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Original poster

Politics-do you know which party your friends and family vote for?

23 replies

suedonim · 20/10/2006 22:33

Because I have to say, for the most part I don't have a clue. I can hazard a guess at some people's inclinations but we never talk about it directly so I'm wondering if we're the odd ones out or not!

OP posts:

edam · 20/10/2006 22:46

Yes, I do, and (trying to say this gently) I do think you are odd. In the nicest possible way!

QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 20/10/2006 22:47

Tory... because I blackmail them

CountTo10 · 20/10/2006 22:49

I do know some of them but more annoyingly I know some of them don't vote at all!!! Its a very mixed bunch!!!

MaloryTowersPonceAndProud · 20/10/2006 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

plummymummy · 20/10/2006 22:51

Yes I know what they all vote.

Original poster

suedonim · 20/10/2006 22:59

Edam, it's only something I've really thought about since seeing the party political threads on MN. We talk politics but never seem to get to the point of saying who we vote for. Or maybe it's just that all my F&F are floating voters!

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cat64 · 20/10/2006 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 20/10/2006 23:00

My family, yes.

Others, I'd prefer not to know.

edam · 20/10/2006 23:02

Cat, you sound like a member of the US navy being asked about homosexuality! Didn't they have a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy at some point?

I'm not suggesting everyone interrogates their nearest and dearest, just that it's a bit unusual not to have a clue where they might stand on, for instance, immigration or redistribution.

cat64 · 20/10/2006 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

suedonim · 20/10/2006 23:19

Ok, having pondered it....my late FIL hated Harold Wilson so I guess he voted Tory and presumably mil still does. My mum comes from a very Lib background but doesn't think much of the Lib Dems and hates both TB and DC with a passion so I'm not sure where that leaves her! I doubt my sis even votes, little bro is an old hippy so prob Labour. No idea about big bro.

Of my three best friends, one I rarely talk politics with, the second is apolitical, never reads a paper etc (actually we have nothing in common so I have no idea why we're such good friends!). The third is Scottish but supports the Union so maybe she votes Tory?

OP posts:

Original poster

suedonim · 21/10/2006 13:32

Bump - more opinions please!

OP posts:

flutterbeebonfirebanger · 21/10/2006 13:41

I know who everyone votes for and it creates some lively and interesting conversations at times. There are a few people I know who don't vote and I can't stand it.

When I first voted my Mum asked who for and I told her I didn't want to say as it was private, my Mum then pointed out that if I was confident enough to vote a party into power to govern the country I live in then I should be able to say who they are any why. So now if people refuse to reveal who they vote for I think it is either because they are ashamed of who they vote for or because they don't really know why they vote for them.

vitomum · 21/10/2006 13:42

yes, all my friends and family would be very open about it. i don't think of it at a private issue at all.

flutterbeebonfirebanger · 21/10/2006 13:44

I was 18 when I first voted by the way

foxinsocks · 21/10/2006 13:49

I know who some of our friends vote for - generally the ones who like to talk politics with us.

Other friends give out clues but don't say it directly.

twinsetandpearls · 21/10/2006 13:58

Most of my family and dp dn't vote.

rustycreakingdoorbear · 21/10/2006 14:02

I'm pretty sure I know how all my & DH's family vote, though I've never actually asked.
The only one I know for sure is MIL (Tory) who was totally shocked when I told her I was voting Lib Dem & asked if DH knew I voted for 'them'... she was almost catatonic when I said he did too

GhoulsToo · 21/10/2006 14:08

yes and it's a mix of all 3 parties.

Our best friends have been labour voters all their lives until the last election when they voted LibDem (if you asked them about LibDem policy you got a blank look). During the debate of the last election they agreed with a lot of what Michael Howard was saying - BUT won't vote conservative because, well you guessed it, they could never vote conservative.

That's what you're up against these days - sod what a party is saying, if the label is wrong they ain't voting for em!

Scarey imho.

Gobbledispook · 21/10/2006 22:20

Family and some friends yes - mostly blue, a few red and some that I don't know of course.

Doesn't really matter to me who they vote for though - I love all of my family and friends regardless of which way they vote. It doesn't define them - they are who they are and they are my friends for reasons other than their political leanings! As a group of friends we discuss and agree or disagree on many issues - term time holidays is one - we air our views, agree to differ and move on. Politics is the same imo.

Original poster

suedonim · 22/10/2006 22:48

It doesn't worry me who people vote for either, I'm just interested in how people feel about these things.

I take the opposing view to Flutter in that the right to a secret ballot was hard-fought for so I don't tell anyone and nor do I ask.

Thanks for your views, everyone!

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nooka · 22/10/2006 23:23

My parents always told us that the way that you vote is private, so it's not something I would ask directly of anyone. I suspect this is because they had opposing political views - my father is fairly capitalist and small c conservative (ie small state), whilst my mother is quite socialist, and found they couldn't talk about it to each other without getting into tricky water. dh and I have discused voting, but mostly in terms of who can we possibly vote for this time (I have voted at different times and at different levels for all the major parties, and some independants too). I would be irritated if someone suggested (to my face anyway!) that I was either ashamed or flippant in the way I voted because I didn't immediately volunteer my voting record to them. I think that I would feel the need to quiz them on how deeply they had done their own research, if I got that impression from them...

pointyfangedWeredog · 22/10/2006 23:38

Not really and in some ways I rather wouldn't. Tend to talk about specific issues rather than political parties. But I suppose everyone does that really.

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