Gobsmacked

[Bookaboo]

It appears that some lifelong labour supporters in what have always been safe labour seats are planning on voting conservative. (I've heard this on a few interviews on radio & TV now)

This seems to be in areas that strongly supported Brexit. Are they so desperate to leave Europe that they will cut their noses off to spite their faces?

Are we in a paradoxical situation where some people who voted for Brexit as a protest against the establishment' are now supporting the establishment?

Just seems barmy.

It's more likely that they don't like or trust JC. Remember when he could hardly get a shadow cabinet going as so many labour mps resigned from it or didn't want the position? There is a widespread belief that JC isn't good at being a leader or working with people.

Whether it's true or not I've no idea.

Agree it's a puzzling move - big jump from "I don't have faith in Corbyn" to "I'll switch to a party on the other end of the political spectrum"!

I think it's to do with Conservatoves being very good at setting the narrative of cuts/austerity as inevitable, and blaming the financial crash on Labour. And Labour v poor atm at pitching a compelling-sounding alternative. If you think public services are going to be run into the ground whoever you vote for, but one party seems to have its act together more than another, then switching from Lab to Con maybe a more rational-seeming choice.

Still don't get "I'll never vote Lib Dem because they went into coalition with the Tories, but I'll vote for the Tories" though. That one is weird.

Yes - you can't blame a smaller party for wanting to be part of a coalition - it would be strange to turn down the chance to be part of a gov't.

We need to hear some economists and retired civil servants talking about the effectiveness or otherwise of 'austerity' the deficit, national debt, strategic infrastructure etc. It's a pity that the media focus so much on personalities. Who cares what TM's husband is like?