To be pissed off my vote doesn't count

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Just that really. I live in a Tory stronghold, it's been Tory since approximately forever.

I keep reading political threads with interest but I'm fully aware it doesn't matter who I vote for. Where I live the Torys are guaranteed to win.

I expect a lot of remainers wish every vote hadn't counted! I wonder what would have happened if voting had been carried out more along general election lines.

Your vote does mean something though, even in a stronghold.

The percentage of votes received directly effects the amount of TV platform the parties get afterwards. Hence why UKIP got a massive amount more coverage than the Greens despite having the same amount of MPs.

You may not be able to change your MP but you can help change the narrative.

I feel the same op. Last GE Tories and UKIP got 72% of the vote in my constituency. It helps to think that however 'wasted' a vote it seems, at least we get to vote and exercise our democratic right, unlike in some countries. I agree it feels pretty useless though.

The problem with that Hashi is that UKIP are still getting a (disproportionate) amount of airtime, considering they've been all but wiped out entirely in the locals.

Our sitting Tory MP has a majority of over twenty thousand but I still think my vote counts whoever it goes to.

In the recent local elections, Labour didn't even put a candidate forward although both UKIP and the Greens did.

littlelion that's because its based on GE share, not council share.

Every vote counts, we wouldn't have any Green policies if lots of hadn't 'wasted' our vote on the Green Party. It doesn't matter if you win or lose it still makes a statement.

Same tory story here, we have an insufferable twat for an MP and it doesn't seem like our vote will make any difference.

The BIG problem with proportional representation is that you are then voting for a party not an individual. You stop being able to chose the politicians as if the party wants them top of he list then they get in. You MP is no longer there to represent your interests; they are there to represent the party. They won't rebel because they are representing the party who could delist them. Just look at the way the SNP behave - always voting as a block, never representing the interests of the constituents, only the party.

Arguments against PR, (as requested upthread):

• you lose the link with a 'local' representative, as areas are merged and given a number of MPs across the area
• can lead to more coalitions and weaker more unstable governments because of the need to make pacts as no one has an overall majority
• it gives smaller parties undue influence (because of needing their votes in a coalition)

I am not saying I agree with the arguments, but there you go.

Also, look what happened when we had the most recent coalition - the Lib Dems got crucified in the next election because people didn't like the fact they compromised in order to share power, even though it got them some of their policies through e.g. free school meals for infants, and PP for schools.

I'm in the same boat. I will be voting lib dem. Stopthetorie.es recommends labour. But we are in a pro remain constituency. Have you thought about searching for advice op?

Hmmm... if that's true Hashi then I'd still expect to see a lot more of the Labour Party on TV than, for example, the BBC gives them (unless it's bashing the leadership or other senior figures of course). My hunch is that UKIP got more coverage because they're, well, UKIP - ergo controversial. The Greens are way too nice and tame to get coverage. And it doesn't matter how much TV airtime the main parties receive when up against an entire Murdoch machine. Sorry to be negative, but I'm just not convinced that the number of votes translates into airtime, and even if it does I don't see what use it serves in an era of social media (if parties want to reach younger people) and right wing printed media dominance.

Same here, but a Labour stronghold and has been since forever.
However, i noticed with interest for the first time ever, my local council ward has not returned a Labour councillor, but two independents. It's a start.
Overall, our council now has 10 Conservative seats. Before Thursday, there were four.
So things are changing, although I suspect once Corbyn goes, it will go back to where it was.
Honestly, there's nothing great about living in a Labour stronghold!

littlelion
From Ofcom:
the PPRB Rules required certain licensed broadcasters to offer a minimum of two PEBs to each of the defined ‘larger parties’ (if a party was not on the list it could still qualify for PEBs). Further, in relation to broadcasters’ own election programming, Section Six of the Code required broadcasters in their editorial coverage to give “due
weight” to the ‘larger parties’ and, when broadcasting items which feature candidates discussing or raising issues about the constituencies or electoral areas they are contesting, required that candidates representing the larger parties must be offered the opportunity to take part.

Ofcom's larger parties document

The Green's are not defined as a larger party on a national scale.

I live in a constituency which has been Conservative since about 1880. I really really doubt that my teeny tiny vote will make any kind of dent in that kind of secure constituency. But I'll keep going out and voting.

I grew up in a constituency where the majority was usually less than 100, and the winning party changed nearly every election. I think it increased political engagement as a result.

Tory MP in a Tory stronghold here. It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't completely useless (and daddy's money didn't keep in his seat when the local party were talking about deselecting him).

The PPRB rules are there to prevent bias/ undue influence in the run up to elections though - such as they did in France when Le Pen went against Macron. They had a timer to ensure they spoke for a similar amount of time. Airtime doesn't increase the more votes a party gets - although I accept that one day if a party polls enough votes then they should be offered an equal share of airtime which is on a par with the other major parties.

Me too. ☹️

I live in area commonly regarded as one where you could put a blue rosette on a donkey and it'd get elected. In the local elections there was a difference of just 5 votes between the Tories and the also ran.

I was so disappointed at the turnout for the PR referendum during the Coalition as PR seems the only truly democratic way of voting.
What gets me more than living in a constituency which has historically always voted the same way is that it is a constituency with a massive population so my vote is worth less than someone living in a smaller constituency. I am hugely in favour of re-drawing constituency boundaries because of this.

littlelion I never said airtime increases with votes
however voting for ukip in the last election did affect their airtime despite their 1 mp. The same can be done for other parties. A vote for a non larger party can change the narrative.

littlelion Though I did miss the word can when I said directly effects. It should have been can directly effect the amount of tv platform.

I live in an incredibly safe Labour seat so it means I can vote with my conscience and know that I'm not opening the door to the Tories. I was a Labour voter but loathe what Corbyn has done to the party, and my MP (Emily Thornberry) is an embarrassment on the national stage. I can vote Lib Dem to assuage my conscience, but in the knowledge that Thornberry will be safely returned.