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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask those who voted Conservative if they are happy now?

189 replies

Elendon · 09/06/2017 20:07

It seems to me that the current Government has asked a bit too much of their voters. I'm just wondering if those who voted Conservative if they are happy with the current outcome of the election.

OP posts:
Fab39ish · 10/06/2017 09:29

Votes

MsJuniper · 10/06/2017 09:53

This has been an interesting thread with lots of respectful conversation, thanks OP for asking the question. I'm not a Tory but happy to answer some of the other questions that have come up from my point of view.

I grew up in a "true blue" household in the 70s, had a rosette stuck on me during elections, stuffed leaflets through letterboxes. As I grew up, my eyes were opened to inequality and injustice and I became more and more left wing. I always thought the reason MN was fairly left wing was because those inequalities and injustices were impossible to ignore here.

I was quite pro-Blair in some respects, but Corbyn has represented the first chance I have had to vote for something which more fully represents my beliefs. I have been disappointed on Brexit and antisemitism but as a person with principles and courage who ran a great campaign, I have been delighted with him.

One reason I am pleased with the result is that I hope it will make Brexit much more difficult to negotiate and that we will have to make more concessions in order to get a deal - i.e. keep certain economic ties and softer borders.

I don't know anyone who "voted for a hung parliament". Yes, there was some tactical voting and vote-swapping but much less than in 2015. Most voters seemed energised by their own parties and the presidential-style campaign meant that many people voted for a leader/manifesto rather than tactically. I think lots of Labour voters thought the best they could hope for was a hung parliament, because of the press and PLP campaign against Corbyn, but they all wanted and hoped for more.

While I can't stand the right-wing press or some of the language used against socialists, I have never agreed with people slagging off the Tories in such an aggressive and dismissive way, as that is what feeds a more sinister division in our country. I guess from my past experience I am more likely to see Tories as people who do genuinely believe in their party too.

I am really surprised that people are still talking about "safe seats" or "Fred West in a red suit" as surely this election has debunked all that - just look at John Cleese in Kensington. I read on the BBC that around 2500 votes one way or the other in 5 key constituencies for each party would have swung the result either to giving Cons an overall majority, or making a Cons govt impossible even with DUP. Some of those constituencies were places which had enormous majorities previously - look at Amber Rudd or Theresa Villiers for two examples where Labour nearly took them. So if you are a Tory wishing some constituencies had been taken or kept blue, it could easily have gone the other way and we are feeling that way too. Perhaps both sides are thinking "if only" about the small number of votes that would have swung it for them, so we do have that in common.

Finally the other reason I am happy is that the vote share was not only good for Labour, but also good for restarting the debate on electoral reform and FPTP/PR, which I would like to see changed.

drinkswineoutofamug · 10/06/2017 10:32

I voted Tory. I fed up of elections and don't want another for a long time. I don't understand politics , I vote based on manifestos be it right or wrong. Thought Labour did well, it was a win for Corbyn considering how much of a bashing he had. Still wouldn't vote for him though. I need to google DUP. In my ignorance I haven't a clue who they are Confused
But I can gather from snippets I've read sometimes it's better the devil you know. If someone could come along and give me some easy read none bias info about them . That would be helpful

MissionItsPossible · 10/06/2017 10:39

Not to stereotype but it shows how some people simply shrug and say, well, it's democracy, this is how people voted, I'm not happy about it but oh well, yet if Conservatives got the mandate there'd be WELL FFS THE COUNTRY IS RUINED WELCOME TO 5 MORE YEARS OF AUSTERITY and I'M LEAVING THIS HORRIBLE RACIST COUNTRY threads all over the place lol and I say that as a Labour and one time Lib Dem voter (didn't vote this time though)

Andrewofgg · 10/06/2017 11:02

The party with the most votes in GB and the party with the most votes in NI. If you can't have a majority government that sounds like the most democratic alternative to me.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 10/06/2017 14:27

You're right Mission - there were plans for riots according to some folk on my FB who I thought were respectable professional types! It's not pleasant.

Charmageddon · 10/06/2017 16:43

Happy that they won & have formed a govt, yes - also happy that Corbyn is not going to be PM.

Shit campaign, yet another negative campaign run by Lynton Crosby - I gave literally no idea why he is rated so much for his 'dark arts campaigning' tbh.

The Brexit & Macron campaigns & wins showed us that in the current climate people want hope, not fear mongering & hate but the Tories obviously didn't get the memo.

araiwa · 10/06/2017 17:04

"Yes! As my dear old DM said earlier, "We'll just have to wait for those Corbynits to grow out of socialism"

or wait for the tory voting old people to pop their clogs

which will happen first??

callmeadoctor · 10/06/2017 18:41

Just wondering why somebody would start such a goady thread?

7461Mary18 · 11/06/2017 19:57

Probably just because they are sore Labour losers and don't like the thought May is still PM and the Tories are in charge.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 12/06/2017 09:34

araiwa I guess it rather depends on how successful the disaffected yoof is when real life starts. Those who do well materially will recognise their own naïveté quickly and start to ask more sensible questions and recognise that the public purse is debt-laden, much like many of. themselves. Those who don't succeeed will no doubt continue to demand a free lunch and refuse to learn the harsh lessons of history: that socialism is a proven disaster. You sound charming btw.

metspengler · 12/06/2017 09:41

I would have been happier with a bigger majority but we can now just do it with the DUP''s help, if the party has the common sense and discipline to stick together.

If they can do that we have saved the country from a fate worse than death for a while, in which case yes.

MissEliza · 12/06/2017 11:33

I'm not happy because we lost a working majority. I think TM's decision will go down as one of the worst in political history. However the party needs to stay disciplined and get behind the PM.

Squeegle · 17/11/2018 18:58

Interesting thread - even though it’s an oldie - I wonder how everyone is feeling today. Are they still glad they voted conservative?

I did not vote conservative and I never would.

However I have to take my hat off to TM she has a lot of staying power.

But that’s the only stable thing about them - the conservatives are making an absolute mess of our country. All this Brexit cock up, universal credit, abject poverty making a comeback , schools, NHS and mental health crises. But how ridiculous that the Labour Party and the Lib Dem’s can’t get it together to bring about a reasonable alternative even with all this chaos. Isn’t there someone who can bring us all together?

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