To ask why people vote Tory?

BTW - public spending to gdp was lower between 1997 and 2008 than between 2010 to 2020, though admittedly part of that is due to the fact the economy tends to grow faster under Labour...

But it costs you far more in the long run.

Because there is no credible alternative.

Give the people a decent party, and they may stand a chance. I'm no Tory fan, but I'd rather vote them than Labour. This question gets asked all the time, especially by Labour canvassers in my area, but they simply don't listen to the answer!

They seem more concerned about sagging off the tories than improving their own party.

Because the main opposition is weak and split beyond those who are too far to the left (and most people disagree with them, the "Corbyn Labour"), and those who were the original Labour supporters in a traditional working class sense, but then the leader doesn't match up with them. As a result, no one knows what to expect from Labour anymore, who they represent, what they stand for and what they would do. They couldn't even take a clear stance on Brexit, ffs. This has muddled up the waters big time too.

Other parties don't have the necessary following to compete with the Conservatives.

If Labour has any sense, they'll remove Keir (whom I like but he's not suitable or strong enough), get Burnham in, get more centrist and win the next election.

Yes I've noticed that. I'm quite central and agree and disagree with both parties but it's only the the labour supporters who hurl abuse at Tory supporters. I've never seen it the other way around.

What about all the women who will die in poverty before then under Tory rule?

Under the tory governments of recent times we've seen the highest number of tax hikes in living memory.

Might want to rethink your party of choice if lower taxes are a priority.

I think that's because people are fed up of people they believe contribute nothing to the ' pot ' and drain the limited resources we do have .

Tax rates for individuals are the highest they've been in decades, and higher than under the last Labour government.

That's just an excuse that people on the Right use to get left-wingers/ centrists/ Remainers/ Democrats to shut up and refrain from voicing any criticism.

Their own form of cancel culture.

And I certainly don't think that the left/ liberals run perfect campaigns. If they DID viciously attack right-wingers, instead of spending half their time viciously attacking EACH OTHER, they might do better!

Right I have to preface this with "I am not a loyal Conservative voter" to keep numpties like this at bay.

But do you REALLY think this sort of thing is helpful? REALLY? This whole polarisation of conservative voters as the antichrist, child eating, kill kittens for fun types? Do you really go through life thinking that 40% + of the UK population are "shitting cretins"? Because if you do, I pity you.

People vote for whatever party because they think they best represent them, or because they trust them, or because they think they'd do the best job of running the country.

That's why.

Justcallmebebes
Because the more the Left viciously attacks the Conservatives and those that vote for them, the more people will vote for them. Didn't you learn anything from Hilary and her "deplorables" comment!

Vicious attack ?

Yes @midgetastic, stuff like this...

'Because they’re shitting ‘I’m alright Jack’ cretins that would smack your hand off of a life raft without hesitation to save themselves and think nothing of it, even if there was enough room on said raft.'

'Stupidity and/or selfishness

Never met a Tory that didn't fit neatly into those categories'

'They are either privelidged and have an 'I'm alright jack' mentality or they are a bit mentally challenged'

@PurplePansy05 I couldn't agree more. This is absolutely it.

I don't like the conservatives because I believe in a meritocracy. I would tax inheritance at 100% but would let people keep the money they have earned. The issue is if you worried about immigration, concerned about defense spending don't like living in a high tax environment and don't like having woke issues rammed down ones throat. Then you have to hold you nose and vote conservative. The current lot aren't even conservative more populism. That energy policy isn't very free market. Neither was their help to buy and housing market interventions that have just pushed prices higher. That's said the bulk of house price rises occured under Tony Blair. They seem not a particularly frugal conservative party.

I can't stand their policies, it's baffling why anyone would want to vote Tory....

Talk down to the poor folk. Making the rich richer. Nothing changes.

"I think that's because people are fed up of people they believe contribute nothing to the ' pot ' and drain the limited resources we do have"

What - like sick and disabled people? The unemployed? People on low wages who need top up benefits?

Do you think those who 'contribute nothing' and use up resources - presumably people like my son who is severely mentally ill and will likely never work - are you 'fed up' with people like him? What would you like to happen to people like my son who you clearly see as worthless.

