Has anyone else been forced to become Conservative after all of this?

[ponderingsoul]

Probably the wrong wording, but I'm curious - after always considering myself fairly left wing/ liberal and generally voting Labour (or tactically Lib Dem when I was in the SW), I no longer really consider them a valid option for me because of their gender views/ inability to take a view.

Has this happened to anyone else? Never thought I'd be a Tory, but now feel like I have no choice as this issue is so important to me.

No, I have no plans to vote Tory, nor have I totally given up on the Labour party coming to their senses in time for the general election. I think that one positive outcome from this whole shitshow would be better cross party communication and collaboration between women with different allegiances.

What I have noticed is that the worst I've been called by Conservative voters on here for this stance is 'naive'. I wish I could say as much for Labour voters.

My constituency is the one with the Tory trans-wannabe MP convicted of dangerous driving etc. I am at a loss as to who to vote for, as a lifelong Labour voter who has lost faith in the party's ability to represent me. But the Conservatives? I don't think so.

No.

The conservatives may be saying the right words, but they are DOING nothing, they have been in power for the last 12 years, all the changes have been made under their party. Do not fall for the sound bites.

No! Labour have lost their way on this, not me.

Trans ideology is a hyper individualistic capitalist wet dream. The drug companies have got to find ways to make lifelong patients and that US fentanyl scandal was getting inconvenient.

What other rights movement gives companies progressive cookies without upsetting white male dominated status quo?

It creates body hatred and sells the solution. So many identities, so many products. Oh, you're infertile now? Don't worry! We've also been pushing surrogacy, now have you got your bank details on you?

I think it's hilarious that people still think that the tory party have any firm convictions on anything, including the gender debate, or indeed care for anyone, beyond saying what they think will gain them the most votes in the next election.

If the opinion polls suddenly changed, and 90% of the country looked like they were going to vote Labour with their current stance, you can sure enough bet they'd dro lp their 'principles' in a heartbeat.

I think the point is that, on this particular issue, the Tory party are more in touch with popular opinion than Labour, and they know it. And yes I'm sure they intend to get as much mileage out of it as they possibly can. Labour could put this to bed right now if they chose to do so.

I think it's hilarious that people still think that the tory party have any firm convictions on anything, including the gender debate, or indeed care for anyone, beyond saying what they think will gain them the most votes in the next election.

They all do this though. Do you think starmer really believes 0.1% of women have a penis, or was he saying this just because he thought it would appease both sides and get Labour more votes.

Well my local election candidates have all door knocked.

I asked each for their views on 'womens rights and the local area'

the tory said 'i am generally pro womens rights' i asked how that translated to the local area and he said 'i dont know'

The liberal said they were very active in Pride

The labour candidate said they were focusing on street lighting and safety around the station And something about sports equipment in the park more geared to women which i didnt quite follow.

So In terms of impact on me, in my village Id have to go for labour since i feel scared walking past the station at night.

We all side stepped 'whats a woman'

I haven’t become Tory but I have stopped being Labour. This issue has made me look at “my”party in more depth. I’m less partisan. I’ve stopped delivering leaflets. My union subs no longer go to the Labour fund.

I will almost certainly vote Tory at the GE as long as they have clarified that sex means biological sex in the Equality Act. To be sure they mean what they say about women's rights. I can't believe I'm saying this! I can't even vote Lib dem as they are just as bad.

Perfect summation, it's all theatre really.

I also voted Tory in the last election out of pure pragmatism. The women who had been fighting to maintain women's sex based rights needed that extra 5 years to try and get things changed.

I'm left wing, was raised by hippies and spent a lot of my adult life in very socially liberal subcultures.

I've recently had exposure to right wing ideas through US GC commentators. Its been very interesting. One thing I've had to confront is an idea I was raised with, that breaking social taboos and challenging social convention is a good thing in and of itself. I now strongly disagree with that kind of sentiment. Gender identity woo seems like a great example of how poorly this utopian ideal actually plays out when its gets loose in mainstream society.

I was also startled to discover that socially conservative people are not just boring fuddie-duddies who want to constrict our options and spoil our fun for no conceivable reason. In fact, they view social conventions such as marriage, gender roles, work ethic as protective of vulnerable groups. Thats new to me and I think they have a point.

I'm still very economically left wing. I notice that right wingers often prefer to talk about social and cultural issues rather than economic ones. Perhaps because they sense that laissez faire economics, a low wage economy, privatised healthcare etc is not as attractive as trad wife aesthetics and appeals to positive social values.

I do wonder just how the left managed to get itself so tangled up with postmodernism and queer theory. A socialist society would require a very collectivist outlook, which arguably implies a level of social conformity. As usual, I think the middle class has a lot to answer for.

Fuck no.

But the NHS, education system and social care mean nothing to you?

Because make no mistake you vote Tory the most vulnerable people will suffer - as they have for the last 13 years.

And no I don't put 'knowing what a biological woman is' above a single mother being able to house and clothe her child. Or an elderly woman accessing care support to have a basic level of dignity.

Absolutely not.

Even if I agreed with everything the Conservative Party was promising (unlikely) I shall never vote for the party of Boris Johnson and Brexit as long as I live. They have shat all over every person living in the country and that is unforgivable.

Exactly this. They’ve certainly not improved life for women or anyone in the last 13 years

I couldn't agree more with this. I'm worried that people who usually vote Labour will vote for smaller parties to the left, meaning the Conservatives will remain in government.

Definitely teetering. If voting Tory means no to self ID and pushback against the gender ideology insanity in schools and the NHS, then I may well do it. Much as it goes against my grain in every other respect.

No. I don't think the Tories really care about this, or any other issues affecting women and girls.

No.
I could never bring myself to vote Tory. I loathe so much about them.

I am currently without any party to vote for.

No, I have been a little tempted which is massive for me.

Where I live is blue through and through, despite the local MP being totally useless unless there is a photo opportunity. I'd love my vote to count.

I’ve always been a floating voter, have never been very tribal but I’ve never been a single issue voter before but in theses circumstances I think I could be.

No. I've never contemplated voting Tory and never will. If they are the friends of Women then I'm a banana.

NC for this... I have voted Labour (first time I voted), then SNP and Green until I discovered the impacts of gender ideology on women and children and gay rights. My last 2 votes have been Conservative (I joked to DH that I'm now a rainbow 🌈 voter, though it's obviously not funny).

I cannot understand how anyone can support self id, or gender ideology, especially now men like Adam Graham and Lennon Dolatowski have proved that predators do take advantage to harm women and children.

I think the Scottish Government ignoring the Cass review, the dangers of wrong sex drugs and the testimonies of detransitioners is unforgivable.

I have been impressed by the Scottish Tories on this issue and absolutely love Miriam Cates,Kemi Badenoch and Jackie Doyle-Price in the UK Gov.
There is no chance of Tories winning in my area so it is a protest vote more than anything but I will never vote Labour, snp or green again.
I hope the Conservatives repeal the GRA, no one should be able to lie about their biological sex and they definitely should not be compelling others to take part in their lie.

Totally this. To ‘become Conservative’ for any reason.. just no. I can’t believe people try and justify this. Look at their policies, look at how they behave, their utter contempt for ordinary people.