Do you vote for the party or individual MP in general elections?

[Craftysue]

Just a quick question for you
When you vote in a General Election do you vote for the party or the person?
My MP has changed political party since the General Election and I signed a petition calling for MPs to resign and re stand if they change parties. The petition was rejected by the Government on the grounds that people vote for the person, not the party.
I'm not sure I agree and I'm interested in what other people think
Thanks

Well the law is you vote for the person.

But anyone who votes for a local politician knowing that the party they belong to has a manifesto that they think will do the country as a whole harm would need their head examined. Unfortunately most people don't read manifestos.

For the party, tactically, but influenced by the person. In general I agree with your petition.

I vote for the person as a representative of the party.

Me too.
For example, if I really liked our local green or reform candidate I still wouldn't vote for either of them them because they represent/support a party I don't like.

My decision is typically for the party, but tactically when it come to General Elections. For local elections the individual person holds far more sway for me.

It used to be the party (generally Labour, very occasionally Liberal/LibDem). It is now absolutely where they stand on women’s rights. Like the suffragettes I believe that a person or party who doesn’t respect my rights doesn’t get my vote. I had to spoil my ballot in 2019 with great regret. Since then SDP and Communist candidates have saved me.

usually the person in Uk general Election. Normally aligns with party I would want. For Senedd the same, but from May we now have to vote for party.

In our system it is true that we vote for the person.
In other systems people vote for the Party and individuals are not mentioned on the ballot paper.
But I agree usually I vote for the person who is representing the party I want to win.

It really annoys me when people say things like they won't vote for Starmer next time. Well no, you won't unless you live in his constituency, because you can't - you can only vote for your local representative. Having said that my local MP is a Tory and although she comes across as quite reasonable in some ways I would never, ever, vote for a Tory.

I voted for the party at the General Election - mainly to stop the Tories getting in . I tend to vote for the person in local elections - I know all of our local councillors as they live here. I would never have voted for the new party my MP has set up ( Zahra Sultana) .

That's a technicality, though. By voting for your MP you are increasing the chances that the leader of their party gets to be PM, so you are voting for the next PM if that party wins. I think most Labour and Tory voters vote on the basis that they are voting for the next government, not just their own MP.

I vote for the party and totally agree with your petition

I agree with your petition, but if I had a vote (I don't, I am foreign) I would currently vote tactically to keep Reform out.