Socialism is basically the politics of jelliousy, I don't have that so you shouldn't.
Labour were for many years driven by the unions and later a rabbid left wing.
Tory policies are about allowing business growth and self growth.
Decentralised government means that the region's have greater say.
Labours education policy has always failed, the removal of the 11+ crippled social mobility...the drive for everyone to go to universities has left us sort of skilled workers and many graduates disappointed
Labour tax policy lead to a huge brain and innovation exodus during the 60s and 70s

I agree with this. PM Johnson's majority was built on the back of getting their personal Brexit done. Of course it was an impossible nonsense. PM Johnson turned out to be the lazy, incompetent, corrupt liar we all knew Boris Johnson to be. Brexit has turned out to be the expensive disaster for farms, fisheries, small and medium businesses and most UK citizens that we knew it would be.

And it's not fucking done yet.

Those facts are slowly sinking in. The Tories are in the shit atm and I don't think PM Truss can turn it around in time for the next GE.

I have, plenty of times! Maybe not so much on MN, but plenty of it in tabloids, on social media and IRL

Both sides are inclined to call the other thick morons, etc; but it is usually just those on the Right who suggest that their opponents should shut up, 'accept the results', not voice their opinions, etc. In the 80s, it tended IIRC to be mostly people on the Left who did this, so it's not intrinsic to one party or ideology; but it is mainly right-wingers nowadays.

Hysterical at people thinking Labour are left wing. They are the centre party, there isn't a left wing party any more. People who are politically left don't really have a party to represent them now. Unless something changes dramatically over the next 2 years, they won't vote at all, or will vote for a minority left wing party, allowing the tories in once more... You can tell I'm pretty depressed about the whole thing.

Unfortunate that you can't spell and yet call others mentally challenged..

Out of order. Never heard of dyslexia?

"don't like living in a high tax environment and don't like having woke issues rammed down ones throat."

We've had a Conservative government for 12 years and the personal tax burden is the highest it's been in decades.

Can you also explain what you mean by 'woke issues' and how Labour are responsible for the Tory obsession with them?

I've voted for all parties in my lifetime, I would absolutely vote for another Blair, I donated money to the Blairite TIG splinter.

I have voted Tory over the last decade for different reasons:

1. To stop the UKIP candidate winning in 2015, Tory was the only realistic prospect.
   
   
2. The Labour candidates being utterly woeful in 2017 & 2019... they went on and on in their literature about how bad the incumbent Tory is... I agree with them... however they didn't say ANYTHING about how they intend to represent my family in parliament if they win, nothing about local issues that need national government solutions. It was all just hatred about one man and the Tories as a whole.
   Would rather have the semi-incompetent Tory than the Labour person who was filled with hate for the people they represent.
   
   
3. I have not trusted Miliband or Corybn to run the country well on the long term. I think they would have given out a lot of money to worthy causes and failed to invest in the long term future.
   
   by way of example, Hornsea Two finished last month (approved in 2016) - it is currently the largest offshore Wind farm in the world ! Hornsea Three and Four are underway which will have an even larger max output. Starmer wants to steal these companies profits and give them to worthy causes, removing their ability to invest and build more wind farms.
   Until they are built, we need more hydrocarbons to keep the lights on and ideally reduce European dependence of Russian supplies. Stealing oil companies profits will prevent them building those too.
   
   No mention about the losses energy producers made during the covid lockdowns and the need for them to recoup their losses.
   
   Blair borrowed hugely to pay for new hospitals (Private finance initiative) - I think he was right.
   
   Too often when I have really listened to the Labour front bench in recent yeras I've felt they want to steal from others to pay out to the needy. I agree the needy ... need ! However stealing from the temporarily successful is too short-termist, better to grow the economy so everyones slice of the pie is larger.
   
   If you want me to say Borris was awful - I'll happily agree he abused the office. Want me to say Tories have failed here or there - sure I'll agree that too. I need a compelling reason to vote Labour though that is not "That Tory is a giant poo poo head" or telling me I am bigot because all Tories are an ...ist or a .... phobe.