To be a secret Tory voter and feel embarrassed about it?

[SecretToryVoter]

I’ve just gone to do my vote and had to admit to myself that I’m one of those secret Tory voters and would be embarrassed to admit it to friends / family!

A month ago I was adamant that I would be voting Labour but ended up changing my mind for a number of reasons

1. Keir seems to have a number of grand ideas of what he wants to do but no substance behind how he’s going to do it (where is he going to find an additional 6,500 teachers as just 1 example)
2. Womens rights
3. my Labour candidate has been helicoptered in and doesn’t look good on paper whereas the Tory candidate is a local, well respected councillor
4. Tory policy is closer to my values overall

anyone else had to admit to themselves that they are a Tory at heart for this election?

Like foreign politicians are something special, so many of them are corrupt. Angela Rayner is not worse than Donald Trump or Boris or any of right wing country leader from Europe

Why is it always assumed that anyone who doesn't vote Tory/Reform is part of some commie left wing conspiracy???

Most of the country are centrists.

"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political power to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics . . . " A. Bevan

Agree and why do people assume that people who want a more equal society are radical lefties!!! This rush to label people as being either extreme is very unhelpful.

You couldnt water board that information out of me 😂

So you’re implying that the majority of voters, who voted in a Tory government in 2019, are thick as they blindly voted for them, as clearly not as educated in politics as yourself? Give over. They were voting for how they felt about how things were going at the time, not because of any promises made for the future.

<Or that they are themselves part of the Elite, well off, with a good living and great job and salary- and suffer from jealous envy. It is possible to be all of the above, and want a fairer society and prepared to contribute to it.

At least you agree that the policy makes it more elitist. But I absolutely do not support abolishing it completely. That's a very hardline authoritarian policy. We would be barking mad to give up the right to educate ourselves independently of government control. Control of resources, policies AND curriculum.

Especially with all the different culture wars raging it should be absolutely clear to anyone with a half a brain that the right to independent education is an essential defence against authoritarian tyranny.

Check your envy. Somethings are far more important.

Guess it’s the same as why do Labour supporters think anyone voting for a party who are wanting controlled immigration are racists and bigots. It’s a control/bullying thing. If people are trying to convince others to their way of thinking, and aren’t getting anywhere, they resort to derogatory labelling. Happens both sides I think.

Yes the you're envious card that is played a lot really p*sses me off!

I agree which is why I said This rush to label people as being either extreme is very unhelpful.

Voting Tory nowadays seems to be like being veggie. Lots of people do it but don't like being upfront about it because they'll only get it from both ends from "true" vegans (i.e. Reform voters) and meat eaters (Labour) alike. Being in the centre is a tricky place now.

I picked up a friend from the station the other day and on the drive home she commented on the Labour and Green placards outside people’s houses. We saw a lone blue sign on the edge of a field and she said that if you do vote conservative you couldn’t put that near your house as Labour voters would throw eggs at it or come and scream at you about how awful you were. And frankly, that’s probably true.

Labour voters are also voting for a party that wants to control immigration - just not stop it completely. Have you looked at the manifesto at all?

Labour is in the centre right now…

Almost categorical proof, really, isn't it.

Check your paranoia.

Equality of opportunity in life and society starts with equality of educational opportunity. Which means good quality secular State education for all.

I voted Tory and do not feel bad about it. They are not perfect but also the circumstances of the last few years have been difficult. I would have hoped they tackled the problems better and have been more effective.
Angela Rayner and David Lammy types are not what I want and not what this country needs. I will look back and would feel better it is not on me to have let people like that in power.

The ‘shy Tory’ is a very real concept because so many people are sneery, condescending and throw accusations about a person’s character if they deign to vote for them. If you don’t agree the last 14 years have been nothing short of a disaster you’re mad, unhinged or thick as mince. But politics is nuanced every party in history has done good things as well as bad. We vote based on our priorities, but also the local picture. It’s not necessarily a vote for Rishi but the local representative.

Really? Don't people have better things to do than stand outside houses screaming?

You don't have to tell or explain to anybody. This is why votes are anonymous- no judgement, pure honesty.
Not that it matters, but I also voted against Labour, as I'm a woman.

If you don’t agree the last 14 years have been nothing short of a disaster you’re mad, unhinged or thick as mince.
Well @sHREDDIES19 what hasn’t been a disaster? I mean, look around. Nothing works. Everything is worse than it was, and was already worse before covid and Ukraine. I’d add to your list that the person who won’t agree might be rich and blinded by selfish self interest, is that better?

Good quality state education should be an option for everyone, but it isn't and this policy will not change that. Wealth buys privilege across society in myriad ways, and this policy just makes one aspect, education, more exclusive.

The only bullying I have seen is the tories doing this to the poor, and disabled.
They mock them, make sweeping generalisations about "working." They're disgusting, and absolute pompous, bigoted idiots.

The local conservative candidate has a large poster in a field miles from a town.

It's been vandalised and has gendered abuse on it.

It's not ok. Regardless of the party.