Lifelong Labour voters: how are you feeling?

[VerlynWebbe]

I ask because DH and I were discussing this last night.
He is of the opinion that he'll do anything that gets the Tories out, even if he has to hold his nose a bit.
I can't do it, though. I can't get over their inaction over the genocide in Gaza. Like, I can't imagine walking into a polling booth and setting aside that massive abdication of morals.
But I know things are fucked in Britain as well.
I really find it upsetting and wondered if anyone else feels the same.

I'm with your DH, although I feel like I'm going to be voting against my own interests as a woman. I will be voting Labour like I've always done.

I don't agree with some of Labour's policies but I really think something needs to change. The Tories have been in for long enough, we need a different perspective. Let's face it, if Labour get in and then fuck things up even more we'll be back to Conservatives in 4 years. But at least we'll have tried.

I can't get over their inaction over the genocide in Gaza

What did you want from Kier? He isn't in government so can't "do" anything. Do you think Risha has done more?

My area us likely to vote libdem andcI fear their attitude towards women.

I'm feeling good. After many years Labour has finally got its act together and is electable instead of fannying around playing at lefty ideology.

Good lord, no of course I don't think Rishi has done more! I don't even consider the Tories, they have been execrable for all my life! They have done precisely what I would expect a Tory party to do in these circumstances.

But Kier Starmer, actual human rights lawyer, could have spoken out when it became clear that there's a case for genocide, and could have challenged government over arms sales. Instead he's hedged his bets with a wan call for some sort of ceasefire - the barest of bare minimums. I'm disgusted.

I’m not risking another term of the Tories. I just can’t do it.

I would vote virtually anyone right now to get the Tories out. I feel physically sick when I see any of these buffoons on TV

I can't vote Tory, they are all so useless and self serving. I don't agree with Starmer on everything but I do feel he is serious about the job.

Mostly I just miss having principled politicians in depth in all parties.

I was a Labour activist in the 90s, and I campaigned successfully in a very important marginal seat in the East Midlands in 97. I quit the party over Iraq, then re-joined to vote for Yvette Cooper in the 2015 leadership election. I left again when Corbyn was leader and it became obvious that the party wasn’t serious about winning.

I’m obviously delighted about the current polls which point to a solid Labour victory. The Tories have failed even on their own terms & deserve to be kicked out.

I completely understand the current leadership’s strategy which is demonstrably working. Starmer is a credible candidate for PM and he has done remarkably well to get the party into this position, albeit with a massive amount of help from Johnson, Truss etc. Obviously I would like them to be much bolder, to acknowledge that Brexit has been a disaster and set out what they are going to do to fix it, and to offer some hope that things might actually improve for ordinary people. As a former activist, however, I understand why they have to be so cautious. They are trying to hold together a very disparate coalition of younger, socially liberal graduates, older socially conservative white working class voters & BAME voters. There are massive dividing lines between these groups on issues like immigration, the environment, ‘wokery’ & Israel / Palestine. The party has to constantly walk a tightrope to avoid alienating big groups of voters.

I know what you mean. I'm not convinced with the labour party as it is. however I want the Tories out. ultimately labour can't be worse than them. I realise I'm setting the bar low.

As a former activist, however, I understand why they have to be so cautious. They are trying to hold together a very disparate coalition of younger, socially liberal graduates, older socially conservative white working class voters & BAME voters. There are massive dividing lines between these groups on issues like immigration, the environment, ‘wokery’ & Israel / Palestine. The party has to constantly walk a tightrope to avoid alienating big groups of voters.

Yes, I do see this, however I'm gutted by their stance on genocide and I think I would always feel I'd voted immorally, if that makes sense. In the current circumstances.

I will be voting tactically for the first time as Lib Dem have a chance where I live and Labour really don't. I hope to God Labour get in though.

I feel very much the same @VerlynWebbe

I was a LP member for nearly all my adult life, until about 2 years ago.
It was the attitude towards trade unions and picket lines which really did it for me. I couldn't believe that the leader of the Labour party was banning / criticising MPs for supporting striking workers and joining picket lines in solidarity.
Since then, the Gaza situation has cemented my feelings (as have various other things).

I don't know what I will do though. I can't stand the thought of not voting. Where I live the Tories are almost certain to get in again.

I will be still voting Labour . We need a change .

I feel that they are poor communicators overall. I don't love the constant hedging and climbdowns, particularly on the green stimulus package. The Gaza response was typical of this.

However there are policies and people I like. Angela Rayner is super cool and I like the emphasis on skills and workers.

@UmaniCaroline Last gen election I voted Labour tactically, because we're Tories second here as well. My heart wasn't in it then, because I'd seen how they pandered to Brexiteers. I think a certain amount of pandering is normal in politics (and god knows if we had PR we'd see a lot of co-operation, this is just the FPPT version of it, realistically) but there was something about it that made my skin crawl.

This issue, though...I mean...how will we be seen in years to come? We are on the wrong side of history. I'm appalled to have to try to get my head around that.

Me too.

I will vote to get the tories out

But I don't think anyone will dislodge the Tories where I live.

Who will you vote for then?
Who is doing better?

I'll be voting the tories out first and foremost and hoping at some point to have someone I can get behind, maybe in another 20 years.

Somebody said to me today that their hope was that Labour would have a tiny majority and have to ask Lib Dems to form a govt. LDs would then insist on PR as a condition and then we'd (eventually) have a completely different set up.
It doesn't fill me with joy, but it's one idea!

Like others, I'm unhappy about their lack of full on support for protecting women's rights.

But I cannot see the LibDems (or anyone else) as a viable alternative to the Tories and will therefore vote Labour as usual.

I want the tories gone, my area is a swing seat we've had a mix of both tories and labour over the years, I'll be holding my nose a little but definitely voting labour, its the only option to get rid of our current bloody useless Tory MP.

Muggedbyreality , I voted for Michael Foot, devastated to discover most people saw him as too left wing. Left over Iraq. Returned to vote for Yvette Cooper. Left twelve months into Corbyn’s leadership. He couldn’t lead, couldn’t manage media without being grumpy grandad plus anti semitism. Joined voted Starmer. I’m with you in believing he’s managing to hold it all together.

I’ll vote Labour it’s the country’s only hope. Public services including bus in a real mess. Only a strong Labour govt can begin rebuilding

not at all thrilled with the Labour party but haven't the words to describe the depth of my loathing and contempt for the Tories
Labour have failed women and children big time but I'm hopeful the Cass report will give them the reason they need to row back on this- I don't need to see public confessions of shame and wrongdoing on this, I just need to see them make policies that will give us back our single sex spaces and protect our young people.
On Gaza, I don't see the use of posturing, neither Israel or Hamas give a damn about an opposition party in a small country off the coast of Northern Europe. Iraq was different, Blair was in power and took us into a war, but then I set that against Surestart....
So, will probably vote Labour. But only probably.