I won't be voting Tory because...

[2cats2many]

• My children go to a Surestart children's centre and I don't want that threatened when they start their slash and burn;
• The schools in my area are going to get their Building Schools for the Future funding soon. The torys are saying no BSF project is safe unless all the contracts have been signed, so if they get in, my children's future secondary schools are likely to stay over-crowded and sub-standard;
• This report in the Evening Standard today about Boris Johnson's raft of broken promises since he was elected makes me think that a future Tory government is going to deliver on little that they are promising now.

Not sure who I will vote for though. I think I voted Green last time.

To be fair, TheCalvert, someone needs to pay for care for the elderly. And with the whole baby boomer thing going on, and the ratio of workers per pensioner dropping, it can't really come out of normal taxation. In many ways, dead people are probably the best ones to tax, as they have few financial commitments. And are unlikely to complain.

But this is academic; last I heard, the 20k estate levy was removed from the list of options given to the commission that's supposed to be working this all out.

I won't be voting Tory because I'd rather die. Bit dramatic perhaps, but I'm pretty sure I actually mean it!

I could never look myself in the mirror again.

Because I couldn't look at myself in the mirror afterwards knowing I've done this country such a huge diservice.

Puts on Lola voice:

CompletelyRemembersMargaretThatcherTiggaxx

Calvert - I agree that there should be a 10 per cent band, or something like it. Believe me, I absolutely think that Labour should do a lot more to extend progressive taxation. But at least the other policy initiatives of the Lab government have gone a long way towards benefiting those on low pay (minimum wage, WTC, FTC

Haven't read all of this, so apologies if someone's already said it. But a whole raft of big cheese economists and city gods wrote an open letter recently to tell say George Osborne's plans are just plain daft and scary to boot. Kind of says a lot surely.

because they don't offer me anything substantial. i don't get the impression they will be any different.

To be honest I really do not know who to vote for. Once again politicians are ignoring the single, 30ish childless person. Nothing any party does benefits me now I think. Oh yes in the future I am sure.
I have been quite slack and ignoring it to be honest which is odd for me as I am usually quite into my politics.

Calvert

"Secondly, it is reported that in order to close the financial deficit we currently find ourselves in, Labour are seriously considering abolishing tax on childrens clothes and VAT on household essentials (as well as increasing the VAT threshold to 20%). In my mind, if this is a tax on the poorer members of our society, I don?t know what is, because it sure as hell will hit poorer families"

Do you mean that Labour are planning on abolosing the VAT-free status on certain essentials?

Link please?

'(minimum wage, WTC, FTC

... because hell will never freeze over.

(that and they don't seem to have any policies, no social ethics and no chins)

At the risk of having things thrown at me, I'd like to suggest an alternative side...

It's already been mentioned to check Factchecker on the whole SureStart conundrum so use that as well as other sources to make your mind. I'm a single parent & my local centres are FABULOUS, I'd be lost without them - but I'm aware that their success & working together with other bodies hasn't worked as well in all parts of the country - which is a shame because when they work (as it seems from this discussion) they do great things.

I actually think the Tory ideas to pay SureStart health visitors is FANTASTIC - I moved back home, having left a violent relationship with a baby who'd been born prematurely (33wks)... I saw a health visitor ONCE, I was in an absolute state and really needed the help and it just wasn't b**y there! Due to the effects of my long-term abuse I was totally depressed so couldn't face going out to ANY group, or meeting people. More help from health visitors would've been a lifeline. Health visitors might also tackle the problem of reaching out to families who for whatever reason feel SureStart is not for them - these "hard to reach" families are key targets for most volunteer charities also.

BUT in an effort to support the hard to reach, we ought not neglect the fact that EVERY parent needs help, advice, love, support etc. doesn't matter what class, race, religion, income level you are - kids (especially your 1st one) can be scary & confusing!

Oh and for all those who keep saying "I remember last time" well, things can change - check out this book There IS such a thing as Society

Oh and incidentally for all those who use the aged argument "they don't know what real life is like" just WHO do you think MP's are? They're not landed gentry as in 'days of yore', well not all of them, some trained as GP's, others as teachers - a whole mix. Ok, no one thinks the chamber is entirely representative but there's only one way to change that - get involved, don't sit on the sidelines. And, my Dad (naming no names or parties) IS an MP, so he at least knows real life - he had a daughter experience domestic violence, and all sorts of other things and had her back home struggling to care for a prem babe (who's doing brilliantly now by the way) working her way back to happiness... MP's are real people, dealing with real problems... they're human and fallible, just like any of us....

..I am old enough to remember what happened the last time we had a Tory government.

And I am old enough to remember the Labour Government before the last Tory one and this Labour government has taken us back there. I will be voting Tory.

For a bunch of women who pride yourselves on free- and clear-thinking, this 'I couldn't vote Tory because of my [insert name of family member' is a bit disappointing.

Make your own minds up.

I haven't always voted the same way as my parents/grandparents. I'm a grown woman, FGS.

No wonder this country is stuck with old class prejudices (most of them on the left, it would seem).

Labour are fairly shite, but the Tories would be far far worse...

(I remember the Thatcher years, and I don't think that the tory party (especially the shadow cabinet) have the experience or education to stop us ending up back there.)

BTW - ProdigalMomma - those health visitor plans are almost certainly empty promises. Just like several other tory health pledges which have disappeared.

I'm with Lolly; I can remember Red Robbo and the Leyland strike on the news.

because I am not a twat.

... and yet none of the Labour supporters "ohmigod I'd rather dieeee than vote Tory I can remember the last time" can explain why the Tories had to make cuts.

It's a bit like blaming your mum for spending the family allowance on "boring food" because your dad spunked all the money down the bookies.

I don't think it's true that they only make cuts affecting the rich - the "rich" don't play by the same rules as the rest of us anyway. I wonder what Mandelson pays in tax for example?

All this faff & argument about 50% tax on earnings, inheritance tax, la-di-dah tax. Anyone with that kind of cash pays for an accountant to squirrel it away. Our earnings are PAYE, we pay council tax rather than registering our homes as owned by an offshore corporation etc., etc.

It's eejits like us who pay the bills. Bunch o' pricks we must be!

I had a Conservative leaflet through yesterday , " family friendly etc etc " , there is no mention of cheaper childcare, well that is not going to appeal to a lot of mums is it!!! Britain has the most expensive childcare in Europe, it is quite poor considering what it costs, it is totally private and he wants to make it the most child friendly country in Europe? hmmmmmm

Remind me who has been 'educationalising' childcare in the UK for the past 13 years? Labour are going to do what exactly; as by your own admission 'Britain has the most expensive childcare in Europe, it is quite poor considering what it costs, it is totally private'?

I won't be voting Tory becuase I beleive in supporting those who have had bad luck and disabdvantage and I do not think the Tory mindset is that way; I beleive they exist to reward those who have success which is probably OK but not howmy own philoso[hy ahs always worked.

Becuase every time I get a rude comment on here about being a carer or somesuch it can be traced back to tory voters.

Becuase I was based in an office above a surestart (wqorked for alied charity) and saw how much good they achieved

And why does nnot voting Tory always assume you vote Labour? and arguments are made along the lines of well Labour arent doing any better?

Nad why (a final and why) is it that on the tory thread there is always complaints about non tories posting yet the same faces are here?

Has anyone noticed that George Osbourne always looks like he is drooling...

I really, really don't like George O. There';s a few I simply canaot abide- George O, Nicholas Soames, harriet H, Old Hoony (thank goodness on way out) and the latest addition to my cross party list is the MP for taunton ( a lib dem for balance) after watching his post budget performance.

Yikes to the lot of them.