/2017 18:03

Disclaimer: what i am about to say is about me personally, not about anyone else

I voted tory for many years (when i could be bothered to vote as we live in a tory stronghold) i was politically ignorant, looked at banner headlines and really, really didnt agree with much of labours headline policies

Following the 2010 elections i began to feel very 'uncomfortable' with parts of what the tory party were doing, lib dems and labour policies were starting to make a bit more sense even if i still didnt agree with some of them

By the time the 2015 election rolled round i started to look at the manifestos. I did a number of those online quiz and kept coming out as slightly left of centre...which came as a shock i can tell you!!

Did more research and decided that lib dem was the way to vote (sorry nick...i think i may have cursed you)

I am now completely confused as i cant stand the tory party, i dont feel labour are getting anywhere and the lib dems apoear to be standing on an anti brexit campaign...and i dont want that

It will be time to research in a few weeks

drquin · 18/04/2017 18:04

OK, I'll bite .... I voted Tory last GE .... and I certainly wouldn't class myself as politically ignorant.

Here's why I voted how I did / what influenced me :
a. We're in democracy, so I can vote however I like. If we all agreed 100%, then there'd be no reason to have elections 😀
b. I voted based on what I saw happening in my constituency. The closest credible alternative was SNP (I'm obviously in Scotland). I will (probably) never vote SNP because I do not believe in their raison-d'etre. Tactical voting some may suggest.
c. I'm continually torn at GE when considering who is the "best" local representative, when I may not always want "their" party running the whole flippin' country. But I know that's how our electoral system works (see earlier note re policitcal ignorance .....)
d. Of course, there's Tory policies I don't like, don't agree with, could be better. But I couldn't say I agreed or disagreed 100% with any other party's policies. To that extent, I'm genuinely intrigued by those who are so committed to their political cause, that they just cannot understand there may be an alternative view that appeals to others and will not entertain reasoned debate on same. Maybe that's the Libran in me .....
e. I could be politically ignorant and say that as I'm in Scotland it doesn't matter to me what UK policies are on education or health, as these are devolved matters. But it does matter to me.

I'll be honest, I struggle with the idea of who to vote for each time. I never have been "card-carrying" for any political party, so it is a conscious choice each GE as I have no political bias pushing me to vote one way or the other just because it's how I (or my parents) always voted. I find it a genuine struggle when the local candidate I may support based on what they say they'll do (!) doesn't belong to a party I'd naturally support, or who has a national leader who I wouldn't particularly fancy being the PM. There are relatively important issues to my local community which previous MPs have battled quite successfully on - and i respect them for that; but I still wouldn't have fancied them being in charge of the whole country at the time.

I may be undecided. I may vote differently from you. But I assure you I most certainly am not nasty.

pushingthroughcracks · 18/04/2017 18:05

I think there is a lot of political ignorance around.

However, I disagree this is in any way limited to conservative voters. Most people vote for the party they've always voted for.

I do find the insistence relating to not knowing what we vote for and "turkeys voting for Christmas" interesting.

I am, almost, literally, a turkey voting for Christmas. The labour government created a niche role for me (not me personally you understand) in the NHS.

I did very little.

I was paid well for it.

I filled in many forms.

However. It was ultimately a pointless role. It did not do what it set out to do but it did create a lot of paperwork detailing how it didn't do the things it set out to do.

It was, to be frank with you, bollocks.

It was by no means the only one of its kind.

Hence I voted conservative. Unselfishness in its purest form :)