Local elections in May - what are your plans?

[Lottapianos]

I'm in despair at how utterly dismal things are. I'm in a safe Tory seat but absolutely no way I am voting Tory. Labour are such an utter disgrace on women's rights, all prepared to pretend that they don't know what a woman is, and seem to just be hoping that we will shut up and go away. Other parties are no better on this issue.

I honestly don't know what to do. It's the closest I've ever come to not voting, something I never ever thought I would contemplate. How are you feeling about it all, and how are you planning to vote?

[Rightsraptor]

I've already done my postal vote - SDP.

[Lovelyricepudding]

I am voting for the local council not MP so am considering local issues not Boris. So I am voting Tory. For me it matters that my daughters can use the local pool: with self ID there is no way I would let them use the communal changing room there. I don't want pay discrimination hidden by men being counted amongst women, or my mother forced to have a male carer because he identifies as a woman. I want to be able to campaign for services that counteract the impact if the cost if living crises on women - with labour we would not be able to say woman, would have no statistics to show how we have been impacted and no way to campaign because the language needed would be gone.

My local labour candidate is an arrogant prig so there is no way I could vote for him.

[Blimeyherewegoagain]

I’ll be voting for independent candidates followed by anyone who isn’t SNP/Green. STV here.

[Soultrader]

I'm voting labour because i believe they're the best candidate for my local area.

[RainingYetAgain]

I really don't know.
I'm contemplating not voting . I am in my late 60s and hav e never abstained before but who the 4x do I vote for?
Cannot bring myself to vote Tory, Lib and Labour had a coalition which was a disaster and they think a TWAW, as do the Greens.

[Theunamedcat]

As the mother of a disabled child I will not vote tory as a woman I will not vote Labour who can I vote for in my area? Bloody no-one

[urbanbuddha]

I'm going to vote Labour marking my ballot paper with the Venus symbol instead of 'X'.

[TooBigForMyBoots]

People Before Profit and Alliance.

[LetitiaLeghorn]

My plan is to vote in person.

[jlpartnerrs]

I'm voting Workers Party. They know what a woman is and they are left wing. Job done

[weebarra]

I'm in Scotland and will vote for the Green candidate. He's DSs bf's DGD and is a good guy who does a lot locally. I've had the 'what is a woman?' discussion with him, before I knew he was standing and he is GC.

[BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ]

@NameChangeForThisBear and I meant to add thank you.

[BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ]

@NameChangeForThisBear

I’m a member of the Conservative party but will either spoil my ballot because this government is the worst I’ve lived through, or I might even vote Lab because 1) I’ve chewed off the ears of all my local candidates (am in a marginal ward so there has been a LOT of canvassing since Jan!) and our local Lab candidates are fully on board with single sex provision and why it’s essential for full female participation in society, and 2) I genuinely believe it’s in the best interests of the Conservative party to suffer losses at the elections because then we can get rid of Johnson, get someone sensible in, and bring integrity back to our party. We won’t get that opportunity if the party does well at the locals, because he will then cling on. We need rid of him, we need sense and decency, someone who says “hold on a minute, let’s have a think about this” instead of simply waving through some dreadful policy, and we need someone who will appoint a Cabinet of people who want to do a good job rather than just be yes-men and yes-women.

I've debated resigning my party membership but I want to be able to help select a decent leader when he goes. He’s mismanaging so many things, I can’t believe he hasn’t been forced out yet. The cost of living crisis combined with this stupid back-to-the-office push is going to hit families - and mainly women - with children hardest. And disabled people on low incomes. The Rwanda deportation proposals are unworkable and unconscionable when there are so many other potential options that are both cheaper and don’t involve sending people to countries where human rights violations take place. And he just bloody well lies and lies and lies, and his ministers lie for him too. I’m waiting for the VoNC that must, must be on the horizon - and will definitely be, if we suffer sizeable losses in the locals. So I really do believe the best thing I can do for the future of the country and party is to take whatever actions I can to help get rid of Johnson.

And that might mean voting Labour in a fortnight’s time, something I haven’t done since the 2001 general election. Luckily I have decent local Lab candidates, if I had some TWAW types then I would be 100% decided on spoiling my ballot!

Thanks for this answer @NameChangeForThisBear. I’m not a Tory and unlikely to start now, but this answer gives me faith that there are Conservatives out there with morals and who actually give a shit about our country and the damage being done to the very soul of us as a people by this Cabinet of cunts.

[BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ]

Voting tactically to get rid of useless Tory candidates who currently control the borough. Whilst wearing a “fuck Boris and his wanker mates!” tee shirt probably.

