Voting labour for the first time. Anyone else?

[Lupina12]

Labour are far from perfect, but I like Keir Starmer and I think they are the best party to turn things around from the awful mess the incumbents have got us into.

He’s not glossy or witty or funny, but he seems decent - (he clearly has a wonderful wife and that only reflects well on him!)

Anyway, just curious - anyone else voting Labour for the first time? I’m 40 by the way and in the south east.

I couldn’t quite vote in 2001 as was too young, but essentially I’m in the same position as you

Not at all there is no magic wand we are in for a rough time economically. No party wants to say it because it's a vote killer .
I'm terrified of a Tory government they have increased the tax take to historic levels, they have taxed us to the hilt and have nothing to show for it. They have a terrible record on women's rights.
The gloss will quickly wear off a new labour government once people realise as you say there is no magic wand.
I look at the Tories can they be trusted to run the economy and get the country through the next few years ? No chance they have shown to be economically illiterate.

I cannot vote Labour because of their position on women’s rights. I used to be a Labour Party member (years ago) and have voted Labour more than anyone else in the past. I think they’ll get in though and think they will put women’s rights back decades. Genuinely I never been so concerned about what’s going to happen with a government.

I'm voting SDP. I’m not aligned about their position on immigration but they’re generally left leaning and one of the few parties who are willing to put their head above the parapet and say what a woman is. I’d love it if they got a few MPs in to be able to spread a little influence.

Every time women’s rights are mentioned, Labour supporters always go straight to trans. As I said, it’s not just about that. I’m fully aware of the Tories failings, but my only choice of vote is Reform (no thank you). I have looked at Labour’s manifesto and ‘plan’, and when it comes down to it I don’t think they’re close to ready to run the country. Does that mean the Conservatives are suddenly a better option? No, but there’s also no longer a magic, country-fixing third option. Unless we get a hung parliament and they have to compromise.

Did you know the Conservatives deliberately deprived areas of the north that are traditionally Labour of funding and gave that funding to more wealthy areas?

Labour, yes
I remember being under Labour. The world did not end.
My local authority has a high needs budget (SEND) overspend of 6 million pounds. We have had cuts after cuts after cuts. SEND is in absolute crisis. Many local authorities pared their Ed psych service to the absolute bone and families are waiting years to see an EP after waiting years to get a diagnosis on a pared back and overwhelmed autism diagnostic service in the NHS. Don't even think about seeing an NHS occupational therapist.

Tories also prevented local authorities from expanding existing special schools or building new ones. The only new or expanded schools had to be free schools (waste of bloody money) or academies. So lots of special schools had to become academies to expand, losing close LA control and services.

The curriculum has been made so hard that babies of 4 are already "failing" to reach expected levels, especially if they have faced disadvantage in their home. The incredibly robust data about how a good children's centre could produce lifelong advantage in education and work in poor and underprivileged children was ignored when surestart children's centres, expanded enormously under labour, were slashed in early spending cuts. The result of these policies, plus COVID, is that there is an absolute mental health crisis in our children and young people and fully 20 percent in some areas are unable to attend school because of it.

So yes, despite them trying to balance women and trans rights, they are getting my vote because as a woman I have children who deserve better.

Not for the first time but as we don't have PR (what a missed chance that was, Mr Blair) they're effectively the only party en masse that can get this money minded vicious current bunch out where we live. If we lived in a lib dem area I'd hold my nose and vote for them.

Anyone who thinks the Tories are a. fiscally responsible or b. genuinely gives a monkey about working class women in particular after the majority of their wilfully cruel not to say sadistic policies of the last 14 years must have been living in a box.

If I can get an ambulance when I’m dying I’ll happily pay more tax, thanks.

People are really still pretending they will vote tory because they care about women's rights, schools and the NHS? It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic

I really wanted to vote Labour after voting Tory for the last 30 years but I have two young daughters so I can't put the cross in the labour box with a clear conscience.

I'm also not going to vote Tory, I'll be one of many who make a spur of the moment decision when I go to vote.

Have little faith in Starmer as he won’t commit to anything, but if Tories aren’t destroyed after the largely self made catastrophes of Brexit, cost of living crisis, housing crisis, the energy crisis, NHS crisis, teaching crisis, etc then we might not as well bother.

Never voted them in my life but very blue around here so I have the choice of those two. Lib dem, green and an independent really don't get a look in but I'd prefer those parties.

So yes for the first time I'll be voting to get the Tory out.

I won’t vote Labour. They don’t represent middle England, of which I’m one. Historically they go for the rich and tax them to the hilt. But there’s only so many times they can go to well on that one, then they will come after the middle earners. Also I don’t think the majority of the party think Starmer is enough to the left, and I have a feeling they might be using him to get into power, before easing him out for a more left leaning leader. They are obviously going to get in - let them have their four years and see what they do, then we can always get them out the next time if they don’t deliver, or start to deliver.

Labour?! Surely you're talking about the Conservatives?

I find it absolutely baffling that after 14 years of unprecedented corruption, any sane person could put a cross in a Tory box. Are memories really so short? They have decimated this country in order to line their own pockets. They partied while people died alone. Billions wasted on track and trace. They are the reason tax is so high. They are the reason why public services have been destroyed. And you’re going to give them another 5 years?? They’re literally allowing shit to be pumped into our rivers.

oh. And if they’re so up for women’s rights, why haven’t they repealed GRCs in the last 14 years?

This. We have no dentistry and the last few years have been one battle after another to get the treatment my daughter needs. I will happily pay more tax to improve the NHS even though things are tight for us.

Can not face another 4 years of Tories and I like Starmer a shed load more than the self serving crooks we’ve had the last 14 years.

I know. I find it extraordinary.

I only ever didn’t vote Labour once, when the Lib Dem Tory coalition fiasco happened - never again. I do prefer many policies of Greens and Lib Dems, but it’s a wasted vote against the Tories in my constituency. My first priority is to always vote (unless far right!) to keep them out, if possible. I’m optimistic about today.

Snap. Great summary. No I'm not.

Yes , they are, because they see voting Tory as some kind of sympathetic action to preserving their way of life , and Labour as some sort of communist engine that will flatten everyone to the same level.

It's weird, simplistic, scary thinking, but then again most people get their political information from social media, so I'm not even surprised.

I’m over 60 and for the first time ever I will not be voting Labour…

I will never forgive Keir Starmer for his backstabbing treatment of Jeremy Corbyn, and his attitude towards women’s safe spaces is very worrying.

This country needs PR!

There's a big headline today about labour. If they win, dont own a home , car , pension or try to save. And don't even think of trying to leave your kids anything (of older kids don't expect any inheritance) because labour will see to it that they bleed you dry.

Tell that to all the teachers and nurses who've been kept on poverty wages the last 14 years.

They will be better off being paid enough to own a home/save money in the first place, even if they do pay a whisker more tax on it.

Thanks @Fuzziduck exactly what I wanted to put!

No...have you read what they want to do about woman rights! I'm not voting for either of the main parties and if I was forced labour be the last one I'd vote for at the moment and I say that as I hate what Tory has done to the country.

Fuzziduck perfectly put. I'm spoiling my paper as I can't vote for anyone. I can't believe I'm doing that