How anyone can vote Tory?

[Stella8686]

After seeing some pro labour and pro conservatives posts recently I am genuinely interested to see what makes someone vote conservative

OTHER THAN

1. Hard/ quick Brexit
2. Looking after your own finances
3. Hatred for Labour/ Corbyn

ABIU to not be able to think of any single other reason to vote conservative?

Alsohuman

The FullFact link specifically debunks the “Spectator Index” - what spectacular disingenuousness on your part!

CLAIM: The UK poverty rate is 23.2%, higher than countries including Spain, Greece Italy and Portugal.

CONCLUSION: Incorrect. This compares two different measures of poverty. By one measure the UK poverty rate is estimated to be 23.2%, but on the comparable measure in this case it is around 17%, roughly the EU average.

Getting desperate, are we?

Not jumping on you @Trewser but 4 million kids in poverty is pretty awful. We saw in the Despatches programme how it robs them of their childhood and their future just because they’re born into the wrong circumstances.

So, poverty is defined as having less than 60% of the median income. That's not a measure of poverty at all. That's a measure of inequality. If a load of rich people became poorer then the poverty rate would decrease even though the poor are no richer.

A better measure of poverty is material deprivation. On this measure, the UK is in 11th place out of the EU28 countries.

No I totally agree. It was more an observation that poverty and destitution are classed as two seperate things.

It's so stupid to me that here people are going to quibble over the exact definition of poverty while the rich are bundling their money offshore.
Yeah, I dont get Tories.

I remember once hearing Save the Children say the defintion of poverty was not having a foreign holiday once a year and not having a TV/computer in your room.

@Bluebutterfly90
It's so stupid to me that here people are going to quibble over the exact definition of poverty

On the contrary, I think it is absolutely fundamental that any discussion or claims or complaints made around poverty, make it clear what "poverty" means to start with.

That's why I ignore any mention or claim about poverty - it's meaningless in the way politicians and charities speak about it.

@Devereux1
Yeah, my point is more "Tax evasion is a bigger problem than people claiming benefits", so you saying you ignore people talking about poverty is bizarre and irrelevant to me but okay.

If you really think most peoples problems now are not having a foreign holiday you've plugged your ears pretty impressively. I'm more worried about people dying because of benefit cuts and disability assessments.

It's so stupid to me that here people are going to quibble over the exact definition of poverty

Oh yes, why make political decisions based on facts when you can use feelings instead?

Funny everyone keeps cutting off my bit about many rich people having more than they could ever possibly spend to heckle about the poor. Hmm.

@Stella8686

You vote labour because you want other people to pay for your lifestyle choices.

People that think it’s time to stop rewarding irresponsible people, vote Tory.

Simple.

@MelGrange, you do know there’s poverty in working households? How on earth is it a “lifestyle choice”? Nobody chooses their kids to be hungry or has a burning desire to be poor. Are people really this callous or is it a deliberately provocative persona?

@Sorrynotsorry40

You’re incorrect. Most people don’t use food banks.

@Alsohuman

Benefit top ups for working people / people with children are enough to live off. Benefits (other people’s taxes) shouldn’t be expected to pay for holidays, more than essential clothes, booze and cigs. Throwing money at entitled people, who can’t budget and expect other people to pay for their booze and cigs, isn’t the answer.

And that’s all you’ve got? Nobody should be reduced to using foodbanks. It’s a stain on our society that they even need to exist.

You’re wrong.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/food-banks-parcels-poverty-trussell-trust-record-a9200471.html

Food banks are for people who can’t budget.

If you give people free food and benefits, they’ll spend their benefits on things other than food and take the free food.

OK. Let them starve. Happy now?

@alsohuman

Nope, I’m right and you are wrong.

The link to a pro labour, lefty newspaper proves nothing, other than that you live in an echo chamber.

People that think it’s time to stop rewarding irresponsible people, vote Tory

Oh ffs

Yes there are some horrible tory voters out there, but most tory voters want to help alleviate poverty just disagree with the way to go about it. Maybe if you are very right wing you resent helping people who earn less than you do, but a lot of tory voters are not very right wing.

@Trewser, you’re right. We’re never going to agree, but my respect for you has grown in our exchanges. I don’t believe posts like those above are genuine and do massively disservice to reasonable right leaning people.

Massive even! Bloody iPad!

MelGrange

I am a Tory voter and I would prefer the odd “undeserving” person to get benefits and access a food bank than have someone in need miss out.

I can disagree with Labour approach to the economy without having to demonise poor people.

@Bluebutterfly90
If you really think most peoples problems now are not having a foreign holiday you've plugged your ears pretty impressively.

What on earth? Where did I say that?

Unfortunately there are many people like @alsohuman, who think that throwing an infinite amount of money, at those that are unable to make sustainable lifestyle choices and budget sensibly is the answer.

Nope, we’ve had a system that encourages women to have children and expect the state (other people’s taxes) to support them, for too long. Behaviour may take some time to catch up with policy but change is happening.