[DomesticatedZombie]

I will be writing to all the candidates - eep, time is running short - and asking them about three different issues that are important to me, one of which is women's sex based rights.

As for voting ... we have a bit of a lack of candidates where I am, so it'll be a bit of a lottery.

[DomesticatedZombie]

@KimikosNightmare

Tory. Even when I actually was a Labour supporter I voted Tory in local elections.

How come?

[Boood]

It’s easy for me because the incumbent has been in local politics for decades, works his arse off for the community and is also one of less than a handful in opposition on the city council. So I’m happy to vote for him- sometimes gender issues aren’t the most important thing. I’d struggle if it wasn’t so clear-cut though.

[MayBeee]

Tory area. We wanted to vote Lib Dems . Sadly a candidate wasn't on the voting paper ( postal votes ) I voted independent , dh Green.

[Reigateforever]

Spoiling your ballot paper is ducking out of your responsibility for the way the country will be run for the next x years. Do you realize how much the suffragettes suffered for women to have the right to vote, long thick tubes forced down their throats to be force fed. Be brave and do your social bit.

[BlackLambAndGreyFalcon]

I honestly don't know and am weighing up the options.

I had considered voting Tory. I have voted Conservative in the past and I am not one of those people who has an ideological objection to voting Tory, but now with the fall out from party-gate and this appalling Rwanda plan, I just can't do it.

I would like to vote either Green or LD to register my opposition to the silvertown tunnel (I live very close to the proposed route), but neither party knows what a woman is.

Labour is a lost cause on women's rights and they support the tunnel (yes it's a niche local issue, but these are supposed to be local issues!)

[thebeespyjamas]

A spoilt ballot is a vote Tory by the way. Tories never ever spoil ballots, never ever forget to vote, and never ever abstain from voting.

[Babdoc]

I’m in Scotland, so for me it has to be an anti SNP, pro women’s rights vote. Fortunately I’m in an SNP/Tory marginal, so I will vote Conservative on both counts. I know both Tory candidates, one of whom lives in my village and attends my church, and they’re both good guys with years of experience on the local council. The young Labour chap is also quite good on local issues, so he would still be better than the SNP.

[sumac]

I told the Labour canvassers I am a life-long Labour voter who is unlikely to vote Labour due to party's failure to defend women's sex-based rights. They looked weary and didn't give their views.

[NameChangeForThisBear]

I’m a member of the Conservative party but will either spoil my ballot because this government is the worst I’ve lived through, or I might even vote Lab because 1) I’ve chewed off the ears of all my local candidates (am in a marginal ward so there has been a LOT of canvassing since Jan!) and our local Lab candidates are fully on board with single sex provision and why it’s essential for full female participation in society, and 2) I genuinely believe it’s in the best interests of the Conservative party to suffer losses at the elections because then we can get rid of Johnson, get someone sensible in, and bring integrity back to our party. We won’t get that opportunity if the party does well at the locals, because he will then cling on. We need rid of him, we need sense and decency, someone who says “hold on a minute, let’s have a think about this” instead of simply waving through some dreadful policy, and we need someone who will appoint a Cabinet of people who want to do a good job rather than just be yes-men and yes-women.

I've debated resigning my party membership but I want to be able to help select a decent leader when he goes. He’s mismanaging so many things, I can’t believe he hasn’t been forced out yet. The cost of living crisis combined with this stupid back-to-the-office push is going to hit families - and mainly women - with children hardest. And disabled people on low incomes. The Rwanda deportation proposals are unworkable and unconscionable when there are so many other potential options that are both cheaper and don’t involve sending people to countries where human rights violations take place. And he just bloody well lies and lies and lies, and his ministers lie for him too. I’m waiting for the VoNC that must, must be on the horizon - and will definitely be, if we suffer sizeable losses in the locals. So I really do believe the best thing I can do for the future of the country and party is to take whatever actions I can to help get rid of Johnson.

And that might mean voting Labour in a fortnight’s time, something I haven’t done since the 2001 general election. Luckily I have decent local Lab candidates, if I had some TWAW types then I would be 100% decided on spoiling my ballot!

[KimikosNightmare]

@desiringonlychild2022

Women disproportionately suffer from the cost of living crisis.

Don't vote tory. Self ID is the least of your worries if you are choosing between food for your kids and heating. Women in that kind of position are understandably more likely to sell their bodies as opposed to going hungry.

The tories have responded to the crisis with a klarna style loan for heating bills and a £150 council tax rebate. Vulnerable women deserve better than that.

I'm not concerned about self ID. My vote is anti SNP.