Westminstenders: From Uxbridge to...?

[RedToothBrush]

Speaker Bercow is gone.

Speculation that Johnson is parachuting into Rutland.

Rumours that the Brexit Party won't contest the election.

A new speaker to be elected on Monday.

Parliament to dissolve next week.

Brexit? Oh we've forgotten that until Friday 13th...

We need a band aid!

That's just silly and goady though. I'm perfectly happy to debate Tories and even sometimes agree with them

Goodness me - you even manage to make them sound like aliens there

"In England there seems to be a significant middle ground which is comfortable with voting for either of the main parties.
Ideally a leader of either party would be able to appeal to these people."

It's not that simple though. Floaters don't just move from Lab to Con, they may be Lab to LD or LD to Con or Lab. And if opinion poll switching surveys are to be believed, switching often defies right-left categorisation.

you even manage to make them sound like aliens there

People who vote for the disabled to be treated like shit off someones shoe?

Are they human?

Goodness me - you even manage to make them sound like aliens there

You're really that surprised? Conservatives tend to think that lefties are wrong or a bit dense; lefties tend to think that we're evil:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/laura-pidcock-labour-mp-tory-never-friends-conservative-party-a7910156.html

A Labour MP has said she could never be friends with a Tory because she sees them as the "enemy".

Laura Pidcock, who won the North West Durham seat in the 2017 snap election, said her stance was "visceral" and that she had "absolutely no intention" of being friends with "any of them".

Bear, we might even share some opinions - it's just very hard to determine what yours are except that you dislike Corbyn.

I would never have described myself as a Tory but I did give them my vote so I guess my self description doesn't matter.
I would rather prefer to pretend I didn't ever vote for them but I think it is helpful to have all views represented on here.

It all feels a bit angry on here tonight

Are they human?

Then I read this and just think sweary thoughts.

But ultimately we are only going to move forward if we can understand each other a bit better.

it's just very hard to determine what yours are except that you dislike Corbyn

Given you thought I was a Leaver, I’m not going to bother explaining my views to you any more

This is simply demonstrating the point I made earlier - far too many people on here form an opinion based on who is posting, not on what they are saying

Dreich, no one should ever be ashamed of casting a vote and then changing their mind.

I work with lots of people that I disagree with politically in terms of headline voting behaviour. But when you drill down to policy there are often surprising overlaps. People often don't vote for policy, they vote out of habit or tribalism or fear.

My DD voted for the first time in the Euros. She didn't know who to vote for so I suggested a policy matching site. A bit later I heard her muttering "I'm going to have to vote for fucking macron" . I'm under oath to never mention this to her friends

Then I read this and just think sweary thoughts.

I’ve gone past replying to comments like that

If people truly believe others made an explicit choice to make other people’s life harder then there’s no convincing them otherwise

"not on what they are saying"

Your problem is that people do actually listen to what you say, not what you think you are saying.

Your problem is that people do actually listen to what you say, not what you think you are saying.

That’s a bit rich coming from a person who thinks I’m a Leaver who’s going to vote for BJ despite me being more than clear, for years on here, that that is not the case

If people truly believe others made an explicit choice to make other people’s life harder then there’s no convincing them otherwise

Especially when they have to live that life, and if they were they wouldnt be able to vote Tory

Or will [Farage] dare venture North of the Wall again?

Oh, pleeease - that would be delicious It would do the SNP vote wonders

I am very curious about what Farage will do next.

I think it tends to come down to people who only think "I'm all right Jack!" And feel it's not necessary to think further than the end of their noses. And if they think of others at all that they must be either jealous or guilty do-gooders. Plenty of Tories have actually said that to me.

Since (at least) Thatcher onwards, it's been promoted as the "right way to think"

I am very curious about what Farage will do next.

Continue to showboat I guess. Trump’s shot his fox.

I think it tends to come down to people who only think "I'm all right Jack!"

But on the flip side, many of Labour policies are explicitly aimed at causing financial harm, there’s absolutely no hiding that fact, but they’re OK because the harm is to the wealthy.

I don't think tory voters are evil, but I wish every one of them could spend four nights shifts in A&E or on the medical wards before casting their vote. I don't know many tory voters myself, but DP knows a few from childhood, and some have told me they have actually changed their vote after hearing what I say after some shifts, another one used to be a tory but now votes labour after marrying a mental health nurse

I know a lot of it is cultural , and I concede it may be different if you live in an area where everyone you know votes tory - I never have

So I assume it is mainly ignorance and self interest. I don't really think anyone is evil. I know people will think this is patronising, but I've seen too much suffering to care.

Instead of getting really upset about being called heartless, maybe the tory voters could tell us how we will all be happier/healthier with their preferred future?

I for one hate the infighting and just want properly funded schools, health, public servcies, somewhere for the homeless to live, and more recently climate emergencies to be addressed

I don't waste time arguing with anyone who agrees with that however they cast their vote.

And just to be clear, I’m all for the wealthy paying propotrionately more tax, just not being so targeted that they no longer have an incentive to become wealthy, because that will fuck it up for everyone

Well it depends what you call harm doesn't it? If it means you have to go on holiday just once or year kind of harm or have to use food banks kind of harm.

@tobee - no we don't need a bandaid - we need PR - which would allow labour to split to hard left, and centrist left and then the tories could split hard right - and centrist right .
It would be interesting- but think you would then find the power would be centered in the middle.

Well it depends what you call harm doesn't it? If it means you have to go on holiday just once or year kind of harm or have to use food banks kind of harm.

I mean ‘harm’ to the extent that those high earners decide to drop out of the system or leave the country so are no longer net contributors

Or those who can currently afford to donate to food banks no longer can

Penalising the wealthy isn’t a magic bullet