I am not voting for Labour or Con…

[EddyF]

What party can I vote for that may have a chance? I do not want to waste a vote but may have to. As a young(ish) Black woman, none of the above present me. I was born here as were my parents. Originally from East Africa. Spent a lot of holidays there as a child but not so much as an adult, otherwise I would seriously think of going back to live there.

I have always voted Labour but they are disappointing. For the first time, I am thinking of not voting but it does not sit right within me.

I might try the Green Party I guess.

None - don't throw your vote away. If you want this current detestable government out, vote Labour, no one else has even the slightest chance. I deal with politicians in my line of work and Labour are just currently playing the game to win - once they get in, they will be able to be more 'Labour' - at the moment they're trying to win over Tory voters. Voting Reform is the only other way the Tories are likely to lose votes, but by the sounds of it they won't represent you either.

I feel exactly the same way. We are in a sad situation where the reality is it's either conservative or labour that will be in government but they don't appeal to me.

I'm in Wales so we have Plaid Cymru but I wouldn't vote for them either because I don't want independence after seeing what a power crazed Welsh Labour Government did in covid times with what little powers they had so I don't fancy them having full control.

It's a poor situation to be in but like you I'm thinking of not voting because I don't know who to vote for.

It’s not throwing a vote away, vote for who you want, it’s people not voting someone else that keeps this a two horse race, this why our choices are shit labour or shit conservative. Both shit, I’ll be voting for someone, anyone else.

I can't vote Tory nor Labour as they're basically both the same with no new ideas to solve our problems.

I can't vote Green because around here they're too extreme and anti-car.

I'll be voting for the best of the independents depending on who stands. I've had enough of national self serving political parties.

Labour aren’t any better than conservatives. I don’t think I can vote for either party and have no idea who to vote for either.

A chance at forming government? It is Tory or Labour. That is it. A chance Lib Dems could be part of a coalition but doesn't look likely that Labour need them.

A chance at winning your constituency? Depends which constituency you live in. If you live in Brighton or Norwich - then yes, chance Greens could win your seat. Anywhere else is highly unlikely

So Labour are lying about their policies and will change them if they get elected? Doesn't seem a good reason to vote for them IMO.

What is disappointing about Labour?

Don't know if they will have a candidate in my area ( and also some things I don't agree on ) but maybe reform.

Vote Labour. Only chance of getting this disgusting government out.

Vote for the least worse party from your point of view. If you do not vote your are allowing someone else who you may detest to make decisions for you.

Spoiling your vote is not throwing your vote away. It is saying that none of these parties represent me and don’t deserve my vote. You are still showing up and exercising your democratic right.

I think it comes down to if you want to make a (valid) point that none of the parties represent you or if you want the Tories out more. If you want the Tories out more, then you have to do tactical voting. If the tactical vote is someone you absolutely don’t want, then you might as well spoil your vote anyway because anything else is wasted anyway. This system is broken and so when you have to tactically vote, it’s not a real democracy and so your vote isn’t actually representing your usual views anyway, just the least worst choice. So for many, they are throwing their vote away regardless of whether they are tactical voting or spoiling their ballot.

Please don’t not vote.

Tory faithful always turn out to vote. If people waiting for the perfect party don’t vote, Tories get elected again. And again.

Ahhhh.

Awful if Labour are lying to the public then just for a vote

That does not bode well either

I’m in the same position. I cannot vote for either of the main parties, as you say, neither represents me.

I am looking at the independents and so far think it may be the Green Party, as I must vote.

They aren't lying.

They are doing what every party does which is trying to win an election. You don't put forward deeply detailed policies at this stage. You try to provide a few key talking point that give the impression you want to give off.

So Labour are currently talking a lot about fiscal discipline and the NHS. There isn't any specific detailed policy - they just want you to know that they care about the NHS but won't be reckless.
In government they will do loads of other things but now is not the time to complicate it - you want a few messages that might get through to a disengaged electorate.

Tories are....mostly messaging on small boats, I suppose? Sending people to Rwanda and inheritance tax cuts?
They also have lots of other policies that they would like to do it they won an election but again, now is not the time for it. You just want a few things to distingush you (badly in their case)

Vote for the party that is most likely to get the Conservatives out of your constituency. That will most likely be Labour or possibly Lib Dem in the south and south west. Thanks to our stupid first-past-the-post voting system that’s the only way your vote counts.

Having read some of the stuff Labour MPs have said about women etc and the treatment of Rosie Duffield, I don't trust Labour at all.
Keir is about as strong and capable and morally led leader as a wet lettuce.

Tory - well - they've not done so well this past decade +

Greens - NO - they're still tainted from the Challenor debacle and everything surrounding it.

Lib Dems - I have no idea who they are or what they stand for tbh, of they're trying to secure votes, they're not doing well in my area to spread the message.

If there's an option for me, I'll vote Party Of Women.
If there's not, I'll be voting Reform as they're the least worst option.

@MobileStationery Reform are the least worst option in which respect?

There is never going to be a political party that stands for what you believe in 100% and if one day you find one, you should be extremely suspicious of it.

For me, I will do whatever I have to to rid the country of the current set of parasitic villains calling themselves Conservatives who have ruined this country financially, socially, and reputationally. I don't know if Labour will be more competent (but I think they will) but I'm positive they actually give a shit about something other than ethnic cleansing or their own bank balances and that's good enough for now.

I feel the same. Labour aren't out for anyone but themselves. It's an election year and their policies are still "whatever is the opposite of the tories". Nobody cares for people my age (24). Nobody cares that our wages will never support us. So why should I even bother voting?

Once we're actually in the election period, there'll be lots of those quiz things that tell you which party your own policies best align with. You could start by doing one or two of those. Then you could have a look at the results from the last election in your constituency and decide which of the candidates that could possibly win you'd most like to vote for. That's more or less how I've normally voted, though when I've felt that none of the possible winning candidates would be one I could support, I've just gone for the one where I agree with most policies even if they're never going to win.

If you vote elsewhere chances are we’ll be stuck with the Tories again as you just split the vote.

Hold your nose and get it done. Does anyone really want another 5 years of these fucking idiots??

Labour is better as much as people don’t want to admit it.

OK - just waste your vote then - never mind that people fought and died for you to have that vote.

Unless one is totally mindless, there never will be a party whose every policy you agree with - it is always a compromise. Vote for the one who has the most policies you agree with. Get their manifestos and do some ticking - make a list.

Of course there will be no party you agree wholeheartedly with - that is not possible - that is not a reason to waste your voting right.

Or if there is a party you definitely do not want to see in government, then research the voting at the last GE in your area and vote for the person most likely to oust them.

Do not waste your vote!!

Honestly I'm not bowled over by any of the options. All the parties have fundamental problems at their heart which I will struggle to overlook and I will probably stay home on polling day.

But there's not really any need to decide now. None of the parties have set out in any real detail what they will actually do in the next Parliament. If you are unsure then you should probably wait until that becomes a bit clearer.