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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you vote the same or

100 replies

changed4good · 24/10/2020 20:44

AIBU to think that if there was an election tomorrow most people would still vote for a Tory Government.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 24/10/2020 23:48

@Thedogscollar

Going on how they have handled Covid and Brexit so far I can't see why anyone could vote for the Tories.
Those who vote for what they perceive to be their own interests will.
blueangel19 · 25/10/2020 00:10

You vote Tory and get Labour every time in this country. 😂😂😂

Skysblue · 25/10/2020 00:24

I voted Labour but it was a close call as I hated many of their policies. I don’t think they would win an election if it was tmrw. Kier Starmer and Angela Rayner are fab and they need to surround themselves with better people and get a grip of the media coverage.

The problem with getting rid of Boris Johnson is his whole brand is, like Trump, “I know I’m crap at this but aren’t I hilarious” and no-one expected Boris to be good so his appalling record doesn’t bother his supporters.

No one good to vote for. I long for another Tony Blair or even a John Major / Magaret Thatcher! Anyone remotely competent at the basics would be an improvement.

Fiveletters · 25/10/2020 00:29

I wouldn’t vote for them (and I didn’t last time), but I think they would still win.

Herd mentality by far too many. Vote on the idea of “conservative” rather than the reality.

sst1234 · 25/10/2020 00:34

I think it’s fair to say that you won’t get an accurate representation of electoral outcome on this forum. This forum would have said Jeremy Corbyn would win the GE (as well as the argument) in 2019.

MoonJelly · 25/10/2020 00:36

@Crankley

I'm a Tory voter and will vote for them next time. The alternatives are risible.
As compared with Johnson, the second most incompetent and mendacious leader in the West? Seriously?
troph · 25/10/2020 00:38

If it wasn't Corbyn leading labour last time they would have won without a doubt. But dont think either would do a better job they're all corrupt

nocoolnamesleft · 25/10/2020 01:18

Last time I held my nose to vote for Labour. I've never voted Tory, and don't think I ever will.

Torvean32 · 25/10/2020 01:52

Scotland never voted the Tories in. I've never voted for them, and I never will. There has to be a better vote system where every country has an equal standing in the vote.

lovelemoncurd · 25/10/2020 01:22

I simply don't understand people who shift political ideologies or can't decide who to vote for. It's shallow and uneducated. I would rather someone voted Tory because they had a strong belief in the principles of Conservatism than be undecided. I won't be switching. I always vote Labour.

Pyewhacket · 25/10/2020 01:23

Boris would still win , and with a majority.

bulldoz · 25/10/2020 02:08

Last time I voted I voted For Brexit. I was pushed to vote because I apparently had to decide. I regret it and feel like I've done the wrong thing. I defend the point of not voting as I don't like anything enough to vote on x

sally067 · 25/10/2020 02:16

I know I'm stereotyping but I think a fairly sizeable chunk of the voting population, possibly as much as 10-15% are basically racist, hateful people. In the past they would have voted BNP or UKIP.

Another 15-20% might not be full on racist but are jingoistic, anti-Europe, nostalgic about the Empire and WW2. They embrace the class system despite not realising that they are in all likelihood voting against their own self interest. When they vote Tory they think they are voting for Churchill and low-taxes rather than a stronger economy, compassionate society and decent public services.

Boris is great for these two groupings of people because he has positioned himself to appeal to both as he is a casual racist himself and appeals to the core Tory values that their tribal voters love. Brexit has also entrenched many of these views for a generation.

Having 30% of the population with such tribal loyalties makes it pretty easy to get a majority in a FPTP system as all they have to do is appeal to a further 10% of people with a few populist policies and a bit of fear thrown in and can get a pretty big majority. They don't have any other right wing parties to split their vote like Labour does either.

safariboot · 25/10/2020 02:21

Well I'm a "never Tory" voter and that's not changing any time soon. Now Corbyn's not in charge I would probably vote Labour, but I'd give the LD and the Greens the time of day.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 25/10/2020 02:26

I would vote the same. I voted labour and would do again. I just wish Sir Kier was around last time. Corbyn was never strong enough

chickenyhead · 25/10/2020 02:26

I would vote for a traffic cone as PM before I ever voted for a tory.

