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Original poster

Vote for party or MP??? in a dilemma.........

23 replies

toccatanfudge · 26/04/2010 13:36

I actually rather like our local MP, as MP's go he's not bad really, he's local (proper local not just shipped in) and is quite active in supporting the local electorate.......except he's Tory.....and I really don't like the idea of a Tory government

Won't vote labour, and tbh the Lib Dem canditate looks like a bit of a wet kipper (and isn't really a "local"....but I was going to vote Lib Dem.........

WWYD? Vote for the MP or the party???

OP posts:

Hassled · 26/04/2010 13:40

I'm in the same boat but reversed - I support Labour, but my current Labour MP is a waste of time and pretty dislikeable. Green candidate (who does have a bit of a chance here) is an all round top bloke.

You also have to look at the bigger picture, though - if your current Tory guy has a huge majority and looks likely to hold his seat, then voting tactically is pointless. So you might as well go for the candidate you like best.

Original poster

toccatanfudge · 26/04/2010 13:41

well just looked at the last election results

Tory - 22,674
Labour - 21,987 (don't even know who are local candidate is though!)
Lib Dem - 6,147

OP posts:

Granny23 · 26/04/2010 13:45

Now that you have seen the figures and that it is quite close between T & L, then it seems obvious you should vote for the 'good guy' to keep L (your least favoured option' out.

Hassled · 26/04/2010 13:46

So that's pretty tight then. If you like the Tory man and don't even know who the Labour candidate is then go with the nice bloke.

I can't believe I'm advising someone to vote Tory . So glad MN is anonymous!

Original poster

toccatanfudge · 26/04/2010 13:51

I can't believe I'm even considering voting Tory

I grew up in the NE of England in the 1980's......I sat up all night in 1997 and celebrated the Labour victory (I'd only just turned 18 so was the first time I'd voted).

I'm a labour defector......a single mum on benefits and I'm considering voting Tory

OP posts:

Hassled · 26/04/2010 13:54

Actually I think I've changed my mind. Your Labour unknown person might have a chance. Your vote could be the one vote that gets Labour the one more seat that pushes them into an overall majority (yes, I know - I may be pushing things a bit here ). So if you're Labour at heart, do the right thing.

But then the unknown Lab person could be a rubbish MP....

inthesticks · 26/04/2010 13:55

I have same dilemma.
Up until 2005 I voted Labour all my life. I refused to vote for Blair again because of the Iraq war.
I am now completely undecided. The Tory candidate is an import, and much as I like Clegg there are some very weak links in the Lib Dems(being polite here). Don't know who the Lib Dem candidate is.

Local MP is a good guy who has done a lot for local issues. He is from the area and his children go to the same rural comp as mine. He is also Labour .

I think I've just made an argument for voting labour.

herbietea · 26/04/2010 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

vesela · 26/04/2010 14:06

toccata - the Tory is a member of the Cornerstone Group, though.

vesela · 26/04/2010 14:07

(apologies if I've got completely the wrong one there!)

Original poster

toccatanfudge · 26/04/2010 14:11

no - you're right he is part of that group.........thing is I don't totally disagree with all of the stuff the cornerstone group believe in and stand for (even more )

OP posts:

vesela · 26/04/2010 14:28

ok, I'm now too! Just vote on policies and what you believe, then.

Original poster

toccatanfudge · 26/04/2010 14:29

yes I' confused as well......

maybe I'll just DS3 to point at one of the boxes on the form and vote for whichever one he picks

OP posts:

Molivan · 27/04/2010 11:11

Toccatanfudge - are you me? I have the same dilemma, the difference here is Tories 19274 to Labour 19098 and I do feel I want to vote for the sitting MP, even though I grew up in the North East in a Labour stronghold family.

Molivan · 27/04/2010 11:14

I've been pondering this for ages, want the local candidate, don't want David Cameron or the Tories. Lib Dem a pointless vote here, or so it seems, less than 6,000 last time, and no way will I vote Labour as long as Peter Mandelson is foisted upon us. So what do I do?

SomeGuy · 27/04/2010 12:01

Anywhere where the Tories are winning by a few votes from Labour in 2005 is a pretty much guaranteed Tory hold in 2010 given the state of the Labour party in the polls, so you might as well just vote for your preferred party.

WebDude · 27/04/2010 14:19

Molivan - not a pointless vote. Overall it will give that extra "1" to show support for the party the "big two" and media kept trying to dismiss as unimportant!

amidaiwish · 27/04/2010 14:22

in the same boat here too.
local MP is vince cable, top guy... but libdem as a govt? hmmm

Molivan · 27/04/2010 16:18

Web Dude - I know what you mean but I think overturning 13,000 just too tall an order for the Lib Dems and if taking my vote away from Cons means a Labour MP, I'll wish I went with the good MP. Never, ever been even close to this position before at election time. Don't think I will know what I will do until it's got to be done.

jackstarbright · 27/04/2010 16:37

amidaiwish I'm in a similar position. I wonder if some Lib Dem candidates will actually lose votes from regular supporters who balk at the thought of them actually getting power IYSWIM?

WebDude · 27/04/2010 21:13

It's not the 13,000 that matter too much, Molivan, but the UK-wide total which would help justify the need for P.R.

If you vote either of the "punch and judy" parties, it follows that the 'first past the post' scheme will have not just won, but because yours cannot be counted as 1 for LDs, they don't get the chance to push the point that however many votes they can still be left in second (or third) place.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 27/04/2010 21:54

TAF, if your constituency is that close, have you not had all sorts of crap through the door/the candidates round to personally beg for your vote?

By the way, if your seat is classed as 'unwinnable' for a party, then that party is unlikely to be fielding a 'local' candidate. They'll put up some random junior tyke to learn how to run a campaign and talk to voters, and if they do that OK, they might get to try in a slightly-less-unwinnable seat next time around.

Original poster

toccatanfudge · 29/04/2010 11:03

I have had one piece of crap from the Lib Dems and one from the Tory (on the same day - that I started this thread).

Yesterday I got a labour one through that told me NOTHING about the candidate.........although having just gone onto my local council website it would appear that they're shipping her in from Enfield North.......

Thankfully I have (so far) been spared BNP and UKIP ones

No knocks on the door (and I'm here at home 95% of the time so it's not like they've missed me.....)

Chatting to my two friends last night (both of whom are similar in thought to me politically speaking) we all agreed that the Tory MP while some of the things he has back are a little does play an active part in the local community and does actually do a pretty decent job (despite his political leanings).

I'd rather have a proper "local" candidate that knows the area than a shipped in Labour one..........so I shall be voting Tory next week !

OP posts:

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