Will Gender Ideology influence how you vote?

[Heylo]

Hi, new to Mumsnet. Full disclaimer I have no kids yet but will start trying March 24 (lesbian with some embryos in the freezer!). I decided to join after the hilarious responses to the Dawn Butler debacle over the weekend.

I’ve historically been a Labour voter but I’m voting Tory next year because I’m concerned about women’s and children’s rights in relation to Gender Ideology. The lesbian scene especially has been culturally bulldozed by the new additions to womanhood & a lot of us (in our 30s) now self - exclude based on some of the militant trans rights activists (TRAs) pressuring women into taking on trans women as partners and socialise more closely with them. (Only media reporting on this is Telegraph & The Daily Mail. There has been a media blackout on this at the BBC and The Guardian). Actually a couple of women have tried to run same - sex speed dating nights but TRAs have sent them threats, doxxed them to their employers and called the venues to get the nights / events shut down. You can read more about that here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12401009/amp/Lesbian-speed-dating-event-sparks-transphobia-row-organisers-insist-adult-human-females-attend-popular-weekly-event.html

Anyway sorry for the segue, my question is to anyone who is interested in answering- if you are historically a Labour voter would the Gender issue sway you to voting conservative?

its a big topic at the moment in Gender Critical lesbian and bi circles. Everyone is usually a Labour voter but we’re all worried about what craziness Keir Starmer is going to introduce re erasing women’s spaces. I was curious what Mumsnet users think as outside of lesbians you are the next group (parents) who are most affected by this.

Yes. I won’t vote Labour as I don’t think women’s rights are safe with them

Yes. I won't be voting Labour, or Green, or for anyone who has been captured.

And hello!

My guess is that it will come down to turnout. The Tories are set to lose. However can Labour get their voters out?

They don’t seem to be trying very hard. Women make up a large proportion of the electorate, roughly 50%. Throw in some bad weather (Tories tend to be hardier when it comes to voting) and some good news on the economy and Starmer might not get the majority he is hoping for.

These threads often end up with Tory bashing from posters who seem to like telling women what they should do. Corbyn lost because loyal but centrist Labour voters stayed at home. A better question would be to ask if Labour women will make the effort to turn out on a cold wet November day, given current Labour policies.

I'll be voting Tory, the only party that continuously fights for women's rights.

I'm definitely not voting Labour, Greens or Lib dem. The big question is whether I can bring myself to vote Tory. I think I might. I definitely would if Kemi Badenoch was my MP.

No. I'm not GC but regardless my biggest voting issues remain what they always have: education and the NHS. I've been voting since 1997 and have worked in both. There is no way in this earth that I would ever vote Tory in a General election.
They are the party of austerity which the OBR demonstrated had a larger impact on women. They contain several MPs who which to reduce (or even remove) access to abortion. They currently have a Home Secretary who think date rape drugs are a joking matter as well as having several members under investigation for sexual assault or rape. By all means don't vote Labour but don't think you're voting FOR women's rights by choosing Tories because you're not.

And I don't like telling women what to do. I just don't like the hypocrisy of saying the Tories are the party of women's rights. They're not. Just look at how their former leader talks (BJ) talks about and treats women.

I won't vote Labour due to the gender ideology issue but I could NEVER vote Tory as they fuck up everthing for everyone else.

So a vote for an independent maybe?

I won't vote for Labour any longer but i certainly won't be giving my vote to the Tories. I've spoilt my ballot the last couple of times i've voted which pains me but i can't vote for a party that doesn't support women and girls versus another party that doesn't support women and girls. It's like choosing between a poke in the eye and punch on the nose.

I won't vote Labour due to gender issues and vat on school fees. I have no idea who I will vote for. The Tories are bloody awful. None of the smaller parties are likely to gain power. I am politically homeless.

Hey I understand your position entirely. I never ever envisioned a day I would be planning on voting Tory. However bad the Tories are though, they're not introducing self - ID. As a lesbian I've seen the erosion of female spaces in our community and how GC women have been shamed / silenced. I worry that it will get a lot worse if Labour get in to power. I think based on that Tories are lesser of the two evils.

Hmm. Having listened to Wes Streeting on the NHS I don't think it's safe with him in any way shape or form. I agree the Tories are grim but the misogyny in the Labour party has been laid bare. The treatment of Rosie Duffield, and the comments on women by people like Keir Starmer, Anneliese Dodds, Stella Creasey, Lisa Nandy etc etc have shocked me to the core.

I'm voting Labour. The Tory party give zero fucks about women. All this gender bollocks happened under their government and they're stoking the fire. It won't serve them to resolve this issue so I think they'll keep making loud, provocative statements to the media without actually addressing the problem.

The blatant disregard they had for the entire country during covid not to mention their thievery and incompetence. The economy. Rwanda. Housing. Health. Education. Ireland. International diplomacy. Everything they touch turns to shite.

By the way, thank you all of you for your thoughtful contributions, it's such a treat to finally be in Mumsnet. I've been a lurker for ages!

Same.

Also agree with this

Yeah exactly what's happened to Rosie Duffield is insane. I think Labour and conservative are fiscally similar these days (Starmer has said as much) so it makes the decision to vote Tory less difficult.

I’m certainly more likely to vote Tory precisely because of this issue - although I’m very uncomfortable doing so as my politics are left-leaning. I’m just hoping that Starmer wakes up to what’s happening and sorts out the TRAs in his party in time. If not, it will be Tory.

I'll be voting Tory, no one else, no ballot spoiling. We have to protect ourselves and our children from having our rights, identities and safety taken away from us. That is the priority.

I won't decide until I've seen the Labour manifesto, which I'll be reading with help from a legal dictionary as I expect the wording to be very slippery. And even if it does say the right things, I will still struggle to get past how I've grown to despise them for their craven stupidity. I don't think they have a clue how much damage they have done.

And before the inevitable poster pops up with 'What about the Tories!' yes I know and I have no intention of voting for them either. I think that, when you elect a leader with a track record for dishonesty, then you reap what you sow and can have no complaint when no-one believes anything you say. I think we desperately need a change of government - even the government is behaving like they've had enough now.

It's a truly dismal state of affairs.

Agreed, Heylo. It will be through gritted teeth but I may well vote Tory.

I posted in reply to a similar question a few weeks ago. Here is what I posted there:

Also a centre-left voter. Current ponderings:

• Greens/Lib Dems: creepy, unhinged.
• SDP: Good, but wasted vote.
• Tories: amoral, incompetent, lecherous. But likely to support free speech and know basic biology (if only for seduction purposes).
• Labour: wokey-blokey-transy, anti-Rosie.

Conclusion: if there's SDP candidate, will vote for them. If not, will grill Labour candidate. If not satisfied by answers, will grit my teeth and vote Tory.

Yes. I won't vote for Labour if they can't affirm what a woman is and if I can't trust them re future rulings in schools, single-sex spaces and sport.

I'll be voting tory.. not because I think they're a particularly good party, but because I could never bring myself to vote Labour or for any other parties with ridiculous policies

The Tories don't give a shit about the rights of women or anyone else. They only care about continuing a corrupt form of government that lines their own pockets and those of their rich mates.