GC in NI: which party to vote for?

[MeinKraft]

As local council elections are coming up, and a general election doesn't look far behind I am contemplating who to vote for. I am a lifelong Alliance voter but I've seen reports on Twitter of an Alliance councillor on the TRA side of LWS at the weekend and he's blocking anyone GC. Has the discussion actually been had with any of the parties what their thoughts are regarding gender that anyone knows of? I'm from a unionist background but I find myself less enamoured with the union as I grow older so I'm in a middle ground on that score.

Ex-Alliance here. They are TWAW all the way and the councillors who have doubts are too scared to speak up.

I'm so angry at them. I would no longer trust them to run a bath if they can't be honest about basic biology.

Interestingly. I met other ex Alliance and ex Greens at the LWS event who said the same. We're all politically homeless.

Perhaps we need to start our own party @RaininginDarling!

Indeed! I do think some smart, rational independents might make hay when they realise how insane the supposed middle ground has got.

Ex Alliance member and voter here. I emailed my local Alliance MP to see if he was fully TWAW and sadly he was. Despite being married to an actual woman and having two female children.

I doubt anyone will actually come knocking on my door but if they do I'll be asking them if they think women have penises. I feel politically homeless these days.

@GiveMyHeadPeaceffs I will too, but I'll only end up with the DUP agreeing that they don't and voting for them is out of the question there is no party for the average normal person here. I might get contact Stephen Nolan and ask him to look into this. He did that Stonewall investigation so he might take it on.

I always vote strategically to keep out the DUP at all costs! If that means alliance then so be it. I think the GC argument will prevail but first we desperately need a working government

I agree with you @Crispynoodle I work in an area where we see the effects of all funding dwindling and really valuable services being hammered all because those useless articles can't get themselves back to work!

@MeinKraft a vote for the DUP is a hard no from me.

It's so depressing.

I was wondering this exact thing myself! I’m on the other side of the political fence, but upvoted Alliance in the last election. Usually vote SDLP, but sure we are truly fucked on the nationalist (extremely moderate!) side.

Here's where I've got to so far:

TUV - not looked, don't plan to look.

DUP - doesn't matter where they stand because they won't sit.

UUP - vague. In favour of banning conversion therapy (undefined) and of reviewing (again undefined) gender identity services. Could go either way depending on what they actually mean.

Alliance - firmly TWAW.

Green - as bad as the E&W and Scottish versions.

SF - backs introducing Scottish-style GRA reform.

SDLP - can't find a GRA position; in favour of "LGBT+ affirming relationship and education" (great if the emphasis is on the first part of the abbreviation, but leaves room for a big Trojan horse if not further defined)

PBP - haven't looked because they never field a candidate here.

Tories - might stand but never get more than about 3 votes. Assume they follow the Westminster party line.

Who/what have I missed?

So far it looks as if UUP or SDLP might be worth investigation, if you have a candidate who can be pinned down on meaning.

Yes I have been wondering this too for a while. Will probably go with SDLP but there may be independent candidates standing too. Would love big Steven to push them all further on this issue.

I was wondering this the other day, I used to vote alliance then stopped and I spoil my vote now 🤷

Also a usually alliance voter with no idea who I’m going to vote for.

where I am is TUV DUP all the way, and I used to vote alliance but one of the local councillors is totally TWAW and I can’t vote for that

so I honestly have no idea.

How do people know what their local councillors views are re TWAW. Do they specifically say this on their manifesto or have you emailed directly?

I've asked. I've actually been lied to about it. I saw evidence to the contrary on social media by the same person five minutes later.

I no longer trust that person.

I spoiled my last vote and left a pointed remark for Alliance. I know they get read as I've been involved with the count.

PBP vv strongly TWAW on Twitter
Aontu - not sure but can't get onboard with their stance on abortion so it's a hard no

I'm contemplating UUP. I may contact Doug Beattie. I've liked the way he's handled things recently around the Windsor framework and the GFA anniversary. And I've been wondering if moderate unionism might see voters swinging over from the shit show that's the DUP. I also liked Robin Swann's handling of the pandemic. I'm so very disappointed in Alliance though. I have so much respect for Stephen Farry.

Thanks for this thread, despite it confirming my fears that it’s either ‘we don’t know who a woman is’ or ‘we know what a woman is - they’re the ones we don’t allow reproductive rights to’

prob will spoil vote again 🤷‍♀️

but will it even make any odds who get the most votes? it’s not like they are doing their jobs rn anyway

@MeinKraft I have no time for Stephen Farry. I sent him the email that was recommended by Sex Matters and his reply was dismissive at best and snottery at worst. One step away from calling me transphobic. He'd actually lose my vote on the basis of his response.

Another ex-Alliance voter here, my council area is light on nationalists so is mainly a mix of DUP/UUP/Alliance/Green, none of whom I can agree with on women's rights - so frustrating!!

NI voter here, yeah I feel homeless too.

I spoke to Doug Beattie about the issue a few years ago and he was very much on the "be kind" side of things, and didn't really seem that well informed. Though as that was a few years back he might have looked into it. I also spoke to another UUP candidate at that time and he seemed aware of the issues, understood the problems women were facing but didn't want to say so publicly, though again this was what feels like a lifetime ago in this madness!

I'm going to contact them again and see if their opinions have changed.

Alliance are out, Naomi Long accused me of defamation on twitter cause I asked her about the Ferring donations, and I've met Kellie Armstrong, she didn't seem very up to date on anything to be honest this topic and happy to tow the party line no matter how thick it made her sound.

Excellent idea for a thread OP!!

For Westminster elections I’m in a strong DUP constituency so my vote makes no difference there - last time I spoiled my ballot with a GC message in hopes it would be noted at the ballot count.

For Stormont and local council elections I’m stumped - DUP won’t let Stormont function, and are anti-abortion, so I can’t vote for them. Alliance, Greens (I left Greens over their anti-GC stance), SF, PBP are all TWAW. Aontú have expressed some GC sentiment but their stance on abortion puts me off. SDLP are all ‘be kind’ but not supportive of GC positions so they’re out too.

The only supportive responses I’ve received from politicians on the issue has been from DUP and Conservatives.

We used to get the odd independent candidate for elections but not so much now. Looks like ballot spoiling is my only option because I will not vote for any party that refuses to accept material reality when it comes to women.

Does Northern Ireland use PR for council elections? Surely an Independent/ Women's Rights candidate would be ' transfer friendly '. Especially in local elections.

STV for council and Assembly.

I think we had 3 independents in our borough last time, but 2 did no pre-election comms and 1 had a bee in his bonnet about a very specific local planning issue (and when I say 'local', I think it was actually his own house) and no apparent other policies.

Are there enough of us on this thread to form a party?

Alliance arrived at my door yesterday and sadly I missed them. DH answered the door and asked them questions on my behalf. The canvasser refused to answer the question about what they would do to protect single sex places. DH then told them I would tweet them, just like I had done before the last election to no avail, and they said the MLAs and Councillors don’t respond to questions on Twitter because they get too much abuse otherwise. DH said I would welcome a private response to avoid the attention of trolls, but apparently they don’t have time for that. He responded that in that case we didn’t have time to vote for them, and shut the door. Wish I’d been home. Long time Alliance voter but I can’t ever go back now.

I think I’ll end up going for UUP. I don’t think we have any SDLP candidates this time around (that’s who I voted for last time), and I’m not convinced by our independents - although I’m pretty sure one of them is GC - just rubbish in other ways.

DUP, TUV & Conservative are all definite NOs

Lots of homeless voters here. Don't despair. Now is actually the point you have the most power, but you need to act together.

Sex Matters and Women's Rights Network are rerunning their respect my X campaign. They have leaflets get hold of some start dropping them round:
https://twitter.com/wrnliverpool/status/1646889906269044740

Talk to Women's Rights Network NI. Get together.

If you are up for it is worth going to hustings if they have them in your ward and challenge them directly. Also write to local papers see if you can get letter in. mumsnet and this thread could co-ordinate a letter writing campaign. Mix in sex gender issues with other issues like women's health etc so they are more likely to publish. Bitch about the Alliance being sexist women silencers they will hate that and it is a line the press may like because it is controversial .

Get on any local forums, comments, say stuff. Keep it mild, at first, sooner or later you might get banned BUT every time they pull that stuff it makes some people scared, but peaks others a bit more. Because most people know women exist.

Here is an idea I just thought of create your own hustings. Right now the candidates are desperate to get the vote out. Get a group of people together book out a place say you are hosting a women's issues hustings invite everyone. Or given the time factor do it online on a zoom event. If they don't turn up kick off online on twitter and to the press about how they ignore women. If they do you get to make them squirm.

Remember this is all prep for the General election next year. Start laying groundwork now. We need to keep pushing so either politicians start listening or just as GOOD panic every time a woman opens their mouth in case they get asked what a woman is and so they start running away from any event where a women might turn up.

Look what the suffragettes did they made life for any politician at any level a living hell - because suddenly they would arrive at political events demanding the vote. Remember most politicians, especially men, do not care about gender issues, they are scared of drama. Right now in NI they are clearly MORE scared of the Men's rights Activists and talking about women's existence than talking about the Troubles. That is utterly insane and when the average voter finds out this they are not going to be impressed.

There are a lot of angry women in NI we saw that at the event in Belfast. They just need to get together more.