Mintjulia · 25/10/2020 02:31

Momentum are still there, and briefing against KS, who I quite like.

Today I might vote Lib Dem.

Mintjulia · 25/10/2020 02:37

@lovelemoncurd But the ideology of Blair's Labour Party was completely different from Corbyn's Labour Party, with totally different values.

Just as Cameron's Tories who legalised same sex marriages was totally different from Thatcher.

voting for something because it's red, or blue, doesn't seem very intelligent to me either.

Clareflairmare · 25/10/2020 02:51

@sally067

I know I'm stereotyping but I think a fairly sizeable chunk of the voting population, possibly as much as 10-15% are basically racist, hateful people. In the past they would have voted BNP or UKIP.

Another 15-20% might not be full on racist but are jingoistic, anti-Europe, nostalgic about the Empire and WW2. They embrace the class system despite not realising that they are in all likelihood voting against their own self interest. When they vote Tory they think they are voting for Churchill and low-taxes rather than a stronger economy, compassionate society and decent public services.

Boris is great for these two groupings of people because he has positioned himself to appeal to both as he is a casual racist himself and appeals to the core Tory values that their tribal voters love. Brexit has also entrenched many of these views for a generation.

Having 30% of the population with such tribal loyalties makes it pretty easy to get a majority in a FPTP system as all they have to do is appeal to a further 10% of people with a few populist policies and a bit of fear thrown in and can get a pretty big majority. They don't have any other right wing parties to split their vote like Labour does either.

This. Moving to right with the ‘hostile environment’ and eliminating UKIP with the Tory madness that was Brexit all worked in their favour. They are extreme policies by 1999 standards.

Ironically for Labour to gain power, they need UKIP to rise from the ashes again.

Or the British public to wake up and reject neo nationationalism and the far right... but a resurgent UKIP equivalent may be more realistic.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 25/10/2020 03:00

I sadly think an election tomorrow would still be won by the Tories.

I.think Labour is far more credible than it was last year, but Starmer needs to be more of a presence.

Topseyt · 25/10/2020 03:38

Well, I didn't vote for the Conservatives last time and on current performance I will not be voting for them ever. With a few exceptions, most are a despicable lot who have now specifically voted not to provide meals for needy children.

How can anyone vote for them with a clear conscience?

I'd vote Labour again. Not that I will be represented in Parliament in the end though as I live in a very safe Tory constituency. A sheep sporting a blue rosette would get voted in round here.

BefuddledPerson · 25/10/2020 04:29

Opinion polls suggest the Tory vote isn't dropping much... yet.

But key measures are very poor for Johnson - 'best PM' is a key predictor of election outcome as our system gets more presidential and Starmer is doing better there (for obvious reasons, like he can remember what day it is Grin).

Satisfaction with handling of covid continues to fall.

I don't expect Johnson to be leader for the full term. He's so blatantly bad at the job.

Pluckedpencil · 25/10/2020 05:03

It's the Tory corruption that has really shocked me in recent months, not the incompetence. I can't understand why it isn't more of a scandal. I'm in Italy and it feels like we have done some kind of political personality swap this year.

HamHock · 25/10/2020 05:27

@Coasterfan

I would vote the same as I would sooner burn in hell than EVER vote Tory.
This.

I think that the recent decision against free school meals may have done the Tories more damage than they realise. But Kier Starmer hasn’t convinced me he is strong enough opposition to really steal the vote. I think we would be looking at a close election or even a coalition if there was a vote tomorrow.

lovelemoncurd · 25/10/2020 06:21

@Mintjulia no by ideology I mean something much more fundamental. Conservatism- free enterprise , socially transitional ideas , the fittest survive.

Labour- a socialist ideology- a reduction in disparity of wealth - sure that has moved from left to centre as the conservative ideology has moved from centre to right but there are basic differences in ideology.

If people don't understand that this is the choice they are making when voting then they shouldn't be allowed to vote!