To have put in my (postal) vote today for the Tories?

[IonaNE]

I agree with their education policy (especially grammar schools) and a lot of their criminal and immigration policies. I have done the "isidewith" quiz (uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz) and I side 58% with Conservatives, 48% with Labour and 40%, 36% and 34% with UKIP, LibDem and the Green Party, respectively. But in general I have done it because it seems to me that the Conservatives are clever people (mostly Oxbridge educated), and you have to trust the leading of a country to clever people. (We all remember a certain Labour prime minister and his "bigoted woman" remark, when he thought his mic was off, don't we?) The Tories support working people, as opposed to second- and third-generation lifelong benefit claimers (large estates of high deprivation in my region) and they have already proved themselves by decreasing unemployment levels to those in the 70s, if I remember well (I wasn't in this country then, I'm an immigrant).

Disclaimer: I mostly use MN at the weekends, so I will come back and read replies today but I can't promise anything from Monday onwards...

You are a teacher? Or former teacher?

But you seem incapable of addressing previous points and questions.

Some of your reasoning sounds like you are ks1.

Frightening.

No for the fact that you're wallowing in other peoples misery and poverty.

YANBU. Your vote is yours to do with what you think best. I never disclose how I vote (although it's probably fairly obvious to most) as it's pointless.

You must be the only teacher in the UK to rate Michael Gove .

GMF

Yabvu to think this will end well!

I have a forehead hard as stone
And I'll mash you all up
Body and bone

I'm hiding this thread now. Your lack of compassion and your ignorance goadiness and I'm alright Jack has got my blood pressure going through the roof.

PS: Thank you to the pps who have actually engaged and posted arguments, or the link to the DM (which I have looked at). I enjoy debate. (Like with Dawndonnaagain, with whom I often disagree :) ).

I was somewhat surprised at the glee the misinformation that my vote was too late caused - until it was rectified. Guys, you can even hand in a postal vote at a polling station on the day of the election if you have missed the post. The deadline for the arrival of postal votes is, surprisingly.... the day of the election.

You like Gove. I don't think his own mother likes him (SnickersWasAHorse)
Hmm ... you are aware, of course, that he was a LAC...?

Have you read Brave New World? (rollonthesummer)
Yes. Is that the only possible outcome?

Does the op honestly think absolutely everyone on benefits is only there out of laziness? (Bunnyfuller)
Has the OP ever said this? I don't think so, Bunnyfuller.

What's a LAC? Teachers in general did not like Gove - and yet you disregard their opinion as experts in the field. However, you do think that Oxbridge graduates are more intelligent than the general population when it comes to running the country. So do you trust the experts or not?

What's a LAC?
Looked-After-Child (because, as a former teacher, I am an "expert", too, you see, allegretto). Michael Gove was adopted, so in this context saying that his mother does not like him...

Teachers in general did not like Gove - and yet you disregard their opinion as experts in the field. However, you do think that Oxbridge graduates are more intelligent than the general population when it comes to running the country. So do you trust the experts or not?
Do you see the logical flaw in this, allegretto, or shall I point it out?

To be honest I have a sneaking suspicion that the people posting these goady-type Tory threads aren't Tories at all but supporters of other parties trying to make Tory voters look bad. The whole 'benefit-claimers' bit is the giveaway - the first part sounded reasonable but then you chuck in a bit about benefit claimers (or the disabled - that's another topic guaranteed to get emotions heightened) to stir it up. None of my friends who vote Tory or are considering it go around talking about cutting benefits or being clever or anything like that - they're just normal people talking about security & health & business, just the same as Labour voters and Lib Dem voters (and every other voter). It just seems a bit stupid trying to stir it - if you want to vote for a different party then talk about THEIR benefits, don't slag someone else off indirectly - and that goes for supporters of all parties.

To vote tory cos grammar school are good is so so stupid. Uni fees are so expensive and so are living cost that it it will only be the very rich that can afford to go . So grammar are not going to help any one .

Or I hope you low paying new job will pay you and your family medical expenses.

I cannot tell you how lovely it was to meet my 7 figure earning entrepreneur friend last night who quite clearly said that she was not going to vote Tory in spite of being their prime demographic. Why? Because she is capable of looking beyond her own circumstances and she has a degree of empathy.

But you are right, OP. she did not go to Oxbridge so what does she know?!

Our local school that my boys go to is called "xxx Grammar School" - it's a good state school, simply kept its old name
I'm alright, Jack.

Didn't the postal vote close weeks ago?

@Nikephorus, as a disabled person I have been on the receiving end of comments about my disability and benefits from a few Tory supporters, albeit more behind my back than to my face. I have a nice house so apparently I must be doing very well from benefits (it was bought when I was able to hold down a full time job), and because I'm intelligent I should be able to get a proper job (I do some work, they didn't ask, they just assumed).

I'm not saying that such comments are exclusive to Tory voters, not at all, but you can't suggest that they don't exist. Perhaps you don't hear them because they don't effect you.

I would say how much worse things have got in the past few years, it has somehow become acceptable to take pot shots at those with disabilities. But when you hear the things some MPs say about us, it's not surprising is it.

Why would I know that Gove was adopted?
I know he's a contemptible, odious cunt. The circumstances of his birth and childhood are of no interest to me and do not change my opinion of him one iota.

(Adoption, as I understand it does not make him a LAC, rather an adoptee. He is not being 'looked after'. Also his mother is the woman who adopted and raised him as I'm sure anyone from the adoption boards would be happy to tell you. Without knowing the circumstances of his adoption you have know idea how his birth mother felt about him).

Tories don't give two shits about the working class so get your head out your arse. Fucking ridiculous look into half of what you're saying

Gove has flobby lips

Like a troll

Post isn't collected on a Sunday, so you can always go and fish is out OP

Why is there a phrase for rich people who vote against self interest for the Labour Party (champagne socialists) and not one for the converse? Irn Bru fascists? White Lighting Nazis? Because they have more effect on politics.

You can vote whichever way you like

But i do have to agree with others that

Conservatives are clever people (mostly Oxbridge educated), and you have to trust the leading of a country to clever people.

Is a bit daft

Did you have a reason for a postal vote...i am just being nosy. My dad is on holiday and he has had a postal vote but a friend of mine says she always does it because she finds it easier

It's your vote to do with legally whatever you wish. This.

and

YABU for thinking that oxbridge educated and clever are the same thing.