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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Seriously, what was ever so wrong with the EU that it has swayed life long Labour voters to vote Tory?

347 replies

Bearbehind · 05/05/2017 19:24

As above really.

Some of the swings to Tory councillors are mind boggling.

What was/ is so bad about the EU that makes this worth it?

OP posts:
IvorHughJarrs · 05/05/2017 21:44

I have always voted Labour but may vote Tory for the first time.
I feel that the Left has lost its way at the moment, is steadfastly ignoring all criticism and insulting those with other views rather than debating. I thought there was some truth in this article

TheMonkeyandthePlywoodViolin · 05/05/2017 21:48

I fail to understand how people can be left wing Labour voters and suddenly vote for very far right conservative government unless they are really hard of thinking. Sorry.

TheMonkeyandthePlywoodViolin · 05/05/2017 21:49

Even if you dont agree with Labour style.

Its a completely opposite ideology. Peoples priorities are insane.

HelsinkiLights · 05/05/2017 21:50

Bear it is all actually about Brexit.
I detest the Conservative party (was a previous lifelong Tory voter until after the 2010 election when I realised it was all lies & the country got shafted.) Since then I've voted Labour but since Corbyn (seems like a nice guy but not a great leader) have voted Lib Dem.
Theresa May seems the only person able to sort the EU mess out & I think that it what folk are thinking about.
If I could vote for the person & not the party then I'd too vote for Theresa.

I know these are local elections but I think subconsciously people vote how they would in a general election.

It's a pity Theresa isn't in charge of the Labour Party. She'd most likely have the biggest majority ever.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 05/05/2017 21:50

ivor, I get that you're disenfranchised but why on earth does that translate in voting for the hardest right government we've seen for years?

OP posts:
TheMonkeyandthePlywoodViolin · 05/05/2017 21:53

Why Theresa too?

Becuase she can speak in a deep commanding voice?

I think the parties should just hire actors and be done with it.

BMacklin · 05/05/2017 21:54

Grimm I found it difficult to find out what each candidate stood for in my local area. Information given was poor. Maybe that's why turnout so low? Just wondering if the same for you?

Justanotherlurker · 05/05/2017 21:55

Don't worry about it, it's obvious that they are not thinking straight, just blame it on the Right Wing Media/Russians or anything else, just pretend they are thick, no opinion is ever going to make you question your beliefs, it's everyone else who is wrong.. it worked well for the last GE, it worked well for Brexit and it will work well in a couple of weeks.

I bet your even loudly proclaim that you don't know any tories, or the ones that you do end up pissing on the homeless for fun or something.

Carolinesbeanies · 05/05/2017 22:04

"I get that you're disenfranchised but why on earth does that translate in voting for the hardest right government we've seen for years?"

Bear, youve really got to start listening. Or if you really wont, you best stop asking daft questions.

babybarrister · 05/05/2017 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 05/05/2017 22:09

Bear, youve really got to start listening. Or if you really wont, you best stop asking daft questions.

You have actually been brainwashed haven't you?

OP posts:
RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 05/05/2017 22:12

caroline

bears question seems perfectly fine to me

VeryPunny · 05/05/2017 22:12

Wasn't the council responsible for the Rotherham abuse scandal a Labour council? In that case, I can't see how anyone there could vote Labour with a clean conscience.

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 05/05/2017 22:13

I agree with babybarrister and others

I think brexit is a very big part of a lot of peoples votes this time round

Justanotherlurker · 05/05/2017 22:15

You have actually been brainwashed haven't you?
A few more and I get bingo!!

Everytimeref · 05/05/2017 22:16

It's not necessarily that Labour supporters are switching to Conservatives but they are just not turning out to vote. A low turnout usually means Conservative win seats.

As a life long Labour supporter who went through this in the 80's when Maggie got her massive majority. At that time many council house tenants bought their house and honestly believed that being a mortgage payer meant they should vote Tory. Sadly it didn't end well for the majority of these "council house tories" when interest rates soared and they lost their homes.

theduchessstill · 05/05/2017 22:16

Nothing was so wrong with the EU, but the majority of people who voted leave and now are voting Tory know fuck all about it - it's just all about 'taking back control'. I'm not referring to people on here, but people I know in rl.

How anyone can say that they have voted Labour all their life but that now they are going to vote for an extremely right wing Tory government is absolutely mind -boggling. Just because she seems strong? Although she contradicts herself at times and at others repeats herself like a robot.

I despair.

Figaro2017 · 05/05/2017 22:17

Bear,

Are you part of momentum?

Charlieismydarlin · 05/05/2017 22:20

I'm in Scotland and the swing to the Tories here is because so many of us are sick the fucking back teeth of Sturgeon and her cult and it's obession with nationalism.

This has led to some quite astonishing results. Some places voting for a Tory councillor where it would have been unthinkable.

I also voted to Leave and for the first time in my life am voting Tory as the Lib Dems only want to reverse Brexit. Labour is a joke. The Greens support the fucking Nats. Hell would freeze over before I would vote SNP.

I have only one way to go and it's blue.

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 05/05/2017 22:22

How anyone can say that they have voted Labour all their life but that now they are going to vote for an extremely right wing Tory government is absolutely mind -boggling

I agree, although to be fair i bet not many people on here are who they say they are

Or vote the way they say they do...and that goes both ways round not aimed at any particular posters or parties at all

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 05/05/2017 22:23

Because many people who voted remain accept that we are leaving the EU (some still want to put up a fight) and feel it's a choice between May and Corbyn and who is the better person to lead us through the negotiations

I am a life long Labour voter and I certainly think it is May

But won't vote Tory or Labour not sure who I shall vote for

And I think becuase May looks to be the better choice the Tories may have a majority in parliament to match Thatcher's

80sMum · 05/05/2017 22:29

I think Jeremy Corbyn's leadership is about as good for the Labour Party as was Michael Foot's! MF almost killed it off and it was rescued from its death throes by Tony Blair, reshaped and relaunched as 'New Labour'. Jeremy is trying to take it back to Old Labour - but nobody wants that any more.

Unless it gets rid of Corbyn, the Labour Party is doomed.

But, like you OP, I am very surprised that Labour voters defected to the tories. I would have thought if they were going to defect it would be to the Lib Dems.

JustDanceAddict · 05/05/2017 22:30

Labour are a shower of shit

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 05/05/2017 22:35

I agree 80's

I reckon there with be a new 'new labour' in 5 years...and they will win

PlanIsNoPlan · 05/05/2017 22:36

Er - how I voted today, for a County Council Seat, will not necessarily be the same as I vote in the GE. Today I voted local on local issues, candidate didn't win, the Tory one did. The EU had no influence.

Still undecided how I will vote in the GE. Again, the EU will have no influence, the decision to leave has already been decided. I think Theresa May is the best leader we have to start Brexit negotatiions and govern the UK at this time. This does not mean that I will vote Tory in the GE as I am voting for an MP that represents my Constituency. If Theresa May was standing as my local MP then I would probably vote for her, Tory